Healthcare

passed · Oklahoma · Senate Apr 7, 2026

SB 1813: Professions and occupations; enacting the Athletic Trainer Compact; authorizing certain jurisdiction. Effective date.

SB 1813 authorizes Oklahoma to join the Athletic Trainer Compact, a multi-state agreement enabling licensed athletic trainers to practice across participating states without obtaining separate licenses. The bill establishes a "Compact Privilege" allowing qualified trainers from member states to provide services in Oklahoma while adhering to local scope-of-practice rules. Key provisions include mutual recognition of licenses, streamlined interstate practice, reduced administrative burdens, and enhanced information sharing among states regarding licensure and disciplinary actions. This directly affects athletic trainers seeking to work in multiple states and patients in member states who gain broader access to certified care. The compact preserves each state’s authority to regulate practice and protect public safety through existing licensure systems.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables interstate practice for athletic trainers, reducing licensing barriers and improving access to healthcare services.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 7, 2026

HB 2144: Insurance; Insurance Consumers Protection Act; cause of action; bad faith; damages; jury; effective date.

HB 2144 creates a new legal cause of action for Oklahoma insurance policyholders and third parties who suffer unreasonable delays or denials of benefits by insurers, defining "bad faith" as violating an insurer’s duty of good faith and fair dealing. It prohibits insurers from including clauses reserving discretion to interpret policies or deny claims, eliminates the need to exhaust administrative remedies before suing, and guarantees jury trials for bad faith claims. The bill applies to all insurance policies issued in Oklahoma (including health, disability, and employee benefits), directly affecting insured individuals, businesses, and third parties who rely on insurance contracts. Key provisions clarify that insurers must pay valid claims promptly, and claimants can seek damages for unreasonable refusals or delays without first appealing to the Oklahoma Insurance Department.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects policyholders from insurer bad faith denials, strengthening healthcare coverage access by ensuring timely benefits and eliminating unfair claim denials.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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signed · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 20, 2026

SB 392: Oklahoma Strategic Military Planning Commission; extending sunset date. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 392 extends the expiration date of Oklahoma's Long-Term Care Facility Advisory Council from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2026. The council, which advises on standards for nursing homes, residential care facilities, and adult day care services, continues with its existing structure of 13 members including healthcare professionals and public representatives over age 65. This extension ensures uninterrupted review of care quality, facility regulations, and enforcement under the Nursing Home Care, Residential Care, and Adult Day Care Acts. The bill does not alter the council's duties or membership requirements.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends oversight council for nursing home care standards, maintaining regulatory continuity to protect care quality in long-term facilities.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 16, 2026

SB 2166: Damages; prohibiting certain damages exceeding a certain amount. Effective date.

This bill limits medical damages in Oklahoma personal injury cases to actual payments made by plaintiffs or their insurers, not the higher amounts billed by providers. It requires health care providers to submit signed statements confirming they accept the actual payment amount as full settlement, or use Medicare reimbursement rates as a standard when no payment was made. The law applies to both past medical bills and future treatment costs, directly affecting plaintiffs, health care providers (like hospitals and doctors), and health insurance plans. It aims to reduce inflated medical billing in lawsuits by making only verified payments or standard rates admissible as evidence.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareCaps medical damages to actual payments, restricting patient recovery for healthcare costs and limiting provider reimbursement beyond billed amounts.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Healthcare

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 5, 2026

SB 1473: Guardianships; modifying definitions; requiring guardians to be present for certain assessment. Effective date..

SB 1473 updates Oklahoma's guardianship definitions to clarify when a person with mental illness is considered "gravely disabled" and unable to meet basic needs like food, clothing, or shelter. It adds specific criteria guardians must meet to request authorities (like police or county officials) to retrieve a gravely disabled ward from an unsheltered environment and transport them to inpatient treatment. The bill changes "inpatient mental health treatment" to require 48 hours of continuous care (previously 24 hours) and explicitly states that mental illness evaluation or treatment does not automatically mean a person is incompetent. These changes apply to guardians, courts, and mental health facilities managing cases involving incapacitated individuals. The bill takes effect November 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies guardianship criteria to enable timely inpatient mental health treatment for gravely disabled individuals, supporting access to care through defined transport protocols and 48-hour continuous care requirement.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed both · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 4, 2026

SB 202: Medicaid; modifying eligibility requirements for self-funded or self-insured health care plan to participate in certain premium assistance program. Emergency.

