Healthcare (Mental Health)

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 11, 2025

SB 670: Health care providers; requiring certain continuing education; requiring specified mental health screening. Effective date.

SB 670 requires health care providers to complete specific continuing education on mental health screening as part of their ongoing training. This applies directly to licensed health care professionals who provide patient care, such as doctors, nurses, and counselors. The bill mandates that this training include standardized mental health screening protocols to be integrated into routine patient evaluations. It does not create new funding or insurance requirements, but instead sets a professional development standard for current providers. The bill is currently pending in committee after passing a committee review with amendments.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates standardized mental health screening protocols for providers, advancing mental health services within routine care without funding changes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Public Health

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 29: Health care; requiring licensed practitioners to offer pharmacogenomic test prior to prescription of psychotropic drugs. Effective date.

SB 29 requires licensed healthcare providers in Oklahoma to offer pharmacogenomic testing to patients before prescribing psychotropic medications (like antidepressants or antipsychotics). This applies to all patients receiving such prescriptions and mandates providers to explain the test's benefits, confirm if it's FDA-approved, provide a cost estimate, and obtain the patient's informed consent. If consent is given, the test must be administered before the medication is prescribed. The law takes effect on November 1, 2025, aiming to personalize treatment based on genetic factors affecting drug response.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates pharmacogenomic testing before psychotropic prescriptions to personalize treatment, improving patient outcomes and supporting mental health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 1343: Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services; duties; powers; responsibilities; State Department of Corrections; real and personal property; effective date; emergency.

HB 1343 abolishes Oklahoma's Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and transfers all its duties, powers, responsibilities, property (including records, funds, and equipment), and assets to the State Department of Corrections. This bill directly affects the mental health department's operations and the corrections department's expanded responsibilities. The transfer takes effect on July 1, 2025, as specified in the bill's effective date. The legislation eliminates the standalone mental health department, consolidating its functions under corrections.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareAbolishes dedicated mental health department, transferring duties to corrections (lacks treatment focus), weakening specialized services per bill's transfer of duties and assets.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 1144: Schools; attendance; allowing one day per semester for an excused absence for student mental health; effective date; emergency.

HB 1144 allows Oklahoma public school students to take one excused absence per semester for mental health reasons without requiring documentation from parents or students. This policy directly affects all K-12 students in Oklahoma public schools by expanding valid reasons for excused absences beyond traditional medical or family emergencies. The key provision limits mental health absences to a single full school day each semester, with no need for verification like a doctor's note. It does not change existing rules for other excused absences (such as for 4-H activities or online course participation) but adds mental health as a standalone, no-documentation reason. The bill amends Oklahoma's school attendance statutes to include this specific provision.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands educational access by allowing mental health absences without documentation, supporting student well-being and attendance in K-12 schools.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllows excused mental health absences without documentation, removing barriers to accessing care and aligning with mental health support policies.92% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Student Health Mental Health

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 4, 2025

HJR 1027: Constitutional amendment; reproductive freedom; definitions; severability; ballot title; filing.

HJR 1027 is a proposed constitutional amendment (Article XXXI) that would establish a fundamental right to reproductive freedom for Oklahomans. It guarantees individuals' rights to make decisions about pregnancy care - including abortion, contraception, and miscarriage management - without state interference unless a "compelling" state interest (like protecting health) is proven through the least restrictive means. The amendment specifically prohibits state bans on abortions medically necessary to protect a patient’s life or physical/mental health, and bans prosecution of individuals or healthcare providers exercising this right. It directly affects Oklahomans seeking reproductive care, healthcare providers, and state enforcement practices. The amendment would override conflicting state laws and requires voter approval via ballot referendum.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareGuarantees reproductive healthcare access including abortion, contraception, and miscarriage management, protecting patient rights without state interference.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Women's Health

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vetoed · Oklahoma · House May 30, 2025

HB 2513: Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services; individual to address the Department's consent decree; qualifications; emergency.

HB 2513, titled the "Oklahoma Mental Health Reform Act of 2025," proposed creating a position requiring an individual with specific qualifications to address the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services' court-ordered consent decree. The bill specified requirements for this appointee and included an emergency provision. It was scheduled to take effect November 1, 2025, but was pocket-vetoed by the Governor on May 30, 2025, with the veto taking effect June 15, 2025, meaning it never became law. The bill directly affected the Department's compliance with its existing legal agreement but was not enacted.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates position to address mental health consent decree, aiming to improve service compliance and quality under healthcare topic of mental health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

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passed both · Oklahoma · House Mar 5, 2025

HCR 1004: Concurrent resolution; consent decree; Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Oklahoma Forensic Center, and the putative class; approval.

HCR 1004 is a procedural resolution approving a consent decree resolving a class-action lawsuit against Oklahoma's mental health system. It formally authorizes the Oklahoma Legislature to adopt the court-approved settlement between the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, the Oklahoma Forensic Center, and a group of individuals alleging inadequate competency restoration treatment for people found incompetent to stand trial. The decree resolves claims about delays in providing required treatment to ensure court competency, avoiding further litigation costs. This resolution does not create new policy but legally ratifies an existing court agreement.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeApproves consent decree resolving inadequate competency restoration treatment delays in criminal justice system, advancing mental health care for defendants95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareApproves consent decree resolving mental health treatment delays, mandating improved competency restoration services for vulnerable patients per court settlement.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Mental Health Substance Abuse

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passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 27, 2026

HB 2947: Behavioral health; terms; Medicaid; scope of practice; interns; administrative requirements; effective date.

HB 2947 adds a new provider code in Oklahoma Medicaid for master's and doctoral-level behavioral health clinical interns. These interns - graduate students in nationally accredited programs - can provide services under the direct supervision of licensed behavioral health providers (like LPCs or LCSWs) while following all Medicaid documentation and training requirements. The bill directly affects interns seeking practical experience and licensed supervisors who will oversee their Medicaid-covered services. It expands Medicaid access to behavioral health care by formalizing intern participation in the state's Medicaid plan.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands Medicaid coverage for behavioral health interns, enabling supervised services and improving mental health access under public health programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medicaid Mental Health

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 1115: Medicaid; Oklahoma Health Care Authority; mental health; children; effective date.

HB 1115 requires Oklahoma's Medicaid program to increase payment rates for mental health services provided to children 19 years of age or younger by 30%. This change directly affects mental health providers who serve Medicaid-eligible children under 19 by raising the reimbursement they receive for these services. The bill mandates a specific 30% rate increase for covered mental health services, without altering eligibility criteria. The policy becomes effective November 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIncreases Medicaid reimbursement rates for children's mental health services by 30%, directly funding and strengthening provider access to care under public health programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Mental Health

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died · Oklahoma · House Feb 11, 2025

HB 1589: School employees; Education Employee Assistant Program; Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services; effective date; emergency.

HB 1589 creates a voluntary Education Employee Assistance Program within Oklahoma's Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. The program provides school employees and their families with confidential support for personal, mental health, or substance abuse issues - including emotional, financial, or family concerns - without impacting their employment status. Key provisions include keeping participation records separate from personnel files, prohibiting subpoenas for records unless a safety threat exists, and requiring school districts to follow Board-established rules for any existing or new employee assistance programs. The bill explicitly states that participation or nonparticipation does not affect disciplinary actions or employment terms.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides confidential mental health support for school employees, strengthening educator well-being and retention without employment impact.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates voluntary mental health/substance abuse support program for school employees, expanding access to mental health services without employment impact.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides confidential mental health support for school employees without employment impact, aligning with worker well-being protections under labor & employment standards.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

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