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OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation authored by Rep. Marilyn Stark, R-Bethany, updating Oklahoma’s process for correcting death certificates has become law without the governor’s signature.  House Bill 3931 updates state law governing requests to correct a death certificate. Under current law, corrections may only be made within one year of issuance. The measure extends that timeframe, allowing individuals to file a petition through the administrative hearing process to correct false information beyond the one-year limit.  "Oklahomans deserve to have an accurate record of their life and death," Stark said. "When a family is grieving, paperwork is not always the first thing on their mind. If an error is discovered later, they should still have a fair opportunity to make it right. We heard from families who had been waiting and following this bill closely because these records matter deeply to them and their loved ones."  The measure helps ensure official records remain accurate while providing families additional flexibility to address errors that may not be identified immediately following a loved one’s death.  Sen. Darcy Jech, R-Kingfisher, is the Senate author of the bill.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma House of Representatives this week adopted House Resolution 1057 , recognizing May 6 through May 12 as National Nurses Week. Authored by Rep. Cynthia Roe, R-Lindsay, and Rep. Marilyn Stark, R-Bethany, the resolution honors the vital role nurses play in delivering high-quality, compassionate care to Oklahomans. Roe, a nurse of more than 40 years and chair of the House Public Health Committee, and Stark, a former nurse of 35 years and vice chair of the committee, said their firsthand experience makes the recognition especially meaningful. "Nurses deserve this recognition and more," Roe and Stark said in a joint statement. "They are there in life’s most critical moments, offering skilled care, steady hands and compassion when it is needed most. They carry the weight of long hours, difficult conversations and life-changing decisions, often all in a single shift. "Nurses are more than caregivers. They are the backbone of our health care system, serving everyone from all across our state. "With more than 52,000 registered nurses, 16,000 licensed practical nurses and more than 6,500 advanced practice registered nurses in Oklahoma, their impact reaches every corner of our lives. On any given day, they could welcome new life into the world, care for the sick and injured or have the difficult job of standing beside families during their hardest moments. "To every nurse across Oklahoma, thank you. Thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you for your strength and thank you for your unwavering commitment to others. Our state is stronger because of you." HR1057 encourages Oklahomans to join in recognizing National Nurses Week and the life-saving contributions of nurses in every community.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Marilyn Stark, R-Bethany, this week secured House passage of Senate Bill 933 , a measure creating the Right to Try for Individualized Treatments Act. SB933 would establish a legal pathway for patients with life-threatening or severely debilitating illnesses to access individualized investigational treatments tailored to their unique genetic profile when no other approved options remain.  The bill would allow eligible patients, with physician approval and informed consent, to pursue customized treatments developed specifically for them. Participation is voluntary for manufacturers and the bill does not require insurance coverage. "Medicine is changing fast, especially when it comes to treatments built around a person's genetic makeup," Stark said. "For patients facing serious diagnoses, this creates an opportunity to explore those options closer to home and alongside their doctor."  Sen. Brenda Stanley, R-Midwest City, is the Senate author of the measure.  "This bill broadens access to innovative treatments, offering hope to terminally ill patients who have exhausted all approved options and cannot participate in clinical trials," Stanley said. "I’m proud to see this bill pass the House and look forward to finalizing it before the Senate, further improving quality, accessible health care in our state."  The legislation outlines eligibility requirements, ensures patients are fully informed of potential risks and limits liability for providers and manufacturers acting in good faith. It also prohibits state entities from blocking a patient's access to treatment.  Stark said the bill reflects a growing effort to make emerging, personalized treatments more accessible to patients facing serious diagnoses. The measure would build on similar laws enacted in other states and aims to give Oklahomans more options without requiring them to seek treatment outside the country.  SB933 now returns to the Senate for consideration of House amendments. 

