House Republicans Elect Hilbert Speaker-Elect
Speaker-Elect Kyle Hilbert (R-Bristow) presiding over the House of Representatives on November 19, 2024. [Also photoed House Parliamentarian C.J. Cavin] (Credit: Oklahoma House of Representatives)
(via OKHouse.gov) - The Oklahoma House Republican caucus today elected Rep. Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, as Speaker-Elect of the House for the 60th Legislature.
Speaker-Elect Hilbert has served as Speaker Pro Tempore for the House since 2022. He is set to become the 45th Speaker of the House and the ninth Republican speaker.
“I am deeply honored and humbled by the trust the Republican caucus has placed in me heading into the 60th Legislature,” said Hilbert. “Together, we must rise to the occasion of the urgent challenges facing Oklahomans, including the ongoing pinch of inflation, a widening workforce skills gap and much-needed investment in our public infrastructure system including transportation, water, wastewater and broadband connectivity. Our caucus is ready to make the tough decisions needed to move Oklahoma forward.”
The Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives is the body’s chief presiding officer and is responsible for committee appointments, the flow of legislation and the management of the House budget and staff. The speaker also serves as an ex-officio voting member on all House committees.
Hilbert, 30, will be the youngest House speaker in Oklahoma state history and only the second Republican speaker 30 years old or younger in any state since 1873.
The House Republican caucus also elected today Rep. Anthony Moore, R-Clinton, as Speaker Pro Tempore-Elect; Rep. Stan May, R-Broken Arrow, as Caucus Chair; Rep. Nick Archer, R-Elk City, as Caucus Vice Chair; and Rep. Josh Cantrell, R-Kingston, as Caucus Secretary.
In Hilbert's eight-year tenure in the House, he has authored over 40 bills that have been signed into law. Oklahoma’s budget is in better shape than it has ever been and the budget negotiation process is more transparent than ever, due in part to Hilbert’s efforts as Vice Chairman of the Appropriations and Budget Committee and his previous leadership positions.
Hilbert has tackled numerous policy challenges head-on. He authored the DRIVE Act, which brought the state's transportation funding into the 21st century, while simultaneously spearheading modernization of Oklahoma's ad valorem tax reimbursement system. Hilbert also led the charge to create and implement a transparent process for the distribution of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to targeted and transformational projects across the state.
Additionally, Hilbert was the author of the Redbud School Funding Act, which directs a portion of revenue generated from marijuana taxes to school districts with below-average local property taxes, enabling them to address pressing infrastructure needs. This legislation also stopped countless lawsuits in their tracks as it settled longstanding questions of funding disparity amongst public schools.
“I came to Oklahoma City to get things done,” said Hilbert. “My record in the House reflects that. I will work diligently to conserve tax dollars while looking for wasteful or duplicative services and continue to fight for a stronger, brighter Oklahoma.”
Hilbert is coming into legislative leadership as Sen. Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, was elected last week by his caucus as Senate President Pro Tempore-Elect.
“I have worked closely with Sen. Paxton on significant legislation - including combatting ghost employees and allowing gubernatorial appointment when there is a U.S. Senate vacancy - and look forward to partnering with him and Gov. Stitt as we build on the momentum from Election day for a conservative vision for Oklahoma,” said Hilbert.
Hilbert was elected Speaker-designate by his Republican colleagues in March. Members of the 60th Legislature will take their oaths of office Wednesday at 10 a.m. and will convene for its first session in 2025.
The entire body of the House will formally vote for its next Speaker of the House on Organizational Day for the 60th Oklahoma Legislature on January 7, 2025.
Hilbert was elected in 2016 to represent House District 29, which contains portions of rural Creek and Tulsa counties. He holds a bachelor's degree in agribusiness from Oklahoma State University, where he also served as Student Government Association President.
Hilbert and his wife, Alexis, have two daughters, Addison (5) and Dorothy (2). The family lives in Bristow and are members of Foundation Church in Sapulpa.