An update on how state budget process is going

In the House, we continue accepting or rejecting Senate amendments to our House bills. Some authors who rejected Senate amendments requested conference committees to work on a potential compromise for the bill’s language, so our schedule has been full the past couple of weeks with approving final drafts of bills.

In budget news, we are continuing to develop our budget proposal and anticipate hearing budget bills in the Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget this week. House and Senate leaders are still negotiating, but they are close to the final product.

While our budget proposal is not final yet, we expect to bolster our state savings, provide inflation relief and invest in rural economic development. The House is also prioritizing a pay increase for Oklahoma Highway Patrol officers to increase recruitment as well as monies for the Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS) waiting list, where developmentally disabled Oklahomans face a 13 year wait to receive services.

The Legislature must have a budget passed prior to sine die adjournment on May 27. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has between five and 15 days to act on appropriations bills — the specific time frame depends on whether the Legislature is still in session.

While we’re in session, Stitt has five days, excluding Sundays, to act on those bills. If we have any bills left on his desk when we adjourn sine die, he has up to 15 days to act on those. The Legislature also has the power to override a veto if Stitt decides to veto the overall budget or veto a specific line-item in the budget. Overriding a veto requires approval from twothirds of each chamber.

Stitt signed Senate Bill 626 on Wednesday, which I carried in the House. It helps schools prepare for children who are severely handicapped, neurologically impaired or have an emotional disturbance. The student incoming to the school could be on a strict regimen of medication or may have a history of disruptive behavior or even violence. This bill allows a school to prepare a program to protect the student and other students within that school system.

As always, please reach out with any questions or thoughts you would like to share. You may reach me by telephone at (405) 557-7375. Thank you for the honor of serving House District 15!

Randleman, a Republican, serves District 15 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, which covers Haskell County and portions of Muskogee, Sequoyah, LeFlore, Pittsburg and McIntosh counties.