OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — With state financial savings accounts and income collections at all-time highs, tax cuts are expected to be a prime precedence for Gov. Kevin Stitt and the Republican-controlled Legislature when it begins the 2023 session on Monday.
Stitt, who simply gained reelection in November, will current his govt price range proposal to lawmakers and ship his fifth State of the State deal with at midday to a joint legislative session.
The governor final yr urged the House and Senate to ship him payments to get rid of the state gross sales tax on groceries and cut back the person and company revenue tax charges, however none of these proposals made it into legislation. All of these are expected to be a part of the price range negotiations once more this yr.
After the Federal Reserve enacted one other rate of interest hike, final week Stitt tweeted that “we need to cut taxes and that starts with eliminating our state’s grocery tax.”
Oklahoma at the moment has about $1.4 billion in its constitutional Rainy Day Fund and a separate income stabilization fund, and the amount of cash accessible for lawmakers to spend on this yr’s price range is expected to enhance by one other $950 million, based mostly on December figures authorised by the state Board of Equalization.
Lawmakers are also doubtless to move a pay increase for academics, though the main points can be hammered out through the session. State Sen. Adam Pugh, the chairman of the Senate Education Committee, unveiled a plan final month to give an across-the-board trainer pay increase of between $3,000 and $6,000, based mostly on years of service. But the governor’s Secretary of Education and new State Superintendent Ryan Walters has put forth a plan to give merit-based pay raises to academics.
The Legislature additionally is probably going to think about once more a plan endorsed by Stitt and Walters for a voucher-style plan to divert public schooling funds from public faculties to personal faculties, though the proposal stays unpopular with many House Republicans, notably these in rural areas.
Various payments even have been launched by Republicans this yr to restore a number of the abortion restrictions that had been imposed final yr, together with a bill that might enable abortions in instances of rape or incest which were reported to legislation enforcement and clarifying the definition of when an abortion is allowed in instances of medical emergencies that threaten the lifetime of the mom.
“That bill is supported and endorsed by Oklahomans for Life, so I would anticipate (it) has a chance of passing,” mentioned Rep. Jon Echols, majority ground chief within the House. “I definitely think it will get considered.”
Several payments even have been launched to prohibit gender-affirming medical care for younger folks. Those proposals come after the governor signed payments final yr to stop transgender ladies from enjoying on ladies sports activities groups and requiring college students in public faculties to solely use loos that correspond with their gender at start.
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