Representative Suzanne Schreiber

D

District 70

Hi, I’m Suzanne Schreiber and I represent the people of Oklahoma’s 70th District.

representative

News & Announcements

Mar 5, 2026

Schreiber bill to address homelessness, decrease crime recidivism advances to House Floor

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Suzanne Schreiber, D-Tulsa, passed HB 4200 out of the Committee on Health and Human Services Oversight. The measure seeks to close a public safety gap by standing up Forensic Assertive Community Treatment (FACT) teams across the state to address the revolving door between homeless individuals with severe mental illness and the criminal justice system.   The bill directs the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to develop a public-private partnership called the "Forensic Assertive Community Treatment Program." The program's purpose is to develop forensic assertive community treatment teams across the state. "With this bill we are addressing an issue I hear about frequently from my constituents: how do we address individuals who are severely mentally ill and living on the streets to keep them and the public safe?” said Schreiber. “This one-time investment by the state will help us stand up relationships with the courts and jails systems needed to ensure we address those coming out of jail before they return to the street by ensuring these individuals are connected to the right treatments to stop the revolving door. For every dollar we invest in FACT teams taxpayers see $1.50 in savings. This is the kind of thing we should invest in because everybody ends up safer.” Healthy Minds Policy Initiative, an Oklahoma nonprofit working to improve mental health across the state, helped with this legislation. “Across the state, communities struggle to support individuals with complex needs and serious mental illness. Too often, these individuals wind up in jail, hospital emergency rooms or in extended homelessness,” said Zack Stoycoff, president & CEO of Healthy Minds Policy Initiative. “Assertive Community Treatment is an evidence-based model with decades of research showing it works, and it’s cheaper than the costly alternatives we’re already paying for as a society.” Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is a mobile, team-based treatment model that instills stability and self-sufficiency for individuals with serious mental illness. ACT teams provide full-time medical and mental health care, as well as housing and employment assistance. Forensic Assertive Community Treatment is a variation on this model focusing on individuals with a history of criminal justice involvement, promoting public safety as well as improved individual outcomes. The new program would address the creation of a Tulsa County, Oklahoma County, and a rural forensic assertive community treatment team with additional teams determined by community need and funding; identification of the population most in need of intense community-based psychiatric services; development or adoption of a tool to measure the fidelity of the forensic assertive community treatment teams; and the development of partnerships within local communities to assist in the provision of the program. The bill creates a revolving fund that would house one-time, startup funding if appropriated by the Legislature. A 25% private match in year one and additional private funds in year two would be needed to launch the teams. The bill’s Senate author is Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa. HB 4200 now moves to the House Floor for consideration. -END-

Oct 29, 2025
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Interim Study Examines How Tax Exemptions Support Nonprofits

OKLAHOMA CITY – Reps. Marilyn Stark, R-Bethany, and Suzanne Schreiber, D-Tulsa, hosted an interim study examining how sales tax exemptions impact nonprofit organizations across Oklahoma. The study brought together leaders from a range of nonprofits to share how tax exemptions help them serve their communities and strengthen local economies.  “This discussion shed light on the important role nonprofits play in supporting Oklahomans and how sales tax exemptions allow them to stretch their resources further,” Stark said. “I want to thank all the individuals who came to share what they are doing for Oklahoma families and children. Their insight will help guide future policy decisions to ensure these organizations can continue meeting community needs.” Presenters included representatives from the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits, RG Foods, Jubilee Partners, Skyline Urban Outreach, The Pencil Box, Tulsa Police Foundation, Blue Rose Ranch and the Legacy Parenting Center. They discussed how tax exemptions help nonprofits expand services, increase outreach and reinvest in their missions.  Representative Schreiber said “these nonprofits deliver for our communities in so many ways. I’m glad we can look at how make their dollars go further to support the needs of Oklahomans.” Stark and Schreiber said they plan to continue reviewing ways to ensure tax policies support nonprofit work while maintaining accountability and fiscal responsibility.

Oct 13, 2025

Schreiber conducts interim study on regulatory barriers to workforce housing

OKLAHOMA CITY –Rep. Suzanne Schreiber, D-Tulsa, hosted an interim study on Thursday on the impact of building code revisions to encourage the development of workforce housing. “Thank you to our local experts for joining us at the State Capitol to better inform members on how we can improve the paths to building the kind of safe, quality housing our workforce and families need,” Schreiber said. “This is just the beginning of this conversation, and I look forward to the work we can do together.” The study explored collaborative and comprehensive solutions and included presentations from the Cindy Giedraitis with the National Fire Sprinkler Association, Mark Tackett with Oklahoma Fire Sprinkler Association, Mark Gandy American Institute of Architects, Oklahoma Chapter, David Adcock of the Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission, Austin Tunnell of Building Culture, Oklahoma State Fire Marshal Keith Bryant, and Tyler Parette with Housing Forward, the executive director of a statewide non-profit using data and policy to advancing housing preservation and expansion in Oklahoma. The study explored data on the needs for workforce housing and the gaps across the state in meeting the need for those seeking housing for one to two occupants. The discussion explored fire safety and where regulations applicable to larger multi-unit dwellings may not be needed. Participants acknowledged that despite market demands the regulatory environment is sometimes cost-prohibitive for the needed smaller multi-units dwellings.   “We want Oklahomans to stay, live, and work here–and we want to welcome anyone who wants to come to our great state–but we have got to have places for these folks to live. Quality workforce housing is desperately needed across the state and that requires a regulatory environment that is willing to move quickly with that need,” Schreiber said. “We have developers, builders, and businesses across the state that want to help meet the needs with safety and quality, but they are challenged with burdensome processes and with unnecessary regulations.” Legislators, housing and workforce advocates, and industry leaders can collaborate to remove cost barriers while maintaining the safety of Oklahomans. -END-