Kevin stit delivered the state of the state address. His address from the state capital in Oklahoma City is about 45 minutes. [ applause ] [ applause ] members of the legislature, executive officers, members of the judiciary, and people of oklahoma, it is my distinct honor to recognize my friend, the chief executive, our governor, kevin stitt. [ applause ] thank you. Thank you, guys, so much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, mr. President pro tem, Lieutenant Governor matt panel, members of my cabinet, madam chief justice, members of the 57th legislature, tribal leaders, to my best friend the first lady, sara stitt, my children who should be in school right now, to my parents, my brothers, and most importantly my fellow oklahomans. Its a great honor to stand before you today. And i want to thank my heavenly father for being in this position in oklahoma today. [ applause ] let me get right to the point h the state of our state is growing in strength, stability, and new opportunity for generations to come. We are moving in the right direction, the direction we all want to go, top ten in the nation. [ applause ] and we are getting there because of the hard work of oklahomas, because of the teachers in the classroom, and because of the generous givers of nonprofits and because of the Community Involvement of churches and because of those in this room and across our state agencies who are making the tough, selfless decisions for the future of our great state. I want to take a moment to highlight a few of those individuals who are my special guests in the chamber today. First, lieutenant ej johnson, Technical Sergeant rebecca wally, and Staff Sergeant joy mohan, these proud guards man represent the highest that were called to duty of the record flood this past may. And under the general leadership of thomas, they walked levees, filled sandbags, performed rescues, conducted countless other tasks day after day. Engineers in the Oklahoma National guard also partnered with odot to build a temporary road that provided evacuees a way out of their flooded communities. Lets give them a round of applause. [ applause ] in addition to their duties within the state, the Oklahoma National guard is fulfilling their federal mission. More than 400 oklahoma guards man are currently fighting overseas on behalf of our state and nation. I ask that every oklahoman please keep these brave men and women in your thoughts and prayers. Also in the chamber with us today is dr. To mass, the university of oklahoma new head of research. Tomas. Im committed with partnering with our state institutions in recruiting the best talent in the nation to oklahoma. We will compete and we will win. This past year the university of oklahoma not only won its 13th big 12 football championship, it also won the talent of one of the best researchers in the nation. Dr. Tomas is an internationally renown researcher who is bringing his impressive background at per due and with companies such as deloitte to play a key roll that will elevate the Research Reputation to the top ten in the nation. Thank you for choosing the top ten to move to and make an impact. [ applause ] today we also recognize an oklahoma son from tuttle. Ceo of pay come chad richardson. He founded it right here in Oklahoma City in 1998. And through his vision and leadership, pay comp now serves as one of the largest employers in our state. Just this past month when it was added to the s p 500 list. Thank you, chad, for reminding us that the American Dream is alive and oklahoma is the best place in the nation to accomplish it. [ applause ] we all know that oklahomas economy, and quite frankly our state budget is built on the backs of the hard working men and women in the oil and gas industry. When i delivered this address last year, 60 more drilling rigs were operating in oklahoma than exist today. Our first budget together was blessed by a thriving industry. Now we must look at a changing and evolving market that is volatility. As a result, our General Revenue Fund is estimate today be down almost 1 fiscal year 2020. And total Spending Authority is very close to the same amount. But we have nothing to fear. We will remain vigilant and recognize our needs, planning for our future, and shedding waste where operations are out dated and redundant. In fact, the greatest challenge before us today is not oklahomas economy. Le there are two reasons why. First the fiscal discipline displayed by many in this year last year has allowed the state to garner largest savings account in Oklahoma History with 1 billion. [ applause ] as a result, moodies Investor Service changed oklahomas outlook from stable to positive in october. Their decision reflects an expectation that oklahoma will maintain strong fiscal management and a commitment to increasing reserves. Lets followthrough on that commitment. Senator joe nu house has filed legislation that would give oklahoma a voice constitutional cap on states Rainy Day Fund to 30 . Lets get it to the vote of the people. And while we wait on this vote, im also asking for the elected leaders to join me again in setting aside 100 million in additional funds as part of the fiscal year 2021 budget. Thanks to our strong pension plans, low bond debt, and progress in savings, oklahoma is ranked as the fifth most solvent state in oklahoma. Lets take this to number one. [ applause ] by saving in good times, we are demonstrating our commitment to protect the taxpayer, the job creator, and the citizen who depends on core services. Second, oklahomas economy is more diverse than ever before. When the city of el reno faced the closure of a major facility, oklahomas department of commerce quickly went into action. We deployed two career fairs, more than 350 oklahomas were offered employment in companies in aerospace, finance, manufacturing, health care, and more. This was possible because oklahomas economy remains on good footing. Our Unemployment Rate remains below the national average. Oklahomas Household Income has risen by nearly 4 in 2019. And 60 companies moved to our state or made significant expansions in oklahoma this past year alone, with more than 2. 