Bills: HB3622

Keywords: HB3622, 2030 Census, Decennial Census, U.S. Decennial Census Revolving Fund, Oklahoma Department of Commerce, Commerce Department, census preparation, federal census, state treasury fund, revolving fund, continuing fund, deemed appropriated, technology upgrades, census outreach, redistricting, population count, Title 74, OMES, State Treasurer, budgeting

Bills: SB1475, SB2049, SB1966, SB1531, SB80

Keywords: memorial, infrastructure, transportation, dedication, Toby Keith, SB 2049, Oklahoma Department of Transportation, ODOT, Transportation Commission, surety bond, surety company, performance bond, contractor nonperformance, construction contract, public works, transportation contracts, bond claim, state transportation projects, Title 69, OMES

Transcript Highlights:

• We are purely singling out ODOT, and the reason is because ODOT doesn't have to go through OMES for their
• at this, any other state agency that determines that they need to call a bond that has to work with OMES
• ODOT is able to do that on their own without going through OMES.
• blessed sorry that it would require taking a look at every agency and also probably even the way that OMES
• In my review, it appears that OMES is already involved, and that's why we That concludes debate.

Bills: SB1966, SB175, SB1475, SB1950, SB2049, SB2052

Keywords: memorial highways, bridge designations, Oklahoma Statutes, commemorative markers, transportation, uninsured vehicles, reimbursement fund, towing services, commercial vehicles, public safety, memorial, infrastructure, dedication, Toby Keith, aviation, aircraft, surveillance, regulations, fees, Oklahoma statutes

Bills: HB3724, HB3392, HB3466, HB4060

Keywords: high-demand facilities, electric utilities, public infrastructure, water management, taxpayer-funded subsidies, decommissioning plans, local control, citizen initiative, referendum, electric utility, large load customers, infrastructure, utility planning, electricity rates, cost allocation, data centers, artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, ratepayer protection, HB3466

Transcript Highlights:

• Seems like, and instead, we put in this thing called OMES that's become a monstrosity that is anything
• Just a little worried about the governor-appointed OMES leadership appointing the purchasing director
• I appreciate the comments, especially those against OMES, because I share your concerns.

Bills: SB1415, SB1714, SB1962, SB26, SB172

Keywords: nondisclosure agreements, state employment, employee rights, transparency, government accountability, employee suggestions, cost savings, state agencies, incentives, performance awards, efficiency, Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act, state procurement, state purchasing, State Purchasing Director, Office of Management and Enterprise Services, OMES, exempt entities, purchasing exemptions, state contracts

Bills: HJR1096, HJR1097, HJR1098, HJR1099, HJR1100

Keywords: Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, OMMA, medical marijuana, cannabis, marijuana regulation, administrative rules, major rule changes, joint resolution, legislative rule approval, Title 75, Oklahoma Administrative Code, OAC, licensing, compliance, enforcement, dispensary, grower, processor, patient access, health care authority

Transcript Highlights:

• So again, those agencies are ones that are exempt from submitting those requests to OM.
• So they currently make a request through OMES.
• Does it cost these agencies more money right now going through OMES?
• exempting more agencies if this is actually causing a problem and we need agencies to be free from OMES
• and why are we not looking at just kind of taking OMES out of this process completely.

Bills: HB4125, HB2951, HB3082, HB4142, HB4106, HB1752, HB3268

Keywords: firearm rights restoration, nonviolent felons, Oklahoma firearm laws, gun ownership, pardon, expungement, public safety, transportation of inmates, Department of Corrections, correctional facilities, sentencing, health records, firefighters, sex offenders, employment restrictions, Oklahoma laws, bomb, explosive device, incendiary device, simulated bomb

Transcript Highlights:

• OMES said they will need to create and maintain this portal that we will use to provide more transparency
• So, you anticipate that OMES staff would be reviewing for accuracy in submission.
• Essentially, I'm just wondering if this is going to add to that pile of things that OMES is not able
• Thank you Mrr chairir House Bill3310 authorizes the director of OMEs to promulgate payment procedural
• I know that with these being developed by OMES and handed off to certain agencies, my suggestion would

