Alcohol, Tobacco and Controlled Substances

A measure named after a college student killed by a drunk driver has been passed by the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Marissa Murrow was a 19-year-old sophomore at the University of Central Oklahoma when she was hit by a drunk driver in a head-on collision in October 2020. The driver had been overserved alcohol at a wedding venue. Marissa's parents, Jeff and Kristy Murrow, have been working with Rep. Brian Hill, R-Mustang, to help prevent similar incidents. Hill, who represents the Murrows' hometown of Mustang, filed House Bill 2369 , which would require bartenders serving alcohol at event venues to hold a separate license. "This bill is not just about policy; it’s about protecting children and families and ensuring that tragedies like Marissa's never happen again," Hill said. "By requiring proper training and accountability for those serving alcohol at these event venues, we are taking meaningful steps to prevent senseless loss. Marissa's memory is the driving force behind this measure, and with the support of the Murrow family, I am hopeful that this law will save lives and make our communities safer for everyone." The measure would also require bartenders to undergo training to help identify inebriation in customers, as well as require that all beer and wine served at an event venue must be served by an ABLE-licensed caterer or event bartender licensee. The new Event Bartender License would be a $50 annual fee and would take effect Nov. 1, 2025. "Thousands of Oklahomans are served alcohol at event venues across the state each year," Jeff Murrow said. "This bill goes a long way to making sure they make it home safely and protecting drivers on our roadways. Kristy and I want to thank Representative Hill and the House of Representatives for their support of this important legislation."  According to Victims of Impaired Drivers (VOID), an average of nine Oklahomans lose their lives each week to substance impaired driving.  The Marissa Murrow Act passed the House 82-2 and now proceeds to the Senate for consideration.

Legislation honoring Marissa Murrow, a college student tragically killed by a drunk driver, would fix what the author calls "a serious oversight" in current law that "risks the lives of our loved ones."  On Oct. 3, 2020, Murrow, a 19-year-old sophomore at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO), was in a head-on collision with a drunk driver who had been overserved alcohol at a wedding venue.  Rep. Brian Hill, R-Mustang, who represents Murrow's hometown, filed House Bill 2369 to require bartenders serving alcohol at event venues to hold a separate license. The bill would also require bartenders to undergo training to help identify inebriation in customers. The Act would also require that all beer and wine served at an event venue must be served by an ABLE-licensed caterer or event bartender licensee.  "The Marissa Murrow Act is an additional step toward saving young people's lives," Hill said. "According to Victims of Impaired Drivers, an average of nine Oklahomans lose their lives to drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol every week. By closing the loophole that exists in our current laws, we can keep our families and children safer."  Marissa’s parents, Jeff and Kristy Murrow, are constituents of Hill and have been tireless advocates for this policy since their daughter's death.  "In 2023, Oklahoma hosted 24,457 special events & receptions serving over 12 million alcoholic beverages. Most of these were served at unlicensed businesses" the Murrows said. "House Bill 2369 was introduced to protect the public traveling on Oklahoma roads by requiring proper ABLE licensing and enhanced training for bartenders to recognize signs of impairment while serving alcohol at these events. As a family that has experienced first-hand the consequences when accountability and training are less than optimal, it is our hope that other families can be spared the tragedy of losing a loved one to impaired driving."  "This is a public safety issue for our children, families and communities and we cannot continue to sit by as more lives are put at risk," Hill said. "Our kids are worth it."  "Drunk driving kills far too many people in our state and rips apart the lives of family members and other loved ones," said Speaker Pro Tempore Anthony Moore, R-Clinton. "If we can stop one death, the training required in this bill will have been well worth our efforts. I'm thankful to Representative Hill for taking on this legislation, and I express my deepest condolences to the family of Marissa Murrow." The new Event Bartender License would be a $50 annual fee and would take effect Nov. 1, 2025. Previous versions of the Marissa Murrow Act were filed in 2023 and 2024 but did not progress through the entire legislative process. HB2369 passed the House Alcohol, Tobacco and Controlled Substances Committee 5-1 on Wednesday and must be passed by the House Health & Human Services Oversight Committee before it can be heard on the House floor.