TABLE OF CONTENTS 04 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
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GOVERNMENT RELATIONS STAFF
2023 PUBLIC POLICY PRIORITIES
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PRO-BUSINESS SCORECARD
ELECTED OFFICIALS DIRECTORY
GREATER OKC CHAMBER PAC
OKLAHOMA STATE SENATE
OKLAHOMA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
CHAMBER LEADERSHIP
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS BENEFACTORS
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS SPONSOR
CVS Health
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MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
Ensuring that Oklahoma City continues on the path of success and vibrancy it has enjoyed in recent times is of paramount importance for your Greater Oklahoma City Chamber. It is no secret that the business and community successes we enjoy come through a spirit of cooperation and collaboration, as well as the many valued interactions between the public and private sectors. Together, we can accomplish much, especially if we stay actively engaged with the affairs of our state. This is a critical ingredient if our city – and state – is to continue the momentum we have built over the last several decades. Everybody has a role to play, and your Chamber is especially looking forward to forging more relationships during the upcoming legislative session. We need every member of our business community to stay engaged with your respective elected officials and to continue the dialogue that is an indispensable part of ensuring our business sectors remain vibrant and on an upward trajectory. To help you in your interactions with those elected officials, the Chamber is providing you with this 2023 Public Policy Guide, which contains pertinent, up-to-date information at your fingertips. Please use this valuable information as your personal resource tool as you make your voice heard on issues that matter most to you and your business. For more than 130 years, the Chamber has been the voice for Oklahoma City’s business community and the primary visionary organization for our region. We all need to remain vigilant and alert throughout the legislative process and work together with our elected officials on laws that will strengthen our region’s business climate. SEAN TRAUSCHKE Chair, Greater Oklahoma City Chamber Chairman, President & CEO, OGE Energy Corp.
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BE A BUSINESS ADVOCATE BUSINESS ADVOCACY CENTER The Chamber’s Business Advocacy Center at
OKCBusinessAdvocate.com makes staying informed simple. With just a few clicks, you can stay up-to-date during the legislative session by signing up for The Business Advocate, the Chamber’s newsletter solely focused on key developments at the Capitol during the legislative session. You can also find contact information for your elected officials so that you can make your voice heard on the issues that matter most to business. Together, we can build a stronger business climate for the Greater Oklahoma City region.
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS TEAM
Throughout the year, the Chamber’s team works to ensure that Greater Oklahoma City is moving forward and growing stronger. From promoting pro-business policies at the Capitol to economic development, the Chamber is the voice of business in Greater Oklahoma City. The Chamber staff is always available to assist your business in any way possible.
Christy Gillenwater President & CEO (405) 297-8939 cgillenwater@okcchamber.com
Mark VanLandingham Sr. Vice President, Government Relations (405) 297-8925 mvanlandingham@okcchamber.com
Derek Sparks Sr. Manager, Government Relations (405) 297-8933 dsparks@okcchamber.com
Sarah Barton Sr. Executive Assistant, Government Relations (405) 297-8922 sbarton@okcchamber.com
Drew Dugan, CCE Vice President, Education (405) 297-8940 ddugan@okcchamber.com
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STATE ISSUES 2023 PUBLIC POLICY PRIORITIES
COUNTY GOVERNMENT REFORM The Chamber supports empowering Oklahoma counties to alter their form of government to meet their unique needs. WORKERS’ COMP REFORM The Chamber supports defending and improving the comprehensive workers’ compensation reform legislation enacted during the 2013 session. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS The Chamber supports retaining and strengthening the state’s premier economic/community development programs which are critical in attracting new businesses to the state, assisting existing companies expand and encouraging investment in communities across the state. Following are the key programs the Chamber will seek to protect: • Quality Jobs Act, 21st Century QJA, Small Employer QJA and the Prime Contractor QJA
TAX REFORM The Chamber supports reforming the tax code to better incentivize companies to locate/invest in Oklahoma. TIF DISTRICTS The Chamber supports protecting current state law on Tax Increment Finance Districts to ensure the continued viability of this economic development tool.
BROADBAND/DATA PRIVACY The Chamber supports:
• Protecting Oklahoma’s pro-investment environment to facilitate the development of telecommunication infrastructure. • Removing barriers to broadband access in Oklahoma such as ensuring providers are reasonably charged for the use of the public rights of way and facilities within the rights of way. • Working with stakeholders to adopt common sense protections regarding data privacy. • Enacting comprehensive federal data privacy legislation to avoid burdensome, complex and conflicting state requirements for providers. AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OF 2021 (ARPA)/ PROGRESSING RURAL ECONOMIC PROSPERITY ACT (PREP) The Chamber will work with the City of Oklahoma City, the OKC Fairgrounds and other stakeholders to obtain ARPA/ PREP funding from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board and Department of Commerce to implement approved projects at Tinker Air Force Base, the OKC Fairgrounds and the City of OKC’s 577 Commerce Park.
• Aerospace Engineer Tax Credit • Investment/New Jobs Tax Credit
• Historical Building Rehabilitation Tax Credit • Cybersecurity/Software Engineer Tax Credit • Five-year Ad Valorem Abatement and Sales Tax Exemption for Manufacturing Facilities • Regional Home Office Insurance Premium Tax Credit • Tourism Development Act The Chamber will support efforts to increase the cap and improve the Film Incentive, reinstate the Tax Credit for Energy Efficient Homes and raise the annual funding cap for the Tourism Development Act from $15 million to $30 million. The Chamber will oppose efforts to amend the state’s Affordable Housing Tax Credit in a manner that would deter investment in affordable housing.
