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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. 

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.

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.” 

A measure making Oklahoma's state employee management agency and the Chief Information Officer subject to the Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act has been sent to the governor's desk.  House Bill 3057, authored by Rep. Jay Steagall, R-Yukon, would require all purchases of equipment, products and services within the Information Services Division of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) and the Chief Information Officer to be subject to the Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act and the Public Competitive Bidding Act of 1974 without exception.  "Oklahomans demand transparency and accountability regarding the expenditure of their hard-earned tax dollars," Steagall said. "The abuse of certain exemptions provided for in current statute pertaining to the competitive bid process has to end, and with the passage of HB3057, the Legislature is taking steps to reign in a significant portion of such exploitation. As the author of the bill and concerned taxpayer, I will be working to amend additional statutes to close loopholes and eliminate exemptions used or designed to bypass the competitive bid process." HB3057 is authored in the Senate by Sen. Darrell Weaver, R-Moore. "A government that can’t be trusted is a government that will lose citizen support," Weaver said. "How we conduct business must be above reproach and above board. As Senate author of HB 3057, I am grateful that we are taking action and adding a safety rail to guard against corrupt activities." The House passed HB3057 99-0 in March and, this week, the Senate passed it 37-0. HB3057 is now at the governor's desk and available to be signed into law. 

Legislation providing an optional indicator designating an autism diagnosis on driver's licenses and state IDs has been signed into law. House Bill 3671 was authored by Rep. Nicole Miller, R-Edmond. The measure would create an optional identifying mark for driver's licenses and state IDs to indicate that the person has autism. "I've been working on this legislation for almost two years, and I'm so pleased to see it be signed into law," Miller said. "After hearing from many Oklahomans who are autistic or who have autistic loved ones, I've been reassured the optional designator will help them interact with police without fear of being misunderstood. I sincerely hope the signing of House Bill 3671 will provide all Oklahomans with the necessary tools and protections when engaging with law enforcement and first responders." Miller said Emily Scott, who serves as executive director of the Autism Foundation of Oklahoma, brought her the idea and has partnered with her on the issue every step of the way, including participating in the interim study Miller organized in October.  "Governor Stitt's signing of HB3671 was an exciting day for many autistic self-advocates and their families across the state," Scott said. "His support, along with the many legislators who helped bring this bill to his desk, is the culmination of years of discussions and advocacy efforts. We are grateful for his continued dedication to recognizing the issues Oklahomans with autism and their families face and ensuring that effective policy is enacted to address the unique needs of this community." HB3671 was carried in the Senate by Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City. “House Bill 3671 allows Oklahomans with autism to voluntarily and discreetly add a symbol to their driver’s license that indicates their diagnosis,” Coleman said. “This will help law enforcement officers and first responders communicate more effectively with drivers that may have unique needs while putting both parties at ease. I was proud to partner with Rep. Nicole Miller on this important legislation.” Miller was recently named Legislator of the Year by the Autism Foundation of Oklahoma for her work on the bill. "It was a special honor to name Rep. Miller as AFO's Legislator of the Year for her work on HB3671 and dedication to serving Oklahomans with autism and their families," Scott said. "We watched her work diligently with her constituents, Service Oklahoma, law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders to ensure the most successful path forward in passing this bill. Our staff and board of directors remain grateful for her sincerity, work ethic, and curiosity to learn all she could about the safety issues and communication barriers autistic Oklahomans may experience during high-stress situations involving law enforcement." According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately one in 36 children and one in 46 adults in the U.S. have autism. Oklahomans with autism who are interested in adding the designator to their licenses or state IDs should have the option beginning November 2025.

During the 2024 Oklahoma Outstanding Child Abuse Prevention Awards at the State Capitol on Tuesday, Rep. John Talley, R-Stillwater, was named the 2024 Outstanding Elected Official by the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH). "I am deeply honored to receive this recognition from the Oklahoma Department of Health," Talley said. "Protecting our children and supporting vulnerable families has been a cornerstone of my work as an elected official. I am committed to continuing my mission to ensure every child in Oklahoma grows up in a safe and nurturing environment." Talley, who serves as chair of the House Children, Youth and Family Services Committee, is the director of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes for North Central Oklahoma. He has also worked as an ordained minister since 1978. Every year, the 2024 Outstanding Child Abuse Prevention Awards recognize outstanding efforts of organizations, individuals, groups, activities or events that promote safe, stable and nurturing environments and relationships for Oklahoma’s children.

