Sen. Carri Hicks

Maddy summarySB 1363 establishes a new minimum salary schedule for Oklahoma public school teachers starting in the 2026-2027 school year, setting base pay based on years of experience and education level (e.g., $43,000 for a bachelor’s degree with 0 experience). It adds a 5% bonus for teachers in hard-to-fill positions (defined as schools with 15%+ vacancies or critical shortage subjects like math/science) and provides $1,500 after the first year and $1,000 after the second year for teachers in STEM, bilingual education, or special education. The bill also offers a $1,000 stipend plus 3% additional pay for teachers earning extra endorsements like English as a second language. These changes directly affect all certified Oklahoma public school teachers and require annual reporting on hard-to-fill positions by the State Department of Education.

Maddy summaryHB 1576 requires Oklahoma Medicaid to cover rapid whole genome sequencing (RWGS) for eligible beneficiaries under age 21 with complex or acute illnesses of unknown cause while receiving critical care in a hospital. It mandates coverage only when specific medical criteria are met, such as symptoms suggesting broad genetic testing needs, timely diagnosis being critical for treatment, and conditions like congenital anomalies or abnormal test results. The bill also ensures genetic data used for diagnosis is protected under HIPAA, allows research use only with explicit patient or guardian consent (with opt-out rights), and requires the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to implement rules and seek federal approval for coverage. This policy directly affects Medicaid-covered children and teens in intensive care with undiagnosed conditions.

Maddy summaryHB 1576 requires Oklahoma Medicaid to cover rapid whole genome sequencing (RWGS) genetic testing for eligible beneficiaries under 21 years old with complex or acute illnesses of unknown cause while hospitalized in intensive care. Coverage is mandated when specific medical criteria are met, such as symptoms suggesting broad genetic conditions, need for timely diagnosis to guide treatment, or conditions like congenital anomalies, refractory seizures, or abnormal cardiac tests. The bill ensures genetic data used for diagnosis complies with HIPAA privacy rules and allows patients or guardians to consent to research use or later revoke that consent. It also requires the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to implement the policy through rules, federal waiver applications, and administrative actions by July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 31 creates the Oklahoma National Guard CareerTech Assistance Program, providing tuition coverage for eligible members enrolled in career and technology programs at Oklahoma technology centers that lead to certification or licensure. It directly affects current Oklahoma National Guard members in good standing with a high school diploma or GED who enroll in such programs, limiting assistance to three years and requiring a 24-month active service commitment after program completion. Key provisions include maintaining a 2.0 GPA, holding a military occupational specialty (MOS) after the first semester, and mandatory repayment if service or academic requirements are not met. The program is funded through a revolving fund supported by state appropriations and repayments, with applications processed through the Military Department.

Maddy summarySB 840 creates two new micro-credentials for Oklahoma teachers: one for Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT) and one for Center for Effective Reading Instruction (CERI). To earn either, teachers must hold a master’s degree, complete specialized training, pass a competency exam, and provide 28 days of instruction post-exam. Certified teachers with these micro-credentials gain authorization to screen students for and identify dyslexia characteristics. The micro-credential will be added to the teacher’s official certificate, effective July 1, 2025. This bill directly affects certified teachers seeking specialized training in dyslexia identification.

Maddy summarySB 840 creates new micro-credentials for Oklahoma certified teachers who complete CALT (Certified Academic Language Therapist) or CERI (Center for Effective Reading Instruction) training. To earn these credentials, teachers must hold a master’s degree, complete specialized therapy training, pass an exam, and provide 28 days of instruction post-exam. Teachers with these micro-credentials will be authorized to screen students for dyslexia and have the credential reflected on their teaching certificate. The bill, effective July 1, 2025, became law without the Governor’s signature on May 29, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 31, the Oklahoma National Guard CareerTech Assistance Act, creates a program providing career and technology education benefits to Oklahoma National Guard members. It establishes eligibility criteria and an application process for Guard members seeking to access career training programs. The bill directly affects Oklahoma National Guard personnel who qualify under the specified criteria. It became law on May 29, 2025, without the Governor's signature, implementing this new benefit pathway.

Maddy summarySB 927 amends Oklahoma's Medicaid Drug Utilization Review Board procedures by prohibiting the pharmaceutical industry representative from voting on drug-related matters. It updates the appointment process to stagger initial terms for one physician, one pharmacist, and the lay representative to ensure board continuity. The bill affects the Oklahoma Health Care Authority and the board members, with changes taking effect November 1, 2025. The board's composition (10 members: 4 physicians, 4 pharmacists, 1 lay representative, 1 pharmaceutical industry rep) and appointment lists remain unchanged.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 927 (SB 927) modifies the appointment process for the Oklahoma Medicaid Drug Utilization Review Board, which oversees drug utilization programs for the state's Medicaid program. Specifically, it reduces the number of physician candidates that the Oklahoma State Medical Association must submit for consideration by the Oklahoma Health Care Authority Administrator, changing the requirement from at least six names to at least three. The bill also updates the name of the "Oklahoma Pharmaceutical Association" to the "Oklahoma Pharmacists Association" and clarifies residency language for an industry representative. These changes primarily affect the Oklahoma Health Care Authority and the medical and pharmaceutical associations involved in nominating board members.

Maddy summaryHB 1243 creates the Oklahoma National Guard CareerTech Assistance Program, providing tuition assistance to eligible Oklahoma National Guard members enrolled in state technology center programs that lead to certification or licensure. The program covers tuition costs (up to a three-year limit) for members who agree to remain in service for 24 months after completing their training and maintain academic requirements like a 2.0 GPA. Members who fail to meet service or academic obligations must repay assistance calculated as a monthly amount based on the total assistance received, though hardship waivers are available. The program is funded through a new revolving fund in the state treasury, supported by annual state appropriations, and administered by the State Board of Career and Technology Education.