Budget & Tax, Education, Health Care

Legislative Update: Feb. 17

February 17, 2017

Dave Bond

On Monday, the House Appropriations and Budget Committee passed one of many tax increases proposed by Gov. Fallin in her State of the State Address. HB 1841 passed the committee by a vote of 17-10 and could move on to the House floor. This measure would increase taxes on cigarettes by $1.50 per pack in order to create multiple new revolving funds.

The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Education approved six teacher pay raise bills on Wednesday. While there are several approaches to providing a raise, the Speaker of the House has reiterated that a pay raise is possible without raising taxes. He has expressed his support for Rep. Michael Roger’s bill, HB1114. This bill, which is up for a hearing on Monday, would give a total of $6,000 raise spread out in 6 years.

Access to rural health care remains a concern for many Oklahomans. A joint resolution was passed this week to create the Rural Health Care Infrastructure Fund. This bill would give voters the opportunity to vote on redirecting funds from the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust Fund to support rural healthcare and rural hospitals.