LAWTON, Okla. (OBV) – A prominent Oklahoma state senator is resigning from his elected office to become a Chamber of Commerce leader.
Sen. John Michael Montgomery, R-Lawton, announced on Friday that he is stepping down from the State Senate and that his resignation will be effective on Aug. 1.
Montgomery has a new job lined up. He will become the president and CEO of the Lawton Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce.
He issued the following statement about his resignation and new position:
“It has been an honor and truly humbling to have been able to represent at the state Capitol the community that I have grown up in and call home for the last nine years. I am deeply grateful for the trust my constituents have placed in me, for the outpouring of support I have had, and cherish my colleagues I have worked with these many years. I consider it a great blessing to be able to continue to work for my home in a new role as president and CEO of the Lawton Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce and believe that my resignation from the Oklahoma State Senate, effective August 1, 2023, will be a long term investment in our community.”
Sen. John Michael Montgomery
Montgomery, a strong advocate for the state’s business community, has worked in the Oklahoma State Legislature for nearly 10 years, serving as a member of the House of Representatives from 2014-2018 and starting his Senate tenure in 2018.
Senate Pro Tempore Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, praised Montgomery’s work in the Senate.
“Senator Montgomery is a talented leader who has a bright future ahead of him. He is a valued member of our Senate family and while we hate to lose his expertise and knowledge, I wish him nothing but the best in this new role. He helped the Senate pass numerous measures that will benefit generations of Oklahomans – especially when it comes to economic development and the financial stability of our state. I appreciate his service, friendship and am glad he will still be in a public-facing role with the chamber.”
Senate Pro Tempore Greg Treat
Montgomery’s most recent success in the legislature was his contribution to House Bill 1039X, a bill that passed both houses of the legislature and became state law.
HB1039X repealed the state’s franchise tax. The franchise tax was a direct tax levied on a company’s net worth, taxing $1.25 for every $1,000 in capital, with the amount capped at $20,000, regardless of the company’s size or net worth.
The bill automatically became state law five business days after it fully cleared the Oklahoma State Legislature. Bills passed by the legislature become law after they have been on the governor’s desk for five days and have not been vetoed.
