This week I had my first bill, House Bill 1893, pass on the House Floor, which modifies the penalties for assaulting county elected officials.
On Wednesday, February 21, I attended the fourth annual Oklahoma Governor's Prayer Breakfast. Elected leaders across the state gathered to unite in prayer for Oklahoma.
Education remains a top priority for House Republicans, and we are focused on developing an education plan that works for every student, every parent and every teacher in our state.
House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, authored House Bill 2775 and House Bill 1935. The House's education plan provides for less government intrusion into local districtsandOklahomans' personal lives and finances.
The education plan comes in two parts: first, a $500 million funding increase for public schools, and second, the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit Act.
House Bill 2775, the proposal for $500 million in increased funding for public schools, is broken down into three parts: 1. Public schools would have $150 million in financial support to increase teacher salaries by $2,500 regardless of their current pay. The pay raise includes Teachers in the Department of Rehabilitation Services, Career Tech, Office of Juvenile Affairs and Department of Corrections.
2. $50 million would be distributed proportionally through a formula that addresses funding disparities for public school districts that receive below-average funding from annual local tax revenue.
3. $300 million would be distributed to the public school district on a per-pupil basis, capped at $2 million per district.
The bill outlines how the appropriated monies can be spent, including on teacher and support staff raises, STEM programs, instructional materials, fees for nationally standardized assessments, summer education programs, after-school programs, student support services, or tuition and fees for concurrent enrollment.
Under this plan, school districts serving constituents in House District 49 will receive over $11 million in additional funds for public education.
House Bill 1935 proposes the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit Act, a logical, comprehensive approach to supporting parental choice that works in every part of our start. The plan includes a $5,000 credit per private school student and a $2,500 credit per student educated by other means.
To claim the credit, the taxpayer's child cannot be a full-time student in a public school district, public charter school, public virtual charter school, or magnet school. The taxpayer must retain all receipts of private school tuition and fees or qualified expenses as proof of the amounts paid each tax year the credit is claimed.
The measure also states that the Oklahoma Tax Commission will create a form to allow taxpayers to request that the credit amount be advanced to the taxpayer in two installments of $2,500, one per semester, to help families who can't afford private school without the credit.
On February 22, the House approved the two-part education plan. House Education CommitteeChair,Rep. Rhonda Baker, did an excellent job presenting both bills on the floor. Now, HB2775 and HB1935 are eligible to be heard in the Senate.
T h i s p l a n d o e s w h a t ' s b e s t for our students, supports strong parent involvement in their children's education andensuresthatourteachers have the resources needed to excel in their jobs.
It is truly an honor and privilege to represent you at the State Capitol. Please do not hesitate to contact me at 405-557-7383 or josh. cantrell@okhouse.gov.
Rep. Josh Cantrell, a Republican, serves District 49 Oklahoma House of Representatives, which covers Carter, Love and Marshall counties.