Oklahoma Spotlight: Oklahoma Senator Julia Kirt

The “Oklahoma Spotlight” highlights elected officials in our state and community.

Meet Oklahoma Senator Julia Kirt, a friend to the business community, who represents District 30 including parts of northwest Oklahoma City, Bethany and Warr Acres.

Chamber: Can you please share a brief background and what motivated you to run for the Oklahoma State Senate?

Sen. Kirt: With two kids in Oklahoma City Public Schools, I got motivated to run as I learned more about state decisions impacting our neighborhood schools. I have always been a problem solver and willing to collaborate with all types of people. For 20 years, I worked to improve our state’s leading nonprofit organizations. I worked with artists and creative businesses statewide, which gave me a good taste of the amazing potential of Oklahomans. Then I led an advocacy organization focused on improving the economy, education, and communities through the arts. Those experiences shaped my understanding of the Legislature’s work and helped me see that I had role to play in representing my community in those decisions.

Chamber: Can you please share with us details on an important legislative initiative you are working on this session?

Sen. Kirt: This year, I have been working with colleagues to improve our state’s housing stability and affordability. One bill would create an affordable housing commission for the state to develop a long-term strategic plan. Right now, Oklahoma is short 71,000 homes for our current population, and we do not yet have a plan to fill that gap. This commission will help us work together on real housing solutions. Housing is essential to economic growth. As our state continues to focus on workforce development to help existing businesses expand and bring new businesses to Oklahoma, affordable housing must be prioritized. Everyone needs a home, and affordable housing and economic stability go hand in hand. Beyond housing inventory, we also need to prevent evictions and increase home ownership. Developing a comprehensive policy that empowers more Oklahomans to own a home is ultimately good for our entire state.

Chamber: If you could solve one long-term challenge facing Oklahoma, which one would it be and why?

Sen. Kirt: For Oklahomans to thrive, we must reduce the untreated mental health conditions that impact our economy, workforce, children, law enforcement and veterans. I am a founding member and Co-Chair of the Legislative Mental Health Caucus, a bipartisan group collaborating to implement the most impactful policies feasible. One long term strategy we are working on now is on growing the behavioral health workforce to meet the needs of our state. Short term that means speeding up the licensure process for social workers and adding psychiatry residency slots and psychology clinical fellowships in our state. We know that with intentional work, we can help more Oklahomans access the care they need and prevent more crises.

After watching and helping our amazing progress as a city, I know how much we can achieve through ambitious visions and collaborative work.