HB 3675 requires health insurance companies to have a qualified human professional review any adverse decision (like denying coverage) made by an algorithm, artificial intelligence system, or automated decision system before it becomes final. The bill mandates that patients receive clear notices explaining the reasons for denied coverage, the clinical basis for the decision, and how to appeal. It allows AI systems to be used for administrative tasks or fraud detection but prohibits their use in final coverage decisions without human oversight. The law takes effect on November 1, 2026, directly affecting patients, insurers, and utilization review agents in Oklahoma.
SB 1836 requires physicians, physician assistants, advanced practice nurses, and osteopathic physicians to conduct annual mental health screenings using a standardized tool during routine primary care visits. The State Board of Medical Licensure will develop the screening method and educational materials, collaborating with other health boards. This applies only to providers who perform direct patient care, excluding those in non-clinical roles. The law becomes effective November 1, 2026.
SB 2101 creates the Oklahoma Medicine Injury Justice Act, making pharmaceutical companies directly liable in Oklahoma state courts for harm caused by their products. It allows affected Oklahomans to seek compensation for medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and punitive damages in cases of gross negligence or fraud. The bill explicitly overrides federal immunities (like the PREP Act and Vaccine Injury Act) that would otherwise shield companies from state lawsuits. It ensures all claims are heard in Oklahoma courts without mandatory arbitration, preserving access to justice under state constitutional rights. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and declares an emergency due to the urgency of protecting citizens' health and safety.
HB 1658 regulates laser hair removal practitioners in Oklahoma by requiring all providers to use only FDA-approved devices and hold specific licenses or certifications. It mandates a 40-hour training program for practitioners (completed internally or via third parties under physician oversight), requires facilities to be overseen by a physician (with exemptions for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses), and establishes protocols for patient evaluations, informed consent, and complication management. The law also specifies that physicians must be available for real-time communication during procedures but need not be physically present. This bill directly affects laser hair removal practitioners, clinics, and supervising physicians, becoming effective immediately upon passage as an emergency measure.
SB 1040 amends Oklahoma law to update the appointment process for the Oklahoma Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors. It removes an outdated requirement that five of six counselor members must have secured licensure by January 1, 2005, and instead mandates that at appointment, five members must be licensed counselors and one must be certified. The bill requires the Governor to appoint four members from a list provided by the Oklahoma Drug and Alcohol Professional Counselors Association, one from the Oklahoma Substance Abuse Services Alliance, and one from the Oklahoma Citizen Advocates for Recovery and Treatment Association. This change takes effect November 1, 2025, and affects how the board is composed, directly impacting the selection process for state-level alcohol and drug counseling oversight.
SB 786 prohibits consuming marijuana or possessing open marijuana containers in the passenger area of any moving vehicle on public roads, and bans inhaling secondhand marijuana smoke while driving. It increases the trauma-care fee for violations from $100 to $250, requiring payment into Oklahoma's Trauma Care Assistance Fund. The law applies to all drivers on public highways, streets, or alleys, with exemptions only for buses and limousines (where drivers still cannot consume alcohol or marijuana). It became law without the governor's signature on May 14, 2025, and takes effect November 1, 2025.
HB 2793 allocates $8,000,000 from Oklahoma’s Progressing Rural Economic Prosperity Fund to establish an Emergency Medicine Revolving Fund, as created by prior legislation (HB 2784). This fund will support ongoing emergency medical services, directly affecting hospitals and emergency care providers across the state. The appropriation becomes effective July 1, 2025, and the bill declares an emergency to expedite implementation. The bill does not create new taxes or services but redirects existing state funds to this specific purpose.
SB 913 requires Oklahoma public school districts to provide emergency opioid antagonists (like naloxone) to designated school staff and ensure they receive training on recognizing opioid overdoses and administering the medication. It directly affects school personnel - including nurses, health staff, and other authorized employees - and students or individuals at school sites or events. Key provisions mandate that boards of education equip trained staff with naloxone doses for immediate use during suspected overdoses, while the Department of Mental Health provides required training on overdose response and administration. The law also includes Good Samaritan protections, shielding schools and staff from liability when administering naloxone in good faith during an overdose emergency.
SB 807 requires Oklahoma healthcare providers to give patients a written document before administering any vaccine, detailing ingredients (using CDC guidelines), vaccine development history, all known risks (from clinical trials and VAERS data), ethical considerations in production, exemption options, and the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. Providers must obtain written patient consent after reviewing this information, with signed forms kept in medical records for seven years. Violations carry penalties of up to $1,000 for failing to provide the document or $5,000 for administering a vaccine without consent. The law directly affects all patients receiving vaccines in Oklahoma and healthcare providers who administer them.
SB 947 updates Oklahoma's nursing facility fee structure and fund allocation rules to improve long-term care services for seniors. It revises how the Nursing Facilities Quality of Care Fee is calculated (based on 6% of total patient gross receipts divided by patient days) and designates specific uses for the resulting fund, including funding 15 ombudsmen positions and increasing monthly personal needs allowances for nursing home residents from $30 to $50. The bill ensures these programs - such as Medicaid services, nursing facility inspections, and senior support services - remain exempt from budget cuts. It directly affects nursing facilities (which pay the fee), seniors receiving Medicaid long-term care, and state agencies managing these programs. The bill was enacted without the Governor's signature on May 13, 2025.
