First of all, I’m very pleased to update you on the legislation I carried in the Senate to mitigate the impact of last February’s historic winter storms. Senate Bills 1049 and 1050 have been signed into law, enabling us to secure the approximately $4.5 billion in energy costs from those storms. The steps we’ve taken will prevent huge spikes in everyone’s utility bills, which could have been in the thousands of dollars for individual customers, and instead will spread those costs out over a period of years.
If we’d done nothing, the impact on our seniors, families, individuals and small and large businesses throughout Oklahoma would have been financially devastating, and it would have done incredible damage to our state’s economy. I truly believe these may have been two of most important bills approved this session, and certainly among the most important I’ve ever presented in the Legislature. I’m extremely grateful for the support of my fellow members and Governor Stitt.
In addition, the governor has signed another nine measures so far that I authored in the Senate and House this session, and other measures are still working their way through the Legislature.
One of those measures now signed into law is Senate Bill 789, dealing with the state’s unemployment insurance trust fund. Under current state law, if the fund dips below a cap of $25 million, it automatically triggers a surcharge on businesses of about 33 percent. That would be devastating to Oklahoma businesses, especially as we are still recovering from the pandemic. We were fortunate be cause going into it, our fund was the fifth most solvent in the United States. We remained above the threshold while about half of the states in the country had to scramble to replenish their funds. Nevertheless, our fund was seriously depleted after record unemployment claims were filed during the pandemic. This legislation will ensure the solvency of the trust fund, but not solely on the backs of our businesses, by utilizing specific federal funds to help us achieve stability.
Another of my measures signed into law was House Bill 2873, which universally recognizes the education, training and skills required and skills earned in another state. As we seek to attract new businesses and grow our local communities, this bill paves the way for licensees coming to Oklahoma while treating in-state applicants fairly.
The governor also signed House Bill 2295 into law, which I authored in the Senate. Under this new law, a person arrested for the violation of a protective order, an act of domestic violence, domestic abuse, stalking or harassment will no longer be eligible for a personal recognizance bond. I believe this measure will better assist victims of these crimes. By requiring those charged to put up a cash bond, victims should have more time to get to a secure place.
I thank you for the privilege of being your voice at the State Capitol. If you have any questions or concerns about legislation or other issues at the state level, please feel free to contact my office by calling 405-521-5528, or email James.Leewright@oksenate.g ov.