Video & Transcript : 'house appropriations' :

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OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Senate Legislative Session Apr 16th, 2026 at 09:30 am

Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Members, House Bill 431 simply reauthorizes million of the $41 million that was appropriated to the ODAA
  • I move for adoption at the appropriate time and yield for questions. For House Bill 4034.
  • House Bill 4038 is due to use funds from FY25 appropriations for projects. In the 80-year plan.
  • House Bill 4041 is the Attorney General appropriations bill, which will appropriate 2.25 million dollars
  • The joint committee report for House Bill 444 is an appropriations of $785,000.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Senate Legislative Session Apr 16th, 2026

Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Members, House Bill 4031 simply reauthorizes $41 million of the $57 million that was appropriated to
  • Members, House Bill 4041 is the Attorney General Appropriations Bill, which will appropriate $2.25 million
  • House Bill 4042 appropriates $500,000 to the Department of Commerce for the census revolving fund.
  • Members, House Bill 4047 authorizes appropriations from prep funds to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce
  • The Joint Committee Report for House Bill 4044 is an appropriation of $785,000 to OEQA.
Summary: The Senate opened with roll call, prayer, and several gallery introductions recognizing guests and honorees, including the Medford Cardinals football team for their academic and athletic success, Guthrie Day, the Oscar J. Upham post office designation, the OKC Spark professional softball team, the Elks organization, and the YMCA’s 175th anniversary. Senators also welcomed a new intern and acknowledged Senator Carl McDowell’s return to the chamber. Most of the early floor time was devoted to ceremonial citations and concurrent resolutions, all of which were adopted without recorded opposition. The chamber then moved through a series of Joint Committee Reports and third-reading votes on appropriations and related measures. HB 4031 reauthorized $41 million for previously approved ODAA projects and passed 36-8, declared an emergency. HB 4032 redirected industry fees to the Department of Mines and passed 34-11, emergency. HB 4034 appropriated $142,137 for salary increases for certified shorthand reporters and passed 45-0, emergency. HB 4036 transferred $5 million from the Film and Oklahoma revolving fund to a new sitcom-related revolving fund and passed 30-15. HB 4037 raised the Ethics Commission Fund retention cap from $150,000 to $250,000 and passed 45-0, emergency. Several transportation, health, and public safety measures also advanced. HB 4038 moved $5 million for the eight-year road plan and additional project funding, passing 28-17 and then as an emergency measure after vote changes. HB 4040 set up cash-flow funds for the State Department of Health’s $223 million federal award and passed 45-0, emergency. HB 4041 appropriated $2.25 million to the Attorney General, including $2 million for a trafficking victim pilot program and $250,000 for a public safety technology fund, and passed as an emergency. HB 4042 appropriated $500,000 for the Commerce census revolving fund and passed 35-9. HB 4043 transferred $1 million to Emergency Management for Oklahoma Task Force 1 and passed 44-0, emergency. The most extended debate centered on HB 4045 and HB 4046, which expanded and funded the Military Readiness, Innovation, Education, and Aviation program. Supporters said the measures would help military bases, schools, infrastructure, simulation training, and defense-related economic development; critics questioned the broad language, lack of detail, and whether the projects fit a broader strategy. HB 4045 passed 37-7 and HB 4046 passed 39-7, both as emergency measures. HB 4047 funded Commerce projects including housing for aged-out foster youth, the State Fair, a university upgrade, and a COG-related economic development request; it passed 30-16 and then 40-6 as an emergency. HB 4048 appropriated $13 million for transportation infrastructure, drew criticism for bypassing the eight-year plan, and passed 36-10 before being declared an emergency. Finally, HB 4030, the Education Budget Limits Bill, was explained in detail, including $43.75 million for the Strong Readers formula, $5 million for literacy coaches, and $5 million for a charter school revolving loan fund; after questions about bonds, charter schools, and the revolving fund, it passed 39-5 and was declared an emergency measure.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • Special education in Senate Bill 568 and House Bill 2 by closing the $1.7 billion per year funding gap
  • I'm also thankful for Representative Buckley and the House Education Committee for their work on HB 2
  • We have two bills currently being considered: House Bill 2 and Senate Bill 568.
  • House Bill 2 goes further than Senate Bill 568 in terms of funding, but the conversation still needs
  • So, there is money on the House end.
Summary: The meeting primarily focused on special education funding, with significant discussions around House Bill 2 (HB2), Senate Bill 568 (SB568), and House Bill 3928 (HB3928). Key speakers advocated for increased funding to close the estimated $1.7 billion annual gap that affects special education in Texas public schools. Several witnesses, including educators and students affected by dyslexia, provided personal testimonies about the impact of insufficient funding and the disability penalty, which penalizes schools financially for identifying students needing special education services. The committee demonstrated a strong commitment to advocate for changes that would improve special education resources and training for teachers, thereby ensuring that all Texas children receive the educational support they need to thrive.