HB 4431 requires Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) in Oklahoma, or their employers, to carry malpractice insurance covering $1 million per incident and $3 million annually. This applies to APRNs practicing outside federal or state employment where coverage is already provided under federal insurance or Oklahoma's Governmental Tort Claims Act. The law exempts APRNs working for federal agencies (covered by federal insurance) or state agencies (covered under Tort Claims Act) during their official duties. It takes effect November 1, 2026, directly affecting APRNs who provide care outside these exempted employment settings.
SB 1734, the Oklahoma Responsible Technology in Schools Act, restricts AI tool use in public schools to educator-supervised settings, requiring all classroom AI applications to operate under teacher oversight ("human-in-the-loop") with educators reviewing outputs before use in instruction or assessment. It prohibits AI from determining high-stakes outcomes like grading, discipline, or student placement, and mandates school districts to adopt policies by the 2027-2028 school year covering data privacy, appropriate use, and transparency for families. The State Department of Education must develop guidance to help districts comply, while ensuring AI tools meet federal privacy laws (like FERPA) and minimize student data sharing. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and does not compel schools to adopt AI but sets guardrails for its responsible use.
SB 1597 removes a requirement for Oklahoma's Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) programs to adhere to specific national standards. It affects local CASA programs and the Oklahoma Court-Appointed Special Advocate Association by eliminating this compliance obligation. The bill maintains existing requirements for CASA volunteer training, annual documentation, criminal background checks, and child welfare records searches. Key provisions remain unchanged, including the need for volunteers to complete training and pass background checks before being assigned cases. The bill takes effect November 1, 2026.
SB 2049 requires Oklahoma's Department of Transportation to notify the Attorney General before making a claim against a surety company (insurance guaranteeing contractor performance) for a contractor's failure to complete work. The Attorney General must then review and approve the claim before the Department can proceed. This procedural change, effective November 1, 2026, adds an approval step to the claims process without altering the Department's ability to make claims.
SB 1944 amends Oklahoma's workers' compensation law by updating key definitions in the Administrative Workers' Compensation Act. It clarifies who qualifies as an "actually dependent" for benefits, specifies requirements for certified "case managers" (including nursing licenses and specific certifications), and refines the definition of "compensable injury" to exclude injuries caused by alcohol/drug use, natural aging, or preexisting conditions without proven aggravation from work. These changes directly affect injured workers seeking benefits, employers, insurance carriers, and healthcare providers involved in workers' compensation claims. The bill aims to standardize eligibility and claim processing without creating new benefits or altering benefit amounts.
SB 1794 requires Oklahoma's Department of Mental Health to create a real-time statewide registry tracking mental health facility availability, directly affecting hospitals and clinics that serve patients. The registry will display current capacity, populations served, diagnostic details (without patient identifiers), admission criteria, and emergency placement contacts to improve urgent care access. Facilities must electronically update their capacity hourly (or per department rules for low-volume settings) and comply with privacy laws like HIPAA. The bill takes effect November 1, 2026, aiming to streamline emergency placements without sharing identifiable patient data.
SB 1502 removes the requirement for an Alzheimer-Dementia Disclosure Act Advisory Council that previously advised Oklahoma's State Department of Health on dementia care disclosure forms. The bill eliminates the Council's role in developing standardized disclosure forms and making recommendations, while keeping existing requirements for long-term care facilities to disclose detailed dementia care services (such as staff ratios, activities, fees, and facility philosophy) to patients, families, and the Department. Facilities offering dementia-specific care must still submit these disclosures to the Department before admitting residents. The change directly affects dementia care facilities, the State Department of Health, and the disclosure process, without altering the disclosure content or requirements themselves. The bill updates statutory language and sets an effective date but does not create new obligations.
SB 1557 transfers the licensing authority for behavior analysts from Oklahoma's Department of Human Services to the State Board of Osteopathic Examiners. The bill requires all applicants to undergo a national criminal history background check and updates definitions to clarify that only professionals certified by the national Behavior Analyst Certification Board (and licensed by the State Board) may practice applied behavior analysis. It also specifies that supervisees must work under a licensed behavior analyst and maintains requirements for renewal and professional conduct standards. This changes who oversees licensure, adds background checks, and standardizes practice rules for behavior analysts.
SB 2110 allows Oklahoma egg producers to sell ungraded eggs directly to consumers at their farm, farmers' markets, or through other direct sales channels, provided the eggs come from hens raised on the same farm. It limits eligible producers to selling no more than 150 ungraded eggs per month. The bill does not change rules for graded egg sales and applies only to small-scale producers selling directly to consumers. It becomes effective November 1, 2026.
SB 1553 amends Oklahoma's Medicaid appeal process to ensure appeals for denied claims are reviewed by qualified mental health professionals. It requires reviewers (like psychologists) to hold valid licenses, have relevant clinical experience, and avoid conflicts of interest, while banning automated review systems. The bill also establishes that if an appeal successfully reverses a denied claim, the psychologist or mental health provider can recover costs for time spent on the appeal. This directly affects Medicaid members, providers, and mental health professionals handling appeals.
SB 1425 repeals three existing Oklahoma statutes related to health care workforce programs: 70 O.S. 2021 §2640 (Oklahoma Health Care Workers and Educators Assistance Program) and 74 O.S. 2021 §§3200.1-3200.2 (Health Care Workforce Resources Act). This bill eliminates the legal framework for these specific programs, which previously provided assistance to health care workers and educators. The repeal takes effect on November 1, 2026, and directly affects the administrative structure and operations of those programs. No new provisions or funding are created; the bill solely removes the existing laws.
This Oklahoma Senate Bill 2104 updates trust law to clarify court procedures, strengthen beneficiary protections, and modernize dispute resolution. It specifies that trust disputes must be filed in the county where the trustee resides (amending Section 175.23), prevents trustees from using distribution powers to weaken beneficiary rights or reduce their own fiduciary duties (amending Section 175.717), and expands when trustees and beneficiaries can reach binding nonjudicial settlements without court approval (amending Section 1402). The bill directly affects trustees managing trusts, beneficiaries receiving trust assets, and courts handling trust administration cases. These changes aim to streamline trust disputes while ensuring trustees uphold their duties to beneficiaries.
