The Tecumseh Chamber of Commerce plays a crucial role in advocating for its members and strengthening businesses within the community. One of the key strategies employed by the Chamber is building relationships with local legislators. These efforts are aimed at fostering a favorable business environment, promoting economic growth, and addressing challenges faced by businesses in Tecumseh and surrounding areas.

By actively engaging with local legislators and advocating for policies that support business growth and prosperity, our members play a vital role in strengthening the business community and fostering economic development in the region.

Join us for one of our monthly Legislative Lunches to speak with our representatives face-to-face. Registration is required and lunch is provided for our members. Thank you to our 2025 sponsors, Gilbert Insurance & Tecumseh Tag Agency, Canadian Valley Electric, BancFirst, and Berkshire Hathaway.

Join us for our traditional Legislative Forum, where you’ll have the opportunity to hear from and engage with our representatives.

Registration is required, and lunch will be provided. This event is free for members and $25 for non-members.

Event Registration - Tecumseh Chamber of Commerce

 Here is a recap of our January 21st Legislative Luncheon:

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to Mike Jackson from the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber and Senator Shane Jett for taking time out of their busy schedules to join us at our Legislative Kickoff that happened on January 21st.

Mike highlighted key priorities for this legislative session, including taxes, education accountability to better support our school districts, and investment in infrastructure.

Senator Shane Jett shared his excitement on his introduction of the Homestead Exemption Bill, which proposes eliminating property taxes for individuals, and reminded us of the importance of knowing our areas of influence where we live, work, and worship to effectively connect with the proper legislators to better make our voices heard.

We are grateful for their insights and for taking the time to share the legislator schedule, giving us valuable opportunities to engage in meaningful discussions this session, and always being open for questions from our members.

We would like to thank Big J's Smokehouse for the barbecue lunch. It was delicious! And thank you to our sponsors Oklahoma Natural Gas, Gilbert Insurance & Tecumseh Tag Agency, Canadian Valley Electric Cooperative, Inc, and CVEC Fiber. A special thank you to Citizen Potawatomi Nation for supporting our efforts through the use of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation's Cultural Heritage Center for our gatherings.

And thank you to our 2025 Legislative Committee, Justin Wood (Chairman), Randy Gilbert, Daniel Castaneda, and Cama Watts.

Advocating for our members and community is at the heart of what we do at the Chamber. We encourage you to join us for our upcoming Legislative Lunches on February 28th, April 4th, and June 13th to stay informed and engaged in the conversations that matter most.

Here’s to a productive and impactful year ahead!

Here is a recap of our February 28th Legislative Luncheon:

The Tecumseh Chamber of Commerce was honored to host Senator Shane Jett and Representatives Dell Kerbs and Danny Sterling at our Legislative Luncheon on February 28th. We sincerely appreciate their time, insight, and commitment to keeping our community informed about the work being done at the Capitol.

Members from Pottawatomie County Office attended to engage in meaningful discussions about current legislative initiatives that would directly affect how they are able to complete their work. Representative Kerbs provided updates on those bills he is actively working on, offering valuable clarity on how these measures may impact our local businesses and workforce. Our attendees took the opportunity to ask thoughtful questions, express their concerns, and gain a better understanding of upcoming legislative changes.

One of the important topics raised was the potential end of funding for 988, the national mental health crisis hotline. With budget concerns affecting various sectors, discussions like these highlight the importance of direct communication between our legislators and the people they represent. Events like our Legislative Luncheon provide a crucial platform for these conversations, ensuring that our local voices are heard and that our community remains informed and engaged.

We extend our gratitude to Senator Jett, Representative Kerbs, and Representative Sterling for their continued accessibility and willingness to address the concerns of our members. We look forward to future opportunities to connect with our legislators and advocate for the needs of our community.

Thank you to all who attended and participated in this important discussion! 

We would like to thank The Farmer's Daughter Market for the delicious lunch.  Thank you to our sponsors Gilbert Insurance & Tecumseh Tag Agency, BHHS Realty, Canadian Valley Electric Cooperative, Inc, and CVEC Fiber. A special thank you to Citizen Potawatomi Nation for supporting our efforts through the use of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation's Cultural Heritage Center for our gatherings.

And thank you to our 2025 Legislative Committee, Justin Wood (Chairman), Randy Gilbert, and Daniel Castaneda and to our partnership with Shawnee Forward to bring the best advocacy efforts to Pottawatomie County.

Advocating for our members and community is at the heart of what we do at the Chamber.

We encourage you to join us for our upcoming Legislative Lunches on April 4th and June 13th to stay informed and engaged in the conversations that matter most.

Legislative Luncheon Recap – April 4, 2025

We had a powerful and insightful Legislative Lunch on April 4th as we welcomed Representatives Danny Sterling, Dell Kerbs, Shane Jett, and Danny Williams. The group gathered to reflect on the 19th session of the season and to provide updates on the key issues impacting our state and communities.

Rep. Danny Sterling addressed the ongoing conversation around eliminating state income taxes, making it clear that this is not a move lawmakers are ready to make. Rep. Danny Williams supported that position by highlighting current challenges, including the recent removal of the grocery tax, the ongoing mental health crisis, and a $65 million state deficit—leaving little room for further tax cuts at this time.

Mental health was a prominent topic for all the representatives. Rep. Dell Kerbs passionately emphasized the House’s commitment to ensuring Gateway receives the state funding owed since October 2024. The message was clear: mental health services remain a top priority.

Rep. Williams also pointed to the critical shortage of healthcare professionals, revealing that Oklahoma is facing a nursing shortage of nearly 60,000. It’s a stark reminder of the need for robust investment in healthcare infrastructure and education.

Rep. Kerbs shared some important policy updates, including a change effective July 1st—paper vehicle tags will be replaced with an electronic process when purchasing vehicles. In response to a question about tribal vehicle tags, he noted that existing compacts are being reviewed and renegotiated with tribal governments.

A particularly emotional moment came when Rep. Kerbs responded to concerns over the proposed dismantling of the Oklahoma Forestry Department. He strongly defended the department, explaining that it plays a crucial role in supporting fire departments statewide. Eliminating it, he warned, would not only be shortsighted but could result in higher costs, as local departments would need to acquire their own equipment like bulldozers currently supplied by the Forestry Department. His message was clear: proactive investment in emergency preparedness is far more effective than reactionary spending.

For those interested in staying up to date on state budget developments, Rep. Kerbs encouraged everyone to visit okhouse.gov, where budget information is published and updated weekly.



We are grateful to our legislators for taking the time to speak candidly and with passion about the future of Oklahoma. Thank you to everyone who joined us for this important conversation!

Join us for our wrap-up session on June 13th. Click the form above to register today.

Senator

Shane Jett

District 17

405-521-5539

shane.jett@oksenate.gov

Senator

Grant Green

District 28

405-521-5547

grant.green@oksenate.gov