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OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. T.J. Marti, R-Broken Arrow, and Sen. Spencer Kern, R-Duncan, hosted an interim study Monday examining the role of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in Oklahoma’s health care system and how their practices affect patient access, local pharmacies, and state health care costs. "I’ve seen firsthand how PBM practices can harm both patients and independent pharmacies," Marti said. "Our goal is to ensure every Oklahoman receives fair pricing and quality care while protecting the local pharmacies that keep our communities healthy." Experts testified about the financial pressures PBMs place on community pharmacies and the complexity of the drug supply chain. Jonathan Buxton of the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association said PBMs aim to maintain pharmacy access while controlling costs for plan sponsors. However, several witnesses noted that pharmacies are often reimbursed below acquisition costs, threatening their long-term viability and patient access, especially in rural areas. Marti expressed concern over the continued decline of community pharmacies and questioned whether PBMs are ensuring fair reimbursement rates to keep them sustainable. Antonio Ciaccia, CEO of 46Brooklyn Research and 3 Axis Advisors, said nearly every participant in the drug supply chain, from manufacturers to PBMs, has financial incentives that can obscure transparency and drive up prices. Independent pharmacists shared firsthand challenges. Todd Pendergraft, co-owner of Broken Arrow Family Drug Stores, reported nearly $30,000 in underpayments on workers’ compensation prescriptions last year and described PBMs steering patients to PBM-owned pharmacies. Lucas Coody, PharmD, Director of Government Affairs at AlignRx, said the burdensome and ever-changing PBM appeals process, combined with disregard for Oklahoma statutes, often causes pharmacies to abandon reimbursement disputes altogether. Scott Biggs, Commissioner of the Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Commission, explained that while his agency enforces maximum reimbursement rates, PBMs are regulated by the Attorney General’s Office and the Insurance Department. Michael Leake, Deputy Attorney General and Director, PBM Compliance and Enforcement Unit, said enforcement actions have recovered $32 million for the state health plan and made Oklahoma a national leader in PBM oversight and transparency. Kern said the findings highlight the need for stronger regulation. "PBMs play an important role, but we cannot allow practices that harm our state budget or limit patient access to essential medications." Marti thanked participants for their testimony and announced plans to pursue PBM reform legislation in the 2026 session to ensure fair treatment for both pharmacies and patients statewide. The Second Regular Session of the 60th Oklahoma Legislature will convene on Feb. 2, 2026.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Reps. Nicole Miller, R-Edmond, and Tim Turner, R-Kinta, this week held an interim study reviewing Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association (OSSAA) eligibility and transfer rules as well as usage of school athletic facilities. The study, held before the House Common Education Committee, specifically examined the implementation of OSSAA Rule 24, commonly referred to as the "Link Rule," which is intended to discourage student athletes from changing school districts to follow a trainer and/or coach for athletic purposes. Lawmakers said they wanted to consider the rule in relation to Senate Bill 783 , passed in 2021, which amended provisions of the Education Open Transfer Act. The act governs student mobility and participation in public school extracurricular activity. "We took a close look at how Rule 24 is being applied and whether it reflects the intent of the Open Transfer law," Miller said. "Families make school decisions for many different reasons, and kids should still be able to stay connected to the activities and teams that give them a sense of belonging. We also heard how restrictions on the use of public school fields for camps or training during the school year can create challenges, particularly when they limit opportunities for Oklahoma student athletes to demonstrate their skills and talent. These are real situations for real students. Moving forward, I want to ensure our rules are clear, fair and truly supportive of the opportunities our students work so hard for." Turner said, "Today's study was not a witch hunt but to look at concerns brought to legislators by parents, coaches and citizens about the OSSAA. We want to keep high school sports fun and make sure student athletes are able to better themselves to go to the next level. We want to stay on facts and present evidence gathered by each speaker to help the legislative body determine the way they would like OSSAA to proceed." OSSAA Executive Director David Jackson said the association is not just some outside entity imposing rules on schools. It's an organization created and governed by school administrators who voluntarily join in order to operate on a level playing field in athletic and other competitions. The intent is to keep the focus on education rather than on winning at all costs. The 482 member schools themselves set the rules by which they're governed, and they can change them if necessary. It's also important to note OSSAA oversees about 30 co-curricular activities, including the arts such as vocal and instrumental music, theater, speech and debate, among others. About 150,000 students are served through the organization each year. Jackson said OSSAA's foundational rule of residence eligibility states that a student is eligible to compete only in the school district