Committees

OKLAHOMA CITY - A measure to help ensure the long-term stability of Oklahoma’s 988 Mental Health Crisis Lifeline passed the House floor with a unanimous vote and now moves to the Senate for consideration. House Bill 4092 , authored by Rep. Kevin Norwood, R-Owasso, creates the 988 Lifeline Revolving Fund. The fund is designed to support the continued operation of the statewide crisis line as federal funding is set to expire in September. "Creating this revolving fund gives us a responsible path forward," Norwood said. "It allows the state to plan ahead, coordinate resources and ensure continuity of care for individuals in crisis. I am thankful to my colleagues for understanding this need and getting this one step closer to the finish line." According to the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, the contract with Solari to operate the 988 Lifeline totals $5,760,886. The increased cost reflects both the loss of federal support and the expansion of services. The bill would not appropriate funding, but it would establish a dedicated fund to receive future federal dollars, state appropriations, grants and private contributions. Currently, the 988 Lifeline handles more than 7,000 calls each month statewide, showing the growing need for immediate, accessible mental health support. The program’s operations will remain unchanged, with trained professionals continuing to respond to calls, texts and chats. The measure also designates the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services as the lead agency for oversight of suicide prevention and crisis services. The department will coordinate with designated 988 Lifeline crisis centers and establish rules to improve communication, data sharing and service delivery across emergency response systems. "The 988 Lifeline has become a critical resource for Oklahomans facing mental health crises," Norwood said. "This measure is about making sure that help is always there when someone needs it most, regardless of changes in federal funding." The bill now advances to the Senate