OKFAHC Applauds Governor Stitt’s Veto of Costly “Pill Tax,” Urges Legislature to Sustain Veto

Oklahoma Families for Affordable Healthcare (OKFAHC) today praised Governor Kevin Stitt for vetoing Senate Bill 2074 and urged lawmakers to reject any attempt to override the veto and impose new costs on Oklahoma families.

SB 2074 would have increased the cost of prescription medications by establishing a state-mandated dispensing fee tied to a government-set benchmark—effectively adding roughly $10 or more to every prescription filled in Oklahoma.

“Governor Stitt made the right call for Oklahoma families,” said Julie McKone, Executive Director of OKFAHC. “This bill would have driven up healthcare costs across the board, and we appreciate the Governor standing up for patients, employers, and taxpayers.”

In his veto message, Governor Stitt made clear the real-world impact of the policy, writing that “this policy functions as a hidden tax, one that will ultimately be passed on to Oklahoma families, employers, and small businesses through higher premiums and increased healthcare costs.” He also noted that the legislation would have cost the Oklahoma Health Care Authority more than $11 million.

OKFAHC emphasized that while the bill was framed as targeted support for one segment of the healthcare system, the costs would have been broadly distributed—impacting working families, small businesses, and public programs alike.

“This was never a free-market solution—it was a government mandate that would raise costs for everyone,” McKone said. “Overriding this veto would be an extraordinary step in the wrong direction.”

OKFAHC is urging members of the Oklahoma Legislature to sustain the Governor’s veto and instead work collaboratively on reforms that lower costs, improve access, and protect patients without imposing new financial burdens.

“Oklahomans are already struggling with the cost of healthcare,” McKone added. “Now is not the time to pass a new, hidden tax on prescriptions.”