Gov. Stitt Praises House Advancement of Teacher Pay Raises and Appropriations

Statement

Governor Kevin Stitt released the following statement praising the House passage of HB 1780, by a vote of 94 to 0, and JCR HB 2739, by a vote of 81 to 16:

"I applaud the House for their dedication to Oklahoma's educators and economic growth in our state," Stitt said.

"My administration believes the next step to moving the needle in education outcomes is continuing to invest in the classroom teacher. I applaud the House for their overwhelming support of HB 1780 and Representative Rhonda Baker for championing this piece of legislation. The $1,200 pay raise is an important element to help address teacher retention and shortage in Oklahoma.

"I appreciate the House for also taking the lead in bringing life back into the Quick Action Closing Fund, a vital tool for recruiting job creators and diversifying our economy. In order to grow Oklahoma and demonstrate to the nation that we are not afraid to compete with our neighbors, we must financially prioritize efforts to support commerce and workforce development. The $5 million passed in the House is a good first step to equip Oklahoma in achieving Top Ten in economic growth."

These bills will now go to the Senate for further consideration.

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