SB 397 Oklahoma Senate · 2025 Regular Session

State Board of Behavioral Heath Licensure; extending sunset date. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 397 extends the expiration date of Oklahoma's State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2026, ensuring the board continues operating without interruption. The bill updates statutory language related to the board's structure, including membership requirements (4 licensed counselors, 3 family therapists, 2 behavioral practitioners, and 2 public members) and committee processes for reviewing licensure within specific specialties. It does not change the board's duties or create new policies, only prolonging its current operational timeline. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and was declared an emergency.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 3, 2025 Last action Apr 9, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

Floor (House) → Floor (Senate) · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was converted from the House version to the Senate version, adding a new section that places all employees and positions in unclassified status exempt from the Oklahoma Personnel Act. This change affects how the State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure manages its staff, granting greater flexibility in employment classification.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on the State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure, but the staffing provisions have been expanded to include unclassified status exemptions.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new Section 2 establishing that all employees and positions under the Board shall be placed in unclassified status, exempt from the Oklahoma Personnel Act.

TECHNICAL

Updated header information to reflect Senate Floor Version with February 13, 2025 date and Committee Substitute designation.

Changed page headers from House Floor Version to Senate Floor Version with updated page numbering.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 9, 2025

Lower · Passed

CR; Do Pass Administrative Rules Committee

lower

Mar 26, 2025

Introduced

First Reading

lower

Mar 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

Engrossed to House

upper

Mar 25, 2025

Committee

Referred for engrossment

upper

Mar 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

Measure and Emergency passed: Ayes: 41 Nays: 6

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported Do Pass, amended by committee substitute Administrative Rules committee; CR filed

upper

Feb 3, 2025

Introduced

First Reading

upper

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors