Oklahoma lawmakers will have $571 million less to disburse on state programs and agencies than in 2025.
The smaller total left some Republican legislators who help craft the state budget urging caution.
The Board of Equalization approved a final budget of $12.2 billion for the coming fiscal year on Friday, Feb. 13. The figure was approved by all seven members of the board: Gov. Kevin Stitt, Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell, Auditor Cindy Byrd, State schools Superintendent Lindel Fields, Treasurer Todd Russ, Attorney General Gentner Drummond and Agriculture Secretary Blayne Arthur.
Sen. Chuck Hall, the Senate Appropriations chairman, said in a statement that it would be a «challenging budget year» as lawmakers have less money to work with.
Hall, a Republican from Perry, noted that about 80% of executive branch agencies requested budget increases. Hall said lawmakers are also faced with big financial requests, including the need to cover up to $495 million in additional funding for the state’s Medicaid agency, in part because costs escalated as the result of President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill passed in 2025.
Hall also noted a $25 million increase in SNAP administrative costs. That change also came from the Big Beautiful Bill.
The funding needs are coming after the state saw major one-time expenses in 2025 that drew down its cash reserves, Hall said.
Drummond, who’s running for governor, noted the state moved to purchase a private prison after the company pulled out of its contract. The state purchased the Lawton Correctional and Rehabilitation Facility for $312 million, ending the state’s use of private prison contracts in July. It is now known as the Red Rock Correctional Center.