Appropriations REVISED [Source] Translate

The meeting began with Chair Caesar confirming a quorum and expressing enthusiasm for the new year of appropriation. The committee decided to lay over Senate Bill 1946. Senator Rossino presented Senate Bill 1344, aimed at creating the Insulin Access Affordability Program at the Health Department to enhance patient access to affordable insulin and encourage marketplace competition. The bill passed with 19 votes in favor and 1 against. Senator Nice introduced Senate Bill 1295, establishing a revolving fund for the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board to create a database on domestic violence deaths. An amendment was discussed and adopted, and the bill passed unanimously with 21 votes in favor. Senator Nice then presented Senate Bill 1355, requiring the Oklahoma Military Department to provide memorials for eligible veterans. The bill passed with 21 votes in favor and none against. Senator Coleman discussed Senate Bill 1998, which aims to help smaller towns qualify for quality events incentives from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. The bill passed with 20 votes in favor and 2 against. Senator Yeck presented Senate Bill 1330, proposing salary increases for the Pardon Parole Board members, the first adjustment since 2002. The bill passed unanimously with 22 votes in favor. Senator Brooks introduced Senate Bill 1297, creating the Oklahoma Decennial Census Revolving Fund to fund outreach for the 2030 census. The bill passed with 15 votes in favor and 8 against. Senator Pugh presented Senate Bill 1189, extending the school security fund for three more years, allocating $50 million annually. The discussion included concerns about equity in funding distribution among school districts. The bill passed with a majority vote, though the exact count was not specified. Discussions also focused on school security, education funding, and infrastructure. A member raised concerns about the training of third-party security personnel in schools, particularly regarding sexual assault issues, emphasizing the need for rigorous background checks. Senator Weaver expressed support for a bill aimed at protecting children in schools, which passed with 20 votes in favor and 2 against. Senator Pugh introduced Senate Bill 1338, removing the pilot provision for the HEROES literacy instructional team, allowing it to continue permanently. This bill passed unanimously. Senate Bill 1546, focusing on teacher retention and recruitment by doubling scholarship amounts for education students, was discussed with an estimated fiscal impact of around $10 million. The bill passed with 20 votes in favor and 1 against. Senate Bill 1378 was introduced to create the Olympics and Oklahoma Revolving Fund, which passed unanimously. Senate Bill 1859 aimed to establish a Cybercrime and Fraud Unit within the OSBI, addressing the increasing prevalence of cybercrime. The bill passed with 23 votes in favor and none against. Senate Bill 1333, addressing water infrastructure funding, passed with 23 votes in favor and none against, reflecting the budget request from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board. Senate Bill 1341, creating a Career Counseling Revolving Fund to support career counselors in schools, passed after an amendment was adopted to remove an appropriation section. The meeting included a roll call for Senate Bill 1341, which passed with 20 votes in favor and 2 against. Senator Hall explained Senate Bill 1377, directing the Department of Human Services to provide bags for children in foster care lacking adequate luggage. An amendment to strike the appropriation was adopted, and the bill passed with 23 votes in favor and none against. Senator Hall introduced Senate Bill 1990, broadening the Incentive Evaluation Commission's comparative analysis on incentives. Questions were raised about strategic economic goals and transparency. The bill passed with 22 votes in favor and none against. The meeting concluded with the chair thanking members for their work and announcing an upcoming meeting next week before adjourning.