where the parents reside. If a student transfers to a school outside the district, then they are required to sit out one year from varsity-level participation unless they are given an exception, or what OSSAA would call a hardship waiver. During the first two-and-a-half months of the current school year, OSSAA tracked 1,060 exceptions requested by students transferring out of their district who wanted to be granted eligibility. Jackson said 1,003 of those requests – about 95% - were approved. In recent years, Jackson said member schools of the association determined to allow students 9th grade and above to select whatever school they would like to attend and then be granted one free transfer. He said they are fielding requests, however, from students who are unhappy with the school where they transferred. They either want to transfer back to their original school or onto another school. There are some guardrails and timelines around when transfers can occur, he said. Jackson also addressed the Link Rule. "Schools have always been concerned about students that want to follow a coach that maybe changed jobs. When the exception – the free transfer – came about, they (school administrators) absolutely anticipated that's even going to magnify that issue a great deal more, and they're right about that." Several parents and a student spoke at the meeting as did former Rep. Mark Vancuren, who also previously worked as a coach.  Chris Adamson, a Deer Creek School Board member and the parent of student athletes, spoke about restrictions on high school sports facilities for use by outside entities. His son, who played quarterback, frequently had to attend camps and other events outside of the state to get before college recruiters. Sixty-one events between January and May and not one of them was in Oklahoma, he said. He knows for a fact there have been inquiries about running them in the state, but there have been obstacles to getting these events run on high school campuses. "These are incredibly important exposure and recruiting events," Adamson said. "This impacts Oklahomans to find the best opportunities for college." From a school board perspective, Adamson said there is a lot of lost revenue for schools because of these restrictions. Additional study presenters included Tom George, chief executive officer and founder of QB Impact; Cindy Morey, a parent of a student athlete; Hannah Whitten, an attorney with Whitten Burrage; and Kent Rossander, one of four Glencoe High School students initially deemed ineligible to play after transferring earlier this year. The entire study can be viewed here . 

OKLAHOMA CITY – Lawmakers, veterans, those representing seniors and the aging, tax experts and others gathered Tuesday before the House Appropriations & Budget Finance Subcommittee to discuss property tax reform. The combined interim study was requested by Reps. Denise Crosswhite Hader, R-Piedmont, and Tammy Townley, R-Ardmore. "Many of us have heard lots of concern about people being priced out of their homes due to rising property taxes," Crosswhite Hader said. "There are some functions government has to fund, but we wanted to bring people together to discuss current law and where we might improve, especially for our veterans and senior citizens." Townley added, "We know this is a big topic and very in-depth. We're so grateful for everyone who joined us for this study. We know that if we do reduce ad valorem in any way in one area, we have to determine how to replace that money to continue vital services for all Oklahomans. At the end of the day, we just want to do better for all Oklahomans." Study attendees first heard from retired U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Stanley Sieg, a 100% disabled veteran. He shared his personal experience with receiving and then losing the veterans' property tax exemption when he moved mid-year within the City of Edmond. He said he was unaware his exemption would not automatically follow him. He was able to work with his county tax assessor to reapply for the exemption and reconcile the amount of back taxes for which he was billed. He asked lawmakers to consider changes in the law to make the exemptions portable or to at least improve communication with Oklahoma taxpayers. Matt Wehmuller, the county assessor for Canadian County, explained that property tax is the largest source of local funding, with 85% going to public education, and 15% going to counties for public safety and other local services, including administration. Property taxes, however, are not used for county roads and bridges. Dr. Brad Ward, deputy state director of Americans for Prosperity, showed data exposing the rising burdens of property tax within Oklahoma as opposed to the surrounding region. Ward said while Oklahoma's current property tax rate is competitive with surrounding states, coming in third, the state's rising rate is actually the fastest growing in the region. That is alarming, he said. He suggested some of this might be due to efforts the state made to standardize property valuations among the state's 77 counties, causing a spike for those that had been under valuation for years. Another factor is school bond elections – 43 passed in 2023 and 15 of 19 passed a month ago. Another presenter, Kerry Ross, the county assessor for Carter County, said litigation cases against cities and counties also can play a role in rising property tax rates. Doug Kellogg, state projects director with Americans for Tax Reform, said rising home values are significant as well. Jim Randall, chairman of the Oklahoma State Council on Aging, asked if it's time to bring all parties together to take a comprehensive look at the state's tax structure to see what is equitable for everyone. He said property owners, specifically seniors and others on a fixed income, should be