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LEGAL REFORM The Chamber supports the following legal reforms: • Ensure public and private nuisance laws are not misused/expanded. • Place a reasonable limit on non-economic damages. ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY The Chamber supports the development of Advanced Air Mobility in OKC and the state, through public/private partnerships, including adequate funding of utility and power requirements necessary for the implementation of safe and reliable autonomous air vehicles (passenger/cargo). INCENTIVE EVALUATION COMMISSION The Chamber supports the Oklahoma Incentive Evaluation Commission, which was established to make recommendations to the Legislature and Governor on which incentive programs are serving their intended purpose and creating economic/ community development. If an incentive program cannot show a positive return to the state, it should be scaled-back or repealed. BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS The Chamber supports protecting the current form of business improvement districts as established in 11 OK Stat § 11-39-101 (2014). The continued viability and effectiveness of these districts is critical to current and future economic development efforts in Oklahoma municipalities. WIND SUBSIDIES The Chamber supports ending the Manufacturer’s Sales Tax Exemption for new wind facilities and requiring the Zero- Emissions Tax Credit to be claimed only as a credit and not as a refund. GUN LEGISLATION The Chamber supports the 2nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the responsible expansion of gun-owner’s rights in Oklahoma. However, the Chamber will oppose legislation that would allow open/concealed carry of guns into high-economic impact events (many of which are required by contract to prohibit weapons), including horse shows, the Oklahoma State Fair, Olympic Qualifiers on the Oklahoma River, high school basketball and wrestling tournaments at the State Fairgrounds and NCAA and Big XII sporting events. The Chamber will oppose legislation to allow guns to be carried on college campuses, as well as legislation to prohibit state and local governments from contracting with companies based upon a company’s position on firearms.
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WATER The Chamber will work with the governor, state legislature, City of OKC and other stakeholders to ensure the availability of a long-term water supply for central Oklahoma. OIL & GAS TAX The Chamber supports a stable oil and gas tax structure which promotes the investment of drilling capital in Oklahoma. TOBACCO SETTLEMENT ENDOWMENT TRUST (TSET) The Chamber supports the constitutional provisions of the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) to support the public health of Oklahomans.
The Chamber will lead the efforts of the “Oklahomans for Business and Property Owners’ Rights” coalition to defend against harmful gun legislation and work with the National Rifle Association, the Oklahoma Second Amendment Association and other stakeholders to improve and clarify existing gun laws while, at the same time, ensuring the protection of property rights and public safety. CRIMINAL JUSTICE/SENTENCING REFORM The Chamber supports legislation and funding for sentencing reforms and rehabilitation programs to ease the financial drain on Oklahoma’s criminal justice system, lessen the burden on jails and prisons throughout the state and allow non-violent offenders to enter the workforce more quickly. The Chamber supports the efforts of the Criminal Justice Reclassification Council created pursuant to HB 1098 (2018). The Chamber also supports: 1) continuing smart sentencing reform; 2) improving bail and jail practices; 3) making reentry and supervision improvements to reduce fines and fees, enhance workforce opportunities and increase public safety; and 4) securing additional treatment funding. MARIJUANA The Chamber opposes State Question 820, which would allow recreational marijuana for persons 21 or older. The Chamber supports additional legislation to address issues related to the state’s marijuana industry, including: 1) unlicensed growers/black market sales; 2) illegal land purchases; 3) damaging use of pesticides; and 4) uncontrolled water use. PENSION REFORM The Chamber supports protecting the pension reforms which have improved the long-term fiscal condition of the state.
TREATMENT OF LIMITED CONDITIONS BY PHARMACISTS
The Chamber supports building upon successful efforts by pharmacists during the pandemic to test and initiate treatment for COVID-19 by permitting them to also test and initiate treatment for conditions such as flu, strep, UTI, athlete’s foot, pink eye and head lice. FEDERAL ISSUES IMMIGRATION REFORM The Chamber supports federal immigration reform to secure the borders and establish reasonable and effective visa policies/ procedures to attract essential workers to the United States. SECURE AND FAIR ENFORCEMENT BANKING (SAFE) ACT The Chamber supports federal legislation allowing banks to provide financial services to marijuana businesses.
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STATE ISSUES 2023 EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION The Chamber steadfastly supports early childhood education and full funding of Pre-K and kindergarten programs. Targeted spending on our youngest children is simply a smart investment. LONG-TERM, STRATEGIC EDUCATION FUNDING The Chamber supports development of a long-term, strategic plan that will enable improvement in classroom teaching and academic performance. This should include increasing the minimum number of instructional hours, currently 1,080 hours, required for a complete school year. We also support ongoing funding to enable schools to achieve targeted classroom sizes.
• Support continued investment in the “Inspired to Teach” scholarship and incentive program. • Increase access to STEM education and training opportunities. ADJUNCT, ALTERNATIVE AND EMERGENCY CERTIFIED TEACHERS The Chamber recognizes the need for Adjunct, Alternative and Emergency certified teachers will continue to increase. We support efforts to increase retention and make sure these teachers are as prepared as possible and as quickly as possible. We support: • Alternative pathways, such as Teach for America, which enhance the diversity of the teaching profession. • Providing additional pre- and post-school year pathway preparation program that comprehensively prepare teachers who meet state requirements. • Implementing incentives, such as stipends, scholarships or salary grade adjustments, to increase completion of comprehensive professional development and reduce the timeframe it takes to complete comprehensive professional development. ATTRACT AND DEVELOP HIGH-PERFORMING SCHOOL LEADERS Top-notch school leadership by school superintendents and principals is critical to school performance, teacher retention and school culture. The Chamber supports the creation and implementation of initiatives that attract, retain and develop innovative and high-performing school leaders.
