Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt addressed the state's 60th Legislature earlier this week, laying out a blueprint for his priorities in the 2025 legislative session. In his State of the State address, Governor Stitt emphasized his plan to protect Oklahoma taxpayers, advance the state as a top business destination, safeguard financial reserves, and uphold the "Oklahoma way of life," according to the official transcript made public by the Office of the Governor.
In his speech, Stitt celebrated Oklahoma's economic milestones, mentioning the state's robust savings account, tax cuts, and high rankings in GDP growth and net migration. Stitt, aiming to set a "savings floor" of $4 billion to fortify against economic downturns, said, "It’s conservative policies like this that protect the American dream in Oklahoma." Despite the gathering of political figures, seasoned veterans, and his own family members in the audience, the true focus of the address appeared to be on reinforcing conservative values in the face of national challenges, as detailed by the Office of the Governor.
The Office of the Governor also discussed his ambitions for reducing the state's income tax, drawing a roadmap for eliminating it altogether. He called for a "half and a path" approach, which would entail a half-point reduction in individual and business income taxes and a strategy toward abolishing state income tax entirely. Stitt backed his tax cut proposal with the belief that lowering taxes keeps money in Oklahomans' pockets, suggesting that it gets reinvested into the local economy.
While Stitt shared anecdotes and emphasized family values, he also delved into education reform, business innovation, and energy policies. He lauded Oklahoma's rank as the fourth state in the nation for education freedom, highlighting the state's measures like open transfer and tax credit policies favoring school choice. Making a push for in-person classroom attendance, Stitt noted, "We all know that kids learn best when they’re in the classroom with our great teachers." Furthermore, he put forth the importance of apprenticeships and internships for developing a skilled workforce ready to serve burgeoning industries in the state, as per the Office of the Governor.
In line with national Republican policies, Stitt addressed law and order, proposing new initiatives like Operation Guardian to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement and deporting individuals who have committed crimes while in the country illegally. The safety concerns extended into education, where Stitt encouraged phone-free school policies, citing improvements in student performance in Bixby Public Schools under Superintendent Rob Miller's cell phone ban. Emphasizing this priority, the Office of the Governor told the assembly, "I want to challenge the Legislature and school districts across the state to consider ways to make cell phone free schools a reality for all students."
The governor wrapped up his address with a reminder of Oklahoma's foundational values and the importance of faith and family in achieving the American Dream. In doing so, he reiterated his commitment to supporting strong families and fatherhood, elements he believes are cornerstones of societal success.
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