Several of Tulsa’s Young Professionals headed to the capitol Tuesday to talk to lawmakers about issues important to them.
Key issues this year were liquor law modernization, the teacher shortage, criminal justice reform and expanding Insure Oklahoma.
"We try to stay close to our mission of attracting and retaining young professionals, but I don't think young professionals are that different from anyone else," said TYPros' Adam Doverspike. "So, the things that attract us, I hope, would attract other people to the state as well."
TYPros has been pushing lawmakers on liquor laws for a few sessions now. Doverspike said they’re happy to see the progress of Senate Joint Resolution 68, which would put modernization to a vote of the people.
"That would be something we would put right up there at the top of our list of successes in trying to make Oklahoma competitive with other states in welcoming young professionals and trying to attract and retain them," Doverspike said.
Some issues on this year’s agenda are harder to address than others.
"We know there are multiple efforts of different types to address the teacher shortage and, generally, education funding issues," Doverspike said. "Like most people, it's frustrating to see how hard it is to solve that problem."
Around 60 TYPros members made the trip, and the met with Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb, Secretary of State Chris Benge and House Minority Leader Scott Inman, among others. Members of a few other young professionals groups from across Oklahoma joined them.
