Both chambers of the 59th Oklahoma Legislature have closed this regular session which was dominated by tax cut talks and featured a first ever open to the public budget negotiation.
The Legislature’s constitutionally mandated duty of passing a balanced budget resulted in a 12.47 billion dollar spending plan for FY 25. The new fiscal year begins on July 1, 2024.
The end of the session also means a changing of the guard as House Speaker Charles McCall and Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat are term-limited and will not return when the 60th Legislature convenes.
McCall is the longest serving Speaker. He was first elected as speaker in 2016, four years into his tenure as a House Representative.
Treat was first elected as Pro Tem in 2019. He got to serve in the Senate a little longer than the standard term limit of 12 years because he won a special election to replace outgoing Representative Todd Lamb, who had been elected as lieutenant governor.
Both leaders are calling the 59th Legislature a success.
“I have always said that the House is the body closest to the people, and we showed that once again this session by passing multiple pieces of legislation that were priorities of our constituents. Throughout my time in the Legislature I have taken service to my district, and the citizens all across our state, very seriously, and it has been an honor to serve as Speaker of the House for the past eight years. President Theodore Roosevelt said, ‘Nothing worth having comes easy.’ I have seen that to be true through both highs and lows during my time in the House, but I am proud to say that without a doubt our state is in a better place now than it was when I was first elected. That is only possible through the effort of my Caucus, and I am thankful for their support over the last decade as we have made Oklahoma a better place to live, work and raise a family,” said McCall.
“As we conclude another legislative session, it is a time of reflection and looking forward. I am confident that I am exiting my term on a high note and leaving my position as pro tem in a mindset of peace and gratitude. I have always wanted to leave my service with the Senate and state in a better place than when I came into office. I am appreciative to those in my district who have entrusted me to serve as their senator in District 47 over the last 14 years. They put their confidence in me and have allowed me to be here since 2011 and I could not be more thankful for them entrusting me in this role. I am also thankful to all of the members who voted for me to serve as pro tempore of the Senate since 2019. I would be remiss if I didn’t extend my gratitude to the love of my life, Maressa, who has been by my side during this entire journey, as well as our children, Mason, Cooper and Olivia. My family is the most important part of my life and I wouldn’t be the person I am today without their love and support.
“Together, with my family by my side and my Senate family, we have many accomplishments that we can be proud of and I can be confident to say that I am leaving the Senate better than I found it,” said Treat.
Among the highlights of this legislative session is a more than $400 million grocery sales tax cut. Consumers will see the elimination of the state portion of grocery sales tax in August. City and county sales tax will remain in place.
An effort to curb illegal immigrants coming to Oklahoma was passed in the form of House Bill 4156. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond requested the bill. It was shepherded through the Legislature by McCall and Treat and signed by Governor Kevin Stitt. However, the future of the measure is in question after two lawsuits, one from the Biden Administration’s Department of Justice, have been filed to prevent the law from taking effect.
Senator Greg McCortney has been elected as Pro Tem for the 60th Oklahoma Legislature.
Representative Kyle Hilbert will serve as the next Speaker.
The November General Election will decide the new make up of the Legislature which will convene its first regular session on February 3, 2025.