9 billion in new Capital Investments announced. One of the strongest industries this year was tourism, led by the vision of our very own Lieutenant Governor matt panel. Imagine that. [ applause ] in 2019, oklahomas tourism website achieved a number one ranking in web traffic, beating out states like colorado and california. And tourism will continue to grow. This year we are welcoming the largest tv mow dukes in the history of this state, with killers of the moon. [ applause ] you gave us the tools last year to bolster our recruiting efforts and the luieutenant governor was an exceptional partner once again beating out states like mexico and new mexico. It is expected to tens of millions into our community. Thousands will be hired through contract through lodging, transportation, hardware, food and more. Oklahomans, our economy is competitive, and in this administration we will keep it that way. [ applause ] the greatest challenge before us today is instead government bureaucracy. In my first year of Public Service, and as the chief executive, i have found government too big and too broken. Ment the state of oklahoma spends roughly 20 billion annually. The legislature has a strong handle on the 40 managed through the appropriations process. Then, we, working together, provide oversight of the 60 that goes directly to the state agencies from apportionments, fines, fees, or federal funding. Last year, we delivered the greatest transparency to the states budget by publishing oklahomas checkbook online. With the new system, we are providing user friendly access to recent spending data. In partnership with my office, and oklahoma treasurer, we took oklahomas 47th ranking to 7th place in online budget transparency. [ applause ] and we will continue to fine tune how citizens ipt r interact with it in order to compete with first place. Most importantly, the Legislature Delivered the strongest accountability in state history. When you sent to my desk legislation to reform five of the states largest agencies. This action strengthened our budget oversight. Time and time again, state agencies would ask you for more money as the solution. But im here to tell you its not all about funding. Its about focus. Its about leadership. Your reforms have allowed me to go recruit the best talent, to break down silos between agencies, and to deliver the legislature with budgets that are more results oriented. When good policy meets the right leadership, anything is possible. [ applause ] just look at what transpired in 2019 between two key agencies. When i came into office, i was told that a change in our prison system wasnt possible without an immediate injection of 1 million. I was told the parole board could not take on increase in case load without more employees and funding of the i was told it was logistically impossible to accomplish this to give nonviolent offenders a second chance. What did we do . You passed better policy, and we changed leadership in both agencies, and as a result pardon and parole consolidated with department of corrections, this streamlined the case work all while increasing it by 118 over 2018. And they did this without a single dollar more. The department of corrections launched its first ever reentry fairs across 28 facilities that were part of house bill 1269 docket. The idea was from the first lady. And it now will become a permanent practice at the agency moving forward. The number of oklahomans in our state prisons declined by 7. 6 from 2018. As a result, the number of those incarcerated is as at itits low level since 2009. [ applause ] this is reducing the strain on our prison facilities and giving us the opportunity to reimagine the future of housing inmates. And in conjunction with the department of corrections, they withdrew its year after year request for more than one billion in additional funding. Instead submitted a fiscal year 2021 address that addressed the critical needs of tomorrow. It is now time to complete the successful consolidation effort. Im calming for the legislature to protect the constitutional mandate for pardon and parole, and yet pass legislation that absorbs the remainder. Collaboration is already taking place thanks to the leadership of director scott crow and director steve bickley. It is time we make this official in law to prevent future bureaucracies from creeping back in. When government is working and is under one vision, we can change the lives of oklahomans for the better. [ applause ] here in this chamber with us today is tara. Tara is a mother of four children who was serving a tenyear sentence due to a relapse with a drug addiction. Prior to her release, tara met with chris lender from center for Employment Opportunities at the transition fair. When she was commuted under the house bill 1269 docket, tara was immediately connected with sober housing. She began working at a temporary job for ceo. And within a month of her release was hired for Fulltime Position by a local Tulsa Company where she is finding stability an and opportunity again. Ment tara, we believe in you. The state want to help you. Keep a tight hold of the great future you and your family deserve. Thank you for being here today. [ applause ] friends, consolidation must not stop there. Secretary tim gats has done an exceptional job leading both the Oklahoma Department of transportation and the oklahoma turnpike authority. Secretary gats is beginning the process of combining all back office and common functions into one shared service