OKLAHOMA STATE SENATE / From the desk of Sen. Jessica Garvin
For my constituents in Senate District 43 who were affected by the recent severe weather, one of the most important things you can do is to report your damage online at damage.ok.gov. Many local officials have already assessed storm damage in the district. But reporting the damage to your home, business or farm will help state authorities understand the areas of greatest need across Oklahoma.
Having a better idea of the scope of the damage can also help state officials seek federal aid, such as FEMA assistance, for hard-hit counties and storm victims.
One thing to keep in mind as you seek out workers to repair your home or business, contractors are required by law to register with the state. The Oklahoma Construction Industries Board’s website includes home repair tips and a searchable database so you can look up plumbers, roofers, electricians and other contractors before you hire them for a job. If you can’t find your contractor in the database, that could be a red flag. Be patient and do your research as you look for someone to repair your home. Be wary if someone asks for an up-front payment for their services. And please remain weather aware as we navigate through the rest of this tornado season.
The Legislature has entered its final month of this legislative session. Both chambers are constitutionally required to adjourn by 5 p.m. on May 31. Before that, we must finalize a state budget and vote on remaining policy matters. The Senate is also tasked with vetting the governor’s many appointments to state governing boards, his Cabinet and other government positions. The next few weeks will be jam-packed with activity here at the Capitol.
The governor has signed a few more of my bills. Among those was a new law to create a framework to govern how someone can access their family member, spouse or loved one’s online accounts, such as a digital newspaper subscription or Netflix or Amazon subscription, after their death. This will make it possible for someone who is not the account holder to shut down the account.
Gov. Kevin Stitt also signed legislation that prohibits health insurance companies and pharmacy benefit managers from refusing to cover the costs of an in-network provider administering covered specialty medications because the prescriptions aren’t filled through a pharmacy affiliated with the insurer or PBM. This bill aims to cut down on a practice called white bagging, which insurers use to try and require physicians to acquire costly specialty medications from pharmacies affiliated with their PBMs.
Last week was a big week for Senate District 43 at the Capitol. I was excited to welcome award-winning athletes from Lindsay, Marlow and Washington Public Schools to the building in addition to the Washington Warriors’ championship band. I got the chance to attend the Warriors’ spring concert on Thursday, and their performance was outstanding. I also want to thank Washington schools for allowing me to host a reception last week to celebrate students of Senate District 43 who were awarded their State FFA Degree, the highest honor the state association can bestow upon a member. Twenty students from nine local schools were invited to the event.
If you have any questions or concerns on legislative matters, please contact me at the Capitol by emailing me at Jessica.Garvin@oksenate. gov, calling me at 405-521-5522 or writing to Senator Jessica Garvin, State Capitol, 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd.
