2024 Oklahoma Legislative Session Summary

2024 Oklahoma Legislative Session Summary

Victory in the fight against cancer requires bold new public policies that promote cancer prevention, early detection of cancer, and expand access to quality, affordable health care. Lawmakers make many decisions that impact the lives of Oklahomans impacted by cancer and their leadership is vital to defeating this disease.

In 2024 the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) worked with the Oklahoma Legislature in support of the following priorities:

Reducing the Toll of Tobacco

• Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Funding: ACS CAN worked to maintain funding for fact-based, statewide tobacco prevention and cessation programs. Funding for the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) was protected, with a fiscal year budget of over $32 million.
   
• Fighting Big Tobacco: ACS CAN successfully advocated against legislation that would have established a tax break for a new and emerging class of tobacco industry products. ACS CAN also successfully advocated against tobacco industry legislation that would have reduced the cigarette tax.
   
• Tobacco Taxes: ACS CAN continues to advocate for an increase in the cigarette tax with a parallel increase on all other tobacco products.
   

 Ensuring Access to Quality Care

• Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening: Funding for Oklahoma’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program was protected. Administered by the Oklahoma State Department of Health, the program provides access to life-saving screening services to reduce the toll of breast and cervical cancer in Oklahoma.
  
  For more information, contact: Matt Glanville, Oklahoma and Arkansas Government Relations Director, ACS CAN   [email protected]  405.301.6311  

ACS CAN is making cancer a top priority for public officials and candidates at the federal, state, and local levels. ACS CAN empowers advocates across the country to make their voices heard and influence evidence-based public policy change as well as legislative and regulatory solutions that will reduce the cancer burden. As the American Cancer Society’s nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate, ACS CAN is critical to the fight for a world without cancer. For more information, please visit www.fightcancer.org.