Oklahoma State University recently celebrated the Legislature’s historic $250 million investment in its veterinary medicine program. I was honored to deliver remarks on behalf of the Senate at a well-attended ceremony marking this major milestone. OSU is laying the groundwork for a new, 255,000-square-foot veterinary teaching hospital — a state-of-the-art facility that will replace the current building, which was constructed nearly 50 years ago to serve about 60 students and now accommodates more than twice that number.
Most of Oklahoma’s rural counties have a shortage of veterinarians. This new facility will be used to train and educate the next generation of world-class vets, who are vital to the state’s thriving agriculture industry. With this new facility, OSU will be able to attract top-tier students and faculty who will help the College of Veterinary Medicine reclaim its place as the nation’s leading veterinary school. Construction of the new teaching hospital will begin next year.
In other news, I was proud to be the Senate author of House Bill 2778, which takes meaningful steps toward strengthening Oklahoma’s child care workforce. This bill establishes a three-year pilot program to help cover the cost of child care for daycare employees who work at least 20 hours per week. Access to safe and reliable child care is essential for parents who want to return to work. Unfortunately, the pandemic resulted in the closure of many daycare facilities across the state, exacerbating an existing shortage that continues to impact working parents.
One of the barriers to expanding child care access is the difficulty providers face in hiring and retaining qualified staff. By easing daycare costs for employees, this program will help providers attract and retain talented workers, including those who’ve recently started families. I’m hopeful this initiative will play a role in rebuilding and stabilizing our child care infrastructure, which will help keep Oklahoma’s economy strong.
On the financial front, Oklahoma’s General Revenue Fund collections for fiscal year 2025 exceeded projections for the fifth straight year, which is a strong sign of economic growth. Revenue collections totaled $8.7 billion, which was $224 million above projections for the year. In total, revenue collections were up $279 million, or 3.3%, from the previous year. This largely stems from an increase in income tax collections, which is a clear sign the state is on the right track with its fiscal policies.
Lastly, I enjoyed attending the recent Guthrie convocation as everyone geared up for the new school year. I hope all the students, teachers and parents throughout my Senate district have a wonderful school year. I’m also grateful for the strong working relationships I have with the superintendents throughout the district.
As always, it’s an honor and a privilege to serve the people of Senate District 20.
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 Chuck.Hall@oksenate.gov.
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