Legislative leaders hammer out state budget agreement

Over the past week or so, legislative leaders - as well as Governor Stitt - have met in unprecedented public negotiations for this year's state budget (Tres Savage at NonDoc has a great write-up on the saga). Read the official press releases below:

Pro Tem Treat and Speaker McCall Comment on Budget Agreement

Agreement first in budget transparency process by both chambers

OKLAHOMA CITY (May 22nd) – Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, and House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, today released the following statements after Senate and House negotiators reached an agreement on the state’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget.

The budget agreement is the first time all meetings were hosted in public and gave Oklahomans a behind the scenes look on how the state budget is negotiated. 

Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat:

“I am proud of how this process played out in a transparent manner,” Pro Tem Treat said. “It has been contentious, stressful and at times combative. But it is the legislative process that has historically been behind closed doors, never available to public view. For the first time, Oklahomans were able to see how these meetings happen behind the scenes. I appreciate my colleagues in the Senate and House who participated in this new process and my hope is that they will build upon it in the future and continue improving this moving forward. I especially want to thank Appropriations Chairman Sen. Chuck Hall, Appropriations Vice Chairman Sen. Paul Rosino and Floor Leader Sen. Greg McCortney, as well as our staff who have put in hours of work, late nights and helped get this to where we are today.

“Oklahomans deserve to know how their money is being spent and where we prioritize funding. The governor committed today that he will sign this budget and I look forward to getting it to his desk.”

House of Representatives Speaker Charles McCall:

“Throughout the budget process I have empowered the House negotiating team to negotiate a budget on behalf of our body and the Oklahomans we represent,” Speaker McCall said. 

“Today’s budget agreement with the Senate is the culmination of those robust negotiations, and I want to applaud the hard work of our House negotiating team and budget staff for getting this across the finish line. The House showed our commitment to transparency and good faith throughout the process, and we are thankful that a deal was reached.”

Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Highlights

Education

• $240 million for new engineering and science facilities at OU and OSU
• $27.6 million for CareerTech to address its waitlist and admit more students
• $25 million in additional funding into the school funding formula
• $20 million for animal diagnostics lab at OSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine
• $1.5 million to support educational initiatives that increase awareness about the Oklahoma City bombing and its impact

Health

• $30 million for the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to increase long-term care provider rates
• $30 million expansion for OSU Medical Center in Tulsa
• $18.5 million in additional funding for the Department of Mental Health to address children’s mental health needs
• $15 million additional funding for Choosing Childbirth, to provide services to pregnant women
• $45.5 million to increase reimbursement rates for developmental disability service providers
• $3 million in new funding to get roughly 300 additional individuals developmental disability services

Public Safety

• $74 million to complete the Department of Public Safety’s new training facility in Lincoln County
• $27.5 million for new OSBI headquarters building
• $10 million in additional funding to help victims of domestic violence
• $2.85 million for OETA to replace 11 rural transmitters to ensure severe weather and public safety alerts reach all parts of the state
• $2.5 million for DPS academy to train more Highway Patrol troopers

Miscellaneous

• $350 million for the new Oklahoma Capital Assets Maintenance and Protection Fund to cover deferred maintenance at state properties, state parks and public colleges and universities
• $308 million to cover the cost of eliminating the state portion of the grocery tax
• $45 million in disaster relief to help tornado-impacted counties
• $20 million for the Governor’s Quick Action Closing Fund

The final agreed upon budget numbers will be published here.

To access the House of Representatives budget portal click here.

Legislative Leaders Comment on Budget Agreement

OKLAHOMA CITY (May 22nd) – State leaders released the following statements Wednesday after an agreement was reached on the Fiscal Year 2025 budget.

Senate Majority Leader Greg McCortney, R-Ada:

“I’m appreciative of everyone who has provided input on this year’s budget as our cooperative efforts ensured the needs of Oklahomans have remained at the forefront of our conversations and negotiations. Further, I applaud Pro Tem Treat for launching transparency initiatives that have led to this all-encompassing and fiscally responsible budget agreement. This approach has ensured all voices were represented throughout the process and has set a standard for effective governance and accountability moving forward. I look forward to expanding on these efforts to make Oklahoma’s budget process the most transparent in the nation.”

Speaker Pro Tempore Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow:

“It’s often said that successful negotiation is not about getting to yes, it’s about mastering no and understanding what the path to an agreement is. During this negotiation process, neither chamber got every item they would have liked, but what we did get was a good budget for the people of Oklahoma.

It’s important to remember that the budget agreements and decisions made today can have a lasting impact in the future. I’m thankful that the House and Senate could reach an agreement, and I’m optimistic about our ability to continue addressing areas of concern and disagreement in the future.”

House Majority Floor Leader Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City:

“During my 12 years in the Legislature, we have encountered some of the most difficult budget issues that Oklahoma has ever seen, and we found a way to work together to lift our state up and get back on track.

Thankfully, due to shrewd budgeting practices and forward thinking, those issues have been left in the past and now the conversations regarding the budget surround how much to spend and how much to save. That’s a great problem to have. I’m thankful for the robust budget conversations that took place this year, and confident that we have delivered a budget that will address issues that matter to the citizens of our state.”

Senate Appropriations Chairman Chuck Hall, R-Perry:

“This state budget meets the needs of all Oklahomans in a comprehensive and fiscally responsible manner. I’m proud this spending plan was born out of the most transparent budget process in state history, which included countless public meetings that allowed the public to remain involved and engaged as we discussed every line item. I want to thank Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat once again for putting his faith in me to get this budget to the finish line.”

House Appropriations & Budget Chairman Kevin Wallace, R-Wellston:

“The budget agreement reached today will provide much needed funding for a wide array of projects and programs across our state. Negotiations are rarely quick and easy, but the process produced a budget that focuses on the main priority of the House: our constituents.

I’m thankful for the countless hours that House staff put into this process, and the work of our appropriation’s subchairs, and subcommittees, to ensure that we were up to date with all information necessary to negotiate in good faith.”

Senate Appropriations Vice Chairman Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City:

“This agreement reflects our commitment to transparency and fiscal responsibility while prioritizing the needs of our constituents. Though the process proved difficult at times, I am appreciative of my legislative colleagues for their continued collaboration. We have crafted a comprehensive budget that supports key initiatives across Oklahoma, and I am confident that this will serve the best interests of our state for the fiscal year ahead.”

House Appropriations & Budget Vice Chairman Trey Caldwell, R-Lawton:

“Over many weeks and months, dating back to last Fall, the House has been dedicated to a transparent budget process that addresses the needs of our citizens and is fiscally responsible for the future of our state.

Today’s budget agreement delivers a budget that will do exactly that. I’m thankful for the leadership of Chairman Wallace during this process, and the hard work of House budget staff to come in early, and stay late, to make sure we were always prepared for meetings and able to negotiate a good budget for all Oklahomans.”