Sen. Hall: Excited for additional committee leadership positions

We recently received our committee assignments for the 59^th Legislature, and I am very excited about the additional committee leadership positions I’ve been given, as well as the appointments that mark my continued service.

I’m extremely honored to have been asked to continue as vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.  I believe our budget process has never been stronger as we work to be transparent, fiscally conservative, and be the best stewards possible of the public resources we’re charged with overseeing.  I’m grateful for President Pro Tempore Greg Treat’s faith in my abilities and work, and for the opportunity to continue serving with our chair, Sen. Roger Thompson.  Writing and passing a balanced budget is the most important constitutional task assigned to the Legislature, and it ultimately impacts every single person in our state.  I don’t take this responsibility lightly, and am proud to continue my service as vice chair.

I’ve also been appointed to serve as chair of a new committee – the Appropriations Subcommittee on OMES/ARPA Oversight.  OMES is the Office of Management and Enterprise Services, assisting state agencies with services in a range of areas, like finance, property, purchasing, human resources, and technology.  It’s also one of the largest agencies in state government.  ARPA is the federal American Rescue Plan Act, under which we were allocated close to $2 billion to help Oklahoma recover and move forward after the COVID pandemic exposed and worsened gaps in services and infrastructure.  The Legislature vetted and approved specific projects aimed at addressing these issues.  Our oversight committee will dive into how those ARPA dollars are being utilized to ensure they align with legislative intent and federal guidelines, and provide an important check and balance for OMES.

In addition, I’ve been named to serve as vice chair of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee.  These areas go hand in hand, and have a direct impact on District 20 and the entire state.  I will also continue my service on the Senate Finance Committee, and have been given a seat on the Senate Judiciary Committee. I am also a member of the Health and Human Services Committee.

While the depth and breadth of my combined assignments may seem daunting, I look forward to having an even larger role in determining a range of public policy and budgetary decisions as we work to create a stronger future for Oklahoma.  These are all very positive developments for our district as well.  I’m grateful for every new and expanded opportunity that has been extended to me to be of service to this district and our state.

In closing, I want to once again take this opportunity to say thank you for the faith you’ve placed in me to serve you in the Oklahoma Senate, and to wish each of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Please feel free to contact my Capitol office with any questions or concerns you may have about legislation or other issues impacting our state at 405-521-5628 or at [email protected].