entity. We will maintain separate general management for unique functions while streamlining operations that are duplicative in nature so we can deliver the highest quality of transportation possible. We will operate with one unified vision for infrastructure as we continue to move towards top ten status. Thank you secretary gats for your leadership. [ applause ]. When oklahoma is in crisis, it is most often our office of Emergency Management that is at the center of restoring us back to normal. Oem has the ability to call upon whatever resource it needs to help oklahomas communities prevent, respond, or recover from a major crisis. Homeland security is ita key pa of that effort, providing valuable coordination to support our first responders. By merging these two agencies, we will bolster response capabilities, streamline coordination, and leverage existing resources for stronger prevention programs. And as we prepare to recognize the 25th anniversary of the bombing in april, we must continue to set the standard for our nation and how to respond to and manage crisis when tested by tragedy. Oklahomas deserve it. And this merger will help us achieve that goal. Thank you to oem director mark do youer and homeland securitier kim carter who are committed to working with this legislature to get this done right. Homeland security. [ applause ] some will cry that consolidation is disruptive. And let me be clear, it will be for political insiders and those that find comfort in big bureaucracy. But it is what we need to do to improve decision making, deliver better accountability, and target dollars directly towards helping our citizens, instead of paying for administrative bloat. Oklahoma has the 20th highest land mass amongst states. The 28th largest population. And yet we have the 9th most state agencies out of all 50 states. This is unacceptable. There is no value to having more agencies than other states. It has not solved our bottom ten ranks in critical categories. As we reduce bureaucracy, we must also provide necessary relieve and enhanced opportunities for our dedicated public employees. President pro tem greg tree and representative mike osborne have already filed legislation to begin the conversation again on Civil Service reform. Its time to get this done in 2020. [ applause ] the states current Civil Service is broken. High quality employees are forced into a system that doesnt maximize their professional growth and potential. Agency leaders have their hands tied in who they can hire and promote due to out dated restrictions. Today, i am calling for reform that requires all new hires in State Government moving forward to be unclassified. I am requesting language that allows Agency Directors discretion to offer bonuses within the confines of their budgets for employees to receive promotion out of the restricted classified positions. Through this attrition model, i am casting a vision for the majority of the states workforce to be unclassified in the next five years. [ applause ] as part of Civil Service reform, i am calling for a threeperson panel in the Human CapitalManagement Department to maintain whistleblower protections and provide due process to state employees who have serious grievances. Whether these employees are classified or not. Lets make the states largest employer a place where we can hire the best, where we reward good performers, and where we are building a Training Ground for an exceptional workforce that can transition beyond Public Service if they so choose. With a longterm focus on agency reform, we will lay a new, Stronger Foundation for the state of oklahoma. Any policy that the Legislature Sends to my desk to further this effort will be signed. This is how we will actually get the tax dollar directly back to the citizen through better services. One of the most significant areas where we need reform is health care. I just returned from washington d. C. Where i stood with the Trump Administration to announce that the state of oklahoma will be pursuing new flexibilities through the healthy adult opportunity. With these new flexibilities, oklahoma will begin the process in the coming weeks to roll out sooner care 2. 0. Under this reformed Medicaid Program, we will seek to close the gap of those uninsured in oklahoma. We will deliver much needed accountability in the medicaid system to focus on rewarding Health Outcomes and stronger performances in care. With hla flexibility, we will deliver personal responsibility to new enrollees under sooner care 2. 0. We will seek to establish moderate premiums and work requirements. We will encourage ablebodied adults to transition towards a path of maintaining private insurance and pursuing educational or Employment Opportunities that advances their full personal potential. With hal flexibility, we will seek to establish programs that enhance accessibility of health care in rural oklahoma. [ applause ] and we will seek to expand targeted treatment for opioid addiction and substance abuse. But i cannot do this without you. Oklahoma is currently positioned to be the first in the nation to be granted a Trump Administrations waiver to achieve unprecedented flexibility and accountability in delivering medicaid to adults. No one who is currently eligible will lose coverage. Actually, more than 180,000 oklahomans would gain coverage under this. State senator byrd is under going the medicaid rolls. Her audit is expected to be done this spring that will allow us to address abuse in the system and sooner care 2. 0 will truly help those that need it the most. But washington needs to see the support from the Oklahoma State legislature. To feel confident that this plan is on solid financial footing. Today i call on the house and the senate to send to my desk legislation to give certainty that the Oklahoma HealthCare Authority can use the full 4 of the shop assessment to fund sooner care 2. 