OKLAHOMA CITY – A measure by Rep. Marilyn Stark, R-Bethany, is now eligible to be heard on the House floor after advancing this past week from the House Health and Human Services Oversight Committee.  Senate Bill 933, also known as the Right to Try for Individualized Treatments Act, would allow eligible patients with life-threatening or severely debilitating illnesses to access customized investigational treatments developed specifically for their genetic profile when no other approved options remain.  The measure establishes eligibility requirements for patients, including physician approval and informed consent, and allows treatment to be provided by manufacturers operating within approved facilities. Participation would be voluntary for manufacturers and the bill does not require insurance coverage for the treatments.  "We’re talking about people who are facing serious, often end-of-life situations where standard treatments just aren’t working," Stark said. "This gives them a chance to look at something more targeted and make that decision with their doctor."  The legislation also includes protections for health care providers and manufacturers acting in good faith and prohibits state entities from blocking a patient’s access to treatment.  SB933 passed the House Health and Human Services Oversight Committee unanimously and is now eligible for consideration on the House floor.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Marilyn Stark, R-Bethany, along with Rep. Brian Hill, R-Mustang, recognized Sam Madewell, an aviation maintenance instructor at Putnam City Schools, on the House floor for being named Teacher of the Year by the Oklahoma Air and Space Forces Association Gerrity Chapter. Madewell was selected for his commitment to student achievement and excellence in preparing young Oklahomans for careers in aviation and aerospace. He will now advance to the national Teacher of the Year competition. "Sam represents the very best of Oklahoma educators," Stark said. "He is preparing students for real careers in a field that is important to our state’s economy. When young people earn industry recognized credentials before they graduate, that speaks volumes about the strength of this program and the leadership behind it. Oklahoma has a proud aviation history. Programs like this are helping build the next generation of skilled professionals who will carry that legacy forward." The ATEC General Aviation Maintenance Credential is an industry recognized certification formally accepted in Oklahoma as a state approved credential. Students prepared using the Prepware School program alongside the Choose Aerospace curriculum, which mirrors the testing format used for FAA written exams and helps ensure students are ready for professional certification environments.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Marilyn Stark, R-Bethany, crowned Ms. Wheelchair Oklahoma Erica Sebourn during a ceremony held this week at the State Capitol.  Erica, a United States Air Force veteran and longtime law enforcement officer, was honored for her resilience, advocacy and lifelong commitment to serving others. Based in Seminole, she served with the Sperry Police Department as a Crimes Against Children investigator, working to protect Oklahomans with compassion and skill.  "Erica's life reflects strength, service and dedication to her community," Stark said. "She has faced hardship with grace and turned her own challenges into a mission to uplift others. It was a privilege to crown her as Ms. Wheelchair Oklahoma, and I look forward to supporting her efforts to improve the lives of wheelchair service dog teams across our state."  After Erica unexpectedly became wheelchair-bound, she continued her public service through advocacy and outreach. She now uses her experience to support others navigating mobility issues, ensuring they have a voice and a strong example of perseverance.  Stark said Erica's recognition as Ms. Wheelchair Oklahoma shows her ongoing contributions to Oklahoma and her community.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Reps. Marilyn Stark, R-Bethany, and Tammy West, R-Oklahoma City, presented a citation this week to students in Southern Nazarene University’s international management class in recognition of their recent food drive benefiting local families facing food insecurity.  Students in the class collected more than 1,000 nonperishable food items this semester as part of a service-learning project that connected course lessons to community need.  The idea began after the class learned about a local family struggling with food insecurity due to the loss of their SNAP benefits. What started as a simple donation drive quickly grew into a campuswide effort to meet a real and urgent need.  "The students’ compassion and commitment to serving others is truly inspiring," Stark said. "They saw a need close to home and stepped up in a meaningful way. I was honored to present this citation alongside Rep. West and to recognize the work these students put into helping families in our community."  "The strength of our state lies in the strength of our communities," West said. "The loss of SNAP benefits this month has unfortunately hit many Oklahoma families hard, but our state has rallied together to support our neighbors. These students heard about a need and took it upon themselves to answer the call. I am proud of how their kindness and initiative has made a difference in these families' lives."  The citation was presented during class on campus earlier this week.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Reps. Marilyn Stark, R-Bethany, and Suzanne Schreiber, D-Tulsa, hosted an interim study examining how sales tax exemptions impact nonprofit organizations across Oklahoma. The study brought together leaders from a range of nonprofits to share how tax exemptions help them serve their communities and strengthen local economies.  “This discussion shed light on the important role nonprofits play in supporting Oklahomans and how sales tax exemptions allow them to stretch their resources further,” Stark said. “I want to thank all the individuals who came to share what they are doing for Oklahoma families and children. Their insight will help guide future policy decisions to ensure these organizations can continue meeting community needs.” Presenters included representatives from the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits, RG Foods, Jubilee Partners, Skyline Urban Outreach, The Pencil Box, Tulsa Police Foundation, Blue Rose Ranch and the Legacy Parenting Center. They discussed how tax exemptions help nonprofits expand services, increase outreach and reinvest in their missions.  Representative Schreiber said “these nonprofits deliver for our communities in so many ways. I’m glad we can look at how make their dollars go further to support the needs of Oklahomans.” Stark and Schreiber said they plan to continue reviewing ways to ensure tax policies support nonprofit work while maintaining accountability and fiscal responsibility.

OKLAHOMA CITY – A new runway at Wiley Post Airport is officially open, and Rep. Marilyn Stark, R-Bethany, is celebrating what this means for northwest Oklahoma City.  “Wiley Post Airport is a key piece of our district’s infrastructure, contributing to economic vitality, job growth and community access,” Rep. Stark said. “This runway expansion represents more than asphalt, it’s about expanding opportunity, ensuring safety and setting the stage for even more investment in our region. Wiley Post Airport’s growth strengthens our local community and helps families in our district thrive. This is an investment in our future. As a legislator, I’m proud to support aviation projects that create long-term value for Oklahoma families and businesses.”  Located in Stark’s district, Wiley Post Airport plays a key role in Oklahoma City’s economic engine. It supports more than 30 aviation businesses, hundreds of based aircraft and a growing number of commercial and private flights. The new runway and related improvements are part of a larger push to make the airport development-ready for even more business activity.  “Northwest OKC is on the rise, and this expansion helps keep the momentum going,” Stark said. “This means more access for companies, more convenience for travelers and more growth for our local economy.”  The project is tied to the airport’s Northeast Hangar Development, which includes 70 acres of land improvements such as a new taxiway, utility lines and secured access from Rockwell Avenue.  Wiley Post Airport is operated by the Oklahoma City Department of Airports and serves as a key reliever airport for Will Rogers World Airport.  -END-   Rep. Marilyn Stark, a Republican, represents House District 100 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Her district includes portions of Oklahoma County, including Bethany, Warr Acres and Oklahoma City.