Representative Lonnie Sims

R

District 68

Hi, I'm Lonnie Sims and I represent the people of Oklahoma's 68th District.


representative

News & Announcements

Mar 23, 2023
Recent Posts

Sims Bill Expanding Access to Hazard Mitigation Fund Passes

Rep. Lonnie Sims, R-Jenks, has secured passage of legislation expanding opportunities for federal hazard mitigation funding. House Bill 1928 eliminates the Flood Hazard Mitigation Account and replaces it with the Hazard Mitigation Financial Assistance Fund, which Sims said broadens the scope of what the fund can be used for and what federal grants can be received. "Oklahoma faces numerous natural disaster threats every year, and increasing access to hazard mitigation funds is critical to reducing vulnerabilities, protecting lives and fostering greater resilience against future threats to our infrastructure and property," Sims said. Since the historic Arkansas River flooding in May 2019, Sims, a former mayor who now chairs the House County and Municipal Government Committee, has worked on several pieces of legislation to improve hazard mitigation. The measure itself does not direct revenues to or from the fund. HB1928 passed the House 89-2 on Wednesday and now moves to the Senate, where it is authored by Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa.

Mar 14, 2023
Recent Posts

House Unanimously Approves Income Qualifier Increase for Additional Homestead Exemption

For the second time in three years, the Oklahoma House of Representatives has approved an increase to the income qualifier for an additional homestead exemption to aid Oklahomans living on a fixed income. House Bill 1926, authored by Rep. Lonnie Sims, R-Jenks, increases the income qualifier for the additional homestead exemption from $25,000 to $30,000. Sims said many seniors living on fixed incomes are losing this benefit because the increases to Social Security have pushed them over the income qualifier. "Unfortunately, due to the rise of inflation we've seen in the past few years, Oklahoma's seniors on a fixed income are now facing the same concerns and no longer qualify for the additional homestead exemption," Sims said. "House Bill 1926 raises the income qualifier accordingly to keep pace with these cost-of-living adjustments and ensures our seniors can still claim this exemption." The federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program saw a cost-of-living increase of 5.9% in 2022 and an 8.7% increase in 2023. In 2021, Sims saw legislation signed into law increasing the income threshold from $20,000 to its current $25,000. Until that bill took effect, the qualifier had not been raised since 1997. HB1926 passed the House 92-0 with its title off and now transfers to the Senate for consideration.