HB 4293, the "Veterans Mental Health Innovation Act," allows Oklahoma universities and affiliated research facilities to conduct clinical trials using ibogaine - a substance derived from the Tabernanthe iboga plant - to treat specific medical conditions. It authorizes research for conditions like PTSD, treatment-resistant depression, opioid use disorder, and chronic pain, requiring registration with state health and agriculture agencies and annual reporting. Researchers and qualifying patients participating in approved trials receive legal immunity from penalties for ibogaine use, possession, or distribution under strict compliance with the bill’s requirements. The law explicitly states it does not decriminalize ibogaine for general use, focusing solely on regulated research. All activities must follow detailed study protocols and submit final reports to state legislative leaders.
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.
HB 2785 requires Oklahoma's Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) to implement stricter budget oversight for the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. It mandates OMES to review agency budgets against actual spending before releasing funds, prohibit contracts without clear cost limits, restrict multi-year contract encumbrances to current-year funds, and block payments for unapproved expenses. The bill also requires OMES to report monthly revenue and spending status to the Governor, legislature leadership, and relevant committees. This directly affects state budget management for mental health services by adding specific financial controls to prevent overspending. The law takes immediate effect due to an emergency declaration.
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 1379 establishes a two-year pilot program through Oklahoma's Attorney General's Office to provide grants to private nonprofit organizations supporting victims of sexual and labor trafficking. The program funds specific services like emergency shelter, mental health counseling, legal assistance, job training, and medical care - directly benefiting trafficking victims through partner organizations. Eligible organizations must demonstrate experience serving trafficking victims, maintain confidentiality, and use grants primarily for direct services (not exceeding 15% for administrative costs). Recipients must submit quarterly reports on services provided and outcomes, with the Attorney General compiling annual program evaluations for state leaders. The bill expands allowable uses of the Victims of Human Trafficking Fund to support this initiative.
HB 1566, known as "Neil's Law," establishes the Oklahoma Elder Exploitation and Abuse Act (OEAA) to protect vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation. The law defines vulnerable adults as individuals 18+ who cannot manage their financial or health needs due to mental illness, disability, or other impairments, and creates a civil right for them (or their legal representatives) to sue abusers or exploiters. Key provisions include clear definitions of abuse, exploitation, and neglect; court requirements to encourage vulnerable adults' participation in decisions; and ensuring legal claims survive the vulnerable adult's death. The law does not replace mandatory reporting obligations to Adult Protective Services for suspected abuse.
HB 2788 transfers specific funds back into Oklahoma's Statewide Recovery Fund from several existing programs. It moves $1.56 million from domestic violence services, $162,668 from food assistance programs, $1.49 million from health workforce initiatives, $2.16 million from rural healthcare, $5 million from medical facilities, $20.5 million from mental health hospital construction, and $3.3 million from water resources projects. All transfers align with recommendations from the Joint Committee on Pandemic Relief Funding. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and was enacted without the governor's signature on May 29, 2025.
SB 1369 allocates $5.7 million from Oklahoma's general state funds to sustain and expand the state's 9-8-8 suicide and crisis hotline operations for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. This funding directly supports Oklahomans in mental health crises by ensuring access to the 9-8-8 hotline service. The bill provides specific funding to maintain current operations while increasing capacity for crisis response. It becomes effective July 1, 2026, and declares an emergency due to the urgent need for mental health support.
This bill requires Oklahoma's Medicaid program to approve prior authorization for atypical antipsychotic drugs not on the preferred drug list when treating mood disorders like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or related conditions. It mandates approval if a patient has failed a trial of a preferred drug in the past year or is stable on a non-preferred medication. The policy ensures these drugs are covered at parity with other branded medications in the same class, without additional restrictions beyond standard Medicaid criteria.
SB 1368 appropriates $70.5 million from Oklahoma's General Revenue Fund for the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services for the 2025 fiscal year. It allocates $20 million to cover remaining Medicaid (Title XIX) costs, $18.5 million to fund provider payments through an Enhanced Tier Payment System, and $32 million to renew contracts with existing service providers. These funds are designated to supplement, not replace, current resources and programs. The bill declares an emergency to allow immediate implementation of these funding measures.
