LEGISLATIVE AGENDA 2025
WHAT’S INSIDE
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WELCOME
Welcome to AFP-Oklahoma with a message from the State Director of Oklahoma
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LEGISLATIVE OVERVIEW
Overview of our legislative priorities for the 2025 & 2026 legislative session
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ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
Unleashing Oklahoma’s economy through enhanced transparency and accountability, fostered growth, a safeguarded and stable budget, fair and balanced energy policies, and lowered barriers to employment and professional growth
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ENERGY
Supporting an energy agenda that prioritizes affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy — reducing overreach and regulations while also promoting free-market competition to benefit Oklahomans
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K-12 & POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION
Creating an educational environment that increases access, enhances accessibility, Offers savings to students and resources to meet Oklahoma’s workforce needs
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CONSTITUTIONALLY LIMITED GOVERNMENT
Pursuing freedom by promoting fairness, preventing judicial overreach, fighting inflation and putting money back in the pocket of Oklahomans
WELCOME
Dear Friends,
We’re excited to share Americans for Prosperity-Oklahoma’s 2025 legislative agenda, which focuses on removing government barriers to job creation and economic growth. By cutting taxes and reducing bureaucratic inefficiencies, we aim to create a more dynamic economic environment where businesses and individuals can thrive. Our initiatives, such as implementing the REINS Act and exploring the elimination of personal income tax , are designed to foster innovation and promote prosperity across Oklahoma.
Education is at the heart of our vision for a better Oklahoma. By expanding the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit Program and aligning school board election dates, we’re working to increase educational access, empower parents and foster better community engagement.
We’re also committed to creating a leaner, more accountable government. By sunsetting unnecessary boards and commissions and protecting Oklahoma’s strong pension plan, we aim to ensure taxpayer dollars are used effectively. Furthermore, addressing regulatory overreach, particularly in the energy sector, and reforming our judiciary to better reflect Oklahoma values, will help maintain a government that serves the people’s interests. Together, let’s build a prosperous future for all Oklahomans.
To reach our team, learn more about these issues and stay involved, please visit our website: ProsperityAcrossThePrairie.org
All the Best,
John M. Tidwell, State Director
JTidwell@afphq.org
(918) 606-1182
100K+ DOORS KNOCKED IN 2024
30+ EVENTS IN 2024
200 INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEERS
PRIORIT
FOSTERING ECONOMIC GROWTH
Driving Innovation and Reducing Bureaucratic Barriers
Americans for Prosperity – Oklahoma’s 2025 legislative agenda is dedicated to stimulating economic growth by cutting taxes and eliminating bureaucratic inefficiencies. By streamlining government processes, we aim to foster a climate of economic innovation and prosperity throughout the state, enabling businesses and individuals to thrive in a less restrictive environment.
UNLEASHING ENERGY FOR OKLAHOMANS
Supporting an All-of-the-Above
Approach
Our energy reform agenda prioritizes affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy by reducing government overreach, eliminating burdensome regulations, and promoting free-market competition. We continue to encourage the legislature to support ratepayers and customers over the needs of government sanctioned monopolies. We support an all-of-the-above energy approach, opposing subsidies and mandates that distort markets. Our focus is on energy independence, consumer choice, and unleashing innovation through deregulation and responsible development.
ENHANCING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Equipping Parents and Students for Success
Our agenda prioritizes expanding educational pathways to provide parents and students with the resources needed to excel in a dynamic job market. By advancing educational options, we aim to empower Oklahoma’s families to make choices that align with their children’s needs and equip the next generation for success in a competitive economy.
REFORMING GOVERNMENT TO ELIMINATE WASTE
Creating
a Lean, Accountable Government
Our commitment to government reform focuses on reducing waste and inefficiencies to ensure that taxpayer dollars are used effectively. By targeting unnecessary spending and streamlining operations, we work toward a government that is more responsive and accountable to the people of Oklahoma.
When government overregulates, innovation stalls, businesses struggle, and opportunity shrinks. Cutting taxes, reducing bureaucracy, and eliminating waste empower individuals, drive economic growth, and ensure prosperity through free-market solutions — NOT government interference.
