When we concluded the 2019 legislative session in June, it marked the end of a highly productive and successful legislative session. While the beginning of the 2020 session is still about half a year away, we’re already getting ready. Part of that work involves following up on legislative efforts instituted in 2019 as well as […]
Too often, we forget to pause and think about the real reason for the holidays we celebrate as a nation. Memorial Day is not just a three-day weekend to kick-off summer vacations with cook-outs and lake trips—it’s a somber remembrance of every American who died fighting for our freedom and independence. Labor Day is not […]
State Sen. Chuck Hall, R- Perry, has been chosen to serve on a bipartisan, bicameral oversight committee for the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency (LOFT). Creating the office was a top agenda goal during the 2019 Legislative Session in order to help improve government transparency and accountability. Historically, legislators have had to rely on state […]
The 2019 legislative session is officially adjourned. When the session began there was a strong feeling of optimism about what could be accomplished—by the time we concluded our work, it was obvious that those hopes were right on target. This was an excellent session for the citizens of our great state. We were able to […]
Without a doubt, no one agency, no one elected official ever gets everything they want in the budget. But I believe when you take into account the priorities we outlined at the beginning of the session and our desire to strengthen our state’s core services, the 2020 fiscal year budget is the top achievement of […]
With our passage of legislation giving the governor the power to directly hire and fire directors at five of the state’s top agencies, the confirmation process is even more important. It means we must thoroughly vet nominees as they appear before our committees to determine if that nomination should proceed to the floor. It’s a […]
Chris Evans visits with Rep. Garry Mize, Rep. John Pfeiffer and Senator Chuck Hall on the ongoing issues during the current legislative session. Each legislator discusses the big issues taking place inside the State Capitol. The Roundup is a City of Guthrie production in partnership with Guthrie News Page.
Once again, we’re heading into another major deadline—April 25 is the last day for the full Senate to vote on bills that were sent over by the House. That deadline comes just two weeks after the final day for Senate committees to consider legislation from across the rotunda. We had a short session week last […]
With the second week of April underway, we are ten weeks into the 2019 legislative session, and quickly approaching the Thursday, April 11 deadline for Senate committees to consider legislation that was originally introduced in the House of Representatives. I serve as vice-chair of the Senate Finance Committee, and from time to time I am […]
The 48 men and women who serve in the State Senate come from every single part of the state. Some have to drive many hours to get to Oklahoma City each week and can’t easily make quick trips back to their district during the week for special events or family occasions. I feel fortunate that […]
Chris Evans visits with Rep. Garry Mize, Rep. John Pfeiffer and Senator Chuck Hall on the first six weeks of the legislative session on The Roundup. Each legislator discusses the big issues taking place inside the State Capitol. The Roundup is a City of Guthrie production in partnership with Guthrie News Page. If you prefer […]
The most important responsibility the Legislature is charged with is to write and pass a balanced budget on behalf of the citizens of this state. Just like a family budgeting their dollars, we know there will always be more needs and wants than resources—so just like that family, it’s our job to prioritize the state’s […]
By the end of this week we will have completed the first month of the of the 2019 session and passed the February 28 deadline for bills introduced in the Senate to be voted on by Senate Committees. One thing we’ve been waiting for is the February meeting of the State Board of Equalization. This […]
The last several weeks have been a roller coaster ride as my fellow freshmen members of the Senate and I have been preparing for the 2019 legislative session. We’ve been through caucus meetings, orientation and training sessions, awaiting our committee appointments then working with staff to get bills filed ahead of the session. It went […]
