In the second regular session of the 58th Legislature, House Republicans focused on investing in the future of Oklahoma.
Through a comprehensive budget plan focused on savings and funding core services, House Republicans funded law enforcement at record levels, increased state savings to $2.6 billion, continued to fight federal overreach, and made generational investments in rural economic development.
Continuing historic investments made over the last six years, House Republicans continued to fund public education at record levels. Knowing that a good education is the key to future success, we continued to provide record levels of classroom funding, originally passed in 2021 to public schools. There is always room for improvement in educational opportunities for our students.
We maintained all state transportation infrastructure funding and provided a 30% pay raise for law enforcement and increased funds for training. We invested in broadband to bring high-speed internet access to 95% of Oklahomans by 2027. House Republicans have made investments in rural Oklahoma through Redbud funding for rural schools and economic development investment through LEAD and PREP funds.
We led the charge to create a safer, freer market for medical marijuana through multiple pieces of legislation aimed at rooting out bad actors and criminal elements. By making OMMA a standalone agency, adjusting licensing fees and packaging requirements, and providing funding to local sheriff’s offices to support OMMA inspectors, the Legislature is pushing back against illegal growers and operators in Oklahoma.
Several bills I authored this year were signed into law by the governor. House Bill 3639 removes the sunset for the nonresident and nonresident youth hunting licenses for deer gun, primitive firearms, and archery.
House Bill 3640 increases the penalty from $25–$100 to $100–$1,000 for those who bring a dog, gun, or bow into a wildlife refuge. Subsequent violations may result in the suspension of privileges to hunt or trap within a refuge or wildlife management area.
House Bill 4281 amends the section of law related to cyanide coyote “getters” by removing a requirement for signage at the corners of perimeter fences that would notify others that devices equipped with lethal gas are in use.
I also carried many other bills that were signed into law last year. I’m particularly glad to have seen House Bill 1588 signed into law to provide a sales tax exemption for forestry equipment, a major industry here in southeastern Oklahoma.
Another bill, House Bill 1817, exempts a 501(c)(3) organization from the requirements of the Oklahoma Secure and Fair Enforcement For Mortgage Licensing Act.
I carried two Senate bills that were also signed last year.
Senate Bills 312 provides that a conviction for identity theft committed against a person who is less than 18 years of age results in a felony. It sets a punishment by imprisonment of not less than 2 years, nor more than 10 years and a fine of not more than $100,000.
Senate Bills 775 authorizes the Dept. of Agriculture to create and maintain the Livestock Offender Registry which shall contain a list of all persons convicted of stealing livestock. The public will have access to the registry.
It’s been a great two years serving House District 1 at the Oklahoma House of Representatives. We accomplished a lot for both the state and my district. As always, please let me know if there’s something I can assist with. You can reach me at (405) 557-7363 or eddy.dempsey@okhouse.gov.
Rep. Eddy Dempsey, a Republican, represents House District 1 at the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes McCurtain County and southern LeFlore County.
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