Ninety-nine members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives took their oaths of office Wednesday, Nov. 20, in the House Chamber. The oath was administered by the Honorable Dustin P. Rowe, vice chief justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court. One member took the oath of office Monday and a second member will take the oath of office at a later time. The House will consist of 81 Republicans and 20 Democrats. There are 17 new members and 84 returning members. Newly-elected Republicans include Mark Chapman, House District 12; Tim Turner, House District 15; Jonathan Wilk, House District 20; Ryan Eaves, House District 22; Derrick Hildebrant, House District 23; Jim Shaw, House District 32; Molly Jenkins, House District 33; Stacy Jo Adams, House District 50; Jason Blair, House District 53; Mike Kelley, House District 60; Rob Hall, House District 67; Mike Lay, House District 68; Emily Gise, House District 90; and Gabe Woolley, House District 98. Newly-elected Democrats include Michelle McCane, House District 72; Ron Stewart, House District 73; and Ellen Pogemiller, House District 88. The full House will officially convene for an organizational day on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, and the First Session of the 60th Legislature reconvenes on Monday, Feb. 3.
Oklahoma House Republicans this week elected their new caucus leadership for the upcoming 60th Legislature. The 81 Republicans maintain their supermajority in the House. Newly elected caucus leadership includes: Rep. Stan May, R-Broken Arrow, as Caucus Chair Rep. Nick Archer, R-Elk City, as Caucus Vice Chair Rep. Josh Cantrell, R-Kingston, as Caucus Secretary "I am honored to have been elected by my colleagues to serve for a second term," May said. "I look forward to working with our new legislative leaders on pressing issues such as economic development, educational improvements and public safety." This is May's second term as Caucus Chair and fourth term in office. During the previous Legislature, May also served as vice chair of the House Appropriations & Budget Subcommittee on Judiciary. "I am grateful to have the opportunity to serve the House Republican Caucus, my district and the people of Oklahoma," Archer said. "I look forward to working with my colleagues toward a shared vision and dedication to the conservative principles Oklahomans value." Archer, a second-term legislator, served as vice chair of the House General Government Committee as a freshman lawmaker. Before being elected to the House, he served two terms as mayor of Elk City. "I appreciate the trust placed in me to serve in this role," Cantrell said. "The House is in an excellent position to address critical issues facing our state, and I am optimistic about the future of our caucus, our state and our country." Cantrell, also a second-term legislator, previously served as Marshall County Commissioner for District 2. During the previous Legislature, he was vice chair of the County and Municipal Government Committee. Archer and Cantrell succeed Rep. Danny Williams, R-Seminole, and Rep. Sherrie Conley, R-Newcastle, in their respective positions. Representatives were officially sworn in on Wed., Nov. 20. The full House will formally vote on its next Speaker and Speaker Pro Tempore during Organizational Day on Jan. 7, 2025. The first session of the 60th Legislature convenes on Feb. 3.
The Oklahoma House Republican caucus today elected Rep. Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, as Speaker-Elect of the House for the 60th Legislature. Speaker-Elect Hilbert has served as Speaker Pro Tempore for the House since 2022. He is set to become the 45th Speaker of the House and the ninth Republican speaker. “I am deeply honored and humbled by the trust the Republican caucus has placed in me heading into the 60th Legislature,” said Hilbert. “Together, we must rise to the occasion of the urgent challenges facing Oklahomans, including the ongoing pinch of inflation, a widening workforce skills gap and much-needed investment in our public infrastructure system including transportation, water, wastewater and broadband connectivity. Our caucus is ready to make the tough decisions needed to move Oklahoma forward.” The Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives is the body’s chief presiding officer and is responsible for committee appointments, the flow of legislation and the management of the House budget and staff. The speaker also serves as an ex-officio voting member on all House committees. Hilbert, 30, will be the youngest House speaker in Oklahoma state history and only the second Republican speaker 30 years old or younger in any state since 1873. The House Republican caucus also elected today Rep. Anthony Moore, R-Clinton, as Speaker Pro Tempore-Elect; Rep. Stan May, R-Broken Arrow, as Caucus Chair; Rep. Nick Archer, R-Elk City, as Caucus Vice Chair; and Rep. Josh Cantrell, R-Kingston, as Caucus Secretary. In Hilbert's eight-year tenure in the House, he has authored over 40 bills that have been signed into law. Oklahoma’s budget is in better shape than it has ever been and the budget negotiation process is more transparent than ever, due in part to Hilbert’s efforts as Vice Chairman of the Appropriations and Budget Committee and his previous leadership positions. Hilbert has tackled numerous policy challenges head-on. He authored the DRIVE Act, which brought the state's transportation funding into the 21st century, while simultaneously spearheading modernization of Oklahoma's ad valorem tax reimbursement system. Hilbert also led the charge to create and implement a transparent process for the distribution of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to targeted and transformational projects across the state. Additionally, Hilbert was the author of the Redbud School Funding Act, which directs a portion of revenue generated from marijuana taxes to school districts with below-average local property taxes, enabling them to address pressing infrastructure needs. This legislation also stopped countless lawsuits in their tracks as it settled longstanding questions of funding disparity amongst public schools. “I came to Oklahoma City to get things done,” said Hilbert. “My record in the House reflects that. I will work diligently to conserve tax dollars while looking for wasteful or duplicative services and continue to fight for a stronger, brighter Oklahoma.” Hilbert is coming into legislative leadership as Sen. Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, was elected last week by his caucus as Senate President Pro Tempore-Elect. “I have worked closely with Sen. Paxton on significant legislation - including combatting ghost employees and allowing gubernatorial appointment when there is a U.S. Senate vacancy - and look forward to partnering with him and Gov. Stitt as we build on the momentum from Election day for a conservative vision for Oklahoma,” said Hilbert. Hilbert was elected Speaker-designate by his Republican colleagues in March. Members of the 60th Legislature will take their oaths of office Wednesday at 10 a.m. and will convene for its first session in 2025. The entire body of the House will formally vote for its next Speaker of the House on Organizational Day for the 60th Oklahoma Legislature on January 7, 2025. Hilbert was elected in 2016 to represent House District 29, which contains portions of rural Creek and Tulsa counties. He holds a bachelor's degree in agribusiness from Oklahoma State University, where he also served as Student Government Association President. Hilbert and his wife, Alexis, have two daughters, Addison (5) and Dorothy (2). The family lives in Bristow and are members of Foundation Church in Sapulpa.