Culver discusses Organizational Day

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Bob Ed Culver, R-Tahlequah, said Legislature held its biennial Organizational Day Jan. 7, which is required to be held each odd-numbered year after a statewide election wherein new members are elected to the state Legislature.

"It gives us a chance to officially organize for the next Legislature – in this case the 60th, which will convene in two sessions, one this year and the second in 2026," Culver said. "We elected leadership and adopted rules by which we will operate during our legislative sessions. We also certified results from the Nov. 5 general election."

For the 60th Legislature, the House will be led by Rep. Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, who was elected to serve as speaker, and Rep. Anthony Moore, R-Clinton, who was elected speaker pro tem.

Both men were chosen previously by the Majority Caucus, but the vote during Organizational Day makes it official, Culver said.

"One of the first orders of business for Speaker Hilbert was to cement chairs and vice chairs as well as general membership for each House committee," Culver said.

The House will have a two-tiered committee structure with six oversight committees that will hear legislation passed along from 23 regular committees.

Culver said the oversight committees will have a say over which bills ultimately get heard on the House floor.

"These committees are in addition to the full Appropriations and Budget Committee and its 10 subcommittees, as well as the Administrative Rules and the Rules committees," he said.

Culver was named vice chair of the Alcohol, Tobacco and Controlled Substances, and the Civil Judiciary committees. He will also serve as a member on the Heath and Human Services and the Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight committees as well as on the Appropriations and Budget Judiciary Subcommittee.

"We're hoping the oversight committees will allow us to more thoroughly vet legislation before it moves to a vote by the full House. This could cut down on some of the things that get passed into law – not a bad thing in a state where about 400-plus new laws are enacted each year," Culver said.

Additionally, this might help ensure only things that will benefit Oklahomans get signed into law and things that are just the "pet projects" of a few will be sent back to the drawing board for more work before those are considered by the full body. Culver said.

Anyone needing assistance from Culver are asked to call his Capitol office at 405-557-7408 or email him at bob.culver@okhouse.gov.