protected from rising costs, while acknowledging local services do need to be funded. Wehmuller explained how property taxes and exemptions are calculated, discussing how annually capping tax increases at 3% and 5%, depending on the type of property owned, until full-market value is reached, protects property owners even more than the standard $1,000 homestead exemption. He also explained the difference between exemptions and freezes and how those who have had their property taxes frozen can still be impacted by large bond elections or litigation. Kellogg shared Florida's zero-income tax structure and a ballot question to remove property tax. He said Florida is known as one of the most tax friendly states in the nation, getting most of its funding through sales and excise taxes. They've also adopted a truth in taxation, or truth in millage, policy that requires public hearings and input before new taxes are assessed. Telling taxpayers clearly when their taxes are going up and where the money will go is essential, he said. State spending is another key, Kellogg said. If local governments had kept spending in line with population growth and inflation, they would be in much better shape today. He ended with a warning against giving local governments a tax revenue source that local voters did not approve. Corey Jager, tax policy manager with the Oklahoma Tax Commission, rounded out the day's discussion with an overview of property tax exemptions, freezes and credits and estimated revenue impacts for changes for seniors or veterans. Much of property tax law is enshrined in the state's Constitution and therefore would require a vote of the people to change. Yager also discussed the loss of revenue that would occur if property tax were eliminated and gave some alternative funding suggestions, including the possibility of taxing services not currently taxed. The full study can be viewed here . 

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Danny Williams, R-Seminole, hosted interim study IS25-115 , Life Without Parole Sentencing Review, which examined Oklahoma’s use of life without parole (LWOP) sentences, including an exploration of second look policies and their economic impact. The study discussed the growing number of states adopting second look policies, which allow courts to review life or long-term sentences after evidence of rehabilitation. "My goal for this study was to ask if our current sentencing practices are fair and if not, what a change should look like," Williams said. "There are other states that have implemented second look laws, and Oklahoma could benefit from a similar pathway." Colleen McCarty, executive director of the Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law, presented data showing the Oklahoma Department of Corrections’ daily cost per inmate is $67.53, totaling $24,648 annually and nearly $493,000 over 20 years, excluding geriatric healthcare costs. She noted that several states , including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah and Washington, as well as the Council of the District of Columbia, have adopted second look policies. McCarty added that Oklahoma’s recently enacted Survivors’ Act reflects similar principles and could serve as a model for future reform. Under potential proposals, adults serving LWOP sentences could become eligible for review after 20 years if they meet rehabilitation benchmarks, including educational achievements, program completions and positive conduct. Victims and survivors would be notified and given an opportunity to provide input during the process. For individuals sentenced before age 25, a review could occur after 15 years, with courts considering factors such as youth trauma, maturity and rehabilitation. Denied petitions could be refiled every five years. McCarty estimated that if just 10 people qualified per year, Oklahoma could save roughly $246,000 annually. The study also included testimony from community members and family members of incarcerated Oklahomans who have been affected by sentencing laws. "As a Christian, I believe in redemption and forgiveness for everyone, but people must show they’ve done the work to heal and change," Williams said. "They should be given the chance to prove it." The study took place on Oct. 21 before the House Public Safety Committee at the Oklahoma State Capitol.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Ronny Johns, R-Ada, and Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, hosted a joint interim study Monday to explore potential incentive pay models for Oklahoma teachers. The study focused on how voluntary, performance-based compensation systems could improve teacher recruitment, retention and student outcomes. The study featured a presentation from Secretary of Education Dan Hamlin, who provided a detailed analysis of State Department of Education (SDE) data and comparisons to states that have implemented similar programs. Hamlin highlighted evidence showing that high-quality teachers have the single greatest impact on student success, accounting for as much as 80% of academic progress in a school year. "Secretary Hamlin did an outstanding job presenting the data and showing how programs like these have worked in other states," Johns said. "We’re seeing that Oklahoma could implement an incentive pay model through the State Department of Education without adding new burdens on schools or superintendents. This kind of structure would allow teachers to work together toward shared goals rather than competing against each other, while creating its own revenue stream alongside the current Teacher Empowerment Program." The study reviewed models from states such as Texas and Arkansas, where thousands of teachers have received performance-based bonuses ranging from $3,000 to $32,000 annually. These programs reward teachers for measurable