Senate committee advances bill to create statewide agency review task force

Senate Bill 1273, which would create an Oklahoma State Agency Board and Commission Review Task Force to examine the efficiency, effectiveness and necessity of state agencies, boards and commissions, was advanced by the Senate Administrative Rules Committee on a 9-0 vote.

Senator Bergstrom, speaking when recognized by the chair, said the task force would "review the efficiency, effectiveness, and necessity of all state agencies, boards and commissions" and provide recommendations to the Legislature.

The measure calls for a multi-member task force with designees from the governor's office, the Senate pro tem and the House speaker and is intended to work during the interim. On staffing, Bergstrom said "staffing for the task force shall be provided jointly by the staff of the Senate and the House of Representatives," using existing staff positions, and that lawmakers expect no additional fiscal impact.

Committee members asked whether the bill would reach below agency leadership to division-level instructions and memoranda. Bergstrom replied that the bill creates the task force itself and that a separate bill being considered that day would address more granular guidance and internal documents.

The committee recorded nine aye votes and no nays on the motion to advance the bill. The committee chair said he has already submitted questions about related agencies and has received responses from two of them, with a third pending; he urged members to review upcoming packets and report any concerns.

Next steps: SB 1273 will move forward in the legislative process following the committee vote.