Health insurance; providing for establishment of certain database; modifying reimbursement rates and criteria for certain ambulance services. Effective date.
Summary
SB167 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 provide early warning detection and advanced flood monitoring, with capabilities to access and visualize relevant data, forecast future conditions, improve forecasting models, and provide real-time tracking and alerts. The stated goal is to improve situational awareness, flood resiliency, and stormwater management across the state.
The bill requires the predictive analytics solution to be operational by February 28, 2026. Beginning August 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, the Department must submit an electronic report to the Governor, the Speaker of the House, and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate summarizing the system’s information and analyzing data from prior reporting years. The bill creates a new section of law to be codified in Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes and takes effect November 1, 2025.
Impact
SB167 would add a new statutory requirement for the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management to procure and implement a statewide flood and stormwater analytics platform, creating a formal state role in predictive flood monitoring and reporting. It would also establish ongoing reporting obligations to top state officials and place the program within Oklahoma statutes as Section 683.37 of Title 63, thereby expanding the Department’s responsibilities in emergency preparedness and water-related hazard response.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests generally favorable committee support, with the Senate Energy Committee advancing the bill by a 5-4 do pass vote. No committee transcript is available, so there is no recorded debate to indicate broader public or legislative concerns. Overall, the bill appears to have been viewed as a proactive emergency management and flood-resilience measure, though the close committee vote indicates some hesitation or disagreement among members.
Contention
The main points of potential contention are the cost, scope, and implementation of requiring the Department to contract with an outside entity for a statewide predictive analytics system, as well as whether the proposed timeline is realistic. Because the bill mandates a new technology program and recurring reporting, members who are cautious about state spending, vendor contracting, or duplicative emergency-management functions may have reservations. The narrow committee margin suggests some lawmakers were not fully convinced, even though no specific objections are documented in the available materials.
Carry Over
Health insurance; providing for establishment of certain database; modifying reimbursement rates and criteria for certain ambulance services. Effective date.
Health insurance; providing for establishment of certain database; modifying reimbursement rates and criteria for certain ambulance services. Effective date.
Health insurance; ambulance service provider; providing for establishment of certain database; modifying reimbursement rates and criteria for certain ambulance services. Effective date.