Column by Representative Collin Duel
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Representative Collin Duel
It was a short week at the Capitol, but last week, the House completed its third reading deadline on Thursday, March 14. We passed 422 bills and joint resolutions off the House floor before the deadline, just a fraction of the thousands of measures filed this year.
These bills covered various topics, including multiple tax cut measures, a cost-of-living adjustment for state employees, modified graduation requirements, and crackdowns on crime. As the House is the body closest to the people, many of these bills directly resulted from constituent requests.
I want to discuss two bills I passed last week: House Bill 3775 and House Bill 3776. HB3775 increases the floor of the range of punishment for several domestic violence crimes. HB3776 adds several domestic violence felonies to the list of 85% crimes.
These bills represent significant progress in our ongoing efforts to protect victims and hold perpetrators of domestic violence accountable for their actions. The House will now swap bills with the Senate and consider their 279 bills, beginning with hearing measures in our House committees before they advance to the floor.
In the coming weeks, we will work to finalize the state budget. The Senate recently concluded its work in this area and released its budget figures, which do not include cash from prior fiscal years or money available to be appropriated from various state funds.
On Monday, the Legislative Showmanship was held at the Oklahoma Youth Expo. Legislators from every corner of the state joined Oklahoma's future farmers and ranchers for the Oklahoma Youth Expo, the world's largest junior livestock show. It was an excellent opportunity to meet with the future agriculture industry leaders.
This annual event hosts over 7,000 FFA and 4-H members and more than 13,000 heads of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, and ag mechanics. OYE awards nearly $2 million to exhibitors and more than $300,000 in academic scholarships. It has a $25 million economic impact on the Oklahoma City economy.
I want to thank Rylin Wells of the Guthrie FFA chapter, for coaching me along as we showed her pig. Agriculture education programs like 4-H and FFA create opportunities for Oklahoma youth to build life skills and grow students into dedicated, committed young adults who appreciate hard work and determination.
I am thankful and honored that the constituents of House District 31 have entrusted me with the responsibility of serving in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any concerns at 405-557-7350 or collin.duel@okhouse.gov.
Rep. Collin Duel, a Republican, serves District 31 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, which covers Logan and Oklahoma counties.