EXECUTIVE ORDER 2024-19
WHEREAS, these United States of America declared independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain by signing the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776; and
WHEREAS, July 4, 2026, shall mark the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America; and
WHEREAS, the United States Congress has established the United States Semiquincentennial Commission to encourage the states to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States of America's founding; and
WHEREAS, the State of Oklahoma is a part of this union and enjoys the bounty of rights and liberties won through the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
NOW THEREFORE, I, J. Kevin Stitt, Governor of the State of Oklahoma, pursuant to the power and authority vested in me by Sections 1 and 2 of Article VI of the Oklahoma Constitution, and to the fullest extent permitted by law, hereby order as follows:
A. There is hereby created the Oklahoma Semiquincentennial Commission ("Commission") until July 31, 2026. The Commission shall prepare, plan, engage with, encourage, coordinate, and oversee observances and activities in the State of Oklahoma commemorating the 250th anniversary of our nation's founding.B. The Commission shall consist of thirteen (13) members as follows: 1. Seven (7) members appointed by the Governor of Oklahoma;2. The Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma or designee;3. The Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives or designee;4. The President pro Tempore of the Oklahoma Senate or designee;5. The Oklahoma Secretary of Veterans Affairs or designee;6. One member appointed by the Oklahoma Historical Society;7. One member appointed by the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation;C. The Commission shall perform the following duties and functions:1. Meet as necessary to carry out its duties under this Order;2. Elect a chair of the Commission from among the Governor's appointed members;2. Prepare a timeline of events, programs, initiatives, and engagements commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, our nation's founding, the founding era, and the ideals contained therein;3. Coordinate with the United States Semiquincentennial Commission, America250, and other state and local public and private partners to fulfill its duties under this Order;4. Apply for such grants, sponsorships, donations, and legislative appropriations as the Commission deems appropriate, with any awarded funds to be deposited with the Oklahoma Historical Society;5. From time to time, the Commission shall electronically submit to the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the President pro Tempore of the Oklahoma Senate, and the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, a report detailing the Commission's progress in executing its duties under this Order;6. The Commission may establish procedural bylaws and planning committees as deemed necessary by the Commission.7. Members of the Commission shall receive no compensation for their services, except that any members who are department or agency employees may be reimbursed for expenses incurred in performance of their duties by the department or agency in which that member is employed.IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Oklahoma to be affixed at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, this 1st day of August 2024.
BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA
J. Kevin Stitt
ATTEST:
Josh Cockroft
Secretary of State
Okla. Admin. Code § 1:2024-19
Adopted by Oklahoma Register, Volume 41, Issue 24, September 3, 2024, eff. 8/1/2024