Hilbert sworn in as speaker pro tempore

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OKLAHOMA CITY – State Rep. Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, was elected speaker pro tempore of the Oklahoma House of Representatives on Tuesday.

State Rep. Kevin Wallace, R-Wellston, delivered the nominating speech, during which he called Hilbert “a calm and reasoned voice.”

“This at times is a thankless job, but he has done it with grace and a calm demeanor, with fairness – always willing to listen to all sides, but always respecting the august institution to which we have all been elected,” Wallace said. “When hard decisions need to be made, he’s not afraid to make them and stand firm with his knowledge of the rule of law.”

Hilbert was formally elected with 82 votes. Joined by his wife, Alexis, and their daughter Addison, he was sworn in by Oklahoma Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard Darby.

Hilbert, who represents House District 29, is the youngest speaker pro tempore in modern history at 27 years old. In his first term after being elected in 2016, he carried eight bills signed into law. He has served as assistant majority whip, vice chair of the House Appropriations and Budget Committee, as co-chair of the Health and Human Services Working Group on the Joint Committee on Pandemic Relief Funding, and as chair of the House Rural Caucus.