Capitol Update

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Oklahoma State Senate Senate District 31 (Comanche, Cotton, Jefferson, Stephens and Tillman counties) December 2, 2019

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Winter is here, and the legislative session is right around the corner. Interim studies have wrapped up, budget hearings are under way and the bill request deadline is quickly approaching with a date of Friday, December 13.

Besides working at the Capitol on legislation, I’ve also attended several meetings and events in Oklahoma City and around our Senate district this past month. I attended my first OSTRaD meeting as a new board member. I visited Chattanooga High School and visited with Ms. Williams’ class. It was an honor to be a guest speaker at the Elgin Veteran’s Day program. This was a great event to honor local active and retired military veterans. I enjoyed getting to attend Halliburton’s 100th Anniversary Celebration and recognizing the many contributions this great company has made to the State of Oklahoma. My schedule also included a NRCS town hall meeting in Elgin.

There have been many things going on around the district. The Lawton-Fort Sill community honored Oklahoma’s Gold Star Families by renaming a four-mile stretch of U.S. Hwy 277 between I-44 and Porter Hill. We will never forget the ultimate sacrifice made by these families’ brave loved ones and dedicating this stretch of highway is just a small token of appreciation.

Last week, we had our Republican Caucus Retreat where we set our 2020 legislative agenda and set goals we would like to accomplish. Work is ongoing as we wait to see what revenue the State Equalization Board certifies this month and to complete all the state agency budget hearings.

I’d like to briefly mention two interim studies that I know are important to our district. The House held one to look at the potential of a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for the state’s seven public pensions including the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS). Directors of the pension systems shared how a 2% or 4% COLA would financially impact each of their systems and members as well as the state budget. They pointed out that many of the state’s plans are funded at the highest ratio ever, with several plans being funded over 100 percent. Many directors stated their plans could absorb the impact of a two or four percent COLA for retirees.

Under Oklahoma law, however, COLAs can’t be approved without first going through an actuarial study. This past session, HB 2304 called for a two percent COLA. The actuarial study for that bill was due Dec. 1. Once the results of the study are reviewed by the legislature, it can be re-considered this coming session.

Before 2009, Oklahoma’s pension systems had over $16 billion in unfunded liability, which hurt our bond rating and was extremely costly for the state. However, thanks to reforms, good return on investments and sufficient funding in the last decade, Oklahoma’s pension unfunded liability has been cut nearly in half. Reforms included making COLA actuarial reports mandatory, investing approximately $400 million annually into various retirement funds, dedicating tax revenue to retirement funds and eliminating the usage of the funds to cover unrelated expenses.

The House also held a study to look at the closure of many rural hospitals, what has caused so many to close or declare bankruptcy, and what needs to be done to protect them in the future and restore healthcare access in underserved rural communities. This is an issue that has hit our district hard, and it’s an issue I’ve worked hard on and will continue to do so. I’ll be working with my colleagues to make legislative changes to better protect rural hospitals and improve rural healthcare.

Both studies and all presentations made are available on the House website (www.okhouse.gov).

My family and I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday and wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

At the State Senate, I can be reached by writing to Senator Chris Kidd, State Capitol, 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd. Room 427, Oklahoma City, OK 73105, emailing me at kidd@oksenate.gov, or by calling (405) 521-5563 and speaking to my assistant Suzanne Earnest.