SB 1882 requires any party seeking foster care placement or termination of parental rights in Oklahoma to prove to the court that active efforts were made to provide services (like counseling or parenting programs) to prevent family separation, and that these efforts failed. This applies to all cases regardless of race or political status, directly affecting parents, children, and child welfare agencies involved in such legal proceedings. The bill mandates this specific showing before courts can approve foster care or termination decisions, adding a new requirement to Oklahoma law. It becomes effective on November 1, 2026.
SB 1692 requires municipalities to notify mortgage lenders at least 60 days before filing a foreclosure petition on properties with unpaid municipal code liens (such as fines for code violations). This affects homeowners with recorded mortgages who have delinquent municipal liens and the mortgage lenders themselves. The bill adds this notification step to existing foreclosure procedures without changing when foreclosures can occur. It applies specifically to properties with recorded mortgages, separate from tax delinquency notices. The law takes effect July 1, 2027.
SB 1909 requires a blind, randomized selection process for medical evaluators in Oklahoma child abuse and neglect cases to prevent bias or "doctor shopping" by the Department of Human Services. It mandates the Office of the Administrative Director of the Courts to implement a statewide system for assigning qualified evaluators (including pediatricians and child abuse specialists), maintain an audit trail of all interactions, and enforce annual certification for evaluators on parental rights and evidence-based practices. The bill also amends the standard for declaring a child deprived to require that allegations be supported by a preponderance of the evidence, and provides civil/criminal enforcement for violations. It takes effect on November 1, 2026.
SB 2042 requires Oklahoma Department of Health personnel to remain on-site at nursing facilities during emergencies that pose immediate risks to resident health, safety, or welfare. This applies when the Department issues an emergency order under the Nursing Home Care Act, mandating staff stay until the facility's "plan of removal" is accepted. The bill directly affects nursing facilities, health department staff, and residents during critical incidents. Key provisions clarify emergency order procedures, including requiring immediate on-site presence during life-endangering situations and ensuring facilities receive written notice of violations with correction deadlines. It does not change existing penalties or dispute processes but adds this specific on-site requirement during emergencies.
SB 1941 establishes Oklahoma's RESTORE Act to improve access to reproductive health care. It requires the State Department of Health to collect data on conditions like endometriosis, PCOS, and unexplained infertility (affecting 15-30% of cases), and mandates certain healthcare facilities to provide restorative reproductive medicine services. The bill directs funding toward programs addressing reproductive health conditions, requires new provider training on natural approaches, and specifies that facilities must report on services related to fertility and symptom management. It focuses on conditions such as endometriosis (with a typical 10-12 year diagnosis delay) and male-factor infertility, without promoting specific treatments.
SB 1862 requires Oklahoma state agencies to include three specific details with any proposed legislation they request: the agency's name, a primary contact person, and a brief explanation of the agency's need for the bill. This applies only to bills formally requested by state agencies, not to legislation proposed by others like lobbyists or individual legislators. The bill does not change how laws are made but adds a transparency requirement for agency-driven legislation. It becomes effective November 1, 2026.
SB 2120 limits settlement amounts for wrongful termination claims by employees of Oklahoma's public institutions of higher education. It caps total settlements at two years of the employee's base salary, including back pay and compensatory damages, but excludes accrued unpaid wages and retirement contributions already earned. The bill applies only to claims under Oklahoma state law, not federal claims, and takes effect on November 1, 2026. This change directly affects public university employees who pursue wrongful termination lawsuits in state court.
SB 1789, the "Local Teacher Licensure Act," allows Oklahoma school district boards of education to evaluate and recommend teacher licensure or certification applications directly to the State Board of Education. School districts must submit complete applications with required documentation, and the State Board must approve or reject recommendations within 30 days or the license is automatically approved. Teacher licenses issued under this law are valid for five years and follow standard renewal procedures. The bill requires school districts to establish clear timelines for applicants (minimum 20 days) and decisions (30 days), while maintaining state oversight for final approval.
SB 1750 allows Oklahoma state agencies to report cost savings from efficiency measures that do not reduce essential services, compromise health/safety, or cut staff in ways that harm service delivery. If the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) confirms these savings, agencies receive 10% of the savings as an appropriation. This 10% can be used exclusively for employee bonuses or deposits into employees' pretax retirement accounts. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and applies to savings achieved in the 2028 fiscal year and beyond.
SB 1559 requires Oklahoma's Medicaid program to test a direct primary care model through a 36-month pilot program serving up to 1,000 Medicaid beneficiaries. It mandates the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to contract directly with qualified providers using monthly payments per patient (not traditional capitated contracts) and establish quality benchmarks aligned with federal rules. The program requires annual reports tracking access, patient satisfaction, clinical outcomes, and costs, with recommendations for future Medicaid policy. This pilot aims to evaluate how direct primary care - where patients pay a flat fee for services - could improve care within Medicaid, without changing existing Medicaid coverage.
SB 1817 exempts individuals breeding quail for personal consumption, hobbies, education, science, or private property releases from needing a wildlife breeder's license in Oklahoma. The bill amends Oklahoma law to remove license requirements specifically for quail breeding under these defined purposes, while maintaining other licensing rules for wildlife. This change directly affects Oklahomans who raise quail for these noncommercial uses without requiring state permits. The exemption takes effect November 1, 2026.
SB 1766 requires Oklahoma's Corporation Commission to consider grid reliability and operational factors when reviewing electric utility rate requests. It mandates that utilities submit detailed reports for any proposed power plant additions or retirements, explaining how these changes impact their ability to meet electricity demand during peak times. The reports must evaluate each asset's contribution to grid reliability, including how well it supports meeting demand when usage is highest. This bill directly affects all electric utilities regulated by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.
