Bartlesville Radio: The area’s best source for news, weather and sports!

It's hard to believe that Sine Die is just a few days away. After weeks of intensive budget negotiations, legislative leadership has finalized an agreement for the FY2025 state budget, set to begin on July 1.

We have reached a budget compromise that serves the people of Oklahoma. While it required compromise, and no one got everything they wanted, I am satisfied with the outcome. It is a fair and balanced budget; notably, the governor has publicly committed not to veto any portion of it.

This year's $12.47 billion budget, a decrease from last year's budget, maintains flat funding for many state agencies as requested by the governor in his State of the State address while addressing the concerns of Oklahomans statewide. The budget specifically targets Oklahomans' needs in areas such as education, public health and human services.

We allocated $240 million to develop new engineering and science facilities at the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University. This investment will enhance access to STEM education and address the need for skilled professionals in Oklahoma's workforce. We also allocated $350 million for the new Oklahoma Capital Assets Maintenance and Protection Fund to cover deferred maintenance at state properties, state parks, and public colleges and universities.

In terms of public health and human services, we allocated funds to increase long-term care rates, expand the OSU Medical Center in Tulsa, and provide additional funding for the Department of Mental Health to address the mental health needs of children. We made significant investments in public safety, allocating $18 million for county sheriff pay raises and $10 million to support victims of domestic violence.

We achieved all this while putting nearly $5 billion into savings, ensuring Oklahoma remains fiscally responsible and prepared for future challenges. It was a great year, and I look forward to continuing to serve House District 11.

It is such an honor and privilege to represent you at the State Capitol. I want to encourage any constituent with questions or concerns regarding legislation to reach out to my office at 405-557-7358 or at john.kane@okhouse.gov.

John Kane, a Republican, serves House District 11 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, which covers Tulsa and Washington counties.