Capitol Cliff Notes with Rep. Ty Burns

We spent the week finishing hearing Senate bills on the House floor. In total, both chambers approved 491 bills, with the House approving 230 Senate measures and the Senate passing 261 House bills.

On Tuesday, the Governor signed 42 bills into law and vetoed 11 bills. When a bill reaches the Governor’s desk, he has three options. He can sign it, making it a law. He can veto it, sending it back to the Legislature. Or, he can choose to take no action. If he takes no action for five days during the legislative session, it becomes law without his signature.

I authored two bills vetoed by the Governor: House Bill 3802 and Senate Bill 1759. The Legislature needs a two-thirds vote of each chamber to override a veto. I am unsure if we will override the veto, but I will keep you all posted.

Now that we have finished deadline week, our focus will turn to the state budget. Last week, Speaker McCall and Chairman Wallace announced their proposal for the FY25 budget, which is about $12.63 billion. The House worked closely with agency heads for several months, making the budget reflect our constituents’ needs.

In our commitment to transparency, the House has launched a user-friendly Budget Transparency Portal, accessible on the House website (okhouse.gov). This portal provides real-time updates on budget negotiations and developments.

Passing a state budget is one of the most important parts of our job. In fact, it is the only thing that the Oklahoma Constitution requires us to do. We have until the last Friday in May to deliver a general appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2025, which starts on July 1, to the Governor’s desk.

Now for some exciting news: The second annual Military Trail Ruck-Off will take place on May 18, beginning at 7 a.m. It will start in Guthrie at the WPA. Registration will open soon, so remember to keep an eye out for the announcement in the next week or so.

It is truly an honor and privilege to represent you at the State Capitol. Please do not ‎‎hesitate to contact me at 405-557-7344 or [email protected].

Rep. Ty Burns, a Republican, serves District 35 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, which covers Creek, Noble, Osage, Pawnee and Payne counties.