It’s budget season at the state Capitol. The Senate and House recently passed the general appropriations bill, which sets the framework for the balanced state budget for the upcoming fiscal year. While overall state spending and agency appropriations in this budget remain nearly flat, there are also targeted investments in public education, public safety, agriculture and key infrastructure projects.

Both legislative chambers will soon take up additional budget bills that detail how certain state agencies should use specific appropriations. Meanwhile, Senate committees continue to review policy bills sent from the House.

I supported this budget because it includes $232 million in new funding for public education, which will fund teacher pay raises and new initiatives to help young students who are falling behind in reading and math. As part of the education package, teachers’ minimum salaries would increase by $2,000, which I hope will attract more qualified first-time teachers into the profession.

School security was also a major priority in this budget. The plan makes permanent a $50 million annual investment to help every public school district upgrade security equipment and hire school resource officers, ensuring that all students and educators are safe throughout the school day.

The budget also includes cost-of-living adjustments of 3% or 6% for Oklahoma retirees enrolled in public pension systems. Many of these retired teachers and public safety personnel have been struggling to live on their fixed incomes because of record inflation in recent years.

The budget also includes a $45 million investment in local water infrastructure, a portion of which is earmarked specifically for water projects in rural communities with smaller populations.

Oklahoma State University would receive $2 million in this budget to study the hazards of the land application of biosolids. It’s a step in the right direction, but it doesn’t do anything now for the families who are living next to farms and ranches that are using biosolids as fertilizer. I firmly believe that this study will confirm that biosolids pose a threat to humans, livestock and our agricultural industry as a whole. That’s why I introduced legislation this past week that would force permitted users to reduce their land application by at least 25% each year while the study is ongoing. This legislation would also implement an outright ban on the use of biosolids as fertilizer in 2029, presuming the OSU study finds that this practice is detrimental to the health and safety of our state.

On a final note, March 31 was Higher Education Day at the Capitol. Hundreds of students, faculty and campus leaders came out to advocate for higher education. I enjoyed meeting with students and leaders from Seminole State College to discuss their legislative priorities.

It is a pleasure and a privilege to serve the people of Senate District 28. Don’t hesitate to contact my office if I can be of assistance. Call 405521-5547 or email Grant. Green@oksenate.gov