Oklahoma Senator Accuses Colleague of Copying Medicaid Bill

Jett claims Gollihare plagiarized his proposed legislation

Mar. 27, 2026 at 10:53am

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Oklahoma State Senator Shane Jett has accused his colleague, Senator Todd Gollihare, of copying Jett's Medicaid bill and introducing it as his own legislation. Jett, a Republican from Shawnee, says the two bills are nearly identical and that Gollihare's actions constitute plagiarism.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the partisan tensions and political rivalries that can arise in state legislatures, where lawmakers from opposing parties often compete to advance their own policy agendas. The accusation of plagiarism also raises questions about ethics and integrity in the legislative process.

The details

According to reports, Jett and Gollihare, both Republican state senators, had been working on separate Medicaid-related bills. Jett claims that Gollihare's bill is a near-verbatim copy of his own proposal, which Jett had been developing for several months. Jett has accused Gollihare of plagiarism and says he plans to file an ethics complaint over the issue.

  • The two senators' Medicaid bills were introduced in the Oklahoma State Legislature in March 2026.

The players

Sen. Shane Jett

A Republican state senator representing Shawnee, Oklahoma, who has accused a colleague of plagiarizing his Medicaid bill.

Sen. Todd Gollihare

A Republican state senator who is accused by Jett of copying his Medicaid bill and introducing it as his own legislation.

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What they’re saying

“I'm disappointed that my colleague would stoop to this level of plagiarism. This is a clear violation of ethics and undermines the integrity of the legislative process.”

— Sen. Shane Jett

What’s next

Jett has stated that he plans to file an ethics complaint against Gollihare over the alleged plagiarism. The state legislature will likely investigate the matter further.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the importance of maintaining ethical standards and original work in the state legislative process, where lawmakers are tasked with developing and advancing policies that impact their constituents.