Healthcare

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 15, 2025

SB 906: Practice of pharmacy; establishing certain pharmacy staffing ratio. Effective date.

This Oklahoma bill establishes a maximum staffing ratio requiring retail pharmacies to maintain no more than five pharmacy technicians for every one licensed pharmacist. It also updates regulations for pharmacy technicians by mandating permits, setting a renewal fee of up to $75 annually, and outlining procedures for late renewals and permit reinstatement. The law applies to all licensed retail pharmacies in Oklahoma and takes effect on November 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes staffing ratios to ensure adequate pharmacist oversight, protecting patient safety and improving pharmacy service quality.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 15, 2025

SB 251: Mental health and substance abuse services; expanding types of services that qualify for certain funds; establishing certain minimum allocation. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 251 expands eligibility for Oklahoma county mental health and substance abuse funding to include employment, education, and housing programs alongside existing treatment services. It requires the state to allocate at least 0.5% of total funds to each county government or multi-county partnership applying for grants. The bill also mandates annual reports to legislative leaders detailing funding distribution and services provided. These changes aim to broaden community-based support options while ensuring minimum funding for all participating counties.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands mental health funding eligibility to include housing/employment programs and mandates 0.5% county allocations, directly strengthening community-based services.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExpands mental health funding to include housing programs and mandates 0.5% allocation for housing services, directly funding housing support within community-based services.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

signed · Oklahoma · House May 15, 2025

HB 1516: Insurance; minors; contract for insurance; parental or guardian consent; effective date.

HB 1516 allows minors aged 15-16 to contract for life, accident, or health insurance with parental or guardian consent, and minors aged 16+ to contract for other types of insurance with consent. It specifies that these minors are legally bound by their insurance contracts (including settlements) but cannot be held responsible for unpaid premiums on unperformed agreements. The law, effective November 1, 2025, amends Oklahoma's insurance code to clarify minor contracting rights and responsibilities. This directly affects minors seeking insurance coverage and their parents/guardians who must provide written consent.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables minors (15-16) to obtain health insurance with consent, facilitating access to coverage under clarified contracting rights.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

vetoed · Oklahoma · Senate May 14, 2025

SB 927: State Medicaid program; modifying appointment procedures for the Medicaid Drug Utilization Review Board. Effective date.

SB 927 amends Oklahoma's Medicaid Drug Utilization Review Board procedures by prohibiting the pharmaceutical industry representative from voting on drug-related matters. It updates the appointment process to stagger initial terms for one physician, one pharmacist, and the lay representative to ensure board continuity. The bill affects the Oklahoma Health Care Authority and the board members, with changes taking effect November 1, 2025. The board's composition (10 members: 4 physicians, 4 pharmacists, 1 lay representative, 1 pharmaceutical industry rep) and appointment lists remain unchanged.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits pharmaceutical industry representatives from voting on drug matters to prevent conflicts of interest, strengthening Medicaid program integrity and review processes.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

Track

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 903: State Medicaid program; adding member to the Advisory Committee on Medical Care for Public Assistance Recipients. Effective date.

This bill amends Oklahoma law to add a new member representing federally recognized American Indian tribes to the state Medicaid Advisory Committee, expanding the committee's composition to include sixteen members instead of fifteen. The change ensures tribal representation on the advisory body that reviews Medicaid policy, program administration, and health care service delivery for public assistance recipients. The bill also updates appointment terms to a maximum of four consecutive years and clarifies that committee members receive travel reimbursement but no compensation for their service. Effective November 1, 2025, the committee will continue its existing duties of providing recommendations to the Oklahoma Health Care Authority while incorporating the new tribal member's perspective.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill adds tribal representation to Medicaid advisory committee, improving policy oversight and ensuring better healthcare service delivery for public assistance recipients.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 190: Income tax; reauthorizing donation of tax refund for the benefit of a regional food bank. Effective date. Emergency.

This bill creates a simplified process for Oklahoma's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to help elderly or disabled residents. It allows individuals aged 60+ or with disabilities who have no earned income and live in a household of similar members to stay on SNAP for 36 months without annual recertification, using a shortened application and reduced verification. The bill also increases SNAP medical deductions, permitting households with elderly or disabled members to deduct up to $175 per person (or $350 total) for qualifying expenses like prescriptions and doctor visits. These changes aim to reduce administrative barriers for vulnerable Oklahomans while maintaining federal SNAP requirements.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill increases SNAP medical deductions for elderly/disabled, expanding nutrition assistance that directly supports healthcare affordability and access for vulnerable populations.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 947: 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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates nursing facility fees to fund ombudsmen positions and increase resident allowances, strengthening long-term care services through dedicated budgeting.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates funds for 15 ombudsmen positions and increases nursing home resident allowances from $30 to $50, directly strengthening long-term care services for seniors.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 12, 2025

SB 806: Nutrition services; creating the Food is Medicine Act; creating certain incentive for Medicaid contracted entities; providing for certain expansion of nutrition services. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 806, the Food is Medicine Act, requires Medicaid contractors to expand nutrition services for enrollees, particularly those with diet-related health conditions like diabetes. It creates financial incentives for healthcare providers to offer medically tailored meals and nutrition counseling as part of Medicaid coverage. This directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries and their healthcare providers by integrating food-based health interventions into standard care. The law took immediate effect after Governor approval on May 8, 2025, without a waiting period.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires Medicaid contractors to expand nutrition services for diet-related conditions with financial incentives, integrating food-based health interventions into coverage.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

vetoed · Oklahoma · Senate May 12, 2025

SB 522: Medical marijuana; promulgating certain Advisory Council to establish certain task force; requiring certain final report. Effective date.

SB 522 creates an Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority Executive Advisory Council with six appointed members representing diverse stakeholders, including patients, business owners, and rural/urban communities. The bill requires this Council to establish a task force to research and recommend purchase and possession limits for medical marijuana patients, consulting with physicians, patient groups, veterans, and industry stakeholders. The task force must submit a final report by November 1, 2026, while the Council must issue annual reports to state leadership by November 1 each year. The bill focuses on gathering stakeholder input through structured research rather than changing existing medical marijuana laws. (Note: The bill was vetoed by the Governor on May 9, 2025.)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates advisory council to research medical marijuana access, aiming to improve patient access to treatment under healthcare services via task force recommendations.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

Track

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 12, 2025

SB 56: Home care; directing Oklahoma Health Care Authority to establish certain family caregiver reimbursement program. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 56 requires the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to create a program that reimburses family caregivers for providing home care services. This directly affects family members who care for relatives with medical needs at home, such as elderly or disabled individuals. The bill establishes a specific reimbursement mechanism through the Authority, directing them to implement the program immediately as an emergency measure. It became law on May 12, 2025, without the Governor's signature.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes mandatory reimbursement for family caregivers providing home care services, expanding access to home health support for elderly/disabled patients and strengthening caregiver support within healthcare delivery.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare