With the current legislative year half completed, local legislators Scott Fetgatter and Roger Thompson said they are already behind. Some 381 House bills and 327 Senate bills are now being considered.
Fetgatter said bringing broadband internet connectivity is a top priority for the state. He pointed out some 40,000 students were unable to get connected to the internet when schools closed down.
“I got all my bills passed,” he said. One of those was a bill dealing with medical marijuana packaging. Currently dispensaries must use opaque packaging. That can lead to mold or other problem. Now they can use clear packaging in the store but must be in opaque packages when leaving the store.
Another bill he got through was the Covid visitation bill allowing pastors to go to the hospitals and long term care facilities as long as they pass safety protocols.
An issue with marijuana grow facilities closing down and leaving the land in a mess is included in House Bill 3752. That requires any grow operation abandoning the property and not restoring the land to be fined up to $100,000 and charged with a misdemeanor. It the landowner cannot be contacted, the property can be forfeited and auctioned off. Funds from the sale would be used to restore the property.
Another bill would require new growers to provide renderings of their facility as well as potential utility loads and insurance.
He pointed out the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority is now required to hire 64 new employees but the 50 inspectors allocated for 77 counties and some 14,000 business is not sufficient.
He met with Gov. State. “I told him that he thinks McGirt is the biggest issue but I showed him pictures of the grow facility by Henryetta and said that is the biggest concern for our citizens.”
Fetgatter said the medical marijuana market is rapidly becoming saturated. “Last year marijuana grown indoors cost $650 to $850 per pound to grow and sold from $1800 to $2,000 per pound. The bottom has dropped out and many cases it sells for $100 per pound. We have to have legislation designed to help legal businesses be profitable. We want to kill all black market operations in the state.”
Senator Thompson sits on the budget committee and pointed out there is, “a lot of cash coming into the state from the federal government.”
He said one issue that will affect the budget is inflation with more sales tax coming to the state. When inflation comes down so will our revenue.”
In an effort get more job opportunities, Thompson said he expects to see more more big announcements by the end of the year with businesses locating to the state. “We have over 300 businesses outside the state looking at us.”
One issue he said needs to be addressed is the quality of life for workers.
“Rural Oklahoma struggles to provide that. We need access to good schools and medical care.
Fetgatter said the approaching opening of QuikTrip is an exciting thing for Henryetta. “One thing Henryetta has going is a small portion of the sales tax goes into economic development. I don’t think you are using that money.” He encouraged city officials to hire a good economic development director to find more businesses. “You are going to pay a good salary, a $150,000 to $180,000 price tag is needed. Henryetta has got a great opportunity.”