Representative Cynthia Roe

R

District 42

Hi, I'm Cynthia Roe and I represent the people of Oklahoma's 42nd District.


representative

News & Announcements

Oct 22, 2026

Joint study examines Methods of Dealing with Continued Delays in Chain of Custody, Testing of Sexual Assault Kits, Storage of Non-Reported Kits

OKLAHOMA CITY – Representatives Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa, and Cynthia Roe, R-Lindsay, along with Senators Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City, and Julie McIntosh, R-Porter, held a joint interim study in the House Public Health Committee on Thursday. The study looked at ways to circumvent delays in chain of custody and the testing of sexual assault kits, identify cracks in the testing system, possible timeline changes, and the best way to store non-reported kits, or kits in which the victims do not wish to press charges. “Today, we heard from law enforcement professionals and experts that identified areas of improvement and solutions the legislature can take to reduce the turnaround time for forensic testing of sexual assault kits and to more quickly work toward the justice all Oklahomans deserve,” Provenzano said. “Oklahoma is 3rd in the nation for reported rape cases. Two-thirds of assaults go unreported to law enforcement. We can and must take the next step in our efforts to expedite the journey towards justice for the victims. They deserve it.” Danielle Tudor, Special Designee of the Office of the Attorney General, gave a presentation showing the need for reforms in sexual assault kit collection and turn around time. Oklahoma currently ranks third in the nation for rates of sexual assault. “Too many Oklahomans have waited far too long for justice, yet for years more than 9,000 sexual assault kits sat untested across Oklahoma. That failure cannot happen again,” said Hicks, who is an appointed member of the state’s SAFE Board. “As we near the end of clearing this backlog, we must turn lessons learned into bold action by establishing clear timelines, strengthening accountability, and ensuring every survivor has a path to swift justice.” Mistie Burris, Criminalistics Administrator of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation says OSBI is  currently tracking over two thousand kits . Burris suggested a shorter timeline for sexual assault kit collection. Currently, it takes an average of 7.47 days to collect a sexual assault kit. Burris proposed shortening that timeline to two days.  OSBI reports that since the statute changed in 2019 to require submission of all reported kits, submissions tripled. "As a health care professional, I know how important it is that survivors receive compassionate care and that the evidence collected is handled properly, and as a lawmaker, I also know how important it is that the system works as intended once a kit has been collected," Roe said. "No kit should be lost, left behind or delayed unnecessarily. This study helped my colleagues and I identify gaps in the chain of custody, discuss how to improve testing timelines and consider responsible procedures for storing kits when a survivor is not yet ready to report. Survivors deserve a system they can trust at every level of this process." The Tulsa Police Department also presented at the study and showed similar reports of a backlog in sexual assault kits since the statute change in 2019. In 2018, the department reports having 167 sexual assault DNA testing requests, whereas in 2025, that number rose to 365 sexual assaults. To help the backlog, TPD requested state funding for outsourcing sexual assault kits to a vendor laboratory with an estimated fiscal impact of $400K. The Oklahoma City Police Department recommended to members at the study that they establish a 180-day timeline for reported sexual assault kits, define the requirement around the kit, preserve forensic discretion by allowing experts to determine what additional tests, if any, are needed, and monitor capacity and outcomes so we can continue working toward the most effective and efficient methods of sexual assault kit testing. “Every sexual assault evidence kit left waiting on a shelf represents a person who is waiting for justice," said McIntosh. "This interim study allowed us to better understand where we are in dealing with the backlog in testing and how we can support the people working to solve these cases to get access to DNA evidence more quickly. Though our state has made progress, there is more to be done to help survivors and law enforcement get the answers they need to bring justice and closure. Oklahoma can lead the way in swift, effective, and accurate evidence collection and testing." The entire study can be viewed on the Oklahoma House of Representatives Website. -END-

