Hoodline: Rep. Ross Ford Champions Bills for Sexual Assault Victim Aid and School Hiring Practices in Oklahoma Senate

Oklahoma Representative Ross Ford is pushing for legislation that passed the Oklahoma House and is now facing the Senate's scrutiny. Aiming to enhance support for sexual assault victims and improve the hiring capabilities of school districts, Ford's bills carry significant weight in areas of public health and education. According to an official statement, Ford, a Republican from Broken Arrow, said he believes these measures "would help Oklahomans."

Of particular note is House Bill 1676, which proposes the establishment of the Kay Floyd Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) statewide coordinator position. As reported by the Oklahoma House website, Ford advocates for a network of trained examiners that would be available across the state so "victims do not have to wait hours for an examination." The bill aims to ease the trauma for victims seeking immediate care, a nod to the work of the bill's namesake, former Sen. Kay Floyd, who dedicated much of her career to supporting individuals affected by sexual assault and domestic violence.

https://hoodline.com/2025/04/rep-ross-ford-champions-bills-for-sexual-assault-victim-aid-and-school-hiring-practices-in-oklahoma-senate/