0 while protecting reimbursements. We must reform t set. Lets protect the corpus, yet reallocate funds towards improving the delivery of the rural health care. Help me keep oklahoma number one in competing for this new opportunity through the Trump Administration. [ applause ] any effort to enact a kleenex pangs of medicaid, to include putting it in the states constitution, will create significant restrictions. With straight medicaid expansion, oklahoma will be left with the same infect tive and unaccountable programs that has failed to bring us out of the bottom ten ranks chblt the time now is to innovate and to make oklahoma a National Leader in delivering of health care. [ applause ] to make this sustainable, we must also move forward on significant reforms in the operations of our state health and Human Service agencies. Did you know that oklahoma has ten different state agencies passing money through the Medicaid Program in oklahoma . And 18 state entities that license Health Care Facilities and providers . You cannot convince me that operating that many bureaucracies is an efficient way of doing business. It has to change. This is why im calling for the legislature to begin the process of creating one Central Health care agency. Lets do the functions of the state department of heat, Oklahoma HealthCare Authority, department of mental health, and others, as well as all of the states licensing boards that deal with health. In addition, oklahoma can no longer afford to be so far behind other states with regard to using and protecting health data. Within the next couple months, we will select a vendor to establish a statewide Health Information exchange. This effort has been a long time in the making. And with the right leadership in place, more progress has been made in ten months than in the last ten years. [ applause ] i want to thank you ohca director kevin corbit and secretary Jerome Lockridge for your wonderful leadership. [ applause ] a functional hie will protect oklahomas health records, while ensuring these records are portable and accessible at all times. And i appreciate senator Greg Mccourtney legislation that will enhance hard work under way in our agencies. And this is just the beginning of Health Reform in oklahoma. Many of you in the legislature are spearheading legislation that will help to create a Better Health care system across the board, to include legislation that will create pricing transparency for medical bills, pan representative Marcus Mcintyre legislation to put an end towards surprise billing practices. Thank you. Lets continue to Work Together and push the develop on improving Health Care Delivery for all four million oklahomans. [ applause ] in this administration we will continue to focus on becoming top ten in education. It is why the legislature put more funding into the funding formula this school year. Bringing the total taxpayer investment in common education to more than 9. 7 billion, the largest in state history. We will protect it. But we must also reform it by taking a hard look at our states funding formula. We should allow voters to unlock more local dollars. With reform, we must also address any mechanisms that are preventing tax dollars from getting directly to todays classroom. The path to oklahomas future pros expert will be achieved by promoting the profession of teaching and focusing on students advancements and opportunities. This is why the legislature rallied last year to give our teachers a second year of much deserved pay raises. Im glad to report that not only districts give pay raises of at least 1220 but some went beyond. Like waso Public Schools where now a First Year Teacher can expact a starting salary ppa 42,000. [ applause ] it is why this continues to solvent system. By invest can 300 million annually above the taxpayers support through employer contributions, our dedication will continue so that teachers know when they retire their pensions will be fully funded. [ applause ] but more state revenue is not the answer alone. We must also continue to recruit the best teachers and confront our teacher shortage. I support legislation that would direct the state department of education to issue a teaching certificate to anyone who holds a valid out of state teaching certificate with no other requirements except a criminal history check. This year we must also get across the finish line, proving solutions to enhance learning opportunities for students. Now is the time to raise the cap on the oklahoma equal opportunity education schol scholarship to 30 million. [ applause ] to allow oklahomans to be rewarded for investing their funds directly to their students and schools. In the chamber, as my guests, are miss williams and her sixth and eighth grade sons chavez and sincere. Her sons were struggling in school making all cs and ds until she had the opportunity to enroll them in cross over preparatory academy, a private all boys school until north tulsa. The cross over preps was started as a Key Initiative to restore their community through education for young men. Cross over prep is a tuition free school because they believe that a childs access to a quality education shouldnt be dependent on their par tentents ability to afford it. In the boys first semester at cross over, travis jumped three reading levels and sinner two reading levels. Travis and sincere, will you stand, and will everyone join me and their mom. [ applause ] chavis and sincere were able to get the help they needed because of the clomman equal opportunity collarship act, increasing the tax credit cap will provide additional incentives for donors resulting in more Public School grants and private school scholarships. Thank you to senator dave raider and representative john he canles for