Senator Hicks receives committee assignments

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate members have received their committee assignments for the two sessions of the 58^th Legislature.   

Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City, will continue serving on the Education and Health and Human Services Committees.  She will also now serve as a member of the Energy and Finance Committees as well as the Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services. 

“Between the pandemic and low energy prices, we’ve got a difficult budget year ahead of us. However, we must protect our schools and continue our work to strengthen the state’s healthcare system and health outcomes for all Oklahomans,” Hicks said. “I appreciate being assigned to these important committees and look forward to addressing these tough issues.”

The Appropriations Subcommittee on Health oversees the budgets of 11 agencies including the Health Department, the Department of Human Services and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Together, these agencies account for the second-highest portion of the annual budget at just over $2.4 billion.

During her first two years, Hicks has been a strong health advocate serving as the co-chair of the Legislative Diabetes Caucus to help raise awareness of the impact the disease has in the state.  She also serves as co-chair of the Future Caucus, which includes legislators age 45 and under, that focuses on issues important to younger Oklahomans.

Hicks authored a new law enabling emergency access to life-saving medications, including insulin. She is also committed to reducing infant and maternal mortality, both of which Oklahoma ranks number one for nationally.

“I remember being shocked when the report was released during my third pregnancy, and I have been actively working on reversing these alarming trends ever since.”

Hicks has filed the Safe Sleep Act (SB 98) that will prohibit the sale of padded crib bumpers in the state due to the significant risk of suffocation, strangulation and mutilation that crib bumpers present.

The Senate will convene for an Organizational Day on Tuesday, Jan. 5 and session will begin on Monday, Feb. 1.

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For more information contact: Sen. Hicks: (405) 521-5543 or Carri.Hicks@oksenate.gov