The Oklahoma Senate passed House Bill 1805 on Tuesday, a measure that will affect the retirement benefits of licensed emergency medical personnel employed by the state. The measure, authored by Rep. Neil Hays, designates licensed emergency medical personnel hired on or after November 1, 2023, as hazardous duty members of the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS). "Emergency medical personnel are designated hazardous duty members of the retirement system under this legislation," Hays said. "The goal is to support emergency workers, ensuring they receive enhanced retirement benefits and increased contributions, which more accurately aligns with the hazardous nature of their occupation." Qualifying emergency medical personnel includes emergency medical responders, technicians and paramedics working for a participating OPERS employer. Under HB1805, hazardous duty members of the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) receive increased retirement and pension benefits than non-hazardous duty employees. Specifically, employees contribute 8% of their compensation toward their retirement benefits, while employers contribute at a higher rate of 16.5%. After completing 20 years of service, members can receive full, unreduced retirement benefits. Retirement benefits are calculated using a multiplier of 2.5% per year for the first 20 years of service and a 2% per year multiplier for service exceeding 20 years. Sen. Murdock, R-Felt, carried the measure in the Senate, which passed 41 – 0. It now moves to the Governor's desk for consideration.

Legislation penalizing notaries public who fail to identify the person signing the document has been sent to the governor's desk.  Rep. Lonnie Sims, R-Jenks, passed Senate Bill 556 through the Oklahoma House of Representatives Wednesday morning.  If signed into law, any notarial officer who fails to make a good faith effort to identify the person signing the document could be found guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine of up to $1,000, 10 days of imprisonment or both.  "It's incredibly important in legal proceedings to ensure that documents are signed by the right people," Sims said. "Unfortunately, due to Oklahoma's lax laws on this issue, it's surprisingly easy for someone to steal the title to your home. This measure will align us with other states and cut down on fraudulent activity within the state."  The bill was authored in the Senate by Sen. John Haste, R-Broken Arrow.  “Ensuring the authenticity of legal documents is crucial for protecting Oklahomans from potential fraud," Haste said. "By holding notarial officers accountable for verifying signatures, we're aligning with national standards and strengthening our state against fraudulent activities.”  Sims and Haste worked with Tulsa County Clerk Michael Willis on the measure. Willis said they've found several cases of notarial officers who will notarize documents without following proper protocol, making them an accessory to fraud when a criminal is trying to steal property by filing a false deed. “This legislation is so important as we work to protect the rights of property owners in Oklahoma,” Willis said. “With deed and title fraud on the rise in our state, this will help us ensure we have recourse to go after notary officers who are negligent in their duties. I commend Representative Sims and Senator Haste for supporting our request with this and getting it across the finish line.”  Just last month in Oklahoma County, a woman was arrested after trying to steal a home by filing fraudulent paperwork. Authorities were alerted after the signature on the fraudulent paperwork did not match the homeowner's signature. SB556 passed the House 71-7 Wednesday and is now available to be signed into law by the governor. 

The Oklahoma House of Representatives on Tuesday approved legislation restricting online access to pornography for people under the age of 18. Senate Bill 1959, which is authored in the House by Rep. Toni Hasenbeck, R-Elgin, holds commercial entities accountable for knowingly distributing obscene material or material promoting child pornography on the internet. "Right now, pornography is easily accessible to kids of all ages through practically any device that has internet access," Hasenbeck said. "With Senate Bill 1959, we can close the current loopholes that grant children access to inappropriate materials." It mandates that such entities must compensate individuals for damages and provide mechanisms for subscribers to block access to harmful content. Additionally, entities employing reasonable age verification methods are exempt from liability. SB1959 also allows the Attorney General to seek injunctions against non-compliant entities. The measure is authored by Sen. Jerry Alvord, R-Wilson. "This legislation is something I am very proud to have authored," Alvord said. "This bill has been carried by my colleague Rep. Toni Hasenbeck in the House. Her support and true concern for passing this child protection bill has been truly impressive. There have been many talented people working behind the scenes to make this happen." The measure passed the House 79-13 and now moves to the governor's desk for consideration. If signed into law, SB1959 would take effect Nov. 1.