Committees

OKLAHOMA CITY – A bill that requires first responders to notify law enforcement when treating a drug overdose has been signed into law by the governor. Rep. Steve Bashore, R-Miami, is the author of House Bill 2941 . The bill requires first responders to notify law enforcement as soon as practicable after attending to the medical needs of the person they are treating when a drug overdose is suspected. Legal immunity will be granted to those who make the notification in good faith. "The hope is that by bringing first responders, health care workers and law enforcement together we can save lives, better educate our population, design prevention strategies and target resources to communities that need them most," Bashore said. The measure also establishes that in cases of fatal overdoses involving fentanyl, that will be the presumed cause of death. The Oklahoma State Department of Health reports fentanyl was involved in 86% of opioid-related overdose deaths in 2024, compared to approximately 10-20% annually prior to 2020.  "Fentanyl is a growing problem in our state and in the nation," Bashore said. "Having better data on the spread of fentanyl in our state will help us better track where help is needed most." The new law becomes effective Nov. 1.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The governor has signed into law a bill that modernizes the process for creating a newspaper of record when none exists in a county. House Bill 2166 is authored by Rep. John Pfeiffer, R-Orlando. "This ensures high standards and government transparency are maintained, but it allows the state to put a new process in place for the posting of public notices without having to go through the strictures of the postal service," Pfeiffer said. "This hopefully will make it easier for those wanting to start a newspaper, particularly in some of the state's smaller counties." HB 2166 clarifies what constitutes a legal newspaper of general circulation within Oklahoma by defining two different classes of newspapers: periodical permit newspaper and a non-periodical permit newspaper. Specific requirements for each class of newspaper are outlined in the measure. Both classes of newspapers will need to register ownership with the Oklahoma Secretary of State. They will need to publish all legal notices on the newspaper website in a timely manner and in front of pay walls, if applicable, as well as place notices on the statewide website established as a joint venture of a majority of Oklahoma newspapers qualified as legal newspapers when applicable. Publishing a promotional ad in each issue in which a public notice appears is a requirement, as is maintaining an archive of printed issues containing legal notices for at least three years. Another duty will be to maintain ownership independent of any governmental entity such as a political party, state agency, political subdivision or a fraternal or religious organization.  The bill also reduces the number of weeks by which a newspaper can be established if none exists in a county from 104 weeks to 52. Additionally, it raises the threshold from 14 to 21 days, without penalty, in which a newspaper can fail to publish due to an accident, emergency or natural disaster.

OKLAHOMA CITY – A bill making a sales tax exemption for commercial forestry equipment permanent has been signed into law. House Bill 3661 , authored by Rep. Eddy Dempsey, R-Valliant, and Sen. Casey Murdock, R-Felt, removes the January 2027 sunset date on the sales tax exemption for commercial forestry service equipment used by logging, timber and tree farming businesses. Dempsey said the measure will continue supporting one of southeast Oklahoma’s longstanding industries and help forestry businesses reinvest in their operations. "Forestry is an important part of the economy in my district, southeast Oklahoma and across many rural communities in our state," Dempsey said. "Making this exemption permanent gives businesses certainty and helps keep operating costs manageable so they can continue investing in equipment and the future of the industry." By removing the sunset date, qualifying equipment will continue to include forwarders, fellers, bunchers, skidders, hydraulic excavators, delimbers, soil compactors and skid steer loaders used in commercial forestry operations. HB3661 takes effect Nov. 1.