logo
Login Subscribe
Google Play App Store
  • News
    • Obituaries
    • Lifestyle
    • Opinions
  • Sports
  • E-edition
  • Calendar
  • Archives
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Advertisers
    • Form Submission
    • About Us
    • News
      • Obituaries
      • Lifestyle
      • Opinions
    • Sports
    • E-edition
    • Calendar
    • Archives
    • Contact
      • Contact Us
      • Advertisers
      • Form Submission
      • About Us
State Budget figures released
commentary
February 26, 2025
State Budget figures released
By REP. TIM TURNER

State Budget leaders last week received certified revenue figures authorizing the appropriation of up to $12.3 billion for the state budget for Fiscal Year 2026, which starts in July.

This is about $1 billion less than for the current fiscal year. This was expected after the Legislature last year cut the state’s portion of the grocery tax. That was on top of personal and corporate income tax cuts approved several years ago.

While the state has less revenue, the taxpayer is keeping more of their earned income. That’s good news.

The talk at the Capitol is that we have healthy savings accounts, and we will be able to fund core services of the government, like public safety, public education, transportation, health care and others at stable levels. There’s a lot of information about the budget on the House website, okhouse. gov, for those who want to look deeper into the numbers.

Also, this week, the House passed legislation to reform the state’s administrative rulemaking process. Every year after legislation is enacted into law, state agencies and other entities are required to adopt administrative rules to put the laws into practice. The rules have to come back to the Legislature for approval, but sometimes this results in hundreds or thousands of pages of rules to pour through.

House Bill 2728 would establish the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act of 2025, modeled after similar federal legislation. It would help us make sure the rules follow legislative intent, don’t have unintended financial consequences for the state, and don’t create new law outside of the legislative process.

This was a bit of a tough week in the House. Ice and snow shut down the House for a day, forcing many committee meetings to be rescheduled. Our deadline for policy bills to be heard in their initial committees was extended to Monday, Feb. 24.

One disappointment this week was my House Bill 1989 failed to pass in the House Energy Committee. This bill would have established some setbacks for wind turbines, protecting our property owners. I appreciate the support I received while working on this bill from other legislators and the speaker. There are other avenues to accomplish this, and it is something on which I will continue to work.

On the upside, my House Bill 1992 passed the Civil Judicial Committee. This bill would combine tractors and trailers in statutory language for insurance purposes. When these combination vehicles are separated at the scene of an accident, we’ve discovered not enough insurance coverage on one or the other ultimately costs taxpayers more money to have them cleaned up or removed.

Remember, if I can help you in my capacity as your representative, please do not hesitate to contact me at the Capitol. My office phone is (405) 557-7375, and my email is tim.turner@okhouse. gov.

Rep. Tim Turner, a Republican, represents House District 15 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes Haskell County and portions of McIntosh, Muskogee, Le Flore and Pittsburg counties.

Whole Hawg Days on the horizon
A: Main, news
Whole Hawg Days on the horizon
July 16, 2025
Get ready for another fun-filled weekend as the 41st Annual Whole Hawg Arts & Crafts Festival prepares to get underway, Friday and Saturday, July 25-26. The festival will consist of Arts & Crafts, a r...
A: Main, news
Eufaula Chamber of Commerce Rodeo debuts
July 16, 2025
The rodeo is woven into the fabric of Eufaula history. Long before the annual rodeo was held at the fairgrounds, there were rodeos in an area of the city now a part of the cove where there are softbal...
A: Main, news
Check with the City before starting work
July 16, 2025
As more residents and property owners take on home improvement projects, the City of Eufaula is reminding the public of a key first step: check with the City before you begin. Whether you   are buildi...
Eufaula hires full-time fire chief
A: Main, news
Eufaula hires full-time fire chief
By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR 
July 16, 2025
Eufaula didn’t have to look far for its first full-time fire chief. Checotah Fire Chief Greg Carmack has been offered the job, replacing volunteer Fire Chief Chad French. The decision to hire someone ...
Checotah says goodbye to cowboy legend Bill Duvall
A: Main, news
Checotah says goodbye to cowboy legend Bill Duvall
By LaDonna Rhodes Staff Writer 
July 16, 2025
When Bill Duvall was called to meet His Maker in the Great Round Up in the sky this past Sunday, Checotah lost one of its best storytellers and legendary cowboys ever. Thankfully his legacy will live ...
A: Main, news
Hats off to those credited with keeping the roundup club and rodeo alive
By Current Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors 
July 16, 2025
Serena Kleveter, director Jay Hunn, president Zach McQuay Roxanne Loyd Kathy Turner Jeanette Smith Torie Anderson Peter Lee 1940-50 Doc Thurman Doc Gawf Dub Hammett 1960-70 Glen Pittman Fred Wendel Ho...
ePaper
google_play
app_store
Editor Picks
A: Main, news
Commissioners pass moratorium
July 16, 2025
TransAlta of Canada announced six months ago that it no longer planned to develop a wind turbine farm in McIntosh County. However, county commissioners wanted to make sure TransAlta or any other wind ...
news
Auditions for The Dancing Princesses open to all
July 16, 2025
If you’ve ever thought acting on stage might be fun, here’s your chance to find out. The Eufaula Performing and Arts Club is opening auditions for their next play to any would-be actor ages 10 and up....
news
McIntosh County GOP News
By LYNELLE MEDLEY CHAIRMAN 
July 16, 2025
Our potluck at the last meeting was so much fun and we had a fabulous turnout -- thank you to all of McIntosh County for supporting the Republican Party. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did. It w...
news
Man facing obscenity charges
July 16, 2025
Ryan Troy Dick, 52-year-old Sallisaw resident, is being held in the McIntosh County Jail pending his preliminary hearing on charges related to indecent photographs and videos sent to a former girlfrie...
news
Juvenile dies following accident near Longtown
July 16, 2025
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol reports that a juvenile, whose name and age are being withheld, was fatally injured in a single-vehicle accident that took place at about 10:30 p.m. on July 4. The deceased...
Facebook

THE EUFAULA INDIAN JOURNAL
100 N. 2nd Street
Eufaula, OK 74432

(918) 689-2191

This site complies with ADA requirements

© 2023 THE EUFAULA INDIAN JOURNAL

  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility Policy