OKLAHOMA CITY (OBV) – Gov. Kevin Stitt issued an executive order prohibiting state agencies from wastefully spending taxpayer money.
Stitt issued Executive Order 2024-12 on Friday.
“We all have to remember, the money we spend doesn’t belong to us – it belongs to Oklahoma taxpayers,” Stitt said. “Oklahomans expect my administration to steward each tax dollar well, and that’s exactly what we’re going to do. It makes no sense for state agencies who pay the salaries of communications staff to outsource work to PR firms via sole source contracts. It’s wasteful and we’re putting a stop to it statewide.”
Stitt’s order bans state agencies from entering into sole source contracts with public relations, marketing or communications firms and vendors. It mandates that all contracts with PR vendors be procured through a minimum 30-day request for proposal unless there is a statutory directive to the contrary.
The executive order also states that agreements that were secured via sole source and are still in effect cannot be renewed and will be terminated at the end of the current contractual term. It also implements restrictions on future contracts.
Stitt’s order seeks to accomplish the following three goals, as stated by officials with his office:
- Ending Sole Source and Statewide Contracts with PR Vendors: State agencies are prohibited from entering into sole source contracts with public relations, marketing, or communications firms or vendors. All contracts will be required to undergo a 30-day RFP process.
- Eliminating Political Influence: PR firms and vendors with active campaign-related or state question initiative contracts are banned from contracting with state agencies.
- Cracking Down on Lobbying: State agencies are prohibited from entering into contracts with PR vendors who employ registered lobbyists, and contracts must be immediately terminated if a vendor is caught participating in unregistered lobbying.
The executive order went into effect immediately after Stitt signed it. The order was distributed to the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES), the directors of state agencies and Stitt’s advisors to ensure full implementation.
