Senate review

The 2025 legislative session began on February 3 with the governor’s annual State of the State Address. Governor Stitt laid out his priorities for the upcoming legislative session and his vision for the continued advancement of our state. I’m looking forward to working with the governor and my colleagues on policy solutions that will foster prosperity and improve outcomes for the citizens of Senate District 4 and all four million Oklahomans.

The Senate’s main focus during the first week of session was to establish a baseline for the state budget for Fiscal Year 2026. The full Appropriations Committee heard from 73 state agencies and received updates on their budget requests. As Chair of the General Government and Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, I presented the budgets for 11 agencies, totaling nearly $100 million in requests. We will continue to work closely with our agency partners to pass a balanced budget and make strategic investments that will enhance state services and strengthen our infrastructure.

The Oklahoma Tax Commission also presented to the Appropriations Committee, providing an update on expected revenue collections for the upcoming fiscal year. With this information in hand, our subcommittees will continue to meet and make recommendations for funding the agencies we oversee, while navigating the possibility of a slight dip in revenues compared to the previous fiscal year.

The Senate remains committed to ensuring transparency throughout all budget negotiations. I encourage my constituents in Senate District 4 to engage in the process and stay informed about where your tax dollars are being spent. All committee and subcommittee meetings will be streamed to the public, and you can tune in at oksenate.gov/live-proceedings.

In addition to my work on the budget, I’ll also be working on the policy measures I introduced this session. These bills cover areas such as agriculture, transportation, public safety, military and veterans, and other issues I’m passionate about. They all share a common goal: to move our state forward and ensure we leave a better Oklahoma for future generations. I’m also carrying legislation to remove archaic language from state law to ensure our statutes reflect the needs of our state today.

It is an honor to represent Senate District 4, and I am committed to working on behalf of our community as we tackle the issues that matter most to Oklahomans. Please do not hesitate to contact my office if you have any questions or if I can assist you with a legislative matter. You can reach us by email at Tom.Woods@oksenate.gov or by phone at 405-521-5576.