OKLAHOMA CITY (OBV) – A state representative with a history of championing workforce growth was recently honored for his legislative efforts to help Oklahoma businesses.
The State Chamber of Oklahoma bestowed its Business All-Star Award upon Rep. Brian Hill, R-Mustang, for his perfect score in the 2024 Research Institute for Economic Development (RIED) Report, which is released each year by the State Chamber Research Foundation.
State Chamber officials have been traveling throughout Oklahoma in recent weeks, visiting Chamber members and presenting Business All-Star Awards to legislators who achieved a perfect 2024 RIED Report score. The award was presented to Hill at the Mustang Chamber of Commerce, which is a member of The State Chamber.
Supporting business growth in Oklahoma is a high priority and important responsibility, Hill said.
“It is extremely important that we remain as a pro-growth state. Companies from around the nation are looking and paying attention to Oklahoma,” Hill said. “Keeping a strong workforce, low energy costs and low cost of land are all huge advantages. We really are at the forefront of what I believe is going to shift us forward to lead of the nation in many areas.”
Hill has been a steadfast friend to Mustang’s business community, according to Mustang Chamber of Commerce CEO Renee Peerman.
“He poured himself into the Mustang community from the day he started running for office,” Peerman said. “Rep. Hill has been very supportive of the Chamber of Commerce. Any time we have a need at all, we can call on him, and he’s always there for us.”
Last year, Hill co-authored Senate Bill 621, which established the Oklahoma Workforce Commission.
SCRF – a division of The State Chamber of Oklahoma – issued the 2024 RIED Report in early August, giving the Oklahoma Legislature as a whole a score of just over 75 percent for its voting record on pro-growth legislation during this past legislative session.
RIED also profiles each state legislator’s individual voting record on bills that impact business, industry, job creation and economic growth issues that matter most to the private sector. Each legislator is graded on his or her vote on each bill.
“The 2024 report shows that overall, Oklahoma has moved in an appropriate direction legislatively. The report details all of the pro- and anti-growth measures that we track, and where each legislator stands,” said Ben Lepak, SCRF Executive Director “I think there were a lot of missed opportunities this session. There are ways that the legislature could position our state to better compete with other states, with more and better targeted legislation.”
This year’s report rated legislators based on their votes for 13 bills. Coleman was one of seven legislators who voted 100 percent “pro-growth” on those 13 bills, while 38 legislators voted over 90 percent pro-growth.
“This session was an important one for the state’s economy. We identified some leaders in both the Senate and the House, some true pro-growth champions, that can lead our state to greater heights,” said State Chamber President and CEO Chad Warmington. “We look forward to having their support as we head into 2025 and continue to push for reforms that will help grow our state’s economy.”
RIED is an SCRF program that promotes economic growth through the evaluation of business, job and economic growth issues considered by the legislature.
The report scores legislators on their votes on economic bills at the end of each legislative session. Absences are not counted against the final score.
