Oklahoma City – A bill by freshman Tulsa State Representative Suzanne Schreiber, aimed at cutting red tape for family home childcare and thereby easing the burden Oklahoma families face accessing child care in order to stay in the workforce.

The measure was signed by Governor Kevin Stitt on Tuesday, May 2, and is set to become law in November.

House Bill 2452, aims to streamline regulations pertaining to the licensing of family home child care facilities across the state.

Doing so, Representative Schreiber said, ensures these small businesses can operate efficiently and safely to provide family’s needs and reliable and consistent childcare access which strengthens our workforce and helps our economy grow and thrive.

“Addressing these issues will ensure the growth and sustainability of this important sector of Oklahoma’s economy while at the same time sending a message to Oklahoma families that we are working for common sense solutions to the real problems they face staying in the workforce,” Rep. Schreiber said in a legislative press release sent to CapitolBeatOK.com.

“Often the biggest barrier for Oklahomans to stay in the workforce is a lack of consistent and affordable childcare, so that’s what we are attempting to do.”

Schreiber lauded the bi-partisan support and excitement generated for the measure. She said its passage through the legislature and support of the governor and Oklahoma’s business community is a testament to the importance of focusing on solving real problems facing Oklahomans.

A sketch of the Legislative Process for House Bill 2452

For the record, Schreiber’s House co-sponsors were Democratic state Reps. Trish Ranson of Stillwater, Ellyn Hefner of Oklahoma City, and Republican Rep. Scott Fetgatter of Okmulgee.

In February, Senator Jessica Garvin, R-Duncan, became the author of the legislative in the upper chamber.

As for fiscal impact, legislative staff in both chambers said the measure would have no impact on state coffers.

The House Children, Youth and Family Services Committee gave unanimous approval to the proposal in a February vote.

The measure prevailed easily in the state House on March 21, sailing through with 94-5 bipartisan backing, including from the Speaker. Four members did not vote (“excused”) in that roll call.

The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services unanimously approved the measure.

H.B. 2452 passed the Senate last week (April 26) with a 39-8 bipartisan majority.

The eight opponents were all Republicans. One member did not vote.

In a celebratory reflection issued through the House communications staff — after the chief executive’s signature was affixed to the bill — Rep. Schreiver said:

“I came to this capitol building looking to be a problem solver for the issues that Oklahomans care about the most. Removing barriers for not only Oklahoma businesses but also for the Oklahoma families who rely on consistent and quality child care, is a common sense solution that I’m proud to have shepherded through the legislature in my first legislative session.”

Note: Pat McGuigan, publisher of CapitolBeatOK.com, worked with a House staff press release to prepare this story for posting. He incorporated additional information on the bill’s process and added some information about the bi-partisan composition of the measure’s support. CapitolBeatOK.com, founded in 2009, is an independent, non-partisan and locally-managed news service, a source of information that primarily reports developments in Oklahoma state and local governments, with additional stories covering a broad range of economic, cultural and other issues