Speaker Kyle Hilbert

R

District 29

Hi, I’m Kyle Hilbert and I represent the people of Oklahoma’s 29th District.


representative

Leadership

Speaker Pro Tempore

59th Legislature

Speaker Pro Tempore

58th Legislature

Speaker of the House

60th Legislature

News & Announcements

Apr 15, 2026
Recent Posts

House Speaker Applauds Passage of Proposed State Question to Slow Property Tax Growth

The Oklahoma House of Representatives today passed legislation that would submit a measure for a statewide ballot to give Oklahomans the lowest fixed cap on property tax increases in the entire country for homestead properties. The measure, Senate Joint Resolution 39, proposes amendments to the Oklahoma Constitution that would lower the caps on annual increases in the fair cash value of property and create a tiered system to better protect seniors from rising property taxes. The proposal will be submitted to voters at a statewide election on August 25, 2026. Under the proposal, the current caps on annual increases in fair cash value would be reduced beginning in tax year 2027. The cap for homestead property and agricultural land would decrease from 3 percent to 1.75 percent, while the cap for all other real property would decrease from 5 percent to 4 percent. “This ballot question would give Oklahomans the lowest fixed rate cap on personal property in the nation," said House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, who is the House author. "Oklahomans deserve real protection against the rapid rise in the value of their homes for tax purposes. At a time when families are already struggling to keep up with the cost of inflation, property taxes shouldn’t rise at the same pace as everything else.” The resolution also updates Oklahoma’s existing “senior freeze” by establishing a tiered cap structure for homestead property owned by seniors age 65 and older, based on household income relative to the median income in their county. Hilbert said the proposal is designed to provide broad property tax stability while directing the strongest protections to seniors with lower incomes. "Seniors often live on a fixed income, so tax relief for them ensures they are not priced out of their homes," said Hilbert. "This senior freeze is tiered so it does not disincentivize work, but also gives older Oklahomans much-needed tax relief."

Apr 13, 2026
Recent Posts

Oklahoma House Passes Comprehensive Reading Legislation

OKLAHOMA CITY – Today the Oklahoma House of Representatives showed its overwhelming, bipartisan support for legislation strengthening the state’s Strong Readers Act, giving teachers additional training and support and ensuring students can read by the third grade. Senate Bill 1778 includes early identification of reading deficiencies through consistent, statewide screening; targeted intervention grounded in the science of reading; clear communication with parents about their child’s reading progress and available at-home supports; accountability measures to ensure students demonstrate reading ability before advancing to the next grade; giving 2nd graders the option of taking the state test; expanded teacher training and classroom support to improve instruction outcomes; new requirements and accountability for colleges of education preparing our state’s future teachers; a new funding formula that supports all students, while also giving additional funds to students who need more help and rewarding schools seeing growth; and creates a revolving fund to encourage public-private partnerships. “Before third grade, students learn to read. After third grade, they read to learn. When that transition does not happen, the consequences compound quickly and follow students for life,” said House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow and author of the bill. “ We want to talk about career pathways and dream jobs for our students, but our children will be perpetually underemployed if they cannot read. I am proud of the House members who supported this important legislation today and I believe we will look back to this moment years from now and know this is when we made the decision to do better for all Oklahoma students." To support this reform, the Legislature is making targeted investments to strengthen teacher preparation and student literacy. The budget includes over $43 million for reading instruction and interventions in schools, $5 million in supplemental investment for teacher training academies this summer, and $5 million in ongoing annual funding for teacher training programs. In addition, the state will invest over $5 million in reading at home initiatives and dedicated funding for math and reading screeners to help educators identify and address student learning needs earlier. The legislation has received bipartisan support, largely because the statistics around Oklahoma’s reading levels are alarming. In 2015, Oklahoma students performed near the national average in reading. Today, we trail peer states by more than a full grade level. Based on Spring 2025 testing, just 27 percent of Oklahoma third graders are reading at or above grade level. The bill passed the House floor with a bipartisan vote of 87-5. The Senate will now consider the proposed amendments before the legislation moves to the governor's desk for final consideration.

Apr 9, 2026
Recent Posts

House Passes Legislation to Raise Cap on Parental Choice Tax Credit Act

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma House of Representatives today secured passage off the House floor of House Bill 3705, which would give more students the ability to attend the school of their choice by increasing the Parental Choice Tax Credit cap to $275 million. “Our tax dollars should follow Oklahoma students to the school that best meets their needs,” said Chad Caldwell, R-Enid, who presented the bill on the House floor Thursday. “Oklahoma families clearly value this program, as shown by record application numbers this year. We must continue expanding access to educational options so every student has the opportunity to succeed in the environment that works best for them.” The Parental Choice Tax Credit program was established through House Bill 1934 in 2023. The program provides families with greater flexibility to choose educational settings that best suit their children. Under the program’s tiered structure, eligible families may receive refundable tax credits ranging from $5,000 to $7,500 per student for private school tuition, depending on household income. Additionally, families who homeschool may qualify for a $1,000 per-student tax credit for approved educational expenses. Currently, tax credits for private school expenses are capped at $250 million annually, while homeschooling credits are capped at $5 million per year. The cap is now increased to $275 million. "Parents should have the choice to find a school that best fits the needs of their child," said House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow and author of the bill. “For my daughters, the best choice for them is Bristow Public Schools. But the government shouldn’t tell other parents what is the best school for their children. This legislation simply allows parents to take some of their tax dollars to a school of their choice." House Bill 3705 passed the House by a vote of 70-19 and now heads to the Senate for further consideration.