Dr. Jason Regan was recognized by Rep. Jim Grego as the Doctor of the Day by Rep. Jim Grego in the Oklahoma House of Representatives on Monday, March 2. Dr. Regan is an emergency medicine specialist in Talihina. He has over 25 years of experience in the medical field. He graduated from University of Oklahoma / Health Sciences Center in 1998. He is affiliated with the Choctaw Nation Health Care Center in Talihina.
By Rep. Jim Grego
Week five in the Legislature, and we complete committee work on House bills this week. Any bills not heard in committee by the deadline will not advance this legislative session. My House Bill 1411, which designates a “True Grit Trail” through portions of Eastern Oklahoma, was a carryover from last year. It was heard and passed out of the House and now heads to the Senate for consideration,
Two of my House bills, 2952 and 3404, will be presented in the full Appropriations and Budget Committee this week. HB 2952 would allow Service Oklahoma to charge excise tax on the true difference paid when a vehicle is traded in. Currently, a person is charged excise tax for the full purchase price. My belief is that the person has already paid excise tax on the vehicle they are trading in, so this is double taxation. HB 3404 deals with setting up the framework for prescribed burn associations. If fully funded, this would allow for some financial protection if a controlled burn goes south.
I continue to receive calls about my excise tax bill from last year as people are in sticker shock when they tag their vehicles. Service Oklahoma is still referring to National Automobile Dealers Association values rather than true purchase price. Relief is on the way, but this bill will not take effect until July 1, this year.
House Bill 2947 would help provide an increase of mental health therapists to work in our rural areas. The issue of how as a state we are failing to provide mental health is something I’ve heard about since my first day in this office. We have many mental health therapists currently working, but I believe we would see an increase as the clinics would be able to bill Medicare. This bill sailed through both committees with little opposition and now is ready to be heard on the House floor, so we will see.
This promises to be a busy committee week. Next week, we will begin in earnest to hear more bills on the House floor.
As always, I’m thankful to the constituents of House District 17 for allowing me to serve. If I can help you in any way, I can be reached at (405) 557-7381 or by email at jim.grego@okhouse.gov.
Jim Grego serves District 17 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes Latimer County and part and Pittsburg County.
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