Representative Andy Fugate

D

District 94

Hi, I’m Andy Fugate and I represent the people of Oklahoma’s 94th District.


representative

Leadership

Minority Floor Leader

58th Legislature

Minority Floor Leader

59th Legislature

Minority Floor Leader

60th Legislature

News & Announcements

Jan 16, 2026

Fugate Introduces Bill to Stop Use of Credit Scores in Setting Insurance Rates

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Andy Fugate, D–Del City, introduced House Bill 4286 to prohibit insurance companies from using a person’s credit history or credit score to determine the rates they pay for insurance. The measure is designed to protect hardworking Oklahomans who are being priced out of basic financial stability by an insurance system that punishes people for their credit history rather than their actual risk. “Insurance is unlike any other product,” Fugate said. “If someone fails to pay for a car, it must be repossessed. If they fail to pay for a home, they must be evicted. That takes time and effort. But if someone fails to pay their insurance bill, the company simply denies the claim. Period. There is no financial risk to the insurer that justifies using credit scores as a backdoor way to raise rates.” While the practice affects all insurance, Fugate emphasized that the most devastating impact is on home insurance — where Oklahoma already has some of the highest premiums in the nation. Those inflated premiums are shutting hardworking families out of homeownership. “Right now, a young couple can find a starter home with a mortgage payment they can afford,” Fugate said. “But when they go to close, they discover their homeowner insurance premium is so inflated because of their credit score that their escrow payment becomes unaffordable. They lose the home, not because they cannot afford the house, but because they cannot afford the insurance.” Fugate noted that this creates a perverse system where families with limited or poor credit are blocked from building wealth, while investors with excellent credit can swoop in, buy the same home, and rent it back to them at a profit. “That’s not a free market. That’s a rigged market,” Fugate said. “Hardworking Oklahomans are being priced out of the American dream while someone with better credit buys the home, charges them rent, pays less for the insurance, and makes a profit. That’s upside?down.” Testimony from an interim study last fall underscored how disconnected current insurance pricing is from real?world risk. Lawmakers heard that an Oklahoman with a spotless driving record but poor credit could pay more for car insurance than a neighbor with multiple accidents but excellent credit. “That example stunned people,” Fugate said. “It shows exactly why this practice is unfair, unproductive, and completely disconnected from actual behavior. Whether driving or maintaining a home, insurance rates should be based on risk, not on whether someone went through a tough financial stretch.” Fugate said the bill is part of his broader commitment to ensuring Oklahoma’s laws work for regular people, not just those with wealth or perfect credit histories. “Oklahomans deserve a fair shot,” he said. “Your insurance rate should reflect your real?world risk, not your credit score. This bill restores common sense and protects hardworking families who are being crushed by outrageous premiums.” The legislation will be considered during the upcoming session. Fugate encouraged Oklahomans to contact their legislators and urge them to support the measure. “Every Oklahoman deserves the chance to pursue the American Dream. Buy a home, raise a family, and build a future,” Fugate said. “This bill will bring back that dream for a new generation of Oklahomans.” -END-

Jan 14, 2026

Fugate Files HB 3018 to Correct Unintended Consequences in Oklahoma’s DUI Statute

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Andy Fugate, D-Del City, introduced  HB 3018 , a targeted fix to an oversight created in last year’s DUI statute amendment,  SB 54 , which established a new “aggravated DUI” classification. While SB 54 aimed to strengthen impaired?driving enforcement, it also removed the long?standing two?hour window for blood testing involving Schedule I substances. This change unintentionally created a legal conundrum for licensed medical marijuana patients, because THC can remain detectable in the bloodstream for up to 30 days. With no legally defined blood?content threshold for marijuana impairment in Oklahoma, the absence of a time limit meant that lawful medical marijuana users could face DUI charges without any evidence of actual impairment. HB 3018 addresses this gap by: Removing marijuana, marijuana derivatives, and cannabinoids from the blood?testing provisions of the aggravated DUI statute Preserving all field sobriety testing tools used by law enforcement to identify real?time impairment Ensuring that Oklahoma’s DUI laws remain fair, enforceable, and focused on safety, rather than penalizing lawful medical marijuana use Fugate emphasized that the bill is a practical correction to ensure the law functions as intended. “This issue was brought to my attention by a constituent, and I’m grateful for their help in identifying the problem,” he said. “HB 3018 ensures that our DUI laws target impaired drivers and not patients who are following Oklahoma’s medical marijuana laws.” -END-

Jan 14, 2026

Fugate Files Legislation to Let Voters Decide on Protecting Oklahoma’s Initiative Petition Rights

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Andy Fugate, D–Del City, announced today the filing of House Joint Resolution 1048, a bill that creates a State Question asking voters to amend the Oklahoma Constitution to protect the people’s authority over the initiative petition process. The bill must first be approved by the Legislature before it can appear on the ballot. Fugate said the measure is necessary to protect the constitutional balance of power after repeated legislative attempts to restrict Oklahomans’ access to direct democracy. “Oklahoma’s Bill of Rights begins with a simple truth: all political power is inherent in the people,” Rep. Fugate said. “Not the Legislature, not special interests–the people. My bill gives voters the chance to protect their rights by requiring that any future changes to the initiative petition process be approved by the people themselves.” Article II, Section 1 of the Oklahoma Constitution states that government exists for the “protection, security, and benefit” of the people, who retain the right to “alter or reform” their government whenever the public good requires it. Fugate noted that this right is weakened when lawmakers pass measures that make it harder for citizens to place issues on the ballot. In recent years, the Legislature has advanced bills that restrict signature gathering, raise procedural hurdles, or otherwise interferes with the initiative and referendum process. Among them was SB 1027, passed last session. “Direct democracy is not a loophole. It is a constitutional right,” Fugate said. “If legislators want to change the rules for how citizens can petition their government, then those changes should go before the people. My bill simply gives voters the chance to decide whether they want to protect their own power.” The proposed constitutional amendment would: Require voter approval for any legislative changes to the initiative or referendum process. Prevent unilateral legislative restrictions on signature gathering, ballot access, or petition procedures. Reaffirm the constitutional principle that political power originates with the people. “This bill cannot move forward unless legislators choose to respect the people’s authority,” Fugate said. “I’m calling on Oklahomans to contact their representatives and senators and tell them to protect the power of their constituents. If we believe political power belongs to the people, then we must act like it.” The bill now awaits committee assignment. -END-