The wheels of state government are picking up pace as we prepare for the second half of the 60th Legislature. We have until Jan. 15 to file bills to be considered this session. Many already have been filed. Final language is being tweaked on those remaining.
Budget hearings are continuing in our Appropriations and Budget subcommittees. Each agency that receives state funding must present prior year spending reports and budget requests for the next fiscal year, which starts July 1. These lead up to hearings with the “Big 8” this year – up from the “Big 6” in prior years. These are the agencies that receive the most in state funding. The Big 8 hearings will be held the last week of January in the House chamber. Any member of the public can attend any of these meetings. They also can be watched on our website, okhouse.gov under News & Media Live Proceedings.
The State Board of Equalization in December released its estimate for how much the Legislature will be authorized to appropriate for Fiscal Year 2027, about $12.05 billion. Final numbers will be released when the board meets Feb. 13. These early steps help us begin the process, but budget negotiations really begin in earnest after that February meeting.
Finally, this Tuesday, Jan. 13 marks the 100th anniversary of the most deadly coal mining accident in Wilburton’s history: 101 men entered mine #21 two miles west of Wilburton. Only 10 returned to their families, with 91 deaths reported. I often think about my own granddad, John Grego, who most likely was working in a mine near Hartshorne that fateful morning. Can you imagine the anxiety and fear about returning to work the next day after hearing of this deadly explosion? We can only imagine what these miners experienced.
As always, I’m thankful to the constituents of House District 17 for allowing me to serve. If I can help you in any way, I can be reached at (405) 557-7381 or by email at jim.grego@okhouse.gov.
Jim Grego serves District 17 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes Latimer County and part and Pittsburg County.
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