Advocate

Mental Health 

HB 2049 authored by Rep. Preston Stinson (R-Edmond) aligns the parity reporting requirements for Medicaid managed care organizations with those that already apply to commercial insurers. By mandating that both managed care organizations and the Oklahoma Health Care Authority publish parity reports, Oklahoma could enhance transparency and reaffirm its commitment to ensuring access to behavioral health services. 

HB 2261 authored by Rep. Nicole Miller (R-Edmond) and Sen. Paul Rosino (R-Oklahoma City) would enable Oklahoma to join the Social Work Licensure Compact, allowing social workers licensed in any compact member state to practice in Oklahoma without needing an additional license. This would help Oklahoma attract providers from other states and increase the number of practicing social workers. The bill would also maintain Oklahoma’s authority over social workers within the state, regardless of where their license was issued. 

SB 251 authored by Sen. Todd Gollihare (R-Kellyville) clarifies the guidelines for using the County Community Safety Investment Fund, which allocates cost savings from reduced incarcerations to counties for mental health, substance use, and criminal justice diversion programs. It also establishes a minimum funding allocation for counties in each award cycle, ensuring that smaller counties receive sufficient resources to effectively implement these initiatives. 

SB 811 authored by Sen. Julie Daniels (R-Bartlesville) and SB 1089 authored by Sen. Paul Rosino (R-Oklahoma City) would modify the existing process for competency evaluation and restoration services under Oklahoma law to better align with the terms of the consent decree. This includes expanding the jail-based competency restoration program, creating a pilot program for community-based restoration, and establishing a clear timeline for evaluations. 

HB 2186 authored by Rep. Meloyde Blancett (D-Tulsa) would require county jails to gather mental health and demographic data during the intake process. Collecting this information could help policymakers identify trends and uncover diversion opportunities for Oklahomans whose arrests are linked to mental illness or substance use. 

SB 740 authored by Sen. Julie Daniels (R-Bartlesville) would expand the definition by removing the requirement that individuals must be in “immediate” danger to themselves or others to qualify for treatment. It would also allow officials to take into account whether someone is unhoused when determining if they meet the criteria of “a person requiring treatment.” 

SB 937 authored by Sen. Brent Howard (R-Altus) and HB 1687 authored by Rep. Cynthia Roe (R-Lindsay) propose adopting the Uniform Health Care Decisions Act. By using standardized language, a mental health advance directive in Oklahoma would also be recognized in other states that adopt the same law. 

SB 1036 authored by Sen. Dave Rader (R-Tulsa) establishes the Oklahoma Triage, Treat, and Transport to Alternative Destination Act, enabling ambulatory transport to behavioral or mental health care facilities, such as crisis stabilization units or diversion centers. 

HB 1343 authored by Rep. Justin J.J. Humphrey would abolish the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and transfer all duties, powers and responsibilities to the State Department of Corrections 

Youth & Mental Health 

SB 139 authored by Sen. Ally Seifried (R-Claremore) and Rep. Chad Caldwell (R-Enid) would mandate that all school districts ban students from using cellphones throughout the entire school day, from the start to the end of classes, and establish a grant program to assist schools in implementing these policies. 

HB 1276 authored by Rep. Chad Caldwell (R-Enid) would prohibit students from using cellphones or smartwatches on school premises during the entire school day. 

HB 1275 authored by Rep. Chad Caldwell (R-Enid) would prevent Oklahomans under the age of 16 from creating social media accounts and would require parental consent for 16- and 17-year-olds to have them. 

SB 838 authored by Sen. Kristen Thompson (R-Edmond) would prohibit Oklahomans under 16 from owning social media accounts. 

SB 839 authored by Sen. Kristen Thompson (R-Edmond) would classify social media platforms as “addictive and dangerous to mental health, especially that of minors.” 

SB 885 authored by Sen. Ally Seifried (R-Claremore) would establish the “Safe Screens for Kids Act,” banning Oklahomans under 18 from having social media accounts without parental consent. 

SB 931 authored by Sen. Darcy Jech (R-Kingfisher) would mandate social media platforms to implement specific protections for users under 18. 

SB 486 authored by Sen. Shane Jett (R-Shawnee) and SB 590 authored by Sen. Dana Prieto (R-Tulsa) would enable schools to hire chaplains to offer support services similar to those of a school counselor, without requiring a school counseling certification or master’s degree. 

HB 1523 authored by Rep. Dick Lowe (R-Amber) would establish a school-based telehealth pilot program to provide mental health services to students during the school day. 

HB 1998 authored by Rep. Tim Turner (R-Kinta) would require parents to opt-in, rather than opt-out, for their children’s participation in school assessments like the Oklahoma Prevention and Needs Assessment (OPNA). The OPNA is a key tool for measuring students’ mental health, alcohol and drug use, social media habits, and other risk and protective factors. The state also uses the OPNA data to apply for important funding through grants. 

SB 1017 authored by Dusty Deevers (R-Elgin) would prevent Medicaid from covering school-based behavioral or psychological therapy for students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP). 

SB 702 authored by Dusty Deevers (R-Elgin) would remove all references to mental health from school-provided health education. 

HB 2916 authored by Rep. Ajay Pittman (D-Oklahoma City) reintroduces  Handle with Care Oklahoma, a program that would enable law enforcement to alert a child’s school when the child has been exposed to a traumatic event.