TEACHER PREPARATION, RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION
Oklahoma has a teacher shortage. Oklahoma needs to improve our teacher preparation pipeline systems to train, attract and retain more high-quality teachers. We support legislation to: • Reward teacher performance and experience. • Incentivize teachers to work in high priority areas and receive training to help them prepare for challenges facing students such as being English language learners, living in high poverty and from urban areas. • Support specialized “grow your own” training initiatives such as the Foundation for OKCPS Bilingual & Diversity Teacher Pipeline program and UCO’s Urban Teacher Preparation Academy. • Implement teacher retention and mentor teacher programs.
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LONGITUDINAL DATA SYSTEM The business community encourages the development and implementation of a new Pre-K to 20 longitudinal data system that will measure performance and progress. A working system would measure the progress, challenges and success of our education systems from early childhood through higher education and into employment. Accurate data would enhance critical programmatic and funding decisions. LEARNING LOSS DUE TO THE PANDEMIC The Chamber acknowledges challenges of the pandemic, including remote learning and technology access, led to learning loss for many students. We know that prior to the pandemic not enough students were achieving advanced or proficient test scores and recent test scores indicate lower performance. The Chamber supports providing additional and enhanced learning opportunities that utilize recognized best practices. We believe it is important to help students catch-up by having more time on task, including longer school days and additional instruction days. PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS The Chamber supports charter schools and education choices. Charter schools are public schools and are required to adhere to Oklahoma statutes and performance standards. We support creating high-quality charter schools and enabling successful charter schools to grow. This includes online charter schools, schools designed to meet the needs of targeted underserved populations or schools that provide specific curriculum. We support ensuring that all public schools are funded equitably and charter schools have access to funding for infrastructure and facilities. OKLAHOMA SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS The Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics (OSSM) has consistently ranked among the nation’s top public high schools. More than half of OSSM graduates stay in Oklahoma, and 85 percent are choosing STEM careers.The Chamber supports full funding of the OSSM budget request. SPECIALTY SCHOOLS We support state funding for schools that target the specific needs of students experiencing homelessness. This includes
schools like Positive Tomorrows, a private nonprofit school in Oklahoma City exclusively serving homeless students with services that help stabilize their families, bring the students up to grade level and prepare them for success in public school. SCHOOL AND CAMPUS SAFETY The Chamber will oppose legislation to permit carrying of firearms at early childhood, Pre-K-12, colleges and career tech facilities. We will oppose efforts to remove or replace the ability of career tech and higher education institutions to regulate firearms on campus. The business community recognizes that national events have created increasing concerns about school safety and that additional protection may require additional funding. TEACHER WELLNESS AND HEALTH We believe our schools should provide a safe and healthy work and learning environment. This includes enabling schools to prevent spread of illness and minimize teacher absences by encouraging all school personnel to take precautionary steps including getting vaccinated. MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS Oklahoma students at all levels face a high level of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). We support initiatives to address the mental and behavioral health of students and all school personnel. CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT & WORK-BASED LEARNING The Chamber recognizes the excellent learning opportunities offered at our four-year universities, community colleges and career techs. Students should be allowed and encouraged to begin pursuit of a degree or other certification while still in high school. They reduce the amount of time it takes to complete a degree or certificate at a post-secondary institution, which reduces costs and speeds entry into the workforce. We support fully funding access for seniors and juniors as funding is available. We also support efforts to increase work-based learning opportunities that prepare individuals for careers. OSRHE FUNDING FORMULA The Chamber supports reexamining current funding formulas and metrics to provide equitable base funding for public higher education institutions from the Oklahoma State Regents of Higher Education.
