Oklahoma Legislature Overrides 47 Stitt Vetoes in Historic Session

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt celebrated a legislative session that included a reduction of the state's top income tax bracket from 4.75% to 4.5%, with a long-term goal of eliminating the income tax entirely, a move he likened to Tennessee's phased approach. Despite Stitt vetoing 68 bills in 2025 to slow government growth, the Oklahoma Legislature overrode 47 of his vetoes, marking the most veto overrides in at least 30 years, including measures expanding insurance coverage for diagnostic mammograms and establishing new misdemeanors. Stitt criticized the veto overrides and the removal of his mental health commissioner, Allie Friesen, while some lawmakers, including House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, noted that Stitt secured many of his priorities such as business courts and a ban on cellphones in schools. However, Democrats expressed concerns that the income tax cut could undermine state options and that they were largely excluded from the budget process. The Legislature's budget maintained mostly flat funding for agencies but included a $250 million allocation for Oklahoma State University's veterinary school. Stitt also highlighted recent foreign investments in Oklahoma as major economic wins for the state.