Oklahoma House of Representatives Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson
OKLAHOMA CITY – House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, debated against measures heard on the House Floor on Wednesday that aim to put ballot measures in place to make changes to the Oklahoma Constitution that affect healthcare access for Oklahomans.
Leader Munson raised concerns over HB 4003, which works in conjunction with HJR 1076 to dissolve the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) Board of Directors and give the Board of Investors the authority to manage, invest, and administer funds.
HJR 1076 sends a constitutional amendment to a vote of the people to be held on August 25, 2026 that, if approved, would allow real property assets, stocks, and other equity investments to be deposited into the TSET Fund. The Board of Investors would distribute an amount estimated by the Oklahoma State Regents of Higher Education needed to cover Oklahoma’s Promise Scholarships and distribute any remaining funds to the Education Reform Revolving Fund.
“I have many concerns about these measures that go against the will of Oklahoma voters,” said Leader Munson. “TSET grants thousands upon thousands of dollars to communities who need them. I have concerns about dismantling and restructuring a trust that is meant for health care, not education. As an Oklahoma’s Promise recipient, I am in favor of funding and expanding the program, but not at the expense of health care. To pit education and health care against each other creates a no win situation. If we really want to address the cost of higher education in Oklahoma, let’s do it—we can increase funding to Oklahoma’s Promise right now by eliminating the Parental Choice Tax Credit that is currently sending $250M public dollars to private schools. That would make more sense.
“I am equally concerned about moving the legacy grant fund over to the Oklahoma Department of Health. Without discrediting the current commissioner and state of the department, it has a history of struggling when lawmakers put more responsibilities over them. Especially now with recent announced efforts by the Governor’s Secretary of Health to take on responsibilities from the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health.
“Our job as lawmakers is to appropriate tax dollars to maximize the quality of life for our constituents. There is a reason our TSET is one of the best in the nation. It is because voters voted to protect these settlement dollars in our constitution to prevent politicians from making a power grab of money, just like what we see is being attempted now.”
Another measure Leader Munson expressed concerns over was HB 4440, which would undo the Medicaid expansion voters enshrined in the state Constitution in 2020 to require Medicaid coverage be offered to all adults below the age of 65 who make less than $21,597 a year. Along with HB 4440, HJR 1067 would send a Medicaid question to voters on a ballot during a special election on August 25. If passed, it would allow the Legislature to decline covering the cost of Medicaid expansion if the federal match drops below its current rate of 90%.
If the measure becomes law, the Oklahoma Hospital Association has warned that it could lead to future legislatures eliminating health care coverage for over 200,000 Oklahomans.
“Any measure that goes against the will of Oklahoma voters is offensive,” said Leader Munson. “This bill protects the interests of the federal government, not Oklahomans. The people voted for Medicaid expansion in 2020 to protect their right to stable healthcare access without lawmakers interfering based on the day’s politics. The initiative petition process was created so Oklahomans could advocate for their needs when politicians won’t. Ten years ago the legislature cut and removed over 100,000 Oklahomans from Medicaid. The legislature ten years before that could have expanded Medicaid, but didn’t. Oklahomans enshrined Medicaid expansion in our state Constitution to ensure access to one of their most basic needs: healthcare. The passage of this bill will result in even more devastating outcomes for Oklahomans’ healthcare and for hospitals all across Oklahoma if the Governor and Republican supermajority have it their way and this state question passes.”
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