Bills: HB3415, HB2206, HB3414, HB3265, HB3310, HB3413, HB4486, HB1219

Keywords: state government, vendor contracts, subcontracting, public database, contract assessment, transparency, retirement, law enforcement, Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System, school resource officers, public safety, public finance, contract management, service-driven contracts, state accounting, intangible assets, Oklahoma Police Pension, disability benefits, mental health, retirement system

Bills: SB1772, SB1958, SB2010, SB1595, SB1687, SB1684, SB2049, SB1966

Keywords: motor vehicle safety, headlamps, headlights, fog lights, daytime running lights, auxiliary driving lamps, spot lamps, off-road lamps, bicycle lights, bicycle reflectors, vehicle lighting, roadway visibility, low visibility, rain, snow, wipers, night driving, traffic safety, Oklahoma Title 47, vehicle code

Transcript Highlights:

• them into a real estate trust at the Department of Health, rather than having those funds go back to OME

Bills: HB4329, HB3016, HB4118, HB3066, HB3649, HB3650

Keywords: dental insurance, claims, medical necessity, appeal procedures, dentist reimbursement, education, vision screening, binocular vision, kindergarten, elementary education, health, family caregiver, tax credit, activities of daily living, elderly care, Oklahoma tax law, HB3066, Health Care Workforce Training Commission, workforce recruitment, health care workforce

Transcript Highlights:

• While statute describes OMES as the state's landlord, OMES assumes this role only over the 23 buildings
• This results in OMES office buildings being utilized at 34%.
• LOFT calls this OMES waste, as OMES has the authority to address this gap.
• The space allocation standards used by OMES, and consistently applied by OMES, are not a one-size-fits-all
• We'll start with OMES.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Anybody that's going to speak from OMES, I wanted the table.
• I appreciate the partnerships that OMES Has with the legislature and the governor, I think OMES is in
• to OMES in general. It will be very beneficial.
• We have a very good handle on the vehicles that are in OMEs.
• Then, they could get them from OMEs.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• OMES plays a critical role in the overall success of state government.
• I wonder if you would just talk about that balance in OMES.
• Yes, we did, when we met, we did discuss at OMES.
• One from the Chair: What would you say is the biggest role of OMES?
• So it's important for OMES to consolidate those again.

Bills: HB1170

Keywords: fiduciary responsibility, proxy voting, public finance, Oklahoma statutes, pension plans, pecuniary factors, nonpecuniary factors, financial risk, Attorney General, 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1722 specifies that any fee negotiated by OMES regarding revising contracts for construction
• Currently, OMES will take bids, and we are looking at the hard structure and the soft furnishings inside
• It would be my assumption that OMES would take this into the bidding process, knowing what funds they
• Then, section two clarifies the commission's role and responsibilities in conjunction with OMES on the
• Well, part of the problem is I don't think OMES is running that program very well and a lot of it is

Bills: SB134, SB1356, SB1407, SB1611, SB1639, SB169, SB1722, SB182, SB1870, SB2039, SB432, SB609, SB715, SB716

Keywords: retirement, public employees, reemployment, benefit adjustment, Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System, state government, OMES, Office of Management and Enterprise Services, Department of Labor, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Rehabilitation Services, civil service, human capital management, state employee disputes, whistleblower, veterans employment, veterans placement, fleet management, state fleet, motor vehicles

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, OMES, we're here to serve all, and we are committed to continuing to do that at a high level.
• That consolidation is the core value of OMES, saving the state money while improving efficiency, service
• Simply put, OMES exists to create efficiencies, reduce costs, and solve problems on behalf of the entire
• One of our core functions, OMES, reviewed 100% of purchase orders last year.
• They just weren't filled at OMEs.

Keywords: 914, all

Bills: HJR1090, HJR1091, HJR1092, HJR1093, HJR1094, HJR1095, SJR49

Keywords: administrative rules, rule approval, joint resolution, Oklahoma Register, Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry, Corporation Commission, Department of Environmental Quality, Liquified Petroleum Gas Board, water resources, wildlife conservation, tourism, zoning commission, energy regulation, agricultural regulation, agency rules, permanent rules, state agencies, Oklahoma Legislature, business and commerce, professional licensing

Bills: HB3005, HB3007, HB3403, HB1907, HB3175, HB3986, HB3466, HB3411, HB4246

Keywords: climatology, emergency declaration, Oklahoma Climatological Survey, environment, weather data, public policy, state governance, natural resources, advisory councils, sunset law, water quality, hazardous waste, solid waste, radiation management, public health, biosolids, land application, environmental quality, agriculture, wastewater treatment

