Healthcare (Substance Abuse)

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 5, 2026

SB 1645: Medicaid; establishing certain requirements and procedures for audits of providers; directing establishment of certain appeals. Effective date.

SB 1645 establishes new rules for auditing long-term care providers (like nursing homes and Medicaid home-care agencies) under Oklahoma's Medicaid program. It requires the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to give providers 1 week's notice before audits, limits audits to 50 claims or 0.25% of annual claims, and prohibits holding providers liable for simple clerical errors (like typos) as fraud. Providers must be allowed 60 days to correct claims after an audit, and recoupments (recovery of overpaid funds) can only apply to corrected claims, not original billing errors. The bill also creates a two-step appeals process, allowing providers to challenge audit results through the Authority and then to an administrative law judge.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill reduces administrative burden on Medicaid providers by limiting audits, prohibiting liability for clerical errors, and allowing correction periods - protecting access to long-term care services under Medicaid.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Medicaid Substance Abuse

passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 23, 2026

HB 3345: Inmate assessment and evaluations; providing risk, mental health and substance abuse screenings for arrested persons; effective date.

HB 3345 requires mandatory mental health, substance abuse, and risk screenings for individuals arrested on felony charges in Oklahoma after their initial court appearance. These screenings, conducted by certified professionals from the Department of Mental Health, must be shared with courts, prosecutors, defendants, and their attorneys. Results cannot be used as evidence in criminal trials unless the defendant waives this right, but may inform sentencing or diversion options. The law takes effect November 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates mental health/substance abuse screenings for felony arrestees, protects defendant rights by prohibiting trial evidence use, and enables diversion/sentencing alternatives - key criminal justice reform elements.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health screenings by certified professionals, expands access to mental health services for arrested persons, and protects patient rights by restricting trial evidence use without waiver.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Sentencing Mental Health Substance Abuse

Track

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 1563: Nonopioid drugs; modifying certain restrictions on Medicaid drug formulary; prohibiting certain carriers from imposing specified utilization controls. Effective date.

SB 1563 prevents Oklahoma Medicaid and state employee health plans from applying stricter coverage rules to nonopioid pain medications than to opioids. It requires that FDA-approved nonopioid drugs for pain management cannot face more restrictive prior authorization or step therapy requirements than opioid options. The law applies to all Medicaid formularies and state flexible benefit plans, ensuring nonopioid drugs aren't disadvantaged in coverage decisions. It takes effect January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents Medicaid from imposing stricter coverage rules on nonopioid pain medications than opioids, ensuring equal access to alternatives and improving patient access to pain management options.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Prescription Drugs Substance Abuse

Track

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 18, 2026

SB 1421: Mental health; requiring nonphysical intervention training for certain facilities and programs. Effective date.

SB 1421 requires all clinical staff, direct care staff, and volunteers working with minor children in Oklahoma mental health facilities or programs certified by the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to complete nonphysical intervention training. The training covers nonviolent conflict resolution, communication skills, and promoting dignity, and must be completed within 30 days of hire with annual updates. Staff or volunteers cannot intervene with a minor child without this training. The bill takes effect November 1, 2026, applying to facilities receiving state funding through contracts with the Department.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires mandatory nonphysical intervention training for mental health staff working with minors, strengthening care quality and safety standards in mental health facilities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

Track

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 2002: Substance-impacted perinatal women; granting certain immunity from prosecution; authorizing certain action by district attorney. Effective date.

SB 2002 protects pregnant and postpartum women who use substances by granting them immunity from prosecution for prescribed or unprescribed substance use if they are enrolled in or actively seeking treatment through a certified program. Health care providers can recommend enrollment in qualified addiction recovery programs, and women making good-faith treatment efforts cannot be prosecuted even if their infant shows signs of withdrawal or other health issues related to substance exposure. The bill also shields health care providers from civil liability for properly referring women to treatment and modifies district attorney protocols to prioritize treatment over prosecution. It explicitly preserves existing laws for reporting newborn exposure and pursuing unrelated child abuse cases.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeGrants immunity from prosecution for substance use during pregnancy when seeking treatment, promoting rehabilitation over criminalization in criminal justice reform.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves legal barriers to substance use treatment access for pregnant/postpartum women, protecting patient rights and improving healthcare access per bill language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Substance Abuse

Track

passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 16, 2026

HB 3052: Children; Sir Major White-Bullock Child Protection and Family Notification Act; purpose; terms; Department of Human Services; safety review; notify; exception; tracking; court; rules; training; codification; effective date.

