OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 26, 2026) – Attorney General Gentner Drummond today praised the Oklahoma House of Representatives and Speaker Kyle Hilbert for taking action to safeguard taxpayer dollars by advancing legislation to ensure taxpayer-funded assistance programs are reserved only for individuals who are lawfully present in the United States. The bills reinforce the state's commitment to the Safeguarding Eligibility, Compliance and Use of Resources Efficiently (SECURE) Act.
"Oklahoma taxpayers have a right to expect that public resources are used lawfully and responsibly,” Drummond said. “The SECURE Act is about accountability. It ensures benefits are directed only to eligible Oklahomans while still protecting the integrity of programs designed to help those in genuine need."
House Bills 4422 and 4423 reinforce existing eligibility standards and strengthen verification requirements to ensure public benefits are administered in compliance with federal law, clarifying that individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States are ineligible to receive taxpayer benefits. The measure applies to public assistance programs including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Medicaid and Women Infant Childcare (WIC).
"President Trump was right," Drummond stated. "The priority of the government is to take care of our citizens, not those who are here illegally."
With House passage secured, HB 4422 and 4423 now head to the Senate.
