2023 Joint Legislative Agenda: The State Chamber, Greater OKC Chamber and Tulsa Regional Chamber
2023 Joint Legislative Agenda:
The State Chamber, Greater OKC Chamber and Tulsa Regional Chamber
GENERAL
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.
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 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
6. Ensuring Access to Health Professionals
The Chambers 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
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 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 system-wide basis.
TRANSPORTATION
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.
9. ACCESS Oklahoma Program
The Chambers support the 15-year, $5 billion ACCESS Oklahoma Program to enhance safety, connectivity, access, and economic development across the state’s turnpike system.
EDUCATION
10. 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.