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HIGHER EDUCATION – REFORM AND INVESTMENT The Chamber recognizes a high-quality higher education system is critical to economic growth. Oklahoma City continues to struggle with meeting the workforce needs of its employers, particularly in Critical Occupations (as defined by www. oklahomaworks.gov/criticaloccupations). The business community, governments and higher education continue to face financial challenges. We all must be innovative and flexible to meet the needs of customers and achieve our mission. This includes development of partnerships that produce tech transfer and research partnerships to generate private, federal and foundation revenue. We urge the higher education system to pursue significant reform to better meet employer needs. The business community supports the following reforms: • Higher education funding specifically directed to produce graduates with degrees in Critical Occupations such as engineering, nursing and IT/software/cybersecurity. • Increased accountability and annual metrics that motivate institutions to increase the number of graduates by requiring timely reporting of degrees produced in Critical Occupations. • Innovative approaches to curriculum and degree offerings, including ongoing analysis of in demand degree programs and creation of non-degree programs/certificates that create a workforce with needed skills. • Efforts to maximize funding through consolidation and sharing of services, programs and instructors. • New partnerships between four-year institutions, CareerTechs and community colleges that enable schools to share resources, staff and facilities. OKLAHOMA’S PROMISE Oklahoma’s Promise is one of the nation’s most successful college access programs. We oppose legislation that would diminish the program’s focus on college access. We support efforts to increase the number of college graduates and continued direct allocation of state funds, which ensures full funding of scholarships earned by Oklahoma students. CAREER TECH – BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY TRAINING The Oklahoma CareerTech system is acknowledged as one of the top systems in the nation. CareerTech is a key ingredient in attracting industry to Oklahoma through its Training for Industry
Program (TIP). The Chamber supports funding to assure training needs for new and existing industry. The business community urges the system to focus on producing a workforce that can meet the needs of in demand and Critical Occupations. CAREER READINESS AND CERTIFICATION The Chamber believes the Oklahoma workforce needs more opportunities to earn post-secondary education, including certifications, degrees, licenses and other training targeting skills that are in demand and meet industry needs. • We support key scholarship programs: Oklahoma Tuition Equalization Grants (OTEG) and Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grants (OTAG). • We support concurrent enrollment that enables more students enter college and complete a college degree. • We support development of work-based learning opportunities such as internships and apprenticeship programs. FEDERAL ISSUES HELPING STUDENTS PAY FOR HIGHER EDUCATION The Chamber recognizes that students need financial resources to complete post-secondary education. We support: • FAFSA Completion : The Chamber supports efforts to increase the number of students who complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) because it helps students learn about how to pay for higher education. • Pell Grants and TRIO : The Chamber supports continued availability of Pell Grants to help students pay for higher education. We also support federally funded TRIO grants that help disadvantaged individuals prepare for and succeed in higher education. REMOVING RED TAPE FOR CHILD NUTRITION The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber recognizes that federal nutrition programs play a key role in keeping children in the Oklahoma City metro fed. The Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act has not been updated in over a decade. The Chamber supports the reauthorization of this act to better serve the children of the Oklahoma City community.
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STATE ISSUES 2023 HEALTH CARE PRIORITIES MEDICAID REFORM
WORKPLACE VIOLENCE The Chamber supports further protections for our medical workforce facing increased incidences of violence in the workplace. VACCINE MANDATES The Chamber supports allowing each company/business to determine whether to mandate vaccinations for its employees. ADDITIONAL MANDATES The Chamber opposes new health insurance mandates and liabilities that will undermine an employer’s ability to provide quality health insurance at a reasonable cost to employees. The Chamber further opposes new mandates being placed on physicians, hospitals and providers that will increase the cost of providing quality health care in Oklahoma. PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE The Chamber opposes a state-mandated and/or state-run paid family and medical leave program of any kind imposed on Oklahoma employers. NETWORK PROTECTION The Chamber opposes legislation which would eliminate the incentive for medical providers to contract with managed care networks and, as a result, potentially frustrate efforts at cost and quality control and ultimately deny consumers the benefits of cost-reducing arrangements with providers.
As the state seeks to improve health outcomes and modernize payment models to incentivize value within the state’s Medicaid system, the Chamber supports the ongoing implementation of a statewide Medicaid Managed Care Model. We further believe this model will most effectively address the state’s total health care needs on a system-wide basis. The Chamber supports protecting the current Medicaid supplemental payments or equivalent programs to our state’s medical schools and their hospital partners to ensure uninterrupted funding for medical education and the other unique services each provide. INSURE OKLAHOMA The Chamber supports continued efforts to protect, preserve and further improve Employer Sponsored Insurance (ESI) offered under the state’s Insure Oklahoma program. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT The Chamber supports efforts to foster an environment that is conducive to further research and will oppose efforts to unreasonably restrict the continued development of the state’s bioscience and research programs. OKLAHOMA CITY COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT The Chamber supports local public health efforts/responses and, therefore, supports protecting the independence of the Oklahoma City County Health Department.
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The Chamber further opposes legislation that would interfere with an employers’ ability to offer affordable health benefits due to a reduced ability to control benefit plans relating to prescription drugs. EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INSURANCE SECURITY ACT (ERISA) PROTECTIONS The Chamber opposes legislative efforts to undermine federal ERISA protections MEDICAL EDUCATION FUNDING The Chamber supports maintaining physician training funding for the state’s two largest medical schools in the base budgets of the University Hospitals Authority and Oklahoma State University Medical Authority. PHYSICIAN AND NURSING SHORTAGE/RURAL AND UNDERSERVED ACCESS The Chamber supports the following initiatives to address health care disparities: 1) incentivizing the recruitment and retention of primary care physicians, specialty physicians and allied health professionals in rural, underserved and other areas; 2) expanding residency programs for the state’s medical schools; and 3) strengthening the health care workforce by expanding programs that train medical professionals. The Chamber supports efforts to identify new funding streams dedicated to these initiatives.
The Chamber also supports the appropriate expansion of technology platforms (such as telemedicine and telehealth) and data platforms to enhance access to health care for Oklahomans. TOBACCO SETTLEMENT ENDOWMENT TRUST (TSET) The Chamber supports the constitutional provisions of the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) to support the public health of Oklahomans. APPROPRIATIONS SUPPORT OF COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS The Chamber supports adequate state funding for community health centers to provide quality health care to underserved Oklahomans, prevent cost shifting to other entities and maintain a healthy workforce for Oklahoma employers. HEALTH CARE FUNDING The Chamber supports protecting existing health care revenue and opposes cuts to the state Medicaid budget that would increase the burden of uncompensated care and shift costs to employers and health care providers. The Chamber further supports a stable funding and tax structure for the health care industry to promote optimal care delivery and innovation.
