NE Oklahoma Coalition Lays Out Agenda For New Legislative Session

A coalition of 68 public and private organizations in northeastern Oklahoma met on Thursday to lay out an agenda for the new legislative session.

One Voice, which includes the Tulsa Regional Chamber, outlined what it believes are the biggest challenges on both the state and federal level.

Among the group's priorities are addressing Oklahoma's teacher shortage, simplifying high school graduation requirements, expanding Insure Oklahoma, and funding more mental health and substance abuse programs.

"It's going to be a very challenging legislative session with a $900 million budget hole right now, and that's anticipated to grow,” Tulsa Regional Chamber’s Nick Doctor said. “And so, coming together and being able to work together to solve those big challenges that we have is critical now is more than ever."

Among other things, the group is also calling for criminal justice reforms and expanding the health care workforce.