SB 222 creates Oklahoma's Maternity Care Pilot Program, providing a one-time $5 million grant to a single hospital to add labor and delivery services. The program targets hospitals meeting strict criteria: they must be critical access facilities, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations owned by public entities, profitable for two years, not currently offering such services, and staffed with at least one Certified Nurse-Midwife. Grant funds can only cover staffing, essential equipment/supplies, and maternal/infant health education - not construction. The State Department of Health will select the highest-scoring eligible hospital and develop application rules, with the program effective July 1, 2025.
HB 2047, the Emerson Kate Cole Act, updates Oklahoma school medication policies to improve safety for students with allergies and asthma. It requires school districts to adopt policies allowing students to self-administer prescribed asthma inhalers, epinephrine for allergic reactions, and cystic fibrosis medications, with written parental permission and physician documentation. Key provisions include mandating annual staff training on recognizing allergic reactions and administering epinephrine, requiring schools to notify parents after medication use, and specifying protocols for stocking and using epinephrine injectors (including 911 contact procedures). The bill also creates model policies for districts to follow and clarifies that schools and staff incur no liability for medication administration under these guidelines. This law, effective May 14, 2025, directly affects public school districts, students with chronic conditions, and their families.
SB 56 requires the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to create a program that reimburses family caregivers for providing home care services. This directly affects family members who care for relatives with medical needs at home, such as elderly or disabled individuals. The bill establishes a specific reimbursement mechanism through the Authority, directing them to implement the program immediately as an emergency measure. It became law on May 12, 2025, without the Governor's signature.
SB 1067 creates a new database for ambulance service providers and changes how health insurers pay for ambulance services in Oklahoma. It requires ambulance providers to report specific data to this database and modifies the rates and criteria insurers use to reimburse ambulance services. This bill directly affects ambulance companies and health insurance providers by establishing new reporting requirements and payment rules. The law became effective without the Governor's signature on May 28, 2025.
SB 1192 increases the fee for alcohol and drug assessments from $160 to $200 per person. It also raises certification application fees for assessment personnel ($100-$200 initially, $25-$150 for renewal). The bill directs $15 of each assessment fee to the Department of Public Safety, with 90% (about $13.50) going to the Community-based Substance Abuse Revolving Fund and 10% ($1.50) covering administrative costs. This affects individuals required to undergo assessments (e.g., for driver license issues) and certified assessment professionals. The changes take effect November 1, 2026.
SB 1140 allocates $100,000 from unspent state general revenue funds to Oklahoma's Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services for purposes already required by law. The bill directs the department to use these funds for its existing duties, without creating new programs or services. It includes an emergency provision allowing immediate implementation upon enactment, bypassing the usual waiting period. The bill became law on May 29, 2025, without the governor's signature. This is a procedural funding measure, not a substantive policy change.
SB 1305 allows Oklahoma's Medical Marijuana Authority to contract with third-party vendors to handle employee credentialing for medical marijuana businesses. The bill requires the Authority to approve or deny vendor applications within 30 days and sets strict vendor requirements, including IRS 501(c)(3) status and training plans covering state laws, patient privacy, and safe handling. Employees must complete annual training (minimum one hour per topic) on these subjects to maintain credentials. The law affects all medical marijuana business employees and businesses requiring credentialing, effective July 1, 2026.
HB 1538, the "Student Retention Protocol Act of 2025," requires Oklahoma schools to offer specific screenings and assessments to students identified as "at risk of being retained" (those below academic thresholds for advancing grades). It mandates hearing and vision screenings, family assessments, and, with parental consent, psychiatric, occupational, or physical therapy evaluations to address potential learning barriers before retention decisions. Schools may provide these services using qualified personnel or contracted professionals, but all provisions depend on available funding. The bill directly affects at-risk students, their families (who must approve psychiatric evaluations), and school districts, aiming to prevent retention through targeted support rather than changing retention policies themselves. It becomes effective July 1, 2025.
This bill creates a simplified process for Oklahoma's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to help elderly or disabled residents. It allows individuals aged 60+ or with disabilities who have no earned income and live in a household of similar members to stay on SNAP for 36 months without annual recertification, using a shortened application and reduced verification. The bill also increases SNAP medical deductions, permitting households with elderly or disabled members to deduct up to $175 per person (or $350 total) for qualifying expenses like prescriptions and doctor visits. These changes aim to reduce administrative barriers for vulnerable Oklahomans while maintaining federal SNAP requirements.
SB 959 would allow Oklahoma health care institutions (like hospitals and clinics) and health care payors (like insurers) to refuse services conflicting with their religious or moral beliefs, including declining to use facilities for such services. It grants legal immunity from lawsuits or retaliation (such as job loss, license denial, or contract termination) for these refusals, while requiring emergency care under federal law. Religious entities could also base hiring, staffing, and admission decisions on faith. The bill failed in committee on March 3, 2025, and did not become law.
