Rapid fire is the order of the day for week eight, which happens to be the final week to get any House bills moving forward. We started the week with a few under two hundred bills to be considered. Hearing 40 to 50 per day is not that difficult, so I feel like by Thursday evening all the bills eligible to be heard will be. I’m reminded of what a former floor leader always reminded us: that we are here to vote, and vote we will this week.
Four of my bills have made it through the entire process and now are eligible to be heard in the Senate. My House Bill 1183 is some legislation I’m particularly proud of. This bill made it through two committees and was heard on the floor without a single no vote by any member at any time. This bill requires Service Oklahoma to use the actual sales price of a vehicle rather than the National Auto Dealers Association (NADA) price when calculating excise tax on vehicle purchases. Apparently, this makes a lot of sense to most legislators. We will see how it fares across the rotunda.
One particular bill I supported but which failed to get enough ayes on was House Bill 1104. This bill would allow county commissioners to put to a vote of the residents a 3 percent lodging tax on rentals. This would require a 60 percent vote of the people in a particular county. I’m always against taxes, but I view this as a tax on out-of-towners, I look at what McCurtain County collects annually and the self-promotion they are able to allow. Possibly, this will return this week for reconsideration, so we will see.
My House Bill 1408 is still pending to be heard on the floor as the clock runs out. This bill would allow for a more accurate graduation rate for our schools, I still have a couple of days, so we will see.
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
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