SB 522 creates an Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority Executive Advisory Council with six appointed members representing diverse stakeholders, including patients, business owners, and rural/urban communities. The bill requires this Council to establish a task force to research and recommend purchase and possession limits for medical marijuana patients, consulting with physicians, patient groups, veterans, and industry stakeholders. The task force must submit a final report by November 1, 2026, while the Council must issue annual reports to state leadership by November 1 each year. The bill focuses on gathering stakeholder input through structured research rather than changing existing medical marijuana laws. (Note: The bill was vetoed by the Governor on May 9, 2025.)
HB 2049 requires Oklahoma's Medicaid managed care plans to comply with federal parity laws for mental health and substance use disorder coverage. It mandates regular compliance checks on nonquantitative treatment limitations (like prior authorization), creates a standardized process for handling parity complaints, and requires the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to publicly report on compliance. The law directly affects Medicaid managed care plans, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, and Medicaid beneficiaries seeking mental health or substance use services. Key provisions include contract requirements for parity analysis, public disclosure of compliance reports, and a 30-day deadline for publishing federal reports. The bill became effective November 1, 2025.
HB 2295 prohibits public trust hospitals in Oklahoma communities with fewer than 30,000 residents (per federal census) from transferring their licenses to locations more than 15 miles away. If a hospital plans to close, the bill mandates a mediation process: the hospital and municipality each appoint a mediator, who then select a third mediator to set a sale price for the facility if agreement isn’t reached. Hospital trustees must complete an approved education program within 90 days of appointment and certify they have no financial ties to potential buyers. The bill also requires CMS provider numbers to revert to the hospital immediately upon termination of third-party leases. It takes effect November 1, 2025.
HB 2746 amends Oklahoma's Remote Quality Jobs Incentive Act to require proxy establishments (entities that attract remote workers to the state) to verify that included remote workers have basic health insurance meeting specific coverage standards. The insurance must cover hospital care, physician services, mental health, substance abuse treatment, prescription drugs, and prenatal care, with employees paying no more than 50% of the premium. The bill also clarifies key terms like "remote worker" (an employee working outside Oklahoma who hasn't lived there in the past year) and "new direct job" (a job created by an establishment other than the proxy that didn't exist before application approval). The law takes effect November 1, 2025, and became effective without the Governor's signature on May 8, 2025.
SB 95 updates key definitions in Oklahoma's workers' compensation law to clarify eligibility and claims processing. It directly affects injured workers (claimants), employers, insurance carriers, and medical providers by defining terms like "case manager" (requiring specific nursing licenses or certifications) and "carrier" (explicitly including self-insured employers). The bill also clarifies what constitutes a "compensable injury," excluding age-related conditions like arthritis and adding drug testing rules for claims involving intoxication. These changes aim to standardize claims administration and reduce disputes over coverage. The bill became effective after the governor signed it on May 6, 2025.
HB 1601, the "ARCHER Act," extends maternity leave protections for eligible public school teachers in Oklahoma. It amends existing sick leave rules (70 O.S. § 6-104.8) to require school districts to provide extended leave for teachers who have worked at least 1,250 hours in the past year, specifically covering pregnancy-related needs beyond standard sick leave. The bill creates a dedicated exception to current sick leave policies, ensuring teachers can take leave for maternity without losing pay, aligning with federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) standards. This directly affects full-time classroom teachers in public school districts who meet the employment threshold. The law became effective after Governor approval on May 6, 2025.
HB 2087 modifies Oklahoma's income tax credit for donations to qualified research institutes. It adjusts annual funding caps: for biomedical research institutes, the limit drops from $2 million to $1.5 million per year starting in 2026, while cancer research institute credits are capped at $500,000 annually. The credit percentage for each donation type is recalculated yearly based on prior-year claims, using specific formulas to stay within these new limits. Taxpayers donating to qualifying nonprofit biomedical or cancer research institutes (defined by NIH funding requirements) can claim the credit, with individual limits of $1,000-$25,000 depending on filing status or business type.
HB 1380 creates Oklahoma's Insulin Access and Affordability Program within the State Department of Health to lower insulin costs and improve access. The program requires the state to partner with nonprofit pharmaceutical companies and organizations to secure fast-acting insulin at capped prices: $30 per vial or $55 per pack of five pre-filled pens, with agreements detailing projected savings for Oklahoma residents and self-insured plans. It directly affects Oklahomans using insulin, particularly those on public or private insurance, by aiming to reduce out-of-pocket costs through competitive pricing. The program takes effect July 1, 2025, and requires nonprofits to commit to specific price points and savings reporting.
HB 2754 establishes the Oklahoma Rural Hospitals Funding Assistance Grant Program to provide financial support to qualifying rural hospitals. It directly affects publicly owned hospitals in towns with fewer than 5,000 residents that meet federal critical access hospital standards. The program creates a revolving fund in the state treasury, administered by the State Department of Health, to award grants prioritizing areas with significant healthcare access barriers due to distance. Grants are limited to the total funds available in the revolving fund, and the program becomes effective July 1, 2025.
HB 2012 removes the July 1, 2026, expiration date for Oklahoma's harm-reduction services program, making it permanent. It authorizes government agencies, religious institutions, nonprofits, for-profit companies, and tribal governments to provide services including needle distribution, HIV/hepatitis testing, referrals for addiction treatment, and safe needle disposal. Providers must register with the State Department of Health and report quarterly on services delivered, such as the number of people served, needles distributed, and test results. This bill directly affects people who use injection drugs by expanding access to health services aimed at reducing disease transmission and overdose risks.
