Committees

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Nicole Miller, R-Edmond, has advanced legislation to strengthen maternal safety and improve health outcomes for mothers and infants across Oklahoma after House Bill 4285 passed the House with an 85-5 vote. House Bill 4285 would create the Perinatal Quality Improvement Revolving Fund within the Oklahoma State Department of Health to support initiatives in birthing hospitals statewide. "When you talk to families and health care providers, you hear the same thing, we can do better when it comes to caring for moms and babies," Miller said. "This bill would give the 41 birthing hospitals in Oklahoma the support they need to make real improvements and help more families have safe and healthy outcomes." The bill would allow the State Department of Health to partner with quality improvement initiatives and organizations across Oklahoma to address preventable maternal and infant health issues. HB4285 would focus on reducing maternal mortality and morbidity, as well as lowering rates of preventable complications and deaths among newborns and infants. The measure also would support collaboration among providers to strengthen standards of care and expand access to proven best practices. The revolving fund structure would allow the state to receive and utilize a variety of funding sources, including federal funds, grants and private contributions, helping support long-term improvements in care. HB4285 now moves to the Senate for consideration, where Sen. Christi Gillespie, R-Broken Arrow, is the Senate author.

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma House of Representatives has passed House Bill 2933 , authored by Rep. Mark Tedford, R-Jenks.  The measure increases transparency in Oklahoma’s insurance market while strengthening protections for policyholders navigating the claims process.  "We ask people to carry insurance to protect what matters most to them," Tedford said. "When that protection is needed, the process ought to be clear, consistent and easy to follow."  HB2933 requires insurers to submit detailed quarterly reports to the Oklahoma Insurance Department, including data on policies, cancellations, claims activity and dispute resolution efforts. The bill also makes this information publicly available, providing greater visibility into industry trends and insurer practices.  In addition, the measure establishes a Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights, improves timelines for claim responses and payments and ensures clearer communication between insurers and policyholders.  Tedford said the bill is about restoring confidence in a system people rely on during difficult times.  "A system works best when everyone understands it and can rely on it," Tedford said. "This puts structure around the process and helps bring a little more predictability to something that can otherwise feel uncertain."  The bill also strengthens enforcement authority for the Insurance Commissioner and updates consumer protections related to policy cancellations, rate increases and claims handling practices.  HB2933 now moves to the Senate for further consideration, where Sen. Aaron Reinhardt, R-Jenks, is the Senate author.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma House of Representatives passed legislation by Rep. Robert Manger, R-Oklahoma City, which aims to ease property tax burdens for seniors across the state. House Joint Resolution 1081 seeks voter approval of a constitutional amendment to remove the income requirement for seniors to qualify for Oklahoma’s property tax freeze program, allowing more seniors to freeze their home’s taxable value and avoid increases tied to rising property values. "This is about recognizing that many seniors are living on fixed incomes, even if they do not fall under an arbitrary income cap," Manger said. "They have worked their entire lives, paid into their homesteads and should not be priced out of their homes because of rising property values." Under current law, seniors age 65 and older may freeze the taxable value of their homestead, but only if they meet certain income limits. HJR1081 would eliminate that income threshold, allowing eligibility to be based primarily on age and residency. The measure would require homeowners to be at least 65 years old, have occupied the property as a homestead for at least seven years, and have a fair cash value of $700,000 or less. Manger said the decision should ultimately rest with the people, since it is their money. "This ultimately comes down to letting the people decide," Manger said. "This is their money, and they deserve a say in whether this protection is expanded to more Oklahoma seniors." Manger has worked on ad valorem tax relief affecting seniors for more than six years during his time in the House and believes the proposal reflects a commonsense approach to tax relief. "When property values go up, it may look good on paper, but it can create real pressure for seniors trying to stay in their homes," Manger said. "This is why I have worked on property tax relief for several years. This is a meaningful step toward helping more seniors stay in their homes with stability and peace of mind by ensuring their property taxes do not continue to climb year after year." If approved by the Senate, HJR1081 would be placed on a statewide ballot for a vote of the people. The measure is now eligible to be heard in the Senate, where it is authored by Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa.