TULSA, OKLA (KTUL) — Governor Kevin Stitt has signed 33 bills into law, including House Bill 4043, which provides a major investment in the state’s emergency response capabilities.
The legislation allocates $1 million to the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management to support Oklahoma Task Force 1, an elite, multi-agency urban search and rescue team that responds to disasters in Oklahoma and across the nation.
“This is a very important group of individuals and dogs,” Haste said. “They go out to help with search and rescue, but also to help bring closure.”
Oklahoma Task Force One is composed of highly trained firefighters, emergency responders, and K-9 units that are deployed during major incidents such as tornadoes, floods, and structural collapses.
According to Haste, the funding will be split between Oklahoma City and Tulsa to help offset operational costs, including training, equipment, and ongoing deployment expenses.
“It comes out of the state’s general revenue and is being split between Tulsa and Oklahoma City,” Haste said.
The law also establishes a revolving fund to support ongoing operations and ensure long-term sustainability for the program.
Haste said the investment is critical as response times can mean the difference between life and death.
“Time is of the essence being able to get to those individuals before the situation goes from bad to worse,” he said, pointing to scenarios such as flooding and tornado damage.
While the funding is currently a one-time allocation, lawmakers say the goal is to secure continued support for Task Force One in future legislative sessions.
“This is a unit all Oklahomans should be very proud of,” Haste said. “They represent us well and play a very important role in saving lives and bringing closure.”
Officials say the investment comes ahead of peak severe weather season in Oklahoma, when the need for rapid emergency response is at its highest.
