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9.30.22 – Oklahoman 

Oklahoma lawmakers reconvened a special legislative session on Thursday to spend more than $1 billion in federal stimulus funds, $250 million for economic development projects and $20 million for emergency drought relief.

The state Capitol was a flurry of activity as the lawmakers approved dozens of bills to spend the bulk of the state’s $1.87 billion in American Rescue Plan funds.

The bills now go to Gov. Kevin Stitt’s desk.

What to know about the American Rescue Plan projects

Lawmakers approved about $1.4 billion in federal stimulus funds for dozens of projects after vetting 1,400 requests that added up to more than $18 billion.

Major projects include expanding high-speed broadband to rural parts of the state, improving water infrastructure and increasing access to health care.

Major projects in the Oklahoma City area include funding for Oklahoma City to move a water line near Tinker Air Force Base and a wastewater infrastructure project aimed at attracting new mega-employers to the area.

Lawmakers approved $87 million to replace the state’s largest psychiatric hospital, Griffin Memorial in Norman. There’s also $8 million to attract biopharmaceutical workers to the Oklahoma City innovation district and $20 million to create the Oklahoma Aviation Academy at Max Westheimer Airport in Norman.

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Lawmakers put off action on human service projects

Lawmakers did not act on legislation that would have appropriated roughly $95 million in stimulus funds for a variety of projects that included expanding child care services, aid for victims of domestic violence, money for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Oklahoma, funding to add more Oasis Fresh Market locations and a cash infusion to expand YMCA locations in nine counties.

The House and Senate disagreed on the details of the legislation, although it’s unclear what specifically led to the dispute.

Discussions are ongoing to answer questions about some of the projects in an effort to advance them at a later date, said John Estus, spokesman for House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka.

“They are not dead, just under further discussion,” he said.

Rural economic development projects get cash infusion

Rural industrial parks and aeronautics facilities will get a cash infusion due to $250 million lawmakers set aside for economic development projects.

“The main thing we hear from businesses considering investment in Oklahoma is that they want an educated workforce and infrastructure that can support their investment,” said House Speaker Pro Tempore Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow. “The PREP (Progressing Rural Economic Prosperity) projects address these critical needs, and more, as we lay the groundwork for the exciting new jobs of tomorrow.”

The PREP funds will provide infrastructure at industrial parks and improvements at rural airports. Lawmakers picked the PREP projects in consultation with the Oklahoma Department of Commerce.

Companies that are looking to relocate are seeking sites that are already equipped with water lines, broadband service and other necessary infrastructure, said Commerce Department spokeswoman Amy Blackburn.

“99 times out of 100, a business is going to go to the (site) that already has all the infrastructure,” she said. “They’re not going to wait on us to make those investments.”

Lawmakers also set aside $52 million in American Rescue Plan funds to supplement the PREP funds.

Lawmakers earmark $20 million for drought relief

The Legislature approved $20 million in emergency drought relief from the state’s General Revenue Fund.

This follows $3 million in drought relief funds lawmakers appropriated in May. The Emergency Drought Commission will decide how the funds are divvied up.

Lawmakers saw the drought coming, but additional relief is needed, said Senate Majority Floor Leader Greg McCortney, R-Ada.

“It is so much worse than we anticipated,” he said.

More than half of the state is facing extreme drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Will Stitt sign or veto the bills?

Earlier this week, Stitt said he will review all of the bills that come to his desk. He also indicated he won’t shy away from using his veto power.

“If there’s bad legislation, I’ll veto it,” he told reporters Tuesday.

Stitt has been critical of the Legislature’s handling of American Rescue Plan funds and suggested lawmakers are catering to special interests when prioritizing projects. Lawmakers have rebuked Stitt’s comments and pointed to the public process in which they narrowed down all of the requests for stimulus funds.

Top lawmakers called the special session on stimulus spending in order to have a greater role in distributing the American Rescue Plan dollars. Legislative leaders previously expressed frustration with the slow pace in which the executive branch was distributing the funds.

The governor has not signed any of the previous American Rescue Plan bills lawmakers sent to his desk. He line-item vetoed one bill and let the others become law without his signature.

Should Stitt veto any of the bills, lawmakers will likely attempt to override the vetoes before the special session ends Oct. 14. The Legislature must muster two-thirds majorities in both chambers in order to override any vetoes.