Capitol Update from Rep. Luttrell

We had a very busy week in the House last week as we reached the deadline for bills to be passed in the chamber opposite of their origin. April 28 was the third-reading deadline for these bills and in total the Senate ended up passing 242 House measures, while the House advanced 214 Senate measures.

We started this session with 1,502 measures filed in the House and 797 in the Senate. We also had 1701 House measures and 796 Senate measures still available from the first session of the 58th Legislature. This shows the amount of cutting that goes on throughout the legislative process.

Our work is not yet completed. Amended bills will still have to return to their chamber of origin to win final passage. If amendments are not accepted, the measures can be sent to conference committee where final language is deliberated. Bills that emerge with a do pass recommendation from conference committee face a final vote in each chamber before advancing to the governor for his consideration of signing them into law.

I’m proud of the work that has been done on issues including business, education and veterans issues.

We approved an incentive package to attract a massive business investment into our state that would provide thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in revenue.

Additionally, we passed House Bill 1800 which extends in-state tuition status to spouses and dependents of members of our Armed Forces.

One of the bills I was most honored to vote for is House Bill 1067 which creates the Dignity in Burial Act. This act directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish a program to ensure dignified burials for veterans who lacked the financial capability prior to their death to prepare or provide for internment or cremation.

Finally, I was proud to have Randall and Becky Coon from Ponca City Veterans Landing recognized on the House Floor by the Veterans Council and honored as Veteran Family of the Year! We love our veterans here in the House.

That’s it for this week! If I can help you with anything, feel free to call my Capitol office at (405) 557-7355 or email me at [email protected].

Ken Luttrell represents District 37 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, which includes parts of Kay and Osage counties.