HB 1769 modifies Oklahoma school district health insurance benefits for employees. It sets minimum monthly flexible benefit allowances: $69.71 for certified staff (like teachers) and $189.69 for support staff (like aides) if they opt out of the district’s health plan. Employees who don’t use their full allowance to cover health benefits receive the excess as taxable cash payments. The bill requires annual enrollment between November 1 and December 15, with specific rules for mid-year terminations and unused allowances.
HB 1473, the "Health Care Sharing Ministry Tax Parity Act," allows Oklahoma residents who are active members of qualifying health care sharing ministries (HCSMs) to deduct their membership contributions from their state income taxes starting in 2026. It treats these deductions similarly to health insurance premiums, applying to self-employed individuals, employer contributions (as nontaxable benefits), and individuals covering themselves or dependents. To claim the deduction, members must provide documentation of contributions and membership, and false claims could result in $500 penalties per offense and three years of ineligibility. Funds received from HCSMs for medical expenses will not be considered taxable income under Oklahoma law.
HB 1750 prohibits pregnant women who hold a valid Oklahoma medical marijuana patient license from intentionally using marijuana while knowingly pregnant. The bill directly affects licensed medical marijuana patients who are pregnant, making such intentional use unlawful under Oklahoma law. It defines "marijuana" using existing statutory language and specifies that the prohibition takes effect on November 1, 2025. The law does not change eligibility for medical marijuana licenses but restricts use during pregnancy for those already licensed.
HB 2233 updates Oklahoma's Massage Therapy Practice Act by clarifying licensing rules and scope of practice for massage therapists. It directly affects licensed massage therapists, massage therapy schools, and other health professionals who may provide massage services. Key changes include renaming the regulating board to the Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision, explicitly allowing "direct access" (public can seek massage without medical referral), and defining massage therapy as soft tissue techniques (e.g., touch, pressure, heat) while prohibiting diagnosis, prescribing, or medical techniques like ultrasound. The bill also clarifies exemptions for physicians, students, and specific practices like the Feldenkrais Method when performed within their established professional scope.
HB 2052 exempts certain domestic health maintenance organizations (HMOs) that exclusively contract with Oklahoma's Medicaid program (via the Oklahoma Health Care Authority) from most state health insurance regulations. These HMOs, which serve only Medicaid recipients and no other patients, are no longer subject to specific provisions of the Health Maintenance Organizations Act, including requirements about benefit coverage and certain administrative rules. The exemption applies solely to services provided to Medicaid recipients under Oklahoma Statutes Title 56, Section 4002.2. The law became effective November 1, 2025, after passing without the Governor's signature.
HB 1674 amends Oklahoma's Nursing Home Care Act by adding specific definitions to clarify key terms used in the law. It defines terms like "abuse" (willful injury or confinement causing harm), "access" (rights for ombudsman and case managers to visit facilities), and "administrator" (requiring at least one-third of work time for on-site supervision). These definitions directly affect nursing homes, their administrators, state regulators, and residents by establishing clear standards for care and oversight. The bill does not create new requirements but clarifies existing legal language to improve implementation of the Nursing Home Care Act.
This bill clarifies eligibility for Oklahoma's Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association coverage when an insurer fails. It ensures Oklahoma residents automatically receive coverage for life, health, and annuity policies, while non-residents may qualify only if the insurer was based in Oklahoma and no other state provides coverage. The bill specifically excludes structured settlement annuities from certain coverage rules and prevents duplicate coverage across states. It does not create new benefits but defines who qualifies under existing law, excluding reinsurance, self-funded employer plans, and certain policy features like dividends or marketing claims.
This bill proposes creating Oklahoma's first state-run paid family and medical leave insurance program. It would provide eligible workers (including employees and self-employed individuals who opt in) with up to 12 weeks of paid leave annually for childbirth, caring for a seriously ill family member, or personal medical needs. Benefits would be calculated based on the worker's average weekly earnings during their base period, with employers required to provide notice about the program and protect workers from retaliation for using benefits. The Oklahoma Department of Labor would administer the program, establish claim procedures, and require employers to maintain existing leave obligations.
HB 2133 modernizes Oklahoma's prescribing rules for healthcare providers and controlled substances. It allows pharmacists to fill non-controlled prescriptions from out-of-state advanced practice nurses or physician assistants (if licensed in their home state), but restricts out-of-state prescribers from writing prescriptions for controlled dangerous substances - only Oklahoma-licensed practitioners supervised by Oklahoma physicians can do this. The bill also requires medical facilities prescribing opioids, benzodiazepines, or similar drugs long-term to register with the state, and mandates detailed monthly reporting for manufacturers/distributors of controlled substances. These changes directly affect pharmacists, out-of-state healthcare providers, medical facilities, and drug manufacturers.
SB 361 protects indigenous traditional healing practitioners in Oklahoma who lack state healthcare licenses. It prohibits them from performing medical procedures (like surgery or prescribing drugs) or falsely claiming licensure, while shielding them from penalties under healthcare laws when practicing traditional methods within defined limits. The bill defines "indigenous or traditional healing therapy" and ensures practitioners cannot be penalized for offering culturally specific wellness services that comply with its restrictions. Effective November 1, 2025, it codifies these protections in Oklahoma Statutes (Title 59, Section 732).
