Healthcare

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 21, 2025

SB 518: Medical marijuana packaging; requiring certain warnings on labels. Effective date.

SB 518 requires medical marijuana businesses in Oklahoma to use specific warning labels on all products sold to licensed patients. The labels must include mandatory statements like "For use by licensed medical marijuana patients only," "Keep out of reach of children," and warnings about driving under influence and pregnancy risks, along with potency details (THC/cannabinoids) and contaminant testing information. The law prohibits child-targeted packaging (such as cartoon characters) and bans health benefit claims on product containers. It applies to all medical marijuana businesses and takes effect November 1, 2025, after becoming law without the governor's signature on May 21, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires health warnings on medical marijuana labels to inform patients about risks, protecting patient safety and rights.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Oklahoma · House May 15, 2025

HB 1512: Insurance; Insurance Commissioner authority related to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; creating the State-based Exchange Revolving Fund; purpose; effective date; emergency.

HB 1512 grants Oklahoma's Insurance Commissioner authority to operate a state-based health insurance exchange under the Affordable Care Act, including applying for federal waivers. It creates a dedicated "State-based Exchange Revolving Fund" to support the exchange's operations and requires the Commissioner to promulgate necessary rules. The bill directly affects Oklahomans purchasing health insurance through the state marketplace by enabling a state-run exchange option. It becomes effective July 1, 2025, and was enacted without the Governor's signature on May 15, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates state-based exchange fund under ACA, expanding health insurance marketplace access for Oklahomans per bill's purpose95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 15, 2025

SB 906: Practice of pharmacy; establishing certain pharmacy staffing ratio. Effective date.

This Oklahoma bill establishes a maximum staffing ratio requiring retail pharmacies to maintain no more than five pharmacy technicians for every one licensed pharmacist. It also updates regulations for pharmacy technicians by mandating permits, setting a renewal fee of up to $75 annually, and outlining procedures for late renewals and permit reinstatement. The law applies to all licensed retail pharmacies in Oklahoma and takes effect on November 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes staffing ratios to ensure adequate pharmacist oversight, protecting patient safety and improving pharmacy service quality.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 15, 2025

SB 251: Mental health and substance abuse services; expanding types of services that qualify for certain funds; establishing certain minimum allocation. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 251 expands eligibility for Oklahoma county mental health and substance abuse funding to include employment, education, and housing programs alongside existing treatment services. It requires the state to allocate at least 0.5% of total funds to each county government or multi-county partnership applying for grants. The bill also mandates annual reports to legislative leaders detailing funding distribution and services provided. These changes aim to broaden community-based support options while ensuring minimum funding for all participating counties.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands mental health funding eligibility to include housing/employment programs and mandates 0.5% county allocations, directly strengthening community-based services.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExpands mental health funding to include housing programs and mandates 0.5% allocation for housing services, directly funding housing support within community-based services.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

vetoed · Oklahoma · Senate May 14, 2025

SB 927: State Medicaid program; modifying appointment procedures for the Medicaid Drug Utilization Review Board. Effective date.

SB 927 amends Oklahoma's Medicaid Drug Utilization Review Board procedures by prohibiting the pharmaceutical industry representative from voting on drug-related matters. It updates the appointment process to stagger initial terms for one physician, one pharmacist, and the lay representative to ensure board continuity. The bill affects the Oklahoma Health Care Authority and the board members, with changes taking effect November 1, 2025. The board's composition (10 members: 4 physicians, 4 pharmacists, 1 lay representative, 1 pharmaceutical industry rep) and appointment lists remain unchanged.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits pharmaceutical industry representatives from voting on drug matters to prevent conflicts of interest, strengthening Medicaid program integrity and review processes.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 14, 2025

SB 723: Veterans; removing obsolete language; providing certain exemption; updating statutory reference. Effective date.

