Committees

OKLAHOMA CITY – A measure by Rep. Marilyn Stark, R-Bethany, is now eligible to be heard on the House floor after advancing this past week from the House Health and Human Services Oversight Committee.  Senate Bill 933, also known as the Right to Try for Individualized Treatments Act, would allow eligible patients with life-threatening or severely debilitating illnesses to access customized investigational treatments developed specifically for their genetic profile when no other approved options remain.  The measure establishes eligibility requirements for patients, including physician approval and informed consent, and allows treatment to be provided by manufacturers operating within approved facilities. Participation would be voluntary for manufacturers and the bill does not require insurance coverage for the treatments.  "We’re talking about people who are facing serious, often end-of-life situations where standard treatments just aren’t working," Stark said. "This gives them a chance to look at something more targeted and make that decision with their doctor."  The legislation also includes protections for health care providers and manufacturers acting in good faith and prohibits state entities from blocking a patient’s access to treatment.  SB933 passed the House Health and Human Services Oversight Committee unanimously and is now eligible for consideration on the House floor.

Rep. Tammy West, R-Oklahoma City, secured passage Tuesday of a measure that would allow expert testimony to be admissible in court when evidence of human trafficking is presented. Senate Bill 1810 would ensure qualified experts can explain how trafficking impacts a victim’s beliefs, behavior and perception, providing juries and judges with further context when evaluating cases. Currently, expert testimony is already permitted in domestic violence cases, and SB1810 extends that same standard to human trafficking prosecutions. "Human trafficking cases are complex, and victims often endure severe psychological trauma that can affect how they respond in court," West said. "This bill helps ensure that juries hear the full picture so justice can be properly served." In addition to evidentiary changes, the bill expands the scope of the Attorney General’s Victims Services Unit to better support survivors of human trafficking. Services may include counseling, case management, referrals and other critical resources to help victims recover and rebuild their lives. SB1810 passed the Government Oversight Committee unanimously on Tuesday and is eligible to be heard on the House floor. Its Senate author is Sen. Darrell Weaver, R-Moore. 

The Oklahoma House of Representatives today passed legislation that would submit a measure for a statewide ballot to give Oklahomans the lowest fixed cap on property tax increases in the entire country for homestead properties. The measure, Senate Joint Resolution 39, proposes amendments to the Oklahoma Constitution that would lower the caps on annual increases in the fair cash value of property and create a tiered system to better protect seniors from rising property taxes. The proposal will be submitted to voters at a statewide election on August 25, 2026. Under the proposal, the current caps on annual increases in fair cash value would be reduced beginning in tax year 2027. The cap for homestead property and agricultural land would decrease from 3 percent to 1.75 percent, while the cap for all other real property would decrease from 5 percent to 4 percent. “This ballot question would give Oklahomans the lowest fixed rate cap on personal property in the nation," said House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, who is the House author. "Oklahomans deserve real protection against the rapid rise in the value of their homes for tax purposes. At a time when families are already struggling to keep up with the cost of inflation, property taxes shouldn’t rise at the same pace as everything else.” The resolution also updates Oklahoma’s existing “senior freeze” by establishing a tiered cap structure for homestead property owned by seniors age 65 and older, based on household income relative to the median income in their county. Hilbert said the proposal is designed to provide broad property tax stability while directing the strongest protections to seniors with lower incomes. "Seniors often live on a fixed income, so tax relief for them ensures they are not priced out of their homes," said Hilbert. "This senior freeze is tiered so it does not disincentivize work, but also gives older Oklahomans much-needed tax relief."