Oklahoma governor suggests new State of the State questions in final State of the State address

Gov. Kevin Stitt greets lawmakers with bandaged hands as he prepares to deliver his final State of the State address on February 2, 2026, at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City. (Photo by Kyle Phillips/Oklahoma Voice)

OKLAHOMA CITY — Gov. Kevin Stitt on Monday called on Oklahoma lawmakers to place four state questions on the upcoming ballot that would overhaul government spending and voter-approved health initiatives.

In his final State of the State address, the term-limited Republican governor urged lawmakers to send two state questions — adjusting Medicaid expansion and dismantling the medical marijuana industry — to voters. These two questions could undo citizen-led initiatives and attempt to overturn voters’ decisions at the ballot box. Stitt’s other two proposed state questions would freeze property tax increases and cap state spending as part of his broader push to reduce state spending.

In his 30-minute speech, Stitt talked about the tax cuts, which have left the state $1.6 billion less to spend. Still, he urged the Republican-controlled legislature to further cut spending and become less dependent on the federal government, which he said is “not a reliable partner.”

“Government dependency is a trap,” he said. “It robs self-sufficiency and balloon budgets. I always say government programs should be trampolines, not hammocks, but that’s often not the case.”

Medicaid Expansion ‘Adjusted’

With his arm wrapped in bandages from a cooking accident, Stitt said Medicaid is “enabling waste and creating massive spending increases.” He said he wants lawmakers to send a state question to voters that “allows for adjustments” to Medicaid expansion.

He did not reveal what those adjustments might be.

Oklahoma voters incorporated Medicaid expansion into their state constitution 2020June All adults are required to offer coverage Those under 65 who earn less than $21,597 a year.

Any changes to a voter-approved measure must be approved at the ballot box.

above 280,000 Oklahomans have benefited By extension, that has also lowered the state’s uninsured rates, according to the nonpartisan Oklahoma Policy Institute.

But Stitt said Medicaid is projected to “eat up 37% of our annual budget” over 10 years and cost the state $6 billion.

He said, ‘We have to change.

House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, said he supported the governor’s idea for a state question to accommodate the Medicaid expansion.

He said the costs are skyrocketing and need to be addressed as the Oklahoma Health Care Authority’s budget request approaches $2 billion this year to increase utilization from the Medicaid and Medicaid expansion populations.

Rich Rasmussen, president and CEO of the Oklahoma Hospital Association, said Medicaid expansion is a “cost-efficient system” that has improved health outcomes and limiting it “undermines care for all Oklahomans.”

“The governor clearly has a misunderstanding, or is so disconnected from what’s going on with everyday people, that he doesn’t understand what’s going on in health care across the state, the economic challenges we’re facing in Oklahoma,” said House Minority Leader Cindy Munson, D-Oklahoma City.

Shutting down the medical marijuana industry

Stitt also called on lawmakers to “shut down” the state’s medical marijuana industry, calling it one of the “greatest threats to public safety.”

Voters approved legalizing medical marijuana 2018 by Codifying in state statutes. While closing the industry does not require voter approval, Stitt said he wants lawmakers to put the issue to another vote.

“These (medical marijuana) storefronts hide an industry that enables cartel activity, human trafficking, and foreign influence in our state,” he said.

Lawmakers allowed medical marijuana legalization to take effect without a regulatory framework and have been toying with it for years.

The industry has earned crores from revenue and license fees. A tax on medical marijuana would generate more than $47 million in the 2025 fiscal year, according to one Report From the Oklahoma Tax Commission.

The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority reported Hundreds of thousands of Oklahomans A medical marijuana license is issued, and About 5,000 businesses are actively licensed.

Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, said he supports more conversation about the medical marijuana state question and that there may be a way to build a “real medical marijuana program.”

“When you’re actually reversing the people’s vote,” he said. “I think it’s a good place to put it in front of the public instead of saying, ‘Oh, it didn’t work, we’re going to undo your state question.’ We take seriously the intent of the voters and what the voters actually voted for.”

Property taxes, state government spending freezes

A third state question Stitt suggested lawmakers freeze property taxes for “at all levels.” Property tax is a major one A funding source for public schools, careertech centers, county government operations, libraries and county health departments.

He said that the cooling rate would provide relief to the landowners, but did not give further details.

Paxton said that while lawmakers want relief for homeowners, they also don’t want to “destroy” the county or school district.

Stitt’s final proposed state question would amend the Oklahoma Constitution to put a 3% annual cap on recurring spending increases, meaning lawmakers would be limited in how much they can spend each year when crafting the state budget.

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