From the Desk of Rep. John Talley, District 33
(OK House of Representatives) –Interim studies are underway at the Capitol. Here’s a look at a few that are upcoming before the House Business and Commerce Committee.
A study on the need for affordable housing and the possibility of using 3D printing to create affordable homes is set for 3 p.m. Monday, Sept. 16.
Rep. Mickey Dollens will look at what he calls “Oklahoma’s affordable housing crisis,” which he says is exacerbated by rising construction costs, supply chain disruptions, labor shortages and demand that exceeds available supply. He believes advanced 3D printing technology has the potential to revolutionize the housing market.
The study will examine the feasibility of utilizing this technology to construct affordable, sustainable and customizable homes in our state. This could potentially position Oklahoma to become a national leader in innovative and affordable housing solutions.
At 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17, the committee will hear a study on the lack of childcare in certain areas of the state and how that impedes economic growth and stability.
Study author Rep. Suzanne Schreiber will examine and discuss how the cost of childcare in Oklahoma impacts our economic growth and sustainability as we seek to understand better how the state supports Oklahomans needing childcare as well as the childcare industry. The goal is finding solutions that impact access and affordability for families seeking childcare and making sure industry burdens are balanced for those offering this service.
At 1 p.m. the same day, Rep. Mark Tedford will host a study to examine the state’s unemployment tax rate and how it compares to surrounding states. The hope is to discover the drivers for Oklahoma’s high rate and the potential impact to business development and recruitment in Oklahoma.
Rep. Brian Hill will then give us a look at Oklahoma’s workforce and our efforts to develop an innovation economy in the state. This study is set to start at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 19. Rep. Hill has held previous studies on these topics. This will be a follow-up to discuss where we are today and where we want Oklahoma to be moving forward.
Each study will take place in Room 206 at the state Capitol, 2300 N Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City.
All studies are open to the public and can also be streamed on the House website, okhouse.gov. To access a study, click on the News & Media tab at the top of the webpage, then select live proceedings. To access archived recordings, select calendar-day/month on the left side of the page and find the committee hosting the study in which you are interested.
For a full list of interim studies, go to the House website and look under the Committees tab at the top of the webpage.
Check back frequently as studies are still being scheduled. These will run through early November.
The state Senate also is hosting studies. Those can be found at oksenate.gov under the calendar tab, then select meetings. You can also view live proceedings via the live proceedings tab at the top of the Senate’s website.
As always, it is an honor to serve you. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me at 405-557-7304 or [email protected].
