Property taxes, teacher retirement and Oklahoma’s growing budget challenges were among the topics discussed Friday when state lawmakers met with Okmulgee residents during a legislative forum hosted by the Okmulgee Chamber of Commerce.

State Representative Scott Fetgatter and State Senator Bryan Logan provided an update on the ongoing legislative session at the Oklahoma Capitol.

The forum offered attendees a chance to hear directly from lawmakers about current legislation, budget challenges and policy discussions shaping the 2026 session.

Both lawmakers noted that the Legislature has recently wrapped up its committee phase, meaning attention is now shifting toward debating and passing bills on the chamber floors.

“We just finished up with committee work,” Logan told the audience. “That means we get to take a break from that part, but it also means we’ll probably have to work harder getting bills off the floor. There will likely be some longer nights coming over the next few weeks.”

With hundreds of bills introduced each session, Logan acknowledged that not every proposal can move forward.

“There’s just not enough time to hear every single bill,” he said. “Some make it out of committee, some don’t and a few fall on their face.”

— Agriculture & Local Food Legislation Logan highlighted several agriculture- related bills moving through the Legislature, noting a growing trend toward supporting local food systems and small producers.

One bill, Senate Bill 985, would help facilitate the purchase of locally produced foods for schools through the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture.

“We’re trending in that direction,” Logan said, referring to policies that support local agricultural products.

Other agricultural measures discussed included legislation allowing small-scale egg producers to sell up to 150 dozen eggs directly from their farms. Logan shared a light moment from the Senate floor debate where a colleague jokingly referred to eggshells as “nature’s wrapper.”

Another proposal would designate the European honey bee as Oklahoma’s official agricultural pollinator, an idea that originated from a student research project completed through 4-H.

“It was really neat to see a young person do the study and then bring that idea through the Legislature,” Logan said.

— Transportation & Public Safety Measures

Lawmakers also discussed transportation-related legislation.

One proposal would increase funding for the Rebuilding Oklahoma Access and Driver Safety (ROADS) fund from $80 million to $100 million.

Other bills aim to update accident reporting requirements and revise insurance-related standards related to vehicle repair thresholds.

Logan also highlighted a public safety measure expanding fentanyl awareness education for middle and high school stu- dents. The proposal, known as “Raymond’s Law,” would require fentanyl awareness and prevention education for students in grades six through twelve.

The bill reflects growing national concern about the dangers of synthetic opioids, which have contributed to rising overdose deaths across the United States.

— Teacher Retirement Discussion One of the most heavily discussed topics during the forum involved the Oklahoma Teachers’ Retirement System.

Fetgatter explained that the retirement fund has dramatically improved over the past decade after lawmakers worked to stabilize it.

“Years ago, teacher retirement was in terrible shape,” Fetgatter said. “It was below ten percent funded.”

Through increased state contributions over time, the system has recovered significantly.

“We’ve taken it from below ten percent to over eighty percent funded,” he said.

Recent discussion at the Capitol centers around redirecting a portion of the state’s contribution to the retirement fund toward teacher recruitment and salary efforts.

Fetgatter emphasized that the proposal does not involve removing teachers’ personal retirement contributions.

Lawmakers noted that the system currently holds more than $25 billion in assets, much of which is invested.

— Property Taxes a Growing Concern Another issue raised during the forum was the rising concern among Oklahomans over property taxes.

Fetgatter said that while past debates have focused heavily on income taxes and grocery taxes, conversations with constituents increasingly center on property taxes.

“Property tax is the number one issue with the citizens of Oklahoma,” he said.

Several ideas are currently being discussed at the Capitol, including increasing the homestead exemption, expanding property tax freezes for seniors and placing limits on how quickly property values can increase.

However, Fetgatter noted that eliminating property taxes entirely would be complicated because the revenue supports local schools, counties and career technology programs.

-Budget Challenges Ahead Both lawmakers acknowledged that budget negotiations will play a major role in the coming weeks.

According to discussion during the forum, Oklahoma is currently facing an estimated $700 million budget shortfall, which will require lawmakers to balance competing priorities as they finalize the state budget.

Education remains the largest area of spending in the state budget, accounting for roughly half of the state’s total appropriations.

“Education is the number one thing we spend money on and the number one thing we spend time on,” Fetgatter said.

— Local Political Developments The forum also included discussion about upcoming political developments closer to home.

Fetgatter, who has represented House District 16 for nearly a decade and currently chairs the House Finance Committee, confirmed that he is nearing the end of his legislative service and has been weighing what comes next.

“I’ve spent the last year trying to figure this whole thing out,” he told attendees, describing the decision as a long process involving discussions with his family.

During the forum, local resident David Nelson announced plans to run for the soon-to-be-open House District 16 seat, telling attendees he intends to begin campaigning soon.

— Keeping Constituents Informed The legislative forum is one of several community updates hosted throughout the year by the Okmulgee Chamber of Commerce, allowing residents to ask questions and hear directly from state officials.

Fetgatter said these meetings are important for staying connected with the people lawmakers represent.

“I always make sure I come here,” he said. “Most of the people in this room are in my district.”

As the legislative session continues, both lawmakers said more details on major policy and budget decisions will emerge in the coming weeks as bills begin moving through the full legislative process.