HB 3052 requires Oklahoma's Department of Human Services (DHS) to initiate a mandatory "enhanced child safety review" when a parent has two or more drug-exposed infants (born positive for drugs or with drug-positive mothers) within five years. This triggers DHS to notify qualified family members (like grandparents or aunts/uncles without abuse history) about safety planning and placement options, while hospitals must report drug-positive births to enable statewide tracking. The bill prevents DHS from withholding notification solely due to confidentiality concerns when child safety is at risk and explicitly prohibits criminalizing pregnancy or substance use disorder. It affects DHS, hospitals, courts, and families by mandating coordinated responses to prevent repeat harm, based on the case of Sir Major White-Bullock.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates DHS safety reviews and hospital reporting for drug-exposed infants to enhance child public health outcomes and prevent future harm.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

Track

signed · Oklahoma · House May 12, 2026

HB 4275: Mental health; rules and standards for certification of behavioral health case managers; uniformity in rules and standards for certification for behavioral health case managers; certification as peer recovery support specialist; uniformity in rules and standards for certification for peer recovery support specialist; effective date.

HB 4275 standardizes certification rules for two mental health roles in Oklahoma: behavioral health case managers and peer recovery support specialists. It requires the Board of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to establish uniform education, exam, supervision, and continuing education standards for these professionals. The bill applies to individuals employed by state/local governments, contracted service providers, tribal facilities, or VA facilities, and restricts certified titles to these specific employment settings. Certification fees are capped at $100, and failure to comply with rules may result in suspension or revocation. The law takes effect November 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareStandardizes certification for mental health roles, establishing uniform education/exam requirements to improve service quality and consistency for behavioral health case managers and peer recovery specialists.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill applies to VA facilities and standardizes mental health certifications, improving veteran healthcare service quality through uniform professional standards.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

died · Oklahoma · House Feb 6, 2026

HB 4288: Schools; authorizing the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to create an alternative education pilot program for out-of-school suspended students; effective date.

HB 4288 authorizes Oklahoma's Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to create a pilot program offering alternative education for students suspended from school for more than 14 days. The program must include therapy and restorative practices in daily instruction, allowing students to continue participating after their suspension ends. School districts can develop reintegration plans to help students return to regular classes and activities, with up to 10% of annual alternative education funds designated for this pilot. The bill applies directly to suspended students and school districts, effective November 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill uses restorative practices and therapy to address school suspensions, preventing school-to-prison pipeline and reducing recidivism - aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates alternative education program with therapy/restorative practices for suspended students, enabling reintegration and continued learning. Expands educational access and support for at-risk students, directly advancing K-12 educational a...95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates therapy and mental health services within an alternative education program for suspended students, directly advancing mental health support as part of healthcare services.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Mental Health Substance Abuse

Track

passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 1, 2026

HB 4092: 988 Mental Health Lifeline; terms; Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services; suicide prevention and crisis service activities; performance and clinical standards; promulgation of rules; 988 Lifeline Revolving Fund; purpose; funding; enforcement; effective date.

HB 4092 establishes Oklahoma's statewide 988 Mental Health Lifeline system to provide 24/7 crisis support. It designates the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) as the lead agency to oversee suicide prevention and crisis services, including coordinating with designated 988 Lifeline Crisis Centers. The bill creates a 988 Trust Fund to finance the system, mandates performance and clinical standards for crisis services (such as mobile crisis teams and urgent recovery centers), and requires real-time coordination between emergency response systems. This directly affects Oklahomans in mental health crises by ensuring accessible, standardized care through phone, text, or in-person support. The law takes effect upon passage.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes 988 Mental Health Lifeline with dedicated funding (Trust Fund) and mandates clinical standards for crisis services, directly advancing mental health care access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

Track

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 13, 2026

SB 1553: Medicaid; specifying certain qualifications for appeals; providing for recovery of certain costs. Effective date.

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires licensed mental health professionals to review Medicaid appeals, improving access to care and protecting patient rights in mental health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Mental Health Substance Abuse