leading the charge. [ applause ] lets Work Together to make sure all students at all schools have access to an innovative enriching crimlum regardless of zip code. Because we believe in all students and helping them succeed, i am also launch be a program this year called jobs for americas grad wats. Jag is a statebased National Nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing dropouts among young people who have serious barriers to graduation and employment. In more than three decades, jag has delivered consistent compelling results, helping more than one million young people stay in school through graduation, pursue post secondary education, and secure highquality entry level jobs leading to Career Advancement opportunities. While we are on this topic of education let me take a brief moment to address one critical matter. In 2019, 1 of the common Education Funding came from the states exclusivity fees on class three gains on tribal casinos. These dollars which are first deposited to the resolving fund equal roughly 130 million compared to 9. 7 billion. The model gaming come pakts have been a success, greater than anyone predicted. Unfortunately they are expired, a compact in which notable tribes have previously called dated and unsuitable for current and future business. After five offers if the state for all stakeholders to come together, to modernize the model gaming come pack, three tribes instead sued the state on new yearseve. While we wait for the federal courts decision, im calling for the legislature to join me in protecting Public Education. Im asking for the legislation that will allow the remaining cash balance from 2019 and funds from the Revenue Stabilization funds to be leveraged if needed to compensate for any temporary pause in class three gaming fees. As governor, i remain supportive of the sovereignty of the state of oklahoma and our right and your doubty as the legislature to oversee all industries operating in the state. I also remain kocconfident the state and cloms tribes can hammer out a compromise that is a winwin for all 4 million clommans. And we can accomplish this without putting Public Education in the cross hairs. [ applause ] as i said last year, and it bears repeating, we need more taxpayers, not more taxes. Everything we do has a dotted line back to growing our economy. It is why my budget calls for the funding of the closing fund by another 3 million. As well as the 200 Million Financing plan with a majority prioritized towards rural roads and high volume interchanges. Oklahoma has moved from 49th to 13th in bridge conditions within 15 years. And while we work towards top ten in this critical category, were going to start moving the needel in our rankings of super roads and pavement quality. Oklahoma is the crossroads of america, and our roads are key to attracting future job creators, whether it is to altice, enid, broken bow or in the heart of tulsa. Today im filling an order to address oklahomas excessive red tape. Oklahomas administrative code is double the size of the state of kansas and 20 more than missouri and new mexico. My executive order will call for the firstever comprehensive review of the states administrative code, and will instruct staip state agencies to remove two regulations for every new one created. The intent is to reduce the red tape by 25 in the next three years. Providing relief to oklahomas job creators and farmers and ranchers, while also strengthening our rekooumt efforts to diversify and grow oklahomas economy. We must also continue our progress on occupational licensing reform. Speaker Charles Mccall and senator adam pugh made it a priority to reduce barriers to work for military families. And senator Julie Daniels passed legislation to expand licensing opportunities for those who have previously encountered the justice system. This year lets get universal licensing recognition across the finish line too. [ applause ] we can continue to make progress on Economic Prosperity when we remove unnecessary and antiquated and outdated barriers to entry. Ladies and gentlemen, oklahoma is competing. Oklahoma is winning. Clom is undergoing the turnaround that voters demanded. [ applause ] it are may not be comfortable at times. It demands hard decisions and boldness. It requires longterm planning and a commitment to one vision. But we are making inroads that will last for generations. That will make us stronger, more prosperous, top ten. There is no place i would rather be than oklahoma. And there is no better team than the ones elected in this room. There is no better time in our States History than now. Lets do this together, lets make it happen. God bless you and god bless the great state of oklahoma. [ cheers and applause ] representative eccles, you are recognized for a motion. Thank you, mr. President. There being no further business here on cspan3 this evening, we continue American History tvs museum week highlighting d. C. Museums with exhibits exploring the american story and well bring you to the indian museum. Part of museum week every week night this week showing the types of programs youll find on American History tv every weekend here on cspan3. President trump is continuing his fourday campaign road trip of rallies and fund raisers through the western u. S. Today with a stop in colorado. Hes holding a rally this evening in colorado springs. Cspan will have live coverage of that event starting at 7 eastern and you can watch online at cspan. Org or listen live with the free cspan radio app. Campaign 2020 is in nevada friday, live at 3 00 p. M. Eastern as President Trump speaks in las vegas ahead of the states caucus, live coverage on cspan, watch on demand at cspan. Org and listen on the go with the free cspan radio app. A house Small Business subcommittee is looking into whether federal policy such