The Senate Health and Human Services Committee advanced four gubernatorial nominees to state health-related boards after brief questioning and roll-call votes, sending each nomination to the full Oklahoma Senate for final confirmation.

The committee acted on reappointments and one continued seat for oversight bodies that regulate behavioral-health licensure and health-system governance. Committee members asked limited questions about current licensure, board experience and prior reforms; each nominee addressed those queries before the committee voted.

Larissa Belio, reappointment to State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure (term ending Oct. 31, 2028). Senator Jett carried the nomination. Belio said she has been a licensed professional counselor since 1999, is a professor emeritus at the University of Central Oklahoma and maintains a private counseling practice in Harrah, Oklahoma. Senator Hicks asked whether Belio still held an active license; Belio replied, “Yes. I am a licensed professional counselor. I also maintain a private counseling practice in Harrah, Oklahoma.” The committee moved a “do pass” recommendation; the clerk recorded a 9-2 vote in favor. The nomination will proceed to the full Senate.

Johnny Fredman, reappointment to State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure (term ending Oct. 31, 2028). Senator Jett carried the nomination. Fredman was described as proprietor of Focus Mental Health Services in Shawnee and a licensed professional counselor who currently serves as vice chairman of the board. When asked about his work with addiction treatment, Fredman said his experience includes certified addiction-therapy training and about five years working with people who struggle with addiction. He clarified the board’s scope: “Our goal, as [the board] mentioned, is really to protect the public. And so we really look at more licensure issues and the rules and statutes that have already been established more than specific treatment modalities.” The committee recommended “do pass”; the clerk recorded a 9-2 vote in favor and the nomination will proceed to the Senate.

Michael W. Herndon, reappointment to the Oklahoma State University Medical Authority (term ending June 1, 2028). Senator Pugh carried the nomination. Herndon, a DO who described decades of service to the health-care authority and current work as chief medical officer for the Alliance for the Uninsured, addressed the committee and said he remains licensed and board-certified. The committee’s motion to recommend passage was recorded as 10 ayes and 1 nay; the nomination will go to the full Senate.

Kelly M. Collins, reappointment to the State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure (term at the pleasure of the governor, ending Oct. 31, 2028). Senator Stanley carried the nomination. Collins, who has chaired the board and served as director of counseling and mental health for the Choctaw-Nicoma Park Public School District, told the committee she has championed suicide-prevention and crisis-intervention initiatives in schools and supervises clinical work as a licensed professional counselor. The committee recommended confirmation by a 10-1 roll-call vote; the nomination will proceed to the full Senate.

Why it matters: The committee’s approvals advance governance and oversight for behavioral-health licensure in Oklahoma and fill a seat on a medical authority that helps govern clinical services tied to a public university. The board that licenses counselors and other behavioral-health professionals sets licensure rules and supervision requirements that affect how quickly new clinicians can enter practice and how the state enforces professional standards.

Committee discussion and context: Questioning focused on current licensure status, prior board work and ongoing challenges for behavioral-health access. Nominees described the board’s priorities as public protection and expanding access to care, including reduced administrative barriers to licensure introduced after the board separated from the state Department of Health. One nominee said the board reduced roughly “around 40 pages of requirements” since the board’s establishment in 2013 to shorten the time it takes for candidates to achieve full licensure while maintaining required supervision and national standards. Committee members also asked about demographic data and diversity among licensees; nominees responded that the board does not review demographic information when approving licenses and that the executive director maintains demographic reporting.

Votes at a glance: Larissa Belio — committee recommendation: do pass; roll-call: 9 ayes, 2 nays; outcome: advanced to full Senate. Johnny Fredman — do pass; 9 ayes, 2 nays; advanced. Michael W. Herndon — do pass; 10 ayes, 1 nay; advanced. Kelly M. Collins — do pass; 10 ayes, 1 nay; advanced.

What’s next: Each nomination will be scheduled for consideration by the full Oklahoma Senate. The committee made no final policy changes or statutory amendments during the meeting; its actions were limited to recommending gubernatorial nominations for confirmation.

(Reporting based on the Senate Health and Human Services Committee record and public roll-call statements recorded during the committee meeting.)