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WELLNESS INITIATIVES The Chamber supports the following state and local initiatives including wellness, disease prevention and care programs that serve to improve the physical, behavioral and mental health of Oklahoma citizens: tobacco prevention programs; efforts to mitigate the harmful health effects of e-cigarettes/vaping; public outreach initiatives; efforts to address health disparities; and workplace and school-based wellness, health education and healthy eating programs. PREVENTION OF DISEASE The Chamber recognizes the detrimental impact of chronic and communicable diseases (including substance use disorder) on the quality of life for Oklahoma’s residents and the severe economic costs they impose on health care providers and employers. Therefore, the Chamber will support efforts by the state’s elected officials and medical and research communities to develop avenues to successfully prevent and combat congenital, chronic, pandemic and communicable diseases. CLEAN INDOOR AIR The Chamber supports legislation to make all indoor areas smoke free as well as legislation to remove smokers, on a non- medical basis, as a protected class in state employment law. FEDERAL ISSUES SINGLE-PAYER HEALTH CARE The Chamber supports improving health care quality, access and affordability without imposing new mandates and/or taxes on business. Therefore, the Chamber opposes a single-payer government-run/public option or health care system with excessive government mandates.
EMPLOYER-DRIVEN MARKET REFORMS The Chamber believes that employers drive innovation in health benefits and supports market-driven health reforms as the best approach to reducing costs while promoting market stability, efficiency, wellness and quality of care. MEDICAID CUTS The Chamber opposes Medicaid cuts that would place increased pressure on reimbursement rates, negatively impact the adequate delivery of critical services to the most vulnerable, exacerbate an already high administrative burden for health care businesses and increase the burden of uncompensated care shifted to employers and health care providers. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT The Chamber supports efforts to foster a federal policy environment that is conducive to further research and will oppose efforts to unreasonably restrict the continued development of national bioscience and research programs.
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STATE ISSUES 2023 TRANSPORTATION PRIORITIES
MAJOR PROJECTS The Chamber supports a continued focus on improvements, mobility and traffic management on the urban Oklahoma City interstate system (I-35, I-44, I-40, I-235) to promote economic development and, therefore, will advocate for full funding and timely completion of work on the following major interchanges/ projects: • I-44/I-235 Interchange • I-240/I-35 (Crossroads Interchange) • I-35/I-44 (Remington Park) • I-44/I-40 (K Interchange/Near State Fairgrounds) West to MacArthur on I-40 • Necessary improvements to I-40 corridor east of I-35 (Tinker Air Force Base) including expansion of I-40 facility to six lanes from Douglas Boulevard to Shawnee • I-35/I-40 Dallas Junction and I-35 (including Oklahoma River Bridges) • Future development of I-44 corridor from I-40 to SH-62, including SH 152/Airport Road, (southwest OKC to Newcastle) to better provide for future mobility needs due to ongoing commercial expansion REGIONAL STUDY The Chamber supports the ODOT/OTA regional transportation study being undertaken with municipal partners with the objective of identifying, maximizing, preserving and protecting existing transportation assets. The Chamber further supports this study’s ultimate strategic goal to create additional transportation capacity as a means to protect and maximize the integrity of the entire regional transportation system.
STATE TURNPIKE PLAN The Chamber supports the 15-year, $5 billion ACCESS Oklahoma Plan to develop a highly effective and viable state turnpike system, including construction of new access points at appropriate locations across Oklahoma to enhance safety, access and promote economic development. As part of this long-range plan, the Chamber specifically supports construction of the following new alignment high- speed expressway facilities in the Oklahoma City region and associated improvements: • John Kilpatrick Turnpike widening from I-40 to I-35, to increase access and improve safety • Outer Loop: East West Connector, expanding mobility of south Oklahoma City • Outer Loop: Tri-City Connector, to increase access and offer alternative routes from I-40 to I-44 and, ultimately, I-35 • South Extension: End connector south to I-35 south of Norman The Chamber supports turnpike planning consideration to include widening the Turner Turnpike, as an innovation corridor, to six lanes connecting Oklahoma City to Tulsa, the state’s two largest population centers. The Chamber supports the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority’s (OTA) conversion to a cashless toll system that will serve to enhance safety, increase travel time reliability, allow passage of high/wide loads, create additional interchanges to access communities and generate economic development.
