Representative Kevin West

R

District 54

Hi, I'm Kevin West and I represent the people of Oklahoma's 54th District.


representative

Leadership

Assistant Floor Leader

59th Legislature

News & Announcements

Feb 28, 2023
Recent Posts

House Prohibits Gender Transition Services for Minors

OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation prohibiting gender transition services for minors was approved Tuesday by the Oklahoma House of Representatives. House Bill 2177, authored by Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore, and Rep. Jim Olsen, R-Roland, prohibits health care professionals from providing, attempting to provide or providing a referral for puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and gender reassignment surgeries for minors. "This legislation is about protecting our children from those who would seek to profit from their gender confusion," West said. "As a state, we must not be partner to irreversible health practices that permanently change the bodies of our children before they are of an age where they can fully understand the consequences of their decisions." HB2177 allows exceptions for minors with a medically verifiable disorder. The bill prohibits insurance coverage for gender transition services performed within the state on any minor or adult. "Common sense tells us that the decisions people make as a teenager may be shortsighted and later regretted, especially in regard to a major action like these irreversible procedures," Olsen said. "Even one child who undergoes a life-altering procedure and later laments their decision is one too many. I'm proud to stand against these reprehensible actions and proud to protect Oklahoma's children." The measure, which would go into effect immediately upon being signed, grants a six-month time period to taper off any minor currently on hormone therapy. HB2177 passed the House 80-18 and now moves to the Senate for consideration.

Feb 7, 2023

Legislators, Pro-Life Organizations Defend Oklahoma's Abortion Laws

OKLAHOMA CITY – Today a bicameral group of legislators, together with numerous pro-life organizations, released the following statement in support of Oklahoma's current abortion laws. "Oklahoma is blessed to have the most comprehensive laws in the country to protect our unborn babies. We intend to defend our current laws as they stand, with the only allowed exception being to save the life of the mother. There is nothing more important than defending innocent life. The push to allow exceptions may come across as rooted in compassion for difficult circumstances, but at the end of the day, any additional exceptions would only take away innocent lives. There is no gray area when the issue is defending life. Each and every child has a right to life." The above statement is supported by the following legislators and organizations: Rep. Chris Banning (R-Bixby) Rep. Brad Boles (R-Marlow) Rep. Eddy Dempsey (R-Valliant) Rep. Collin Duel (R-Guthrie) Rep. Tom Gann (R-Inola) Rep. David Hardin (R-Stilwell) Rep. Justin Humphrey (R-Lane) Rep. John Kane (R-Bartlesville) Rep. Cody Maynard (R-Durant) Rep. Jim Olsen (R-Roland) Rep. Randy Randleman (R-Eufaula) Rep. Clay Staires (R-Skiatook) Rep. Kevin West (R-Moore) Rep. Rick West (R-Heavener) Rep. Danny Williams (R-Seminole) Rep. Max Wolfley (R-Oklahoma City) Sen. Micheal Bergstrom (R-Adair) Sen. David Bullard (R-Durant) Sen. George Burns (R-Pollard) Sen. Nathan Dahm (R-Broken Arrow) Sen. Warren Hamilton (R-McCurtain) Sen. Shane Jett (R-Shawnee) Sen. Roland Pederson (R-Burlington) Sen. Blake Stephens (R-Tahlequah) Students for Life Action OCPAC City Elders Oklahoma Second Amendment Association  The First Session of the 59th Legislature began Monday, February 6.

Sep 26, 2022

RELEASE: West applauds bill placing gender reassignment restrictions on OU Children's Hospital

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Kevin West, R-Oklahoma City, today expressed his support for special session legislation restricting improper gender reassignment medical treatment at OU Children's Hospital and predicted a statewide restriction will be considered in regular session.  In a special session later this week to consider pandemic relief funding bills, OU Children's Hospital could receive an additional $39.4 million appropriation via HB1007 to improve its ability to help Oklahoma children by increasing long-term inpatient capacity for children in mental health crisis. HB1007 limits the University Hospital Authority Trust, which oversees OU Children's Hospital, from receiving the funds if ""gender reassignment medical treatment"" services are being performed within its medical system.  ""I'm thankful for language in this bill that protects children from the practice of mutilation through gender reassignment medical treatment,"" said West. ""This unbelievably harmful practice cannot be reversed, and has lasting physical and psychological consequences that can damage these children for the rest of their lives."" The Second Extraordinary Session of the 58th Oklahoma Legislature was called for the purpose of considering American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and other funding advanced by the Joint Committee on Pandemic Relief Funding. West said that the limited scope of the special session will not allow for legislation to prohibit the performance of ""gender reassignment medical treatment"" statewide, but he expects legislation to be filed quickly when legislators return for the beginning of the 59th Legislature in January.  ""Due to the call of the special session, this is as much as the Legislature can currently do to address this topic,"" said West. ""However, I know many legislators are ready to support legislation that will prohibit the practice statewide once we get back in regular session, myself being one of them. Passing this legislation now will provide protections for children, and we can further expand those protections when we come back in the spring. The radical Left may be making a national push to try and allow the mutilation of our children to become mainstream, but here in Oklahoma we have to stand up for our kids and say enough is enough.""