House Speaker’s infrastructure plan goes to Gov. Mary Fallin for enactment
Published: May 1st, 2013
OKLAHOMA CITY – House Bill 1910, giving legislative form to Speaker of the House T.W. Shannon’s vision for a “pay-as-you-go” infrastructure financing plan, is on its way to Gov. Mary Fallin’s desk.
H.B. 1910 is one of the “big three” enactments approved last week in an accord announced by the governor, the speaker, and President Pro Temp Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa.
The measure cleared the House on May 1 (Wednesday) after a 74-23 vote. The emergency clause (allowing the measure to go into effect immediately upon the governor’s signature), then prevailed 68-25.
Speaker Shannon has long championed the idea of financing infrastructure improvements from the state government’s revenue stream, rather than with resort to bond issues. He listed the idea as one of his top personal priorities in a pre-session interview with CapitolBeatOK.
If signed by the governor, H.B. 1910 makes a few changes to the Long-Range Capital Planning Commission (LRCPC), directing the agency to guide state Capitol repairs, then develop an eight-year plan for other state maintenance issues.
The commission is also directed to work with the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (formerly the Office of State Finance) to sell underused state assets previously identified in the Omnibus Asset Consolidation Act.
Gov. Fallin is expected to sign the legislation.
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