We’ve been busy in recent weeks focusing on budget hearings in our various appropriations subcommittees. Our Health and Human Services subcommittee held two full days of meetings and met with our 13 agencies, commissions, and authorities. These include state entities like the Oklahoma Health Care Authority; the Department of Veterans Affairs; the Office of Disability Concerns; the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority; the Office of Juvenile Affairs; and the Departments of Human Services and Health.
These agencies have accomplished some incredible things in the last year, and I enjoyed hearing about their goals for FY’25.
Altogether our health and human services agencies have requested more than $3.34 billion for FY’25, compared to their current budgets that total just over $2.65 billion. This amounts to a nearly $691 million or 26% increase, but with our current revenue picture will be impossible without the creation of new revenue streams. I’m hopeful the Legislature can find some innovative ways to best help support these critical state agencies.
Last week, I talked about some of the bills I’ve filed, and I’d like to share some more. So far, I’ve now introduced more than 30 bills. One of my bills would direct the Office of Juvenile Affairs to develop a pay-forperformance rate plan for youth services agencies and other contractors to improve accountability and efficiency.
I also have legislation directing the Department of Human Services to develop a universal and user-friendly online eligibility and enrollment application for the State Medicaid program, the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. Oklahomans need to be able to easily and quickly be able to access state programs.
Another measure would allow a pharmacist to test or screen for and initiate drug therapy for minor, nonchronic health conditions, such as strep throat, COVID and flu.
One of my bills would prove extremely helpful to Oklahoma homeowners by prohibiting any insurer of a homeowner’s policy from canceling, refusing to renew, or increasing the premium of the policy because the policy holder filed a claim relating to a weather-related catastrophe or a major natural disaster, or because the policy holder has a history of such claims. Given how many natural disasters we have in our state, we must protect homeowners from these types of unfair actions by insurance companies.
You can learn more about these and the other Senate bills that have been filed on our website at www.oksenate.gov.
If you have any questions or concerns on legislative matters, please contact me at the Capitol by writing to Senator Jessica Garvin, State Capitol, 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd. Room 237, Oklahoma City, OK, 73105, emailing me at [email protected] or calling 405-521-5522.
