2020 legislative interim studies announced

The state House and Senate have released their lists of approved interim study requests for 2020. Members of the House submitted 92 interim studies and approved 74, while senators requested 64 interim studies and approved 39. 

Studies of note include an examination of the Catastrophic Health Emergency Powers Act (Rep.  Kevin West); a look at municipal response during a declared emergency (Rep. Chad Caldwell); and a look at tribal health and Medicaid managed care (Sen. Greg McCortney). None of the approved studies are slated to cover the topic of how to pay for Medicaid expansion in Oklahoma. 

Given the ongoing restoration of our state Capitol and the realities of the ongoing pandemic, the Senate will be implementing social distancing protocols for their interim studies. The Senate did not specify a particular day or days for studies to be held. The House made no reference to implementing social distancing requirements for their study days, but they are increasing the numbers of days a week a study may be heard from two days to three due to the ongoing renovation. Interim studies may be heard on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. House members are limited to four hours per study and studies may begin on Aug. 4. All House studies must be completed by Oct. 29, while the Senate concludes on Oct. 30. 

A list of approved Senate interim studies may be found here, and a list of approved House studies may be found here. (Scott Tohlen)