Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt gives remarks on behalf of the state during the 30th anniversary memorial service for the victims of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, in Oklahoma City, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)

On Tuesday, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) vetoed House Bill 1389, legislation that would clarify which breast cancer examinations health insurance providers must pay for and expand mammography access in the state.

HB 1389 was written by state Rep. Melissa Provenzano (D-Tulsa), who has served in Oklahoma’s lower chamber since 2018. Provenzano and her mother are both breast cancer survivors, and her bill received bipartisan support as it moved through the state legislature, including a unanimous vote in the House of Representatives on March 5.

Provenzano released a statement after Stitt’s veto, saying she was “stunned and in disbelief.”

In his veto message, Stitt said his decision stemmed from concerns over “costly insurance mandates” that he argued would ultimately raise premiums for workers.

“While early detection and access to care are critical priorities, this legislation imposes new and costly insurance mandates on private health plans that will ultimately raise insurance premiums for working families and small businesses. Mammograms are already covered, and when a doctor sees the need for further tests, they are empowered to order further tests that can be covered by insurance.”