The governor has signed into law House Bill 3882, creating the Lake and Industrial Access Revolving Fund to receive funds for projects such as ones currently under way at Lake Texoma.
These infrastructure projects help spur new jobs and economic development, which are crucial to areas of the state such as ours.TheOklahomaDepartmentof Transportationwillbeappropriated $15 million for this fund for Fiscal Year 2027, which starts July 1. I’m excited for the investment this will bring to our district.
House Bill 1675 has been sent to the governor. This is the bill that would require overnight youth camps and outdoor programs involving children to prepare emergency action plans to be placed on file with their county emergency management office. These plans would outline how camp staff and counselors will respond if there is a tornado, flash flood, wildfires, high winds or any other severe weather by detailing severe weather monitoring and detection, evacuation routes, reunification procedures and the criteria for sheltering in place.
Kids should have fun when they’re at camp, and parents shouldn’t have to worry when they hear about severe weather, knowing that plans and preparations are in place to protect their kids. It shouldn’t be hard for these camp operators to file these plans that could save lives.
House Bill 3880 was amended in the Senate and returned to the House for final passage. It’s now been sent to the governor.
The amendment would make publishing the “Oklahoma Today” magazine, by the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, optional rather than mandatory. The bill, as amended, allows Tourism and Recreation Department employees to earn commission on sales from advertising, sponsorships, subscriptions and merchandise related to department publications other than this one magazine as well as for additional tourism promotions.
On a final note, I received word thisweekthatArdmoreMainStreet has reached a local private reinvestment milestone of $70 million. The Oklahoma Main Street Center is a division of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce that helps in the revitalization of local downtowns and historic commercial districts.
According to the Commerce Department, since 1985, local programs and their town and cities, along with the businesses and volunteers in their historic commercial districts, have generated more than $2.5 billion in total public and private reinvestment, created more than 22,800 new jobs, and helped in the development of more than 9,300 new or expanded small businesses across the state.
Remember, if I can help you with anything, please do not hesitate to reach out: (405) 557-7383 or Josh. Cantrell@OKHouse.gov.
Josh Cantrell serves District 49 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes Love County and parts of Carter and Marshall counties.