SB 202 modifies eligibility rules for self-funded health plans to participate in Oklahoma's Medicaid premium assistance program. It allows small businesses and public entities using self-funded health plans to qualify if the plan was already used by an employer in the program as of May 1, 2024, or if it’s owned by a local government public trust. This change specifically affects small employers (under 250 employees) and public-sector health plans seeking to access state premium assistance. The bill aims to expand coverage options for low-income workers by making more health plan types eligible for state-funded premium support.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands Medicaid premium assistance eligibility for small businesses/public entities, increasing access to healthcare coverage under state program.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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signed · Oklahoma · House Mar 2, 2026

HB 2786: Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services; making an appropriation; source; amount; purpose; emergency.

This bill authorizes an emergency appropriation of approximately $19.66 million to the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. The funds must come from the Rate Preservation Fund in the State Treasury and are designated specifically for Title XIX services, which are Medicaid-funded mental health and substance abuse programs. The legislation includes an emergency provision, allowing the funding to take effect immediately upon the governor's approval without waiting for the regular budget cycle. This action provides direct financial resources to the state agency responsible for administering mental health and substance abuse services.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides emergency appropriation of $19.66M to fund mental health and substance abuse services through Medicaid, directly increasing government spending on essential public programs.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill provides emergency funding of $19.66M for mental health and substance abuse services under Medicaid, directly advancing healthcare access and program strength.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Oklahoma · House Feb 25, 2026

HB 1484: Schools; creating Rain's Law; requiring certain instruction on fentanyl abuse prevention and drug poisoning awareness; effective date; emergency.

HB 1484, known as "Rain's Law," requires Oklahoma public schools to provide annual, research-based instruction on fentanyl abuse prevention and drug poisoning awareness to students in grades 6 through 12. The bill mandates that this instruction cover suicide prevention, fentanyl abuse and addiction prevention, local resource access, and health education about fentanyl use. Schools must incorporate this content into health classes, and the State Department of Education will develop curriculum standards and resources to support implementation. The law also designates a week for "Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Week" to align with National Red Ribbon Week, with age-appropriate instruction determined by each school district.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates fentanyl education in health curriculum for grades 6-12, enhancing student health education programs per bill requirements.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates school-based public health education on fentanyl abuse and suicide prevention, directly advancing public health programs under healthcare topic.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 1638: Governmental Tort Claims Act; modifying definition; authorizing award of certain costs and fees. Effective date.

SB 1638 amends Oklahoma's Governmental Tort Claims Act to clarify definitions of "charitable health care provider" and "community health care provider," specifically expanding protections for entities serving indigent patients. It authorizes courts to award claimants' legal costs and fees when they successfully sue state or local government entities for negligence. This change directly affects individuals and organizations filing tort claims against government bodies, particularly health care providers who offer free or low-cost services to medically indigent residents. The bill modifies Sections 152 and 154 of the act to streamline these claims while ensuring claimants who win can recover their litigation expenses.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands legal protections for healthcare providers serving indigent patients and enables claimants to recover legal costs in negligence cases against government entities, strengthening patient access to care.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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vetoed · Oklahoma · Senate Jun 15, 2025

SB 207: Public health; establishing the Oklahoma Rare Disease Advisory Council; modifying requirements relating to newborn screening program. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 207 establishes the Oklahoma Rare Disease Advisory Council within the State Department of Health to address the needs of Oklahomans living with rare diseases (defined as conditions affecting fewer than 200,000 people nationally). The Council, composed of 13 diverse members including patients, caregivers, healthcare providers, researchers, and industry representatives, will conduct public hearings, develop policy recommendations, and create emergency care protocols to improve access to specialists, diagnostics, and equitable treatment. The bill also modifies Oklahoma’s newborn screening program to require an educational initiative for treatable genetic disorders, aiming to prevent intellectual disabilities and reduce infant mortality through early intervention. This legislation directly affects rare disease patients, their families, healthcare providers, and state agencies responsible for public health programs in Oklahoma.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes Oklahoma Rare Disease Advisory Council to improve patient access through policy recommendations and emergency care protocols for rare disease patients.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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