Rep. Cody Maynard
Last week, I honored Silo’s softball team on the Senate floor after they won the 4A slow-pitch state championship title by defeating their long-time rival Dale 13-4, following victories over Oktaha and Pocola in the first two rounds. Great job, team!
Recently, the administrative rules process has received a lot of attention. This process often goes unnoticed, but it is crucial to ensure that government agencies operate within the legal framework and with public input.
The Administrative Rules Committee is central to this process. This committee carefully examines all agency administrative rules, providing more thorough legislative oversight of executive-branch agency rulemaking.
It’s important to remember that while agencies can’t create laws themselves—that’s the Legislature’s job—some bills authorize agencies to develop rules for implementing specific programs or processes. Statutes cannot spell out every detail, which would be impractical and inflexible. Rulemaking enables an adaptable approach where those affected can provide input on specifics.
Here’s how it works: Agencies draft proposed rules to ensure alignment with enacted laws. Before these rules can take effect, the Legislature must approve them. Public feedback is essential in this process, with agencies seeking input through comment periods and public hearings, ensuring transparency and accountability.
Agencies must submit their rules for review at the beginning of the year. Then, the Administrative Rules Committee checks every rule to see if it aligns with legislative intent and agency authority. If they find any concerns, they’ll examine them more closely.
The final adoption of rules is a detailed process. Rules are adopted through a resolution that each chamber’s committee hears before moving before each chamber’s floor. The resolution indicates which rules are not to be approved. Once endorsed by the Legislature, these administrative rules carry the force of law.
It’s critical to oversee this process closely. The Legislature’s role is clear: to approve or disapprove rules. This oversight ensures that administrative rules reflect the people’s will, balancing governance with public interest.
House and Senate budget leaders met twice last week with the governor for budget summits. The meetings are getting more productive, but we’re still a long way from a final agreement.
The good news is we finally have scheduled a whole slew of Joint Committee on Appropriations & Budget meetings. This is where budget legislation actually gets introduced, so this is progress. Once legislation passes in the joint committee, it can be brought to the floor of each chamber to be voted on. We have three weeks until the Legislature must adjourn, so I hope we reach a budget agreement soon.
Again, thank you for electing me to serve District 21. It is truly an honor and privilege to represent you at the State Capitol. As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any concerns at 405-557-7366 or cody.maynard@okhouse.gov.
Rep. Cody Maynard, a Republican, serves District 21 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, which covers Bryan and Marshall counties.