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ODOT EIGHT-YEAR PLAN The Chamber supports providing adequate annual dedicated funding necessary to preserve and implement the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s eight-year construction work plan. Furthermore, the Chamber will strongly oppose any effort to divert dedicated transportation funding to other areas of government. STATE BRIDGES The Chamber supports providing adequate annual dedicated funding for ODOT to maintain continued investment toward addressing Oklahoma’s structurally deficient bridges on the state’s highway system and further enable ODOT to maintain a nationally leading bridge improvement program. SUSTAINABLE FUNDING To address the declining transportation revenues associated with fuel tax, the Chamber supports the research and development of sustainable and equitable funding alternatives, including concepts of a Road User Charge (RUC) tailored to Oklahoma’s future needs, in support of transportation infrastructure. INFRASTRUCTURE TAX The Chamber opposes legislation to place disproportionate taxes or unnecessary regulations on infrastructure/materials/ construction that would have a negative impact on Chamber- supported transportation projects and economic development. PORTS OF ENTRY The Chamber supports providing adequate annual dedicated funding and staffing levels for the timely completion and effective use of weigh stations at Oklahoma’s ports of entry to ensure the protection of Oklahoma’s roads and bridges from unnecessary damage caused by overweight freight loads. STATE TRANSIT FUNDING The Chamber supports protecting state revenues allocated into the State of Oklahoma’s Public Transit Revolving Fund to meet citizen demand for public transit. The Chamber supports the implementation of ODOT’s Long Range Transit Plan through the Office of Mobility and Public Transit. HEARTLAND FLYER Passenger rail service is a key component of the future development of commuter rail throughout the central Oklahoma region and the continued viability of the Oklahoma City intermodal hub. The Chamber will work with the Oklahoma Congressional Delegation, the Oklahoma State Legislature,
ODOT, the City of Oklahoma City, the Class 1 Railroads and the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG) to oppose efforts to reduce or eliminate state or federal funding received by Oklahoma to operate the Heartland Flyer Amtrak service to Fort Worth, Texas. Moreover, the Chamber supports ongoing efforts by ODOT to negotiate with the State of Texas and Amtrak to ensure Amtrak can be maintained as the passenger rail carrier. The Chamber supports taking active steps to extend the Heartland Flyer Amtrak service to Newton, Kan., which would connect Oklahoma City to Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago and other locations on the national Amtrak system. Furthermore, the Chamber supports the designation of the entire Heartland Flyer line (Fort Worth – Oklahoma City – Newton – National Network) as a national Amtrak route within the Federal Rail Administration’s specific “Corridor Identification Program”. This designation would serve to assist with the federal/state burden/ cost-sharing and would strategically address a significant gap in the national Amtrak system. INTERSTATE COMMERCE The Chamber opposes legislation to limit the ability of Class 1 and short line railroads to conduct interstate commerce. The Chamber supports development of technology and effective transportation strategies to increase the safety and efficiency of interstate commerce. For example, the Chamber supports existing state law allowing for the platooning of semi- trucks. AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES The Chamber supports creation of a regulatory environment that makes Oklahoma a leader in safely using autonomous vehicles and does so without restricting their deployment and further innovation.
ODOT RAIL PLANS The Chamber supports implementation of the Oklahoma State
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INTERMODAL HUB The Chamber will work with the City of Oklahoma City (COTPA), the Class 1 railroads, ODOT, the Oklahoma State Legislature and ACOG to ensure the continued viability of the intermodal hub at the Santa Fe station that will effectively integrate various modes of transportation (including OKC Streetcar, Amtrak, bus, inter- city bus, future bus rapid transit and future commuter rail) and enhance economic development opportunities. The Chamber supports efforts to work with stakeholders to maximize alignment and development of future locally preferred alternatives for mass transportation. STREET IMPROVEMENTS The Chamber supports consideration and pursuit of all available funds for ongoing and future street improvements. OKC STREETCAR The Chamber supports efforts to ensure the continued viability of the Oklahoma City Streetcar system. BUS SERVICE The Chamber supports greater frequency, expanded routes and expanded service hours for bus routes. The Chamber further encourages regional dialogue on providing enhanced bus service. BUS RAPID TRANSIT (BRT) The Chamber supports implementing bus rapid transit on key routes in Oklahoma City tied to the 2005 Fixed Guideway Transit Study and updates to that study, and the implementation of future MAPS 4 route updates. PARKING The Chamber supports continued construction of additional parking and viable park and ride locations, as appropriate on a case-by-case basis, to allow continued economic development downtown. ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION The Chamber supports increased construction of sidewalks, trails and bike lanes. In addition, the Chamber supports proper implementation and consideration of bike shares, car shares, scooter shares and future technologies on a case-by-case basis. FEDERAL ISSUES SURFACE TRANSPORTATION FUNDING The Chamber ultimately supports adequate funding for annual reauthorization of the federal surface transportation program,
Rail Plan and Oklahoma Freight Transportation Plan developed by ODOT.
SEAT BELT LAW TO PROTECT CHILDHOOD SAFETY The Chamber supports passage of a new state law to require those 8-17 years of age to wear seat belts while being transported in the back seat. MUNICIPAL ISSUES OKLAHOMA RIVER BRIDGES The Chamber supports construction of clear span bridges on Interstate 35 across the Oklahoma River. Replacing existing river bridges with iconic bridges would showcase Oklahoma City at the confluence of two major U.S. interstate highways (Interstates 35/40) and facilitate increased sporting events and tourism in the Boathouse District. MASS TRANSIT/COMMUTER RAIL The Chamber supports implementation of transit programs that will best serve central Oklahoma including the Central Oklahoma Transit and Parking Authority (COTPA) 2005 Fixed Guideway Transit Study and its following component: • Analysis of alternatives for high-capacity transit being conducted by the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA). The Chamber further supports efforts by the RTA, consisting of core central Oklahoma cities/population centers, to launch future regional transit services. The Chamber will work with the RTA, Oklahoma State Legislature, COTPA, municipal governments, ODOT and Class 1 railroads to conduct early-stage planning for introducing commuter rail service into downtown Oklahoma City from Norman and Edmond with potential alternative transportation options to Tinker AFB. Further planning consideration should be given to the potential future expansion of rail service to Will Rogers World Airport, with benefits for downtown access/convention center opportunities, and Yukon.
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with continuation of a responsible formula allocation to the states.
to ensure the Greater Oklahoma City region is not designated as being in nonattainment of federal air quality standards.
