Capitol Insider

With cases surging, medical professionals in Oklahoma have heightened concern about the Delta variant of coronavirus.

Governor Kevin Stitt has announced he will not issue an emergency order as coronavirus cases in Oklahoma tick upward. KGOU's Dick Pryor and eCapitol's Shawn Ashley discuss that story and the appointment of a new attorney general in Capitol Insider.

As the state of Oklahoma is seeing a surge in COVID-19 cases, a small group of state lawmakers is urging the governor to change the rules regarding vaccinations for health care providers. Details in this week's Capitol Insider.

Among the bills going into effect July 1 are two intended to help state employees. KGOU's Dick Pryor and eCapitol's Shawn discuss the new laws and how another law is affecting state schools, colleges and universities in Capitol Insider.

A year ago, Oklahoma voters approved expansion of Medicaid to provide greater access. Now, the process has begun.

Normally, summer is a slow time at the state Capitol, but there was a lot of activity this week, including movement toward the appointment of a new State Attorney General.

In this week's Capitol Insider, KGOU's Dick Pryor and eCapitol's Shawn Ashley review the close of the 2021 legislative session as Governor Kevin Stitt completed action on the final bills sent to his desk.

In this week's Capitol Insider, KGOU's Dick Pryor and eCapitol's Shawn Ashley review the close of the 2021 legislative session as Governor Kevin Stitt completed action on the final bills sent to his desk.

With summer approaching, Oklahoma is quickly moving toward resumption of pre-COVID life. In late May, Governor Kevin Stitt issued an executive order rescinding mask mandates in state buildings. The order also prohibits state agencies from requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for admission to state facilities. Previously, Stitt had ordered that schools, colleges and universities could not require vaccinations or masks. With the expiration of his state emergency order, Oklahoma is also returning to in-person meetings to comply with the Open Meeting Act. KGOU's Dick Pryor and eCapitol's Shawn Ashley discuss how the state is resuming "normal" operations in this week's Capitol Insider.

Governor Kevin Stitt wanted to use a managed care approach to handle Oklahoma's Medicaid program, SoonerCare, with expansion of Medicaid mandated by a vote of the people in 2020. Legislators were skeptical and placed limits on the approach through passage of Senate Bill 131. Now, the Oklahoma Supreme Court has weighed in and invalidated the managed care approach altogether in litigation brought by the Oklahoma State Medical Association, Oklahoma Dental Association, Oklahoma Osteopathic Association, Oklahoma Society of Anesthesiologists and the Oklahoma Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. KGOU's Dick Pryor and Shawn Ashley discuss what happened and what's likely to result in this week's Capitol Insider.