We just finished our regular legislative session, and now we’re back in “special session.” This past Monday, the House met and voted to override the Governor’s veto of HB1005X, which will simply allow any tribe with an existing motor vehicle licensing or registration agreement with the state to extend the agreement until Dec. 31, 2024. Overriding the veto on this bill will help us avoid a harmful effect on the state budget and facilitate further conversations regarding the compacts.
We also approved House Concurrent Resolution 1002X, which will expand the window for special session to July 31. This will help accommodate the Senate’s schedule.
This past Friday, I had the opportunity to participate in Eastern Oklahoma State College’s recent groundbreaking for a new residence hall. This new structure will accommodate up to 40 students, which will hopefully give more students incentive to attend one of the premier community colleges in our state. This event took me back 50 years to when I was a freshman at this institution. As I looked around, I only saw two new structures that had been built in the last 50 years. All other structures looked the same as a half century ago.
Last week, I also attended grade-school tours of the Dolese rock crusher plant in Hartshorne. This is a company formed in the late 1800’s as it followed the railroad west. The Hartshorne plant was opened in the early 1960’s serving our booming oil field needs for gravel. This plant has one employee with 50 years of seniority, several with 40-plus years. When a company has survived this many years with so many long term employees they must be doing something right. We really need more companies like this.
As always, thank You for allowing me to serve you. 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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