Stitt urges half-point income-tax cut, $4 billion savings floor and education changes in State of the State

Gov. Kevin Stitt delivered the State of the State address during a joint session of the Oklahoma Legislature, urging lawmakers to approve a half-point cut to the individual and business income tax with a ‘‘path to 0 income tax,’’ set a $4,000,000,000 savings floor and pursue education, criminal‑justice and energy policies he said will expand jobs and strengthen families.

Stitt framed the proposals around what he called ‘‘the American dream,’’ arguing Oklahoma should be ‘‘the very best state for business’’ and that fiscal discipline is required to protect taxpayers. "The state of our state is the strongest it's ever been and we're not done yet," he said, citing economic growth, job creation and a drop in foster-care numbers since he took office.

Why it matters: The speech lays out the governor's legislative priorities for the 2025 session and includes concrete numerical targets that would affect state revenue, spending and regulatory policy if enacted. Several proposals — most notably the tax cut and the savings-floor target — would require legislative action and have budgetary consequences.

Key proposals and claims

- Taxes and savings: Stitt called for a half‑point reduction in individual and business income-tax rates and a ‘‘path to 0 income tax,’’ and proposed a $4,000,000,000 floor for the state savings account. He described the floor as a conservative buffer to ‘‘weather any financial storm.’’

- Economic development and energy: Stitt said Oklahoma is attracting business investment and touted a $620,000,000 manufacturing investment and a national-level $20,000,000,000 data‑center investment he said will include Oklahoma; he called 2025 the year of an "energy abundance agenda" to expand generation and keep energy prices low.

- Education: The governor urged eliminating virtual instruction days in public schools and called for policies to increase internships and apprenticeships, asking businesses, schools and universities to create 250 new apprenticeship and internship opportunities this year. He also praised local efforts to implement cell‑phone‑free school policies and referenced a pending U.S. Supreme Court case involving a religious charter school.

- Criminal justice and fines: Stitt described a push to eliminate some fines, fees and court costs that he said trap people in a cycle that increases recidivism; he used the example of a man he identified as John Stanfill, who he said faces nearly $30,000 in fines and fees despite serving prison time.

- Public safety and immigration: He praised Operation Guardian and said Oklahoma sent National Guard troops to Texas to help with border security; he urged cooperation with federal deportation of people convicted of crimes while in the U.S. illegally.

What supporters and critics said

Stitt framed his agenda as fiscally conservative and pro‑business. He repeatedly tied proposals to economic metrics the administration highlighted — jobs, company relocations and foster‑care reductions — and argued the measures will preserve family and community stability.

No formal legislative action on the governor's proposals occurred in the session transcript; his speech establishes items the governor asks the Legislature to consider.

Background and context

Stitt described a multi‑year fiscal strategy that he said transformed the state's budget from deficit to surplus after 2018, and he credited prior actions with enabling the grocery-tax cut and current savings. He also emphasized faith‑ and family‑oriented initiatives and continued support for connecting faith‑based and nonprofit organizations to relief efforts.

Ending

Stitt closed by urging lawmakers to prioritize the four principles he named — protecting taxpayers, being business‑friendly, safeguarding savings and preserving Oklahoma’s way of life — and said he is ‘‘looking forward to working with you on behalf of all 4,000,000 Oklahomans.’'