Oklahoma is almost a third of the way through this year’s legislative session, and over half of the cost of living bills on our radar got dropped. Any proposed legislation that didn’t make it out of committees by the March 5 deadline are also dead.
Here’s an update on the bills we were watching that are still standing, as well as several new ones to keep an eye on.
Remaining
Health care:
- Senate Bill 1329 requires women on Medicaid get mental health screenings for signs of postpartum depression, which will be reimbursable.
- Senate Bill 1344 funds a program to improve insulin accessibility and affordability by developing a lower-cost alternative.
Insurance:
- House Bill 2929 stops homeowner insurers from raising rates based on claims from more than five years before the policy went into effect or weather-related claims — that is, unless three or more weather claims happened in three years.
- Senate Bill 1435 prevents people’s credit history from determining the cost of their auto or home insurance. Need tips on how to boost your credit? Check out this story.
Utilities, tax relief and more:
- House Bill 2992 prevents higher utility rates for residential customers due to data center expansion.
- Senate Bill 1290 would earmark $3 million to keep the 211 hotline in Oklahoma. This would support food, shelter, clothing, transportation and medical needs.
- Senate Bill 1277 requires anyone receiving unemployment benefits to complete five weekly job search activities, like submitting a resume or job application to an employer.
- Senate Bill 1387 allows car buyers to factor their sold vehicle’s value into the new car’s sales tax calculation for sales up to six months prior. If you sell it within six months of buying, you can still get some money refunded.
New to our radar
Immigration:
- House Bill 4422 requires the Oklahoma’s Department of Human Services to confirm a lawful status before food stamp and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients can get their benefits. OKDHS must report unlawful status to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency.
- House Bill 4423 requires the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to do the same thing but for Medicaid (SoonerCare) users.
College savings, 988 and health care:
- Senate Bill 1989 allows you to contribute to Oklahoma’s 529 college savings plan using cash and digital transactions.
- House Bill 3617 establishes the Oklahoma Agriculture Right to Repair Act, which makes certain parts and tools that need fixing available for independent repairers and equipment owners.
- House Bill 4092 creates a statewide fund for 988, a mental health hotline number.
- House Bill 4453 establishes an Oklahoma Health Care Cost Transparency Board to foster “transparency and accountability” in the health care system.
The bill graveyard
- House Bill 2935 would have given sales tax exemption for diapers, which averaged out to about $8 a month in Tulsa.
- Senate Bill 1268 was an effort to raise Oklahoma’s minimum wage to $13 an hour, with another 50 cents added yearly for the next five years. The current minimum wage is $7.25, which hasn’t changed since 2009.
It’s worth noting, State Question 832, which is unrelated, will be on the ballot in June. It would increase the minimum wage to $12 in 2027 and $15 by 2029.
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