Area legislators among leadership in 2025 session

OKLAHOMA CITY — House Speaker-Elect Kyle Hilbert has announced a change to the House committee structure that he said will allow for more time and deliberation of bills at their initial consideration.

Southwest Oklahoma legislators also will be among among those who head committees or who will hold leadership positions in the legislative session that begins in February.

Hilbert said House committees will have a two-tiered structure with committees and oversight committees, which will allow legislation to be more thoroughly vetted and deliberated at the committee level before bills reach the House floor. The process will be similar on the policy side as to how committees are structured for appropriations.

“Each year, the Legislature considers thousands of bills and committees are where the majority of deliberative work should be done to build consensus around language and needed changes,” said Hilbert, R-Bristow. “The more thorough work we can do in the beginning of session, the more likely we are to have a clear, transparent process that allows good bills to become law.”

Southwest Oklahoma legislators who will head committees or be in leadership positions include:

Rep. Trey Caldwell, R-Faxon: chair of the Appropriations Committee; LOFT co-chair.

Rep. Toni Hasenbeck, R-Elgin: chair of the Postsecondary Education Committee of the Education Oversight Committee; vice chair of the Education Oversight Committee.

Rep. Daniel Pae, R-Lawton: chair of the Human Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee; vice chair of the Children, Youth & Family Services Committee of the Health & Human Services Oversight Committee.

Rep. Rande Worthen, R-Lawton: chair of the Criminal Committee of the Judiciary & Public Safety Oversight Committee.

Rep. Stacy Jo Adams, R-Duncan: vice chair of the Insurance Committee of the Commerce & Economic Development Oversight Committee.

Rep. Brad Boles, R-Marlow: chair of the Energy & Natural Resources Oversight Committee.

Rep. Gerrid Kendrix, R-Altus: chair of the Administrative Rules Committee.

Hilbert also announced the majority leadership team for the 60th Legislature. Members will include: Floor Leader Team: includes Rep. Gerrid Kendrix, assistant floor leader; Rep. Brad Boles, Oversight Committee chair; and Rep. Toni Hasenbeck, deputy majority leader. Assistant whips will include Rep. Daniel Pae. Presiding officers will include Hasenbeck and Pae.