IMPLEMENT THE REINS ACT FOR PROSPERITY THROUGH DEREGULATION
Enhancing Transparency and Accountability
The REINS Act would reduce regulatory burdens on small businesses and consumers by requiring thorough cost analysis and legislative approval for major agency regulations. This approach would increase transparency and allow elected officials to have greater oversight, ensuring that regulatory processes better serve the interests of Oklahomans.
CREATE A PATHWAY TO ELIMINATE PERSONAL INCOME TAX
Fostering Economic Growth and Prosperity
Enacting a flat tax and then gradually eliminating personal income tax would create a more dynamic economic environment in Oklahoma, promoting prosperity for both individuals and businesses. By first transitioning to a low, flat tax and reducing
ECONOMY
tax burdens, Oklahoma can position itself as a leader in economic innovation, attracting new residents and businesses and encouraging sustained economic growth.
PROTECT OKLAHOMA’S SUCCESSFUL PENSION PLAN FOR FUTURE WORKERS
Safeguarding State Budget Stability
Oklahoma’s defined contribution benefit plan is among the nation’s strongest, funded at 101.5%, which places Oklahoma in the top 15 states with the lowest unfunded pension liabilities. Over the last decade, reforms have strengthened the pension system, benefiting employees, the state, and taxpayers. This well-managed pension system contributes positively to Oklahoma’s overall economic health, placing the state among the top five nationally in economic outlook.
REDUCE GOVERNMENT SIZE BY SUNSETTING BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
Lowering Barriers to Employment and Professional Growth
Sunsetting certain boards and commissions that impose occupational licensing requirements can reduce unnecessary barriers to employment. Eliminating state-mandated occupational licenses and reducing associated fees would help more Oklahomans enter the workforce and reach their potential. Expanding recognition of out-of-state licenses would also ease the transition for professionals relocating to Oklahoma.
05 OVERREACH STOPS NOW
PREVENT REGULATORY OVERREACH IN ENERGY SECTOR
Promoting Fair and Balanced Energy Policies
Oklahoma must prevent attempts at regulatory overreach, such as the Right of First Refusal (ROFR) law, which disproportionately benefits utilities and energy producers over families, small businesses, and industrial consumers. The ROFR law eliminates competition and violates tenets of free market principles as well as lacks the transparency and oversight typically provided by the Corporation Commission. Addressing these issues will better serve all stakeholders.
ENERGY
EMPOWER PARENTS IN THEIR CHILD’S EDUCATION
Making strides in changing lives.
EXPAND THE OKLAHOMA PARENTAL CHOICE TAX CREDIT PROGRAM
Increasing Access for All Families
Raising or removing the budget cap on the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit would provide broader educational options for families and children across the state. According to the OTC, the program received 36,000 applications in its first year, with 16,800 (47%) from “priority” income brackets. Expanding this funding would allow more Oklahoma families to benefit from educational choice.
ALIGN SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION DATES TO BOOST VOTER PARTICIPATION
Enhancing Accessibility and Saving Resources
Synchronizing the school board election calendar with other elections would increase voter turnout and save school districts valuable budget resources. School boards play a crucial role in local communities, but the current sporadic election schedule can further challenge voter engagement.
SUPPORT WORKFORCE-ALIGNED GRADUATES WITH PERFORMANCEBASED FUNDING
Meeting Oklahoma’s Workforce Needs
Encouraging post-secondary institutions to produce graduates in high-demand fields through a performancebased funding formula will help Oklahoma meet its workforce needs. Aligning educational outcomes with state workforce priorities will ensure that more graduates are prepared to contribute to the local economy and support the state’s economic growth.
EDUCATION
CREATE A LEAN & ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT
REFORM THE STATE JUDICIARY TO REFLECT OKLAHOMA VALUES
Promoting Fairness and Preventing Judicial Overreach
Supporting reforms to Oklahoma’s judiciary and high courts will ensure that the judicial system upholds the values of hard work and pioneer spirit central to Oklahoma’s identity. These changes aim to prevent judicial overreach and avoid the influence of Washington, D.C.-style interventions, maintaining a justice system that is accountable to the people and reflective of the state’s principles.
PROTECT OUR COUNTRY’S FUTURE BY AVOIDING THE FISCAL CLIFF
Fighting Inflation and Putting Money Back in Your Pocket
Oklahomans will greatly benefit if we can right-size Washington, D.C.’s outsized role in our daily lives. Tackling the impending fiscal cliff and combatting the effects of inflation will result in thousands of dollars back into each family’s budget.
