Health insurance; providing for establishment of certain database; modifying reimbursement rates and criteria for certain ambulance services. Effective date.
Summary
SB 167 directs the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management to contract with an outside entity to design and develop a statewide Stormwater Management Predictive Analytic Solution. The system is intended to support early warning detection and advanced flood monitoring, and must be able to access and visualize relevant data, forecast future conditions, improve forecasting models, provide real-time tracking and alerts, and strengthen situational awareness, flood resiliency, and stormwater management systems.
The bill requires the solution to be operational by February 28, 2026. It also requires the Department to submit an electronic report by August 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, to the Governor, Speaker of the House, and President Pro Tempore of the Senate. The report must summarize information from the solution and analyze data from prior reporting years. The bill creates a new statutory section in Title 63 and takes effect November 1, 2025.
Impact
SB 167 would add a new provision to Oklahoma law requiring the Department of Emergency Management to procure and maintain a statewide flood and stormwater predictive analytics system. It would expand the Department’s responsibilities into data-driven flood monitoring and forecasting, while also creating a recurring reporting obligation to top state officials. The bill does not directly change local stormwater rules or private-party obligations, but it would likely affect state emergency management operations, flood preparedness planning, and any outside vendor selected to build the system.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests generally favorable support, though not unanimous. The Senate passed the bill on a 5-4 vote, indicating a narrow margin and some hesitation among members. No committee transcript is available, so there is no recorded debate to show broader support or opposition beyond the close vote.
Contention
The main point of contention appears to be whether the state should require and fund a new predictive analytics system through an outside contractor, rather than leaving stormwater monitoring to existing agencies and tools. A close 5-4 Senate vote suggests concerns may have centered on cost, implementation feasibility, vendor selection, or whether the Department of Emergency Management should take on this new technology-focused role. Because no transcript is available, the specific objections and supporters are not identified in the record provided.