Representative Jay Steagall

R

District 43

Hi, I'm Jay Steagall and I represent the people of Oklahoma's 43rd District.


representative

News & Announcements

Dec 10, 2024
Recent Posts

Steagall Files Bill to Eliminate Income Tax by 2035

Rep. Jay Steagall, R-Yukon, today filed legislation to phase out Oklahoma's personal and corporate income taxes over a decade, with the goal of eliminating the tax entirely by 2035. House Bill 1009 would reduce the personal income tax rate by 0.00475% annually and the corporate income tax rate by 0.004% annually over 10 years. Steagall had filed a nearly identical bill, House Bill 3058 , for consideration during the 2024 legislative session. "Recent polls show that Oklahomans overwhelmingly support the elimination of the state income tax, an effort for which I have filed legislation in the past two years and filing once again for the 60th Legislature," Steagall said. "The state income tax is a clear violation of our own state constitution and I will continue to pursue righting this wrong in the upcoming session." Steagall pointed to Article 2, Section 2 of the Oklahoma Constitution, which declares "all persons have the inherent right to life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and the enjoyment of the gains of their own industry." He said income taxes go against the foundation of the state constitution and encroach on Oklahomans' liberties. The state income tax was created statutorily in 1915. Stegall noted that the gradual reduction over a decade would give the Legislature ample opportunity to act on tax reform, a move he said was "much-needed." 

Apr 25, 2024
Recent Posts

Bill Making OMES Subject to Central Purchasing Act Sent to Governor

A measure making Oklahoma's state employee management agency and the Chief Information Officer subject to the Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act has been sent to the governor's desk.  House Bill 3057, authored by Rep. Jay Steagall, R-Yukon, would require all purchases of equipment, products and services within the Information Services Division of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) and the Chief Information Officer to be subject to the Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act and the Public Competitive Bidding Act of 1974 without exception.  "Oklahomans demand transparency and accountability regarding the expenditure of their hard-earned tax dollars," Steagall said. "The abuse of certain exemptions provided for in current statute pertaining to the competitive bid process has to end, and with the passage of HB3057, the Legislature is taking steps to reign in a significant portion of such exploitation. As the author of the bill and concerned taxpayer, I will be working to amend additional statutes to close loopholes and eliminate exemptions used or designed to bypass the competitive bid process." HB3057 is authored in the Senate by Sen. Darrell Weaver, R-Moore. "A government that can’t be trusted is a government that will lose citizen support," Weaver said. "How we conduct business must be above reproach and above board. As Senate author of HB 3057, I am grateful that we are taking action and adding a safety rail to guard against corrupt activities." The House passed HB3057 99-0 in March and, this week, the Senate passed it 37-0. HB3057 is now at the governor's desk and available to be signed into law. 

Feb 29, 2024
Recent Posts

House Veterans Caucus Elects New Leadership

The Oklahoma House of Representatives Veterans Caucus elected Army veteran Rep. Ty Burns, R-Pawnee, as the new House chair for the next legislative session. Members also elected Rep. Collin Duel, R-Guthrie, as the House vice chair. "It's a privilege to support the men and women in our state Legislature who have bravely served in our nation's defense and to represent the needs of our fellow veterans in Oklahoma," Burns said. "I want to thank Representative Steagall for his leadership for the past five years. As the newly elected Chair of the Oklahoma House Veterans Caucus, I am committed to promoting policies recognizing our veterans' and their families' sacrifices. Together, we will work tirelessly to ensure their voices are heard and their needs are met." "I am honored that my colleagues have placed their trust and confidence in me by electing me as the Vice Chair of the Oklahoma House Veterans Caucus," said Duel, who is an Army Ranger. "It is not only our duty but also a privilege to support our veterans, and I hold this responsibility in the highest regard. Through this caucus, we can better serve the brave men and women who have sacrificed so much for our state and nation." Current Chair Rep. Jay Steagall, R-Yukon, who served in the Oklahoma Army National Guard and the Oklahoma Air National Guard, has been chair of the caucus since 2019 and offered his congratulations to Reps. Burns and Duel. "It has been an honor to serve my fellow legislative veterans in this capacity for the last five years," Steagall said. "Together, we've led the charge to effect several statutory changes that benefit our state's veterans and their families. The work of this caucus is far from over, and I'm certain that with the leadership of Representatives Burns and Duel, this caucus will continue to fight for our veterans to ensure that those who wore the uniform and fought for our freedoms and way of life receive the benefits and care they have earned and deserve." The Veterans Caucus is a bipartisan, bicameral caucus consisting of over 20 veterans in the state legislature.