2022 joint legislative agenda: The State Chamber, Greater OKC Chamber and Tulsa Regional Chamber

The State Chamber, the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber and the Tulsa Regional Chamber (Chambers) unveiled a joint legislative agenda ahead of the 2022 Oklahoma legislative session. Read on for the full agenda.

GENERAL ISSUES

1. Economic Development Programs

The Chambers support retaining and strengthening the state’s economic development programs, which have proven to be critical tools in attracting new businesses, creating jobs, driving investment, and helping existing companies expand. We support tools such as the Oklahoma Incentive Evaluation Commission (IEC) to ensure accountability and cost-efficiency. The Chambers will work to ensure businesses are able to continue utilizing these programs, despite the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

2. Workers’ Compensation Reform

The Chambers support defending and improving the comprehensive workers’ compensation reform legislation passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor.

3. Gun Legislation

The Chambers are fully supportive of the 2nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the responsible expansion of gun-owners’ rights in Oklahoma. However, the Chambers will oppose legislation that would negate the rights of businesses, property owners and event hosts from prohibiting firearms. The Chambers will also oppose legislation that would allow guns to be carried on college campuses.

4. Criminal Justice Reform

The Chambers support legislation and funding for 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 re-enter the workforce more quickly, while balancing public safety needs.

5. Workplace Vaccination Policies

The Chambers oppose actions to limit employers’ ability to set their own workplace vaccination policy.

HEALTH CARE ISSUES

6. Ensuring Access to Health Professionals

Support initiatives that address health care disparities to ensure individuals and businesses have access to health professionals. This includes incentivizing recruitment and retention in rural and underserved areas, appropriate expansion of the use of technology platforms in health settings and expanding residency programs at the state’s medical schools coupled with long-term funding streams to dedicate to these initiatives. 

7. Implementing Health Insurance Coverage to More Oklahomans

Successfully implement Medicaid expansion in the most effective and efficient way to provide the best health outcomes for Oklahomans.

TRANSPORTATION ISSUES

8. Continued Transportation Improvements

The Chambers support providing adequate annual dedicated funding necessary to preserve and implement the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) eight-year construction work plan. Furthermore, the Chambers will strongly oppose any effort to divert dedicated transportation funding to other areas of government and will support continued progress on bridge improvements and a viable state turnpike system.

EDUCATION ISSUES

9. Career Readiness and Certification

Oklahoma needs more of its workforce to have the opportunity to earn post-secondary education, including certifications, degrees and other training targeted toward in-demand skills and industry needs. The Chambers support:

• Increasing the number of credentialed and degreed Oklahomans through innovations and funding for higher education and CareerTech.
• Development of more work-based learning opportunities, such as internships and apprenticeship programs, and incentives for employers who host work-based learning opportunities.

10. Teacher Incentives

The Chambers support heightened teacher recruitment efforts, rewards for teacher performance and experience and incentives for teachers to work in high-priority areas.