OKC VeloCity | Chamber sets priorities for 2023 legislative session
Government Legislature Politics

Chamber sets priorities for 2023 legislative session

By Chamber Staff / Policy / January 5, 2023

The Chamber’s board of directors recently adopted a comprehensive set of public policy priorities heading into the 2023 legislative session that are crucial to creating a strong future for Oklahoma businesses. Below is an excerpt of key priorities. View the full list at okcchamber.com/legislative.

COUNTY GOVERNMENT REFORM

The Chamber supports empowering Oklahoma counties to alter their form of government to meet their unique needs.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

The Chamber supports retaining and strengthening the state’s premier economic/community development programs which are critical in attracting new businesses to the state, assisting existing companies expand and encouraging investment in communities across the state.

Following are the key programs the Chamber will seek to protect:

  • Quality Jobs Act, 21st Century QJA, Small Employer QJA and the Prime Contractor QJA
  • Aerospace Engineer Tax Credit
  • Investment/New Jobs Tax Credit
  • Historical Building Rehabilitation Tax Credit
  • Cybersecurity/Software Engineer Tax Credit
  • Five-year Ad Valorem Abatement and Sales Tax Exemption for Manufacturing Facilities
  • Regional Home Office Insurance Premium Tax Credit

TOURISM DEVELOPMENT ACT

The Chamber will support efforts to raise the annual funding cap for the Tourism Development Act from $15 million to $30 million.

TAX REFORM

The Chamber supports reforming the tax code to better incentivize companies to locate/invest in Oklahoma.

ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY

The Chamber supports the development of Advanced Air Mobility in OKC and the state, through public/ private partnerships, including adequate funding of utility and power requirements necessary for the implementation of safe and reliable autonomous air vehicles (passenger/cargo).

GUN LEGISLATION

The Chamber supports the 2nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the responsible expansion of gun-owner’s rights in Oklahoma. However, the Chamber will oppose legislation that would allow open/concealed carry of guns into high-economic impact events (many of which are required by contract to prohibit weapons), including horse shows, the Oklahoma State Fair, Olympic Qualifiers on the Oklahoma River, high school basketball and wrestling tournaments at the State Fairgrounds and NCAA and Big XII sporting events.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE/SENTENCING REFORM

The Chamber supports legislation and funding for sentencing 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 enter the workforce more quickly. The Chamber also supports: 1) continuing smart sentencing reform; 2) improving bail and jail practices; 3) making reentry and supervision improvements to reduce fines and fees, enhance workforce opportunities and increase public safety; and 4) securing additional treatment funding.

MARIJUANA

The Chamber opposes State Question 820, which would allow recreational marijuana for persons 21 or older.

MAJOR STATE TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS

The Chamber supports a continued focus on improvements, mobility and traffic management on the urban Oklahoma City interstate system (I-35, I-44, I-40, I-235) to promote economic development and, therefore, will advocate for full funding and timely completion of work on the following major interchanges/projects:

  • I-44/I-235 Interchange
  • I-240/I-35 (Crossroads Interchange)
  • I-35/I-44 (Remington Park)
  • I-44/I-40 (K Interchange/Near State Fairgrounds) West to MacArthur on I-40
  • Necessary improvements to I-40 corridor east of I-35 (Tinker Air Force Base) including expansion of I-40 facility to six lanes from Douglas Boulevard to Shawnee
  • I-35/I-40 Dallas Junction and I-35 (including Oklahoma River Bridges)
  • Future development of I-44 corridor from I-40 to SH-62, including SH 152/Airport Road, (southwest OKC to Newcastle) to better provide for future mobility needs due to ongoing commercial expansion.

STATE TURNPIKE PLAN

The Chamber supports the 15-year, $5 billion ACCESS Oklahoma Plan to develop a highly effective and viable state turnpike system, including construction of new access points at appropriate locations across Oklahoma to enhance safety, access and promote economic development. As part of this long-range plan, the Chamber specifically supports construction of the following new alignment high-speed expressway facilities in the Oklahoma City region and associated improvements:

  • John Kilpatrick Turnpike widening from I-40 to I-35, to increase access and improve safety
  • Outer Loop: East West Connector, expanding mobility of south Oklahoma City
  • Outer Loop: Tri-City Connector, to increase access and offer alternative routes from I-40 to I-44 and, ultimately, I-35
  • South Extension: End connector south to I-35 south of Norman.

ODOT EIGHT-YEAR PLAN

The Chamber supports providing adequate annual dedicated funding necessary to preserve and implement the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s eight-year construction work plan. Furthermore, the Chamber will strongly oppose any effort to divert dedicated transportation funding to other areas of government.

HEARTLAND FLYER

The Chamber supports taking active steps to extend the Heartland Flyer Amtrak service to Newton, Kan., which would connect Oklahoma City to Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago and other locations on the national Amtrak system. Furthermore, the Chamber supports the designation of the entire Heartland Flyer line (Fort Worth – Oklahoma City – Newton – National Network) as a national Amtrak route within the Federal Rail Administration’s specific “Corridor Identification Program.” This designation would serve to assist with the federal/state burden/cost-sharing and would strategically address a significant gap in the national Amtrak system.

