As the Second Regular Session of the 60th Oklahoma Legislature, which began in February 2026, progresses, several pieces of legislation addressing behavioral health, criminal justice, and public safety have advanced significantly. These measures are among the strongest candidates to receive final votes before the end of the 2026 legislative session.
The following bills have successfully crossed over from their chamber of origin, meaning they passed either the Oklahoma House of Representatives or Senate and are now under consideration in the opposite chamber.
Senate Bill 1238
modifies Oklahoma law regarding domestic abuse committed in the presence of a child. The bill increases the severity of the offense by making a first violation a felony rather than a misdemeanor.
Senate Bill 1428 would establish the Office of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia Service Coordination within the Oklahoma State Department of Health. The office would coordinate statewide dementia services and work to improve support for patients and caregivers.
House Bill 2947 proposes changes to the state Medicaid plan that would expand behavioral health services by allowing clinical interns to provide services in agencies certified by the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS).
House Bill 4275
seeks to create more uniform certification standards for behavioral health case managers and peer recovery support specialists.
Senate Bill 1216 updates eligibility requirements for participation in Oklahoma’s drug court program. The bill changes eligibility criteria by removing a previous restriction that prevented individuals with a felony domestic violence conviction within the past ten years from participating. It also clarifies that cases involving certain domestic violence charges are generally not eligible for drug court unless the program allows participation in an approved domestic violence treatment program.
House Bill 3901 would create a pilot program for psychological autopsies, a process used to better understand factors contributing to suicide or unexplained deaths.
Senate Bill 1257 modifies classifications within the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Act to update how certain substances are regulated. Included in the bill is amending the definition of "marijuana" to include synthetic equivalents
Having already passed one chamber of the Legislature, these bills have cleared a significant procedural hurdle and will now be considered in the opposite chamber. The due date for bills to be considered and voted on in the opposite chamber is May 7, 2026.
To follow these bills and other important legislation go to our legislation tracker at
https://www.oklahomacounselinginstitute.org/legislation
