SB 207 Oklahoma Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Public health; establishing the Oklahoma Rare Disease Advisory Council; modifying requirements relating to newborn screening program. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 207 establishes the Oklahoma Rare Disease Advisory Council within the State Department of Health to address the needs of Oklahomans living with rare diseases (defined as conditions affecting fewer than 200,000 people nationally). The Council, composed of 13 diverse members including patients, caregivers, healthcare providers, researchers, and industry representatives, will conduct public hearings, develop policy recommendations, and create emergency care protocols to improve access to specialists, diagnostics, and equitable treatment. The bill also modifies Oklahoma’s newborn screening program to require an educational initiative for treatable genetic disorders, aiming to prevent intellectual disabilities and reduce infant mortality through early intervention. This legislation directly affects rare disease patients, their families, healthcare providers, and state agencies responsible for public health programs in Oklahoma.
Bill status vetoed 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Vetoed
Jun 2025
Introduced Feb 3, 2025 Vetoed Jun 15, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 5 comparisons

What changed between versions

Floor (House) Floor (Senate) · 5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended to transition from a House-drafted version to a Senate floor version, incorporating specific committee amendments. The changes primarily focus on clarifying the appointment process, expanding the required diversity of Council members, and establishing a structured timeline for the Council's initial meeting and term limits.
Scope change
The scope of the bill remains focused on establishing the Oklahoma Rare Disease Advisory Council, but the specific composition and operational rules of the Council were modified to ensure broader representation and clearer governance.
ELIGIBILITY

Added a requirement that all Council members must be full-time residents of Oklahoma, whereas the House version did not explicitly state this.

REQUIREMENT

Specified that the Council chair must be appointed by the Governor by December 1, 2025, and must not hold any government position.

Defined the specific composition of the 13 required members, including representatives from academic institutions, health authorities, insurance, nursing, medicine, hospitals, patient organizations, biopharmaceuticals, health plans, and scientific research.

Established a three-year initial term for the chair, with subsequent chairs elected by Council members every two years, and limited Council member service to a maximum of three years.

TIMELINE

Required the Council to hold its first meeting no later than February 1, 2026, and to meet at least quarterly thereafter.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 27, 2025 · House May 7, 2025

How they voted

388
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 49
Mar 27, 2025
D Democratic9
9 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican40
29 Yea 8 Nay 3
72% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
48
Key actions
15
Committee
10
Amendments
1
Jun 15, 2025
Vetoed
Pocket veto 06/15/2025
upper
May 28, 2025
Committee
Referred for enrollment
upper
May 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Fourth Reading, Measure and Emergency Passed: Ayes: 79 Nays: 13
lower
May 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
CCR adopted
lower
May 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
Emergency passed: Ayes: 43 Nays: 2
upper
May 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
Measure passed, to House: Ayes: 31 Nays: 14
upper
May 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
CCR adopted, GCCA
upper
May 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Conference granted, naming Conference Committee on Health and Human Services Oversight
lower
May 13, 2025
Amended
HAs rejected, conference requested
upper
May 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
Engrossed, signed, to Senate
lower
May 7, 2025
Committee
Referred for engrossment
lower
May 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third Reading, Measure and Emergency passed: Ayes: 78 Nays: 11
lower
Apr 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
CR; Do Pass, as amended, Health and Human Services Oversight Committee
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
Policy recommendation to the Health and Human Services Oversight committee; Do Pass Children, Youth and Family Services
lower
Apr 1, 2025
Committee
Referred to Children, Youth and Family Services
lower
Mar 31, 2025
Introduced
First Reading
lower
Mar 31, 2025
Upper · Passed
Engrossed to House
upper
Mar 27, 2025
Committee
Referred for engrossment
upper
Mar 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Emergency passed: Ayes: 36 Nays: 8
upper
Mar 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Measure passed: Ayes: 30 Nays: 17
upper
Feb 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported Do Pass as amended Appropriations committee; CR filed
upper
Feb 10, 2025
Committee
Referred to Appropriations
upper
Feb 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported Do Pass as amended Health and Human Services committee; CR filed
upper
Feb 3, 2025
Introduced
First Reading
upper
2 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Josh West
Josh West
RRepublican
OK
5
P
Photo of Tom Woods
Tom Woods
RRepublican
OK
4