OKLAHOMA RIVER BRIDGES

The Chamber supports construction of clear span bridges on Interstate 35 across the Oklahoma River. Replacing existing river bridges with iconic bridges would showcase Oklahoma City at the confluence of two major U.S. interstate highways (Interstates 35/40) and facilitate increased sporting events and tourism in the Boathouse District.

MASS TRANSIT/COMMUTER RAIL

The Chamber supports implementation of transit programs that will best serve central Oklahoma including the Central Oklahoma Transit and Parking Authority (COTPA) 2005 Fixed Guideway Transit Study and its following component:

  • Analysis of alternatives for high-capacity transit being conducted by the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA). The Chamber further supports efforts by the RTA, consisting of core central Oklahoma cities/population centers, to launch future regional transit services. The Chamber will work with the RTA, Oklahoma State Legislature, COTPA, municipal governments, ODOT and Class 1 railroads to conduct early-stage planning for introducing commuter rail service into downtown Oklahoma City from Norman and Edmond with potential alternative transportation options to Tinker AFB. Further planning consideration should be given to the potential future expansion of rail service to Will Rogers World Airport, with benefits for downtown access/convention center opportunities, and Yukon.

MIKE MONRONEY CENTER (FAA)/ASSOCIATED FEDERAL AGENCIES

The Chamber supports the continued viability of the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center as a strategically important national asset for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and further supports the continuation of its other essential federal government activities in the state.

GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

The Chamber is opposed to federal regulatory efforts seeking to create a new state-level Greenhouse Gas (GHG) performance management measurement on the National Highway System (NHS). Additionally, the Chamber is opposed to requiring ODOT to set their own declining targets from on-road GHG emissions occurring on the NHS. The Chamber will work with ODOT and the Oklahoma Congressional Delegation to advocate against these burdensome requirements that would present severe compliance challenges resulting in a potential loss of federal transportation funding.

MEDICAID REFORM

As the state seeks to improve health outcomes and modernize payment models to incentivize value within the state’s Medicaid system, the Chamber supports the ongoing implementation of a statewide Medicaid Managed Care Model. We further believe this model will most effectively address the state’s total health care needs on a systemwide basis.

EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INSURANCE SECURITY ACT (ERISA) PROTECTIONS

The Chamber opposes legislative efforts to undermine federal ERISA protections.

LONG-TERM, STRATEGIC EDUCATION FUNDING

The Chamber supports development of a long-term, strategic plan that will enable improvement in classroom teaching and academic performance. This should include increasing the minimum number of instructional hours, currently 1,080 hours, required for a complete school year. We also support ongoing funding to enable schools to achieve targeted classroom sizes.

TEACHER PREPARATION, RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION

Oklahoma has a teacher shortage. Oklahoma needs to improve our teacher preparation pipeline systems to train, attract and retain more high-quality teachers. We support legislation to:

  • Reward teacher performance and experience.
  • Incentivize teachers to work in high-priority areas and receive training to help them prepare for challenges facing students such as being English language learners, living in high poverty and from urban areas.
  • Support specialized “grow-your-own” training initiatives such as the Foundation for OKCPS Bilingual & Diversity Teacher Pipeline program and UCO’s Urban Teacher Preparation Academy.
  • Implement teacher retention and mentor teacher programs.
  • Support continued investment in the “Inspired to Teach” scholarship and incentive program.
  • Increase access to STEM education and training opportunities.

ADJUNCT, ALTERNATIVE AND EMERGENCY CERTIFIED TEACHERS

The Chamber recognizes the need for Adjunct, Alternative and Emergency certified teachers will continue to increase. We support efforts to increase retention and make sure these teachers are as prepared as possible and as quickly as possible. We support:

  • Alternative pathways, such as Teach for America, which enhance the diversity of the teaching profession.
  • Providing additional pre- and post-school year pathway preparation program that comprehensively prepare teachers who meet state requirements.
  • Implementing incentives, such as stipends, scholarships or salary grade adjustments, to increase completion of comprehensive professional development and reduce the timeframe it takes to complete comprehensive professional development.

HIGHER EDUCATION – REFORM AND INVESTMENT

We urge the higher education system to pursue significant reform to better meet employer needs. The business community supports the following reforms:

  • Higher education funding specifically directed to produce graduates with degrees in critical occupations such as engineering, nursing and IT/ software/cybersecurity.
  • Increased accountability and annual metrics that motivate institutions to increase the number of graduates by requiring timely reporting of degrees produced in critical occupations.
  • Innovative approaches to curriculum and degree offerings, including ongoing analysis of in-demand degree programs and creation of non-degree programs/certificates that create a workforce with needed skills.
  • Efforts to maximize funding through consolidation and sharing of services, programs and instructors.
  • New partnerships between four-year institutions, CareerTechs and community colleges that enable schools to share resources, staff and facilities.

CAREER TECH – BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY TRAINING

The Oklahoma CareerTech system is acknowledged as one of the top systems in the nation. CareerTech is a key ingredient in attracting industry to Oklahoma through its Training for Industry Program (TIP). The Chamber supports funding to assure training needs for new and existing industry. The business community urges the system to focus on producing a workforce that can meet the needs of in-demand and critical occupations.

The Chamber will speak on behalf of its members at the State Capitol throughout the legislative session. To stay informed of their efforts, sign up for alerts at okcbusinessadvocate.com.