SB 947 Oklahoma Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Long-term care; updating statutory language related to ombudsmen and senior citizens. Emergency.

SB 947 updates Oklahoma's nursing facility fee structure and fund allocation rules to improve long-term care services for seniors. It revises how the Nursing Facilities Quality of Care Fee is calculated (based on 6% of total patient gross receipts divided by patient days) and designates specific uses for the resulting fund, including funding 15 ombudsmen positions and increasing monthly personal needs allowances for nursing home residents from $30 to $50. The bill ensures these programs - such as Medicaid services, nursing facility inspections, and senior support services - remain exempt from budget cuts. It directly affects nursing facilities (which pay the fee), seniors receiving Medicaid long-term care, and state agencies managing these programs. The bill was enacted without the Governor's signature on May 13, 2025.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

May 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Feb 3, 2025 Signed May 13, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

Floor (House) → Floor (Senate) · 8 edits

MODERATE

This bill version transitioned from the House to the Senate floor, incorporating formatting updates and adding new funding uses for the Nursing Facility Quality of Care Fund. The Senate version includes additional expenditures for eyeglass and denture services, ombudsman positions, nursing facility inspectors, and pharmacy services for low-income Medicare beneficiaries, expanding how the collected fees can be utilized.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on long-term care funding in Oklahoma, but the Senate version expands the specific allowable uses of the collected fees to include additional services and personnel.

FISCAL

Added funding allocation for eyeglass and denture services for Medicaid-eligible nursing home clients.

Added funding for fifteen ombudsmen employed by the Department of Human Services Office of the Attorney General.

Added funding for ten additional nursing facility inspectors employed by the State Department of Health.

Added funding for pharmacy and other Medicaid services to qualified Medicare beneficiaries with incomes at or below 100% of the federal poverty level, with a provision to suspend these benefits if the federal government extends pharmacy benefits to this population.

Added funding for durable medical equipment and supplies services for Medicaid-eligible elderly adults.

Added funding for personal needs allowance increases for residents of nursing homes and Intermediate Care Facilities.

TECHNICAL

Updated document headers and formatting to reflect Senate floor version with February 24, 2025 date and revised page headers.

Removed House of Representatives floor version headers and formatting.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 11, 2025 · House May 5, 2025

How they voted

43–0

Passed · 6 other

Total votes 49

Mar 11, 2025

D Democratic9

8 Yea 1

88% Yea

R Republican40

35 Yea 5

87% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 5, 2025

Committee

Referred for enrollment

upper

May 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Reading, Measure and Emergency passed: Ayes: 83 Nays: 8

lower

Apr 16, 2025

Lower · Passed

CR; Do Pass Health and Human Services Oversight Committee

lower

Apr 9, 2025

Lower · Passed

Policy recommendation to the Health and Human Services Oversight committee; Do Pass Public Health

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Committee

Referred to Public Health

lower

Mar 12, 2025

Introduced

First Reading

lower

Mar 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

Engrossed to House

upper

Mar 11, 2025

Committee

Referred for engrossment

upper

Mar 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

Measure and Emergency passed: Ayes: 43 Nays: 0

upper

Feb 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported Do Pass Health and Human Services committee; CR filed

upper

Feb 3, 2025

Introduced

First Reading

upper

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors