Murdock: $3 million set aside for drought assistance

The next to the last week of the 2022 legislative session was extremely productive as we worked on measures to help address pressing needs throughout our state through a variety of policy legislation and with the budget process. I think just about everyone here in the Panhandle and Western Oklahoma is focused on the fact that we’re desperately in need of rain, and until that happens, we need resources to deal with the drought. That’s something we addressed in the new budget.

Back in 2013, the Legislature created an Emergency Drought Relief Fund to help provide resources once a drought emergency had been declared by the governor. The funds can be used for things like pond cleanup and construction; water conservation; water for livestock; rural fire suppression; red cedar eradication; soil conservation; and emergency infrastructure conservation.

I’m very happy to say that the budget includes an appropriation of $3 million for this fund. I’ve already requested a state of emergency to be declared for Cimarron and Texas Counties. When I sent my request, I noted it had been over 217 days since those two counties have had more than a quarter of an inch of rain.

The resources from the Emergency Drought Relief Fund would be in addition to the emergency loans already available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture after designating 66

Oklahoma counties as primary natural disaster areas due to drought.

The Senate also gave final approval on a measure to restore a

1.25 percent tax exemption on motor vehicles and tractor trailers. This was removed in 2017 when the state was still struggling to balance the budget, but the intent was always to restore this benefit. With the state’s current economic growth, this was the year.

Overall, the Fiscal Year 2023 budget prioritizes core services, makes targeted investments to help boost economic development, and also boosts our emergency savings to help us get through economic downturns we’re bound to face at some point in the future.

You may have heard we’ve also convened a special session that will continue after the 2022 regular session ends.

Our state received $1.8 billion in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to help in Oklahoma’s recovery from the pandemic. This special session will enable the Legislature to continue our work vetting proposals for the best use of this money, including efforts to expand rural broadband and fund other important infrastructure projects. The special session means we can continue this work through the appropriations process, so we’ll be able to get the projects we select funded in a more timely way.

It is my honor to serve you in the Oklahoma State Senate. You can reach me by calling (405) 521-5626 or emailing Casey.Murdock@oksenate.gov.