OPINION/COLUMN
Last week, I was honored to represent Oklahoma at the Women In Government National Legislative Conference in St. Louis.
As a veteran nurse and the chair of the House Public Health Committee, I know firsthand how important it is for women to have a voice at every table, especially when it comes to crafting policies that affect the health and well-being of our families and communities.
For nearly 40 years, Women In Government has connected female legislators with experts and peers to share ideas and shape policy on issues like health care and workforce development. I’m grateful for the chance to attend this year’s meeting and take part in these meaningful conversations. All Oklahomans, especially Oklahoma women, deserve representation grounded in compassion, common sense and conviction.
Sadly, I won’t be attending another important conference that was originally scheduled this week in Minneapolis: The National Conference of State Legislatures‘ Health Policy Seminar and the annual meeting of state Health and Human Services Chairs. In light of the recent shooting in Minnesota that left Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman and her husband dead, and another state senator and his wife seriously injured, the event has been postponed.
I had been looking forward to discussions about how states are confronting the rising costs of health care, infectious disease trends and the ongoing workforce shortage. These issues are urgent, and I look forward to resuming those conversations soon, because they are the very challenges rural Oklahoma must confront and solve.
Today, my heart is with Minnesota. The tragic loss of Speaker Hortman, her husband, and the injuries to others are heartbreaking.
There is no place for political violence in our country.
I’m praying for their families and for healing in their community.
As public servants, we do not have to agree on every issue to treat one another with dignity and respect. These tragic events remind us of our responsibility to lead with humanity, even in times of disagreement.
Here at home, we’ve worked this session to bring more transparency and accountability to government while protecting consumers and taxpayers.
One significant improvement this session was the passage of the REINS Act, which strengthens legislative oversight of agency rules. Beginning July 1, any rule projected to cost taxpayers more than $1 million over five years must receive separate legislative approval before taking effect. Under HB2728, agencies must also submit an economic impact statement with all proposed rules, providing lawmakers with better information to evaluate the potential cost to Oklahomans.
It also created an economic analysis unit within the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency to verify these costs. That may sound procedural, but it gives lawmakers the opportunity to review each rule on its own merit, which is a more thoughtful and fair approach.
I also want to highlight House Bill 1126, which I proudly supported to protect Oklahoma consumers.
This new law prohibits the sale or distribution of manufactured-protein food that is falsely advertised or misbranded. It gives the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry clear authority to investigate credible complaints and adopt rules to enforce accurate labeling. This is about honesty in advertising and making sure people know what they’re putting on their dinner table.
As we move into the interim, we’ll begin hosting interim studies, an opportunity to take a closer look at specific issues alongside stakeholders and experts.
These studies help us assess potential policy changes and prepare for the next legislative session.
As we head into July, I hope your families are enjoying the summer months with some family fun. As always, I am praying for you all.
Please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns. My email address is cynthia.roe@okhouse.gov, or you can call my office at (405) 557-7365.
Rep. Cynthia Roe, a Republican, represents House District 42 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Her district includes portions of Cleveland, Garvin and McClain counties.
