Rep. Collin Duel

Final Days of Legislative Session
By Rep. Collin Duel

The House on May 7 adjourned to a call of the chair after completing all of the legislative work possible. The Senate chose to adjourn early May 6 without hearing remaining House bills on their calendar. That chamber could reconvene any day until May 14, and there is hope they do, so that remaining bills can be passed and several of the governor's vetoes can be overridden.

If nothing new happens, both chambers will be adjourned by 5 p.m. May 14. This would conclude the second session of the 60th Legislature.

This session, I was able to secure the governor's approval on two House bills and one Senate bill on which I am the House author. These have been signed into law. Three additional House bills are on the governor's desk awaiting his consideration. Another bill faces final Senate action.

Signed into law are: House Bill 3497, which clarifies when the state or a municipality can appeal pretrial orders in criminal cases.

House Bill 3499, which allows special judges to hear applications involving the issuance of the title for motor vehicles, manufactured homes, vessels or other titled property. This helps reduce unnecessary delays and eases the workload on district courts.

Senate Bill 2184 merges multiple versions of state statutes that have been amended and repeals duplicate sections. The measure does not create new law.

Sent to the governor are: House Bill 3498, which would modernize Oklahoma's corporate code to better reflect a free-market, pro-growth, pro-business legal framework. The purpose of this update is to strengthen freedom of contract, increase legal certainty and ensure Oklahoma remains competitive with other states for jobs and investment. This should help us attract new investments and support hardworking Oklahoma businesses that create jobs in our communities.

House Bill 3500 would clean up statute regarding transfer-on-death deeds, which allow property to be transferred outside of the probate process, avoiding unnecessary legal fees. This would remove the requirement that a beneficiary affidavit be filed within nine months of the grantor's death.

House Bill 3501 would allow the Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement Commission to issue multiple licenses for manufacturing beverages on the same premises. The bill would still require separate licenses for brewing, distilling or winemaking, but currently these can't be done under the same roof. This would cut some unnecessary red tape and regulation, allowing all three to be done on the same premises if the applicant is in good standing with ABLE and the Oklahoma Tax Commission.

Amended in the House and returned to the Senate for final action is Senate Bill 1224. This would allow victim notification of any action by the Pardon and Parole Board to the last-known email and mail address provided by the victim.

As always, it is an honor to serve you. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me at (405) 557-7350 or [email protected] if I can ever be of service to you.

Guthrie Day Celebrated at Capitol
By Rep. Collin Duel

It was a pleasure last week to celebrate Guthrie Day at the State Capitol. I welcomed people from my hometown in the House during the legislative session on Thursday, April 16. Lawmakers and others visiting the Capitol were able to see several of the booths set up in the Second-floor Rotunda that helped showcase much of what Guthrie has to offer.

Also last week I took part in a ceremony in the state Senate to recognize the renaming of the U.S. Post Office in Guthrie as the Oscar J. Upham post office. Upham was born to an Ohio family that came to America during the Irish Potato Famine. At the age of 16, he participated with his family in the Land Run of 1889, staking their claim in Guthrie, where many of his descendants still reside. Upham later served the nation in the U.S. Marine Corps and was bestowed the Congressional Medal of Honor for his courage under heavy enemy fire while serving as security for a multinational delegation during the Boxer Rebellion in China. Upham was the first honoree inducted into the Military Hall of Honor and honored by the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame. He served as a postal worker in Guthrie for 36 years. In December, President Trump signed legislation designating the post office in Guthrie to be named in Upham's honor. It was wonderful to get to recognize Mr. Upham's service to our community, our state and our nation. I'm grateful for all who could take part in this ceremony.

Also last week, Vietnam veteran Billy R. Richards, of Arcadia, was invited to take part in an honor flight to Washington, D.C. The Oklahoma Warriors Honor Flight, an organization dedicated to recognizing and honoring Oklahoma’s veterans, provides these all-expenses-paid trips to veterans allowing them to visit the national war memorials built in their honor.

I appreciate this organization for the respect they show our veterans. I'm also eternally grateful to the veterans themselves who willingly sacrificed their time and put themselves in harm's way to keep our nation free and safe.