student growth and classroom effectiveness, often using growth-based metrics to determine eligibility. Oklahoma’s current system, adopted in 2022 through the Oklahoma Teacher Empowerment Program (OTEP), rewards teachers who take on leadership roles and mentor peers. For the 2024-2025 school year, 89 districts participated, with more than 1,100 teachers benefiting from an average bonus of $7,750. Pugh said interest in expanding performance-based pay has grown among educators statewide. "I heard from teachers in 67 different school districts who wanted to know why their schools weren’t participating in the Empowerment Program," Pugh said. "There’s a real appetite for rewarding excellence in the classroom. I’m not afraid to pay our best and brightest teachers more than what the salary schedule calls for. What we need to work on is creating the structure that helps districts identify those teachers and gives them the flexibility to reward them for their impact." Hamlin suggested the state consider adding an incentive pay program tied to performance or value-based metrics. Under a proposed Growth-Based Teacher Compensation System for Oklahoma, teachers would be eligible for bonuses based on measurable student progress. The model would track student achievement over time, taking into account prior academic performance, demographic factors and other indicators to calculate expected growth. Teachers whose students exceed those expectations would qualify for bonus pay. As an example, Hamlin outlined a $25 million pilot program for grades 4 through 8. Teachers whose students demonstrated the highest levels of growth could earn between $5,000 and $25,000 in additional compensation. Teachers in the 67th–79th percentile could receive $5,000, with approximately 1,875 teachers recognized statewide. Teachers in the 80th–94th percentile could receive $15,000, with about 781 teachers recognized. Teachers in the 95th percentile and above could receive $25,000, with roughly 156 teachers recognized. The total estimated cost of the pilot program would be $25 million. The legislators said they plan to continue working with education leaders and stakeholders to in the Second Regular Session of the 60th Legislature to evaluate how an opt-in incentive pay model could complement existing programs while recognizing and rewarding Oklahoma’s most effective teachers.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Mike Kelley, R-Yukon, hosted an interim study examining the history, funding and future sustainability of Oklahoma’s public pension systems.  The study brought together representatives from every state pension system including the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS), the Teachers’ Retirement System, the Oklahoma Firefighters Pension and Retirement System, the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System and others. Three nationally recognized retirement experts, two from Washington, D.C., joined the discussion to share insights on pension design, workforce retention and long-term funding strategies.  “This study was an incredible opportunity to bring everyone to the same table, from state pension leaders to national experts, to understand how these systems work and why they matter,” Kelley said. “When we talk about pensions, we’re talking about people, teachers, troopers, firefighters and public employees who’ve dedicated their lives to serving Oklahoma. Our job is to make sure the systems they rely on remain strong and secure for decades to come.”  Presenters emphasized consistent funding, responsible investment management and the economic impact these systems have across Oklahoma. In fiscal year 2025 alone, more than $700 million in pension benefits were paid to retirees, with 93% of that money staying in the state’s economy.  Kelley said he will continue reviewing potential policy improvements to maintain full funding and protect the retirement security of Oklahoma’s public workforce for generations to come.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, today again asked Oklahoma's attorney general to investigate Steven Harpe, the former director of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (DOC). Humphrey said it was reported in April that Harpe had entered into a $1,017 million, one-year contract with AI company LEO Technologies. Six months later, in October, Harpe posted that he had accepted the position of chief product officer with the company. "The attorney general's office is responsible for investigating and holding officials accountable for these types of law violations," Humphrey wrote in his latest letter to the attorney general. He also reiterated that the attorney general has previously ignored his requests to investigate Harpe for "giving himself a $90,000 raise" while he led DOC. Humphrey said he's checked and found no authorization for the pay raise. A response to an open records request he submitted to the department said no documents were available. Humphrey contends the pay raise took Harpe's salary to $275,000 annually, which he says was one of the highest salaries for a corrections director in the nation, even while he argues Oklahoma's DOC is smaller than many nationwide. Humphrey also alleges missing funds and mismanagement of state contracts while Harpe was director of the Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES). "Harpe removed experienced employees and replaced those employees with his close, zero-experienced extremely overpaid friends," Humphrey wrote. "He has abused his position to enrich himself and his friends. I believe Oklahomans are sick of political appointees, district attorneys, court officials and others receiving special treatment and favors. I hope you will use your office to hold Steven Harpe accountable for his illegal actions." A full copy of the letter can be read here .

