Senate completes successful legislative session

The Senate on Friday completed the first session of the 55th Oklahoma Legislature one week ahead of schedule.

Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman said the session included numerous important achievements, including the following:

The creation of a system that will provide regular, independent evaluations of tax credits and economic incentives to determine which are working and which are not
A balanced budget that preserves funding for education and includes much-needed apportionment reform
A plan to fund construction of the Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture, better known as OKPOP
A plan to finish construction of the American Indian Cultural Center and Museum, end the state’s ongoing appropriations for operations, and ultimately divest the state of the property
Legislation to bring fairness and equitability to tax credits for the wind industry

“This year’s budget shortfall presented us with a significant challenge, but we have completed a very successful and productive legislative session,” said Bingman, R-Sapulpa. “I am grateful to my colleagues for their hard work on behalf of their constituents, and I congratulate them on their numerous achievements this session.”