SB 723 updates Oklahoma law to clarify which positions at the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs are exempt from standard civil service rules. It adds 11 specific healthcare and administrative roles - including physician assistants, pharmacists, occupational therapists, and Veterans Center administrators - to the list of exempt positions. The bill removes outdated references to previous exemption methods and confirms existing exempt positions remain unaffected. This change takes effect November 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAdds healthcare roles (pharmacists, therapists) to exempt positions, facilitating staffing for veterans' healthcare services.85% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransAdds exempt healthcare roles (pharmacists, therapists) to VA staffing, facilitating better veteran service delivery without restricting benefits.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 14, 2025

SB 391: Opioid overdose fatalities; dissolving Overdose Fatality Review Board; providing for Attorney General oversight. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 391 extends the Opioid Overdose Fatality Review Board's existence until July 1, 2026 (correcting the bill title's "dissolving" error), requiring it to review opioid overdose cases involving adults. The Board gathers confidential records from medical examiners, hospitals, law enforcement, and other agencies to identify systemic issues in medical or law enforcement responses, then makes recommendations for improvement. All case discussions and recommendations remain confidential and privileged, not admissible in court, while the Board must publish an annual public report by February 1 detailing its findings and system coordination. This directly affects state agencies (like mental health services, law enforcement, and medical examiners) and ensures public transparency through annual reports.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill extends Opioid Overdose Review Board to identify systemic issues in law enforcement responses, making recommendations for improvement. Aligns with criminal justice reform by enhancing oversight and accountability.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes board to review opioid overdose cases and improve medical/law enforcement responses, strengthening public health system oversight in healthcare.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Oklahoma · House May 14, 2025

HB 2047: Schools; creating the Emerson Kate Cole Act; school medication policies; eliminating references to epinephrine injectors; eliminating reference to certain training program; parent permissions; 911; mandating parent notifications; allergic reactions; model policies; annual training.

HB 2047, the Emerson Kate Cole Act, updates Oklahoma school medication policies to improve safety for students with allergies and asthma. It requires school districts to adopt policies allowing students to self-administer prescribed asthma inhalers, epinephrine for allergic reactions, and cystic fibrosis medications, with written parental permission and physician documentation. Key provisions include mandating annual staff training on recognizing allergic reactions and administering epinephrine, requiring schools to notify parents after medication use, and specifying protocols for stocking and using epinephrine injectors (including 911 contact procedures). The bill also creates model policies for districts to follow and clarifies that schools and staff incur no liability for medication administration under these guidelines. This law, effective May 14, 2025, directly affects public school districts, students with chronic conditions, and their families.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates school policies for student medication safety (epinephrine, inhalers) and annual staff training, directly enhancing student health and safety in K-12 schools.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates school policies enabling student self-administration of prescribed medications (epinephrine, inhalers) with training, improving access to critical healthcare during allergic reactions and asthma episodes.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 190: Income tax; reauthorizing donation of tax refund for the benefit of a regional food bank. Effective date. Emergency.

This bill creates a simplified process for Oklahoma's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to help elderly or disabled residents. It allows individuals aged 60+ or with disabilities who have no earned income and live in a household of similar members to stay on SNAP for 36 months without annual recertification, using a shortened application and reduced verification. The bill also increases SNAP medical deductions, permitting households with elderly or disabled members to deduct up to $175 per person (or $350 total) for qualifying expenses like prescriptions and doctor visits. These changes aim to reduce administrative barriers for vulnerable Oklahomans while maintaining federal SNAP requirements.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill increases SNAP medical deductions for elderly/disabled, expanding nutrition assistance that directly supports healthcare affordability and access for vulnerable populations.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 12, 2025

SB 806: Nutrition services; creating the Food is Medicine Act; creating certain incentive for Medicaid contracted entities; providing for certain expansion of nutrition services. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 806, the Food is Medicine Act, requires Medicaid contractors to expand nutrition services for enrollees, particularly those with diet-related health conditions like diabetes. It creates financial incentives for healthcare providers to offer medically tailored meals and nutrition counseling as part of Medicaid coverage. This directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries and their healthcare providers by integrating food-based health interventions into standard care. The law took immediate effect after Governor approval on May 8, 2025, without a waiting period.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires Medicaid contractors to expand nutrition services for diet-related conditions with financial incentives, integrating food-based health interventions into coverage.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare