The Oklahoma House of Representatives today approved legislation to reduce criminal activity in Oklahoma. Senate Bill 1450, authored by Rep. John George, R-Newalla, lowers the felony threshold for theft from $1,000 to $500, defines organized retail crime, and sets penalties based on stolen property value. "Oklahoma urgently needs to implement practical legislation based on the recommendations of the Organized Retail Crime Task Force to address alarming crime rates," George said. "Senate Bill 1450, a direct result of the task force's efforts, not only holds violent offenders responsible but also addresses the problem of organized retail theft." George said Oklahoma increased the felony threshold on July 1, 2017, resulting in a substantial overall increase in crime rates. According to the National Retail Federation, more than 81% of business owners have reported a higher rate of violent theft-related offenses compared to previous years. Under the measure, individuals convicted of organized retail theft could reportedly be subject to up to five years in county jail. SB1450, if signed into law, would allow the Attorney General's Office to hire more agents to investigate organized retail crime, improving response time and bringing charges more quickly. The measure passed the House 65—14 and now returns to the Senate, where Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, is the author.
OKLAHOMA CITY – Gov. Kevin Stitt this week signed into law a bill that clarifies the rights and responsibilities of Oklahomans seeking to move into an assisted living center. House Bill 3919 is authored by House Majority Leader Tammy West, R-Oklahoma City. "There are many respected referral agencies that work closely with prospective assisted living residents, but there is some ambiguity regarding residents' rights," West said. "This legislation is an attempt to provide clarification on the rights and responsibilities of all parties involved so that those choosing this living option can do so with confidence and knowledge." West said the bill was a collaboration between the Oklahoma Assisted Living Association, which represents assisted living centers across the state, and A Place for Mom, which is the nation's top senior living referral agency. "This bill adds consumer protections for our constituents looking to move into assisted living, and it works to keep bad actors out of that space," West said. "It works to protect and create a healthy environment for residents and operators in Oklahoma." West worked with Reps. Ty Burns, R-Pawnee, Chad Caldwell, R-Enid, and Forrest Bennett, D-Oklahoma City, to secure a solution that is good for all Oklahomans. Sen. Jessica Garvin, R-Duncan, is the Senate author of the legislation. “As someone who built her career working in assisted living facilities, I know finding the perfect home for an aging family member can be a difficult and stressful experience,” Garvin said. “Although I am no longer in the industry, I believe House Bill 3919 will protect consumers by ensuring families aren’t charged unexpected fees when working with a referral agency to find the best nursing home or assisted living facility for their loved one.” HB3919 builds upon West's prior work to help Oklahoma's aging population. In 2023, West's House Bill 1029XX – the Caring for Caregivers Act – was signed into law, making Oklahoma the first in the nation to adopt an expansive caregiver tax credit for those providing in-home care for a loved one. In 2021, West secured passage of House Bill 1887, which addressed the use of antipsychotic drugs for residents in assisted living and long-term care centers.
Legislation addressing the social worker shortage in Oklahoma will take effect Nov. 1. Rep. Jeff Boatman, R-Tulsa, authored House Bill 3015 to make Oklahoma more competitive with other states in the region for social workers. The bill, which was signed into law Tuesday, revises the practicum requirement for licensed social workers, licensed clinical social workers and licensed social workers with administration specialty from 2 years to 3,000 hours of postgraduate experience in the related field. "There are too many social workers that are trained in Oklahoma but leave for other states to complete their supervision," Boatman said. "In restructuring the postgraduate experience requirements for social workers to make the process more straightforward, we can significantly help the recruitment and retention of social workers to our state. I hope this legislation helps strengthen Oklahoma's social work workforce and ensure the well-being of our communities." HB3015 was carried in the Senate by Sen. Jessica Garvin, R-Duncan. “House Bill 3015 will make it easier for Oklahoma to recruit and retain qualified social workers by reducing the number of supervised work hours they must complete to obtain their license,” Garvin said. “This will eliminate some of the barriers that discourage talented professionals from pursuing these critical jobs while also bringing Oklahoma’s licensing requirements in line with the national standard.”