Oklahoma lawmakers override veto to expand breast cancer screening coverage

Lawmakers in Oklahoma voted late Thursday night to override Governor Kevin Stitt’s veto of House Bill 1389, a bipartisan measure that expands insurance coverage for advanced breast cancer screenings. With a 42–2 vote in the Senate, the bill becomes law, mandating broader access to diagnostic tools that advocates say will save lives.

The governor initially rejected the bill over concerns about increased insurance costs, but legislators from both parties united to push it through, emphasizing early detection and preventive care for women across the state.

What House Bill 1389 Changes

House Bill 1389 updates Oklahoma’s requirements for mammography screening coverage. It expands insurance mandates to include a broader range of diagnostic and supplemental exams.

The bill requires health benefit plans to cover:

1. Low-dose mammography screenings
2. Diagnostic exams when abnormalities are suspected
3. Supplemental exams for individuals at increased risk

Coverage must be provided without deductibles, co-pays or co-insurance, and cannot be limited to specific time intervals.

The law takes effect on Nov. 1, 2025.

Why the Governor Objected

Gov. Kevin Stitt vetoed House Bill 1389 earlier this month, raising concerns about the financial burden the bill could place on Oklahoma families and businesses.

“I vetoed House Bill 1389 because it would have imposed new and costly insurance mandates on private health plans, which would actually raise premiums on Oklahoma families and businesses. It’s really as simple as that,” Stitt said in a video message. “We know, number one, mammograms are already covered, and when a doctor sees the need for more testing, they should absolutely get that done. And so I’m deeply sympathetic to women across Oklahoma who’ve battled breast cancer, and I wish nobody had to deal with breast cancer. But putting more government mandates involved just continues to make the prices go up for everyone in Oklahoma, and for those reasons, I vetoed this bill.”

His opposition was overruled late Thursday as legislators voted overwhelmingly in support of the measure.

Celebration at the Capitol

The override vote prompted celebration on the Senate floor. Sen. Brenda Stanley, a Republican from Midwest City who carried the bill in the Senate, introduced its House author following the vote.

“I want you to know and I want to introduce the House author of House Bill 1389, Melissa Provenzano. We’ve done it — and we’ve done it well!” Stanley said as lawmakers applauded.

Supporters Praise the Outcome

Rep. Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa, praised the override in a statement on social media:

“So proud and honored to be part of moving Oklahoma forward. Humans first. Politics second.”

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond also applauded the legislature:

“Lame duck Governor Stitt sided with special interests when he vetoed mandatory insurance coverage for mammograms, but our legislators have now overridden his veto. I thank them for their leadership, which will result in life-saving preventative care for women throughout our state.”

What’s Next

The law will officially go into effect on Nov. 1, 2025, giving insurance providers and health care systems time to implement the expanded coverage. For now, lawmakers and advocates are celebrating what they call a major win for women’s health.

As of Friday morning, the governor’s office had not issued a statement responding to the override.