The State Chamber, Greater Oklahoma City Chamber and Tulsa Regional Chamber will once again push for pro-growth legislation as the Oklahoma Legislature continues its work at the State Capitol.

The agenda supports policies that drive economic growth for current businesses.  It also supports measures to rethink the way we recruit new businesses to our state.  The chambers also endorse initiatives that protect business owners’ flexibility to operate in a manner that protects their employees and customers.

“We have to make sure Oklahoma is the best place in America to start, run and grow a business. We need to rework the way we do economic development. We also must make sure our current companies have the tools to succeed, like a more skilled, deeper workforce and childcare incentives. Doing this will spur capital investment and economic growth,” said Chad Warmington, State Chamber president and CEO.

The chambers will continue advocating for access to quality health care benefits, as well as investments in transportation and infrastructure improvements.

“This agenda highlights key ways the Oklahoma Legislature can make our state more business friendly. We’ll continue to partner with elected officials on policies like these that position our state for long-term prosperity,” said Mike Neal, president and CEO of the Tulsa Regional Chamber.

The availability of a skilled workforce is vital for the state’s growth, and the agenda includes support for alignment of high school graduation requirements to a student’s pathways towards college, a career or into the military. The agenda also supports expansion and development of additional internship and apprenticeship programs. It also looks to increase the number of credentialed and degreed Oklahomans through innovations and funding for higher education and CareerTech. 

“A well-educated and skilled workforce is essential for economic growth,” said Christy Gillenwater, president and CEO of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber. “By aligning educational programs with industry needs, we ensure that Oklahomans are prepared for the jobs of the future. This mission is critical to propelling our state’s economic trajectory and allowing more citizens to thrive.”

2024 Joint Legislative Agenda:

The State Chamber, Greater OKC Chamber and Tulsa Regional Chamber

GENERAL

1.    Economic Development Programs

The Chambers support strengthening the state’s economic development process and tools, which are critical in attracting new businesses and helping existing companies grow. We support appropriate reforms at the Department of Commerce to modernize business recruitment and expansion, while protecting community development programs and tools to develop our tourism industry.

The Chambers support efforts to support and incentivize growing industries in Oklahoma such as film and biotechnology to capitalize on momentum and expand the state’s economy.

2.    Workers’ Compensation Reform

The Chambers support defending and improving the administrative workers’ compensation system.

3.    Gun Legislation

The Chambers are fully supportive of the 2^nd 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.    Childcare

The Chambers support incentivizing access to quality childcare options to address this severe workforce participation issue that serves as a barrier to economic development.

6.    Employment Protections

The Chambers oppose actions that interfere with a business’ employer-employee relationship agreements, including but not limited to occupational health & safety protocol and benefit offerings, such as health and retirement.

HEALTH CARE

7.    Ensuring Access to Health Professionals

The Chambers support initiatives that address health care disparities to ensure individuals and businesses have access to health professionals (physicians, nurses, mental health). This includes incentivizing recruitment and retention in rural and underserved areas, appropriate expansion of the use of technology platforms, such as telehealth and telemedicine, in health settings.

8.    Implementing Health Insurance Coverage to More Oklahomans

As the state seeks to improve health outcomes and to modernize payment models to incentivize value within the state's Medicaid system, the Chambers support the successful 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 system-wide basis.

TRANSPORTATION

9.    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. We support adequate funding provided up to the ROADS fund cap (currently $590m) and will consider support for future increases in the cap. 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.

10.  ACCESS Oklahoma

The Chambers support the Advancing and Connecting Communities and Economies Safely Statewide (ACCESS) Oklahoma Program to enhance safety, connectivity, access, and economic development across the state's turnpike system.

11.   Air Traffic Control Workforce

The Chambers support expanding Oklahoma’s aerospace engineering tax credit to include federal/private air traffic control instructors to incentivize Oklahoma to remain a key center for training and national air safety.

EDUCATION

12.  Workforce Ready

Oklahoma needs more of its citizens educated, trained and ready to work, whether they have an industry certification, degree or other training targeted toward in-demand skills. The Chambers support:

• Aligning high school graduation requirements to a student’s pathways towards college, a career or into the military.
• Increasing the number of credentialed and degreed Oklahomans through innovations and funding for higher education and Career Tech.
• Development of more work-based learning opportunities, such as internships and apprenticeship programs, and incentives for employers who host work-based learning opportunities.