Bills: HB3620, HB3942, HB3279, HB3378, HB3383, HB3413, HB3414, HB3415, HB3420, HB3130

Keywords: 2030 census, complete count committee, census outreach, decennial census, enumeration, population count, hard-to-count populations, hard-to-enumerate areas, State Data Center, Oklahoma Census, multilingual campaign, public outreach, school-based outreach, community organizations, minority groups, ethnic minorities, language minorities, self-response rate, census awareness, federal census

Transcript Highlights:

• OMES is going to be involved. Procurement's going to be involved.
• With OMES, that is definitely. He's an attorney that is not part of his background.
• With OMES, but that is a huge issue for us.
• We've asked for help from OMES.
• We're paying OME. I think $3 million a year or something is some huge number.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a legislative piece, an OMES piece, a Commerce piece, a COG piece, and a center piece.
• Sorry, I'll just note that we submitted our budget work program to OMES in July.
• We partnered with OMES for shared services for a chief technology officer, saving $30,000 annually.
• to redesign TravelOK.com and potentially transfer its content onto a platform that is supported by OMES
• There is a lengthy process at OMES to get those funds deployed, but we have prioritized so that we're

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce on its FY26 priorities, recent performance, and budget requests. Commerce said it had helped announce about 8,000 direct jobs and nearly $14 billion in investment year-to-date, while noting challenges such as tariffs, workforce recruitment, staffing/FTE management, and the condition of its 100-year-old office building. The agency highlighted projects and initiatives including a new Taiwan trade office, Route 66 Centennial planning, the National Main Street conference in Tulsa, Olympic-related coordination, census outreach, and continued improvements to its grants and CRM systems. Requested funding included $8.3 million for building repairs or relocation planning, census support, $300,000 for EDGE, $135,000 for IT/cybersecurity upgrades, $250,000 for the Taiwan office, and additional support for Head Start, senior nutrition, and the Strategic Air and Space Commission. Members asked about the meaning of the investment totals, the building condition, delays in senior nutrition distributions, and staffing vacancies; Commerce said the investment figures reflected formal company capital announcements, the building had significant facade and roof damage, delays were due to multiple contracting layers, and several open positions were expected to be filled soon. The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department then presented its FY26 budget and goals. New director Amy Blackburn and special advisor Sterling Zearley said the department oversees 38 state parks, six lodges, seven golf courses, and nine travel information centers, and emphasized tourism’s economic importance. They reported savings from bringing marketing and tracking functions in-house and from shared services, but said the department faces more than $271 million in deferred maintenance needs, staffing shortages, and connectivity problems at parks. Their goals include increasing park visitation to 10.2 million, raising occupancy to 36%, and growing travel to Oklahoma, with major marketing tied to the Route 66 Centennial, America 250, the FIFA World Cup, the Olympics, and other events. The department also discussed a request to raise its purchasing exemption cap from $25,000 to $75,000, a possible TravelOK.com redesign, and efforts to improve restaurant operations at lodges through a new RFP structure. Members questioned the apportionment cap, the size and timing of deferred maintenance requests, park revenue, and the use of parking pass funds; tourism said annual park-related revenue is about $32 million to $34 million and parking pass revenue is about $2.5 million. Finally, the OSU Veterinary Medicine Authority presented its budget request and program updates. The authority said it supports the veterinary teaching hospital and related student training, and that its FY26 budget is entirely state-appropriated. It requested continued support for hospital operations, the large animal scholarship program, and a new $12.5 million annual payment tied to the $250 million Legacy Capital Fund authorization for the veterinary teaching hospital, along with additional funding to expand in-state enrollment. Officials said in-state enrollment had increased from 58 to 69 students after prior funding, with a goal of reaching 90 of 106 total seats, and that there were 195 in-state applicants this year. Members asked whether standards would be lowered; the authority said academic standards would not change and noted strong board-pass rates and retention outcomes. It also said accreditation concerns tied to faculty shortages and off-site teaching had been addressed by bringing students back to the main campus and improving staffing. The committee ended by thanking the presenters and announcing its next meeting date.