NATIONAL AIR QUALITY STANDARDS Ground-level ozone concentrations in the OKC area have been high and the region runs a significant risk of violating federal air quality standards (National Ambient Air Quality Standards – NAAQS). Therefore, the Chamber supports maintaining NAAQS at their current level and will oppose any efforts to make them more stringent, which could result in severe negative economic impacts in our region. GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS The Chamber is opposed to federal regulatory efforts seeking to create a new state-level Greenhouse Gas (GHG) performance management measurement on the National Highway System (NHS). Additionally, the Chamber is opposed to requiring ODOT to set their own declining targets from on-road GHG emissions occurring on the NHS. The Chamber will work with ODOT and the Oklahoma Congressional Delegation to advocate against these burdensome requirements that would present severe compliance challenges resulting in a potential loss of federal transportation funding. FREIGHT RAIL REGULATION The Chamber opposes any effort by the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to impose additional economic or operational regulation on freight rail operators.
The Chamber will work with the Oklahoma Congressional delegation and ODOT to secure a permanent funding solution for the Federal Highway Trust Fund (including mass transit programs).
The Chamber supports adequate funding levels to properly maintain the national transportation system.
FEDERAL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT GRANTS The Chamber supports continued funding for the following federal grant programs including, but not limited to: BIP, MEGA, SMALL STARTS, NEW STARTS, INFRA, RAISE, bus and bus facilities grants. MIKE MONRONEY CENTER (FAA)/ASSOCIATED FEDERAL AGENCIES The Chamber supports the continued viability of the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center as a strategically important national asset for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and further supports the continuation of its other essential federal government activities in the state. CLEAN AIR NONATTAINMENT The Chamber will work with the Oklahoma congressional delegation, ODOT, ACOG, the City of Oklahoma City, the private sector and additional partners to take necessary proactive steps
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HOW WE DETERMINE OUR PRIORITIES
As the voice of the business community, the Chamber advocates for pro-business legislation at the Capitol during each legislative session. Prior to the session each year, the Chamber creates its legislative agenda. The Chamber works collaboratively with its partners to promote a strong future for Oklahoma businesses. The intensive process of determining which priorities will be on
the agenda in any given year begins nearly six months in advance and involves input from hundreds of local businesses and government stakeholders.
The following is a visual representation of the Chamber’s process of identifying its annual legislative priorities.
ANNUAL BUSINESS RETENTION & EXPANSION INTERVIEWS WITH 300+ COMPANIES
CONVERSATIONS WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES AND STAKEHOLDERS
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
EDUCATION STEERING COMMITTEE
HEALTHCARE COMMITTEE
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS STEERING COMMITTEE
CHAMBER EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
CHAMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS
AGENDA RELEASED
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It is critical for the business community to support candidates and elected officials who will advance pro-business legislation at the Capitol. The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber’s Government Relations division uses information prepared by the statewide Research Institute for Economic Development (RIED) to identify elected officials’ votes on issues important OKLAHOMA STATE LEGISLATURE PRO-BUSINESS SCORECARDS
to the business community. Alongside the RIED scores, the Chamber also assigns a score based on economic development issues included in the Chamber’s public policy agenda that are important to the prosperity of our region and state. In 2022, the Chamber tracked votes on key pro-business legislation and assigned a score to legislators based on their support for these measures. A selection of the key bills the Chamber scored last session were: Strategic Industrial Tax Credit (HB 3081); Mega-Projects (HB 4455); Expungements/Criminal Justice Reform (HB 3316); Data Privacy (HB 2969); Workers’ Compensation (SB 1458); and Teacher Scholarships (HB 3564). See all scoring criteria at okcchamber.com/scorecard. The following charts represent the voting records for the State House and Senate members based on the issues identified by the Chamber and RIED for 2022. RIED scores for previous years can be found at www.riedreport.com.
DISCLAIMER : All data in these charts are obtained from legislative, government and private sector sources. The data, information and estimations herein are not warranted as to accuracy and are presented as is and without warranty either expressed or implied. The purpose of this material is to inform. Further, the material is not intended to be and does not constitute an endorsement of any kind or as an official source. Interested persons should formulate their own opinions relative to the data, information and estimations herein or to any information related thereto. OKLAHOMA STATE SENATE
2022 RIED
2022 RIED
2022 OKC
2022 OKC
SENATOR
SENATOR
PARTY DIST.
PARTY DIST.
Allen, Mark
R R D
4
72% 63% 72% 73%
Leewright, James Matthews, Kevin McCortney, Greg
R D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
12
86% 83% 50% 53% 84% 90% 48% 53% 97% 93% 85% 76% 86% 83% 87% 95%
Bergstrom, Micheal
1
11
Boren, Mary
16 45% 63%
13
Brooks, Michael Bullard, David Burns, George Coleman, Bill Dahm, Nathan Daniels, Julie
D 44
61% 73% 78% 73% 74% 73% 85% 90% 60% 29%
Merrick, Jake
22 32 27 25 23
R R R R R R
6 5
Montgomery, John Murdock, Casey Newhouse, Joe Paxton, Lonnie Pederson, Roland Pemberton, Dewayne
10 33
29 94% 100% 18 97% 86%
19 79% 80%
David, Kim Dossett, JJ
9
85% 90% 81% 76% NS 52%
D 34
77% 66% 58% 63% 85% 90%
Pugh, Adam Quinn, Marty Rader, Dave Rogers, Cody Rosino, Paul
41
Dossett, Jo Anna Dugger, Tom Floyd, Kay Garvin, Jessica
D R
35
2
21
39 88% 90%
D 46 50% 70%
37 45
79% 83% 76% 80% 84% 83% 58% 70% 85% 90% 85% 90%
R R R R
43
84% 90%
Hall, Chuck
20 75% 83%
Simpson, Frank Standridge, Rob Stanley, Brenda Stephens, Blake
14 15
Hamilton, Warren
7
64% 40%
Haste, John Hicks, Carri
36 84% 90%
42
D 40 52% 53%
3
Howard, Brent
R R R R
38 88% 90% 26 85% 90%
Taylor, Zack
28 85% 83% 8 84% 83%
Jech, Darcy Jett, Shane Kidd, Chris
Thompson, Roger
17 31
52% 50% 82% 90%
Treat, Greg
47 24
86% 95% 79% 80%
Weaver, Darrell Young, George
Kirt, Julia
D 30 52% 63%
D 48 61% 70%
* For RIED Scores, NS denotes “Not Scoring” for missing half the votes.
