Week six finds the Legislature running wide open for business. With committee work completed last week, now is the time for representatives to start lobbying floor leadership to get our bills heard on the floor. In January, 1,960 bills and resolutions were initially introduced, with only 486 making it out of the committee process. At this point, we still don’t know how many of these will actually be heard on the floor. This is what I always tell everyone when they read that this bill or that bill is introduced and we need to stop it; odds are many of these bills will never be heard. I still have four bills not yet on the calendar, so we will see.
A couple of bills we have passed that are of local interest include House Bill 1727. This expands the Oklahoma’s Promise scholarship to the children of longtime school teachers. We also passed House Bill 1166, which limits a city’s ability to annex properties. This was a concern recently around the Sardis area. We will continue to hear bills nonstop for the next two weeks, then we will send House measures to the Senate. and the Senate bills will find their way over to the House for consideration. As I’ve always stated, it’s a very difficult process getting any bills to the governor’s desk for his signature should he choose.
Wilburton FFA Advisor Brandon Spears with members Zoey Powell, Caleb Brunson, Laney McAlester and Denver Patzack stand with Rep. Jim Grego in the House Lounge.
Last week, I had Wilburton’s FFA livestock judging team visit the Capitol to honor them for their run at the national division of livestock evaluation. Members Laney McAlester, Caleb Brunson, Denver Patzack, and Zoey Powell along with FFA Advisor Brandon Spears made the trip. I’m always happy to recognize FFA students for their feats.
I also want to congratulate Hartshorne’s girls basketball team for their run at the state finals. They made it all the way, but fell just a little short in the playoff game. Still, they had a season to be proud of.
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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