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Ross Ford, R-Broken Arrow, recently showcased Broken Arrow Public School's Tiger Connect program before the House Common Education Committee. The specialized learning program addresses students struggling with behavior issues in the classroom. Ford suggests the program could be replicated in schools statewide. "In my opinion, this program is a gamechanger for students not only in elementary school, but it will change their trajectory for a lifetime," said Ford, who as a former police officer witnessed many student discipline issues. "This program teaches them life lessons for how to handle situations that may be out of their control." Chuck Perry, who became superintendent for the district in December 2021, said one of his first goals was to talk with teachers. "It was one of the most depressing and eye-opening things I have ever done," Perry said. "There wasn't a site where I didn't talk to a teacher that just said, 'I'm done. I can't do this anymore. I feel just dejected when I leave every day because I don't feel like I'm making the impact that I got into the profession to make.'  "It wasn't because math was so hard to teach," Perry said. "It was because of the behaviors in the classroom that were becoming more of a challenge." This wasn't just happening in his schools, he said, but across the state. Every teacher encounters students that need extra attention, Perry said, but this was becoming eight to nine students in each class. This was preventing the other students from receiving the education they deserve. "I felt like we lost common sense in education," Perry said. "We had lost what I term order in schools." He didn't want teachers to instill fear in students. "But there has to be an environment in the classroom where teachers can teach and students can learn.  Perry made a decision for the 2022-23 school year that restoring order in the classroom would be a priority. This had to happen before the district could see great academic gains. "I'm a big believer, you can spend a ton of money on programs, curriculum, do all these things, but nothing is going to have a bigger impact in that classroom than a great teacher. And we were losing great teachers out of that profession. I felt like as educators, we were pointing to Oklahoma City to legislators saying, 'It's your fault. We don't have enough money.' But I felt like it was time we looked in the mirror and said, "What can we do to change that environment in the classroom?' We all have to take responsibility for what was going on." Derek Blackburn, assistant superintendent over discipline, security and health, and Rachel Kaiser, executive director of enrollment, studied efforts in other states and brought the Tiger Connect program to Perry's attention. He credits its success to them and to other administrators and teachers that have made it work. Perry said a lot of issues stem from trauma or instability that occur in a student's younger years. Instead of dealing with the students in first- or second-grade, however, educators were waiting until middle or high school when more extreme behaviors manifest, and the only discipline options are long suspensions or alternative education. That's often too late, he said. He felt teachers needed to target elementary students that were non-special ed that for whatever reason could not self-regulate and control their behaviors and emotions in the classroom. The Tiger Connect program uses student discipline data with educator feedback to identify students that need extra support. The program lasts at least six weeks and ideally starts with students as young as possible.  Trained teachers, such as Joe Freeman, work with small groups of students in a supportive, structured learning environment.  "We're able to individualize some of the teaching and learning, and we can easily address if there's maybe an issue coming that we can see, and we can take care of that before it escalates," Freeman said. Students receive counseling, help with social skills and staying on task, and parents are brought into the process to be taught how to reinforce positive behaviors at home. The partnership between educators and families is part of the program's success. Parents say the program has been life-changing, reporting their children can now tell them what emotions they are feeling and why and better manage their own behavior. All of this has led to positive changes in student behavior and an enhanced learning environment for all students and teachers, Perry said. The interim study can be viewed on the House website. 

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Tim Turner, R-Kinta, released the following statement following the death of Porum Police Officer Richard Phillips, who was killed Thursday morning in a vehicle accident in Pittsburg County.  “I was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Patrol Officer Richard Phillips, who was tragically killed Thursday morning in a vehicle accident in Pittsburg County. Officer Phillips was a proud Marine veteran, a devoted father and a dedicated public servant who served his community and country with honor. He was the kind of officer any department would be proud to have, hardworking, compassionate and committed to the call of service.  My family extends our heartfelt prayers to Officer Phillips’ children, his loved ones and his brothers and sisters in law enforcement as they mourn this tremendous loss. May they find comfort and peace in the days ahead.”  -END-   Rep. Tim Turner, a Republican, represents House District 15 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes Haskell County and portions of McIntosh, Muskogee, Le Flore and Pittsburg counties.