Aligning State Policy with Regional Responsibility
OKLAHOMA CITY — On January 30, 2026, regional and state leaders gathered at the historic Will Rogers Theatre for the 8th Annual ACOG Legislative Power Brunch — an event focused on the policies shaping Central Oklahoma’s future.
The Legislative Power Brunch is a working session between local governments and state policymakers — grounded in data, driven by regional priorities, and disciplined in its focus on outcomes.
A Clear Legislative Framework
Each fall, the ACOG Board of Directors identifies and ranks state legislative priorities through a structured survey process. Those results guide our advocacy at the Capitol.
For 2026, the highest-ranked concerns included:
- Municipal zoning authority
- Data center development impacts
- Property insurance costs and housing affordability
- Comprehensive tax reform
Across transportation, public safety, infrastructure, and appropriations, one theme was consistent: local governments need stable authority, predictable funding, and protection from unfunded mandates.
Regional Progress in Action
The program featured five short videos highlighting measurable regional progress initiatives led by ACOG.
Each initiative reflects ACOGs core function: disciplined regional planning that reduces duplication, manages risk, and protects taxpayers.
Watch videos here.
A Focused Panel Discussion
The moderated panel — Central Oklahoma in Motion: A Conversation on Regional Challenges and Leadership — centered on three areas:
1. Municipal zoning authority and local control
2. Infrastructure impacts of large-scale data center development
3. Comprehensive tax reform and revenue volatility
The discussion reinforced a central reality: local governments are responsible for delivering services, maintaining infrastructure, and managing growth — but state policy decisions significantly influence their ability to do so effectively.
A Unified Message
The role of ACOG is not to resist growth or reform. It is to ensure that policy decisions:
- Preserve local authority
- Avoid unfunded mandates
- Maintain and enhance program funding
- Support predictable, long-term infrastructure investment
The 2026 Legislative Power Brunch reflected what regional leadership looks like at its best — collaborative, informed, and outcome-focused.
ACOG remains committed to working with legislators and local officials to ensure Central Oklahoma continues to grow in a way that is fiscally responsible, strategically planned, and locally accountable.
ACOG REGIONAL INITIATIVE VIDEOS
2026 LPB Pictures
ACOG LPB Panel
Mark Sweeney, Norman City Manager Darrel Pyle, Midwest City Mayor Matt Dukes, Yukon Councilmember and ACOG Board Chair Shelli Selby and Panel Moderator Gerry Bonds discuss Regional Challenges during the 20206 ACOG LPB.