Oct 20, 2026
Recent Posts

Lawmakers Examine SNAP, Nutrition Programs and Home-Delivered Meals

Oklahoma lawmakers examined the state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), nutrition initiatives and home-delivered meal services during a combined interim study Thursday, exploring ways to improve program integrity, expand access to nutritious food and strengthen outcomes for Oklahoma families. The study combined three topics requested by Rep. Daniel Pae, R-Lawton, Rep. Emily Gise, R-Oklahoma City, and Rep. Cynthia Roe, R-Lindsay. The lawmakers said the study provided an opportunity to examine both immediate challenges associated with federal SNAP changes and longer-term approaches to improving nutrition and food access. "Food assistance is about more than putting food on the table," Pae said. "We need to understand whether these programs are working as intended, whether taxpayer dollars are being used responsibly and whether Oklahomans are getting the resources they need to build healthier, more independent lives. These conversations will help inform the work ahead as we prepare for the upcoming legislative session." "Home-delivered meals are just one example of how a targeted service can address multiple problems at a time," Gise said. "For some Oklahomans, access to nutritious meals can help them manage health conditions, remain independent and avoid costly institutional care. We should continue examining the outcomes of these programs and identify opportunities to make them work better for the people who truly need them." Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) Director Jeffrey Cartmell said the agency prevented more than $5 million in erroneous benefit payments after tripling new employee training time, implementing additional quality-control checkpoints and reviewing more than 75,000 cases over the past year. The state’s most recently federally certified SNAP payment error rate was 11.04%. Cartmell said the agency anticipated a rate between 6.5% and 8.5%, though final figures remained subject to additional reviews . Cartmell explained that incomplete applications, additional verification requirements and repeated requests for documentation can increase the agency’s workload even as participation declines. However, he emphasized that program performance should be evaluated not only by processing metrics but also by whether families become more stable and move toward greater independence. "Our agency has four goals, four pillars that we hold near and dear to what we believe," Cartmell said . "The third one of those is that Oklahoma should have the strongest pathways to prosperity—not the strongest safety net, not the most benefits, the strongest pathways for prosperity. And once we really start measuring programs like SNAP, not on outputs, but on outcomes, we can get closer to that." Alexina Cather, director of policy and communications for Wellness in the Schools, discussed research on school nutrition and the relationship between healthier meals and public health outcomes. According to Hunger Free Oklahoma estimates, more than one in four Oklahoma children do not get the food they need and nearly seven in 10 public school students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. Cather said , "Meal quality isn't a side issue"—instead, she described it as a "public health lever." She highlighted research suggesting improved school nutrition standards helped reduce obesity rates among children living in poverty. Cather also discussed nutrition initiatives in California, Michigan and New York, along with opportunities for Oklahoma to build on existing school meal programs. The latter half of the study focused on home-delivered meals, highlighting the potential to improve health outcomes, support independent living and reduce the costs associated with institutional care. Tara Searles, director of business development for Mom’s Meals, described the company’s medically tailored meal services and their potential to help older adults, people with disabilities and individuals managing chronic health conditions. Searles also discussed a potential pathway for eligible SNAP participants to purchase medically tailored, home-delivered meals. Searles said Mom's Meals has delivered more than 630,000 meals to more than 8,500 clients in the state over the previous 12 months. Additionally, the organization employs around 180 people and purchased over 97,000 locally sourced ingredients in 2025 alone. Jeff Barteau, CEO of Homestyle Direct, described the company’s work providing meals to Oklahoma Medicaid beneficiaries through the Advantage Waiver Program. "For an older or disabled Oklahoman living alone, the inability to prepare reliable, appropriate meals is often the first thing that makes their home unsafe," Barteau told the committee. Barteau said home-delivered meals can help address food insecurity while supporting individuals who want to remain in their homes rather than entering institutional care. He pointed out that an annual cost of one home-delivered meal per day is about $2,200, less than 3% of the $82,000 cost to provide care for someone living in a nursing facility. Sara Marlow Fulks, advocacy and public policy officer for Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, discussed the role food banks play in addressing food insecurity. She said Oklahoma’s two food banks served more than 2 million summer meals in 2026, with most distributed through noncongregate options that allow families to take meals home. "SNAP truly is the first line of defense when it comes to serving food insecurity," Fulks said . "It's the most dignifiable way to serve our food insecure neighbors." Fulks also highlighted the proposed Farmers Against Hunger initiative, a $2 million pilot program developed with the Oklahoma Farm Bureau and Oklahoma Pork Council. If funded, the initiative is estimated to provide 3 million pounds of locally raised meat to families in need while supporting Oklahoma farmers and processors. "This is an innovative, common-sense approach to fighting hunger," Gise said. "It supports Oklahoma agriculture while putting nutritious food on the tables of families who need it most." Leslie Young, program director for Double Up Oklahoma, described how the program helps SNAP participants purchase fresh fruits and vegetables by providing incentives for eligible purchases. Young said the initiative has helped hundreds of thousands of SNAP customers purchase produce. She pointed to a three-month follow up where participants had increased their fruit and vegetable intake by almost one serving per day. "This study demonstrated that addressing food insecurity requires more than one program or one organization," Roe said. "By bringing together people working on different parts of that challenge, we can better understand what is working, where the gaps are and what improvements may be worth considering in the next legislative session."

Oct 5, 2026
Recent Posts

Roe Honored for Commitment to Oklahoma Healthcare

OKLAHOMA CITY — Rep. Cynthia Roe, R-Lindsay, received the 2026 Honorary PA designation from the Oklahoma Academy of Physician Associates (OAPA) in recognition of her work supporting physician associates and quality healthcare for Oklahomans. The OAPA recognizes individuals who have promoted the physician associate profession and advanced the academy’s mission. Honorees are recognized for distinguished service to patients, their communities, the profession and the academy. "Healthcare is not only a huge part of my daily life, but it is my passion as a legislator, and I am deeply honored to receive this designation," Roe said. "Healthcare is the backbone of every state, and it reaches Oklahomans during some of the best and most difficult moments of their lives. I am thankful that through my medical career and my service in the Legislature, I have the opportunity to care for people and improve healthcare in our state." A colleague nominated Roe for the honor in recognition of her work over the years on behalf of physician associates and her efforts to improve access to quality healthcare services for Oklahomans. Roe is one of four current members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives who work or have worked in the medical field. She has more than 40 years of healthcare experience as a registered nurse and nurse practitioner. The OAPA presented Roe with the Honorary PA designation during its awards luncheon on Oct. 1 as part of the organization’s Fall Continuing Medical Education Conference at the Embassy Suites Oklahoma City Downtown Medical Center.