On a similar note, the House and Senate convened in joint session last week to celebrate the contributions and service of the Oklahoma National Guard. Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Mancino, the state's adjutant general, said we currently have about 9,000 soldiers, airmen and employees serving in the Guard. Some of these are stationed in the Middle East, where combat is taking place and tensions are very high.

Our thoughts, prayers and support are certainly with these service men and women as well as their families back home. As a veteran myself, I'm acutely aware of the cost of service and the anxiety that can bring for loved ones.

Our Guard has a rich history, stretching back to the 1890 Territorial Militia. Mancino pointed out that the Guard has proudly stood ready to support and defend our state and nation for over a century of our nation's almost 250-year history. They have served in World Wars I and II and many deployments since. They've aided at home after the Oklahoma City bombing, during the COVID-19 outbreak and during many tornadoes, wildfires and other devastating weather events. It was good to recognize their service.

As always, it is an honor to serve you. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me at (405) 557-7350 or [email protected] if I can ever be of service to you.

A Responsible, Conservative State Budget
By Rep. Collin Duel

House and Senate leaders gathered with the governor April 1 to announce an agreement on a fiscally responsible plan to fund core state services for Fiscal Year 2027, which begins July 1. This is the earliest a budget agreement has been reached in recent memory, reflecting a commitment to disciplined, proactive governance.

Legislation is still being drafted to establish clear, accountable spending limits for each agency, ensuring transparency and legislative oversight of taxpayer dollars. Those bills will run through House and Senate appropriations committees and face questions, debate and votes on the floor of each legislative chamber.

This nearly $12.8 billion budget represents a modest 1.27% increase over the current year appropriation while preserving approximately $3 billion in state savings. Importantly, this was achieved while delivering $1.6 billion in tax relief in recent years, putting money back in the hands of hardworking Oklahoma families where it belongs.

Every agency was held whole, with the Oklahoma Tax Commission voluntarily reducing its budget by $3 million. The only other reductions reflect the removal of one-time expenditures, reinforcing our commitment to ongoing fiscal restraint rather than unnecessary growth in government.

This budget prioritizes education, proposing $85 million for $2,000 teacher pay raises across the state; 23.7 million for increased health care benefits; and $80 million for reading and math programs, including efforts to improve literacy for early elementary students.

The budget also contains a number of public safety efforts: $6.75 million to fund a new Highway Patrol Trooper Academy; $1.8 million for critical operations software for the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training; $2.5 million for the District Attorneys Council's Rural Loan Assistance Program; and pay raises for court reporters and bailiffs.

State pensioners will receive Cost of Living Adjustments ranging between 3% to 6%, honoring commitments made to those who have faithfully served our state.

We are meeting our current obligations to fund health and mental health care, but we must also confront the long-term sustainability of these programs. Medicaid expansion, approved by voters in 2020, placed these provisions in the Oklahoma Constitution, limiting the ability of future legislatures to responsibly manage costs.

As federal support declines, the financial burden on our state taxpayers will continue to grow. Without reform, this trajectory is not sustainable. For that reason, we support placing this policy back into statute, restoring the proper constitutional balance and allowing elected representatives to make adjustments as needed to protect both patients and taxpayers.

If no action is taken, the likely alternative would be cuts to provider reimbursement rates, which would ultimately reduce access to care for all Oklahomans, especially in rural communities.

This budget was developed through an open and transparent process. Throughout the interim, lawmakers studied programs and services to ensure taxpayer dollars are being used effectively. Agencies presented their requests publicly, and House budget leaders made themselves available weekly to hear directly from constituents. This process reflects our belief that government should remain accountable to the people it serves.

We still have several weeks to finalize the budget, and I will continue working to ensure it reflects conservative principles of limited government, fiscal responsibility, and respect for the taxpayers who make all of this possible.

As always, it is an honor to serve you. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me at (405) 557-7350 or [email protected] if I can ever be of service to you.

He is not here, He has risen!

Easter is a powerful reminder that no darkness is final, no burden too great, and no situation beyond redemption. Through Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection, we are offered grace, renewal, and the promise of new life.

“Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.” — Luke 24:5–6

Wishing you and your family a blessed and joyful Easter.