Stitt calls for education reforms, smaller government in annual address

OKLAHOMA CITY — Gov. Kevin Stitt’s annual State of the State remarks offered few surprises as he called on lawmakers to pass education and prison reforms, reduce government spending and make Oklahoma more friendly for energy and business.

But even as Stitt’s 35-minute speech centered around the idea of ensuring what he called the “American dream,” hundreds of protesters spent hours outside the Capitol protesting fascism and the state’s anti-immigrant policies, which critics say make that dream unattainable for undocumented immigrants.

“I want that to be our legacy, a state where the American dream is alive and well because of strong families,” Stitt said. “Every generation has the same longing for the American dream. In the United States, where every state is a laboratory of democracy, we can see in real time which policies promote the American dream, and which ones push it farther out of reach.”

He asked lawmakers to cut taxes, create business courts, make 2025 the “year of the Energy Abundance Agenda,” eliminate “debtors’ prison” and preserve the “American dream.”

In statements, House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, and Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, both expressed their support for the priorities Stitt outlined in his address and said they look forward to working together this session.

Senate Minority Leader Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, said Stitt’s address lacked transparency, accountability and new ideas and instead recycled policy ideas from “Republicans who are using D.C. think tanks.”

“We need to be clear that the American dream includes all of us. Immigrants are part of the American dream,” she said during a press conference.

Ahead of the speech, Oklahomans gathered on the Capitol’s south steps carrying signs that read “Immigrants Built America” and “Reject Hate.” They urged support for undocumented immigrants and for lawmakers to reject the policies of state Superintendent Ryan Walters and to uphold the separation of church and state.

Walters has endorsed allowing immigration enforcement in schools for the purpose of deportations and sought to spend public funding to place Bibles in school classrooms.

Liz Miller of Choctaw volunteered at the rally.

“The goal is to let the people in there see that we are not all white, Christian, MAGA nationalists,” she said. “We are not all MAGA supporters. We are not people OK with them jamming Christianity down people’s throats.”

Security was heightened inside and outside the Capitol.

While touting Oklahoma as one of the best states in the nation for “education freedom,” Stitt called for lawmakers and school districts to find ways to make the state’s schools cellphone-free and to eliminate virtual days.

He said he wants to see legislation passed to create more internships and apprenticeships to improve workforce development and ensure students graduate “career ready” from high school and college.

Stitt called on lawmakers to eliminate “debtors’ prison,” meaning court fees and fines, and reform Oklahoma’s correctional system.

“We know that high fees keep people trapped in this cycle and contribute to higher recidivism,” he said. “That doesn’t make sense. I want to change that structure and make sure that a second chance is actually a second chance and get rid of fines, fees and court costs for good.”

House Democrats said while they support the idea, this kind of reform would need to be paid for with income tax dollars which Stitt wants to cut.

Stitt proposed cutting the personal and corporate income taxes by 0.5%. This comes as the Legislature will have $191 million less to allocate to state agencies this year. The financial impact of the proposed cuts has been disputed and could face bipartisan resistance.

“That means sacrificing now for future benefit. The reality is there is going to be pain either way, the pain of discipline now, or the pain of regret later,” Stitt said. “… We said no to good ideas in the moment so we could say yes to the well-being of future generations of Oklahomans. Because of that discipline, we got to come together as Republicans and Democrats to say yes to cutting the grocery tax last year.

Stitt called on legislators to set a “savings floor” of $4 billion dollars to prepare the state for any future economic shortfalls.