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Votes at a glance: Appropriations committee clears a package of House bills
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Summary
The appropriations committee cleared a package of House bills on research funding, military benefits, tax reciprocity, Medicaid billing for interns, veterans' benefits, education clarifications, finance updates, economic development caps and caregiver tax credits; vote tallies and brief descriptions are provided.
At its final appropriations meeting the Senate committee cleared a series of House bills. Key actions and vote tallies:
- House Bill 38 34: Sponsor Senator Fricks said the bill creates a revolving fund at the Department of Health for Ivocaine research and noted tribal endorsements. Committee cleared the bill 20 ayes, 0 nays.
- House Bill 39 40: Senator Hines explained updates to the Oklahoma Military Department and adjutant general provisions, changes to retirement benefits and UCMJ wording; the sponsor cited a $1,000,000 estimate from last year and moved the effective date to November 2027. Passed 21 ayes, 1 nay.
- House Bill 43 46: Senator Murdoch's amendment (editing subsections) was adopted; the bill creates reciprocity for ag sales-tax exemptions with neighboring states to help border businesses. Members raised enforcement concerns about retailers policing out-of-state exemption cards. Passed 17 ayes, 4 nays.
- House Bill 29 47: Senator Woods said the bill allows clinical interns and accredited behavioral-health graduate programs to bill Medicaid under on-site supervision; passed 21-0.
- House Bill 32 57: Senator Woods said the bill extends benefits to veterans who are 100% disabled due to negligent care at VA hospitals; passed 21-0.
- House Bill 43 26: Sponsor Senator Seifried explained clarifications to the Oklahoma Promise for homeschool students and expanded definitions of certified classroom staff; an amendment removed TSET-related language. Passed 19 ayes, 2 nays.
- House Bill 39 44: Senator Hayes presented staff-requested cleanup and modernization to the state finance act (moving reporting to Nov. 1 and removing obsolete items); passed 21-0.
- House Bill 39 79: An amendment and bill increase financing caps for the economic development finance pool to account for inflation; sponsor said there is no fiscal impact to the state. Passed 21-0.
- House Bill 41 18: Sponsor explained updates to the family caregiver tax credit, raising maximum credit per caregiver while keeping the annual cap unchanged; passed 20 ayes, 1 nay.
Most bills passed by wide margins after limited debate. The chair closed the meeting and thanked members and staff.