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OKLAHOMA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2022 RIED
2022 RIED
2022 OKC
2022 OKC
REPRESENTATIVE
REPRESENTATIVE
PARTY DIST.
PARTY DIST.
Baker, Rhonda Bashore, Steve Bell, Merleyn
R R
60 84% 70%
McDugle, Kevin McEntire, Marcus
R R R R R
12
83% 85%
7
85% 83% NS 40% 68% 78%
50 73% 76%
D 45 D 92
Miller, Nicole Mize, Garry
82
88% 76% NS 78% 76% 83% 55% 74%
Bennett, Forrest Blancett, Meloyde
31
D 78 58% 67%
Moore, Anthony Munson, Cyndi
57
Boatman, Jeff
R R D R R R R R R R R R R R R
67
88% 83% 70% 74% NS 42% 85% 83% 77% 55%
D 85
Boles, Brad
51 71
Newton, Carl
R D R R R R R R R R
58 79% 69%
Brewer, Denise
Nichols, Monroe Nollan, Jadine O’Donnell, Terry
72
68% 76%
Burns, Ty
35 70
66 83% 83%
Bush, Carol
23
79% 76% 67% 65% 97% 94% 76% 62% 88% 83%
Caldwell, Chad Caldwell, Trey Conley, Sherrie Cornwell, Rusty
40 77% 71%
Olsen, Jim
2
63 20
74% 78% NS 59% 85% 83% 82% 74% 76% 83%
Osburn, Mike Pae, Daniel
81
62
6
Patzkowsky, Kenton
61
Crosswhite Hader, D.
41
Pfeiffer, John Phillips, Logan Pittman, Ajay
38 97% 100% 24 96% 71%
Culver, Bob Davis, Dean
4
98 88% 76%
D 99 50% 50% D 79 70% 76%
Dempsey, Eddy
1
85% 83%
Provenzano, Melissa Randleman, Randy
Dills, Sheila
69 86% 76% 59 76% 76%
R
15
84% 76%
Dobrinski, Mike Dollens, Mickey
Ranson, Trish Roberts, Dustin Roberts, Eric Roberts, Sean
D 34 58% 74%
D 93
42% 59%
R R R R
21
83% 83% 85% 83%
Echols, Jon
R R R R
90 88% 83%
83
Fetgatter, Scott
16
71% 71%
36 97% 92%
Ford, Ross Frix, Avery
76 87% 78%
Roe, Cynthia
42
86% 71%
13
77% 76%
Rosecrants, Jacob
D 46 58% 69%
Fugate, Andy
D 94 58% 74%
Russ, Todd Sims, Lonnie Smith, David Sneed, Chris Stark, Marilyn Steagall, Jay
R R R R R R R R R R R R
55
NS 64%
Gann, Tom
R D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R D R R R R R R R
8
55% 38% 44% 53% 86% 76%
68 81% 69% 18 76% 76%
Goodwin, Regina
73
Grego, Jim
17
14
71% 62%
Hardin, David Hardin, Tommy Hasenbeck, Toni
86 85% 83% 49 58% 38%
100 74% 83%
43
40% 65% 55% 38% 85% 62%
65
83% 69%
Stearman, Wendi Sterling, Danny Stinson, Preston
11
Hilbert, Kyle
29 88% 76%
27
Hill, Brian
47
85% 62%
96 84% 69%
Humphrey, Justin Johns, Ronny Kannady, Chris Kendrix, Gerrid
19 97% 92%
Strom, Judd Talley, John
10 33
81% 69% 85% 83%
25 91 52
77% 83% 85% 71% 70% 74%
Townley, Tammy Turner, Mauree Vancuren, Mark Virgin, Emily Waldron, John Walke, Collin Wallace, Kevin
48 81% 62%
D 88 67% 76%
Kerbs, Dell
26 78% 76% 30 86% 76% 9 100% 87% 56 85% 84%
R
74 69% 60%
Lawson, Mark Lepak, Mark Lowe, Dick Lowe, Jason Luttrell, Ken Manger, Robert
D 44 64% 60%
D
77
76% 83% 35% 53% 76% 62% 73% 83% 61% 76% 61% 38%
D 87
97 37 101 75
58% 62% 84% 83% 74% 83% 81% 57%
R R R R R R R R
32
West, Josh West, Kevin West, Rick West, Tammy
5
54
Marti, T.J.
3
Martinez, Ryan
39 100% 73% 80 88% 100%
84 85% 83% 28 88% 84%
May, Stan
Williams, Danny
McBride, Mark McCall, Charles
53 22
97% 71% 83% 83%
Wolfley, Max
95
64% 65%
Worthen, Rande
64 85% 83%
* For RIED Scores, NS denotes “Not Scoring” for missing half the votes.
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