OKLAHOMA CITY — Lawmakers returned to the state Capitol on Monday for a special legislative session on tax cuts, but the state Senate quickly adjourned without taking any action.

Although the House plans to vote Wednesday on the personal income tax cut requested by Gov. Kevin Stitt, state senators will not resume the special session without an agreement on tax reform, said Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City.

The Senate did not abruptly end the special session like it did in October. Instead, senators voted 30-13 to adjourn “to the call of the chair,” meaning chamber leaders could call members back at any time.

Treat said senators could resume the session should the House, Senate and Stitt reach an agreement on tax cuts.

In calling the special session, Stitt asked lawmakers to vote on a 0.25% personal income tax cut that would bring the state’s top tax rate down to 4.5%. In the days leading up to the special session, Stitt lobbied hard for the Senate to vote on the proposed cut.

“A vote to not cut your taxes is a vote for big government and wasteful spending,” Stitt said in a video posted on social media over the weekend. “Not cutting taxes is a signal that they think the government can spend your money better than you can.”

Treat said he expects tax cuts will be a key issue that lawmakers will discuss throughout the regular, four-month legislative session that begins Feb. 5. But Treat said he’s hesitant to make any of those decisions before the state Board of Equalization meets in February to certify final budget numbers for the upcoming fiscal year.

“We want to make an educated decision on how we advance as a state,” he said. “Part of the reason we have such a good surplus, not quite as good as (Stitt) alludes to, is because we’ve been good stewards of taxpayer dollars and we’re going to continue that.”

The House and Senate each met for about 10 minutes on Monday before adjourning.

The House will vote on a 0.25% income tax cut on Wednesday, which is the soonest the chamber can take up any legislation due to procedural rules. The chamber’s GOP majority has previously passed similar legislation.

House Majority Floor Leader Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City, said a tax cut is overdue as Oklahomans are struggling with high inflation.

“The citizens of the state of Oklahoma are out of time,” he said. “They’re paying too much at the grocery store right now. They’re paying too much for their electric bills right now.”

Special sessions cost about $34,000 per day when both chambers are in session, according to estimates provided by legislative spokespeople. The House and Senate cover those costs with their existing budgets, Echols said.

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