Representative Neil Hays

R

District 13

Hi, I'm Neil Hays and I represent the people of Oklahoma's 13th District.

representative

Leadership

Assistant Majority Whip

60th Legislature

News & Announcements

Mar 24, 2026
Recent Posts

House Advances Bill Supporting First Responders Heart, Stroke Coverage

OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation authored by Rep. Neil Hays, R-Checotah, to support first responders who suffer serious medical emergencies after strenuous duty work passed the Oklahoma House floor today. House Bill 4260 would allow firefighters, peace officers and emergency medical technicians to receive workers’ compensation benefits if they experience a heart attack or stroke within eight hours of completing a shift involving strenuous emergency response activity or training. "I am glad my colleagues understand the importance of this bill and that when our first responders run toward danger, they put more than their safety on the line," Hays said. "The physical strain of fighting a fire, pursuing a suspect or responding to a medical emergency can take a serious toll on the heart. This bill simply recognizes that reality and ensures they are not left fighting for benefits after giving everything on the job." Under the bill, qualifying incidents must occur following activities such as fire suppression, rescue operations, law enforcement response, hazardous material incidents or emergency medical care, as well as related training exercises. The legislation would apply to first responders employed by the state or a political subdivision and does not include clerical or administrative duties. HB4260 also includes a sunset date of Nov. 1, 2031, to allow lawmakers to review the fiscal impact of the policy. If signed into law, the measure would take effect Nov. 1. The measure now moves to the Senate for consideration, where Sen. Avery Frix, R-Muskogee, is the Senate author.

Feb 19, 2026
Recent Posts

AI Deepfake Bill Clears Criminal Judiciary Committee Unanimously

OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation to protect Oklahomans from the harmful use of artificial intelligence and deepfake content passed unanimously out of the House Criminal Judiciary Committee. House Bill 3299 , authored by Rep. Neil Hays, R-Checotah, would make it unlawful to create and distribute digitized or synthetic media depicting another person’s name, image, voice or likeness without written consent when done with the intent to cause emotional, financial, reputational or physical harm. "As we awaken each day to more sophisticated AI-generated media, we must recommit to the fundamental truth in advertising and the basic rights of every Oklahoman," Hays said. "Every Oklahoman deserves to control their name, likeness and voice and to know that when they are depicted, especially in an effort to influence the public, that they’re portrayed accurately." Under the measure, violations would be considered a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in county jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. If the offense results in financial harm exceeding $25,000 or involves extortion, coercion or blackmail, the crime would be elevated to a felony punishable by up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. The bill also addresses political advertising. Any digital or synthetic media used in political ads would have to be clearly disclosed. Failure to disclose would be a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in county jail or a fine of up to $2,500. Media advertising agencies would be required to obtain a signed attestation from content creators stating whether the advertisement contains digitized or synthetically altered material. If approved by the Legislature and signed into law, House Bill 3299 would place Oklahoma alongside Tennessee, which enacted the Ensuring Likeness, Voice, and Image Security Act (ELVIS Act) in 2024, in extending these protections to all individuals. While some states have enacted similar laws for minors or public figures, Hays said this measure recognizes that every person has a fundamental right to control his or her own name, image, likeness and voice as personal property. "This technology is moving faster than most people realize," Hays said. "We need guardrails in place to protect individuals from having their identity manipulated and used against them." HB3299 now moves to the House Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight Committee.

Feb 17, 2026
Recent Posts

Hays advances early literacy bill focused on manageable class sizes

OKLAHOMA CITY - A measure focused on supporting early literacy by addressing class size in early grades passed unanimously out of the House Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee on Education and now heads to the Appropriations and Budget Committee. House Bill 3019 , authored by Rep. Neil Hays, R-Checotah, would align with the Legislature’s continued emphasis on improving reading outcomes for young students by ensuring teachers have manageable class sizes to provide timely interventions. "As the Legislature continues to prioritize early literacy and reading outcomes, we have to look at class size as part of that conversation," Hays said. "If we want students reading at grade level, teachers must have the individual time and capacity to identify challenges early. We have amazing teachers in this State, and we need to provide those interventions that will make a lasting difference." HB3019 addresses class-size considerations in the early grades, where foundational reading skills are developed. By focusing on classroom capacity, the measure aims to give teachers the support they need to work more closely with students during critical learning years. Hays said early intervention is integral to long-term academic success and that classroom structure plays an important role in those efforts. "We are very serious about early literacy in Oklahoma, and that commitment has to include ensuring class sizes are manageable for both teachers and students," he said. "When classrooms are structured in a way that allows teachers to give individual attention, those early interventions become more effective and more achievable." If the Legislature approves House Bill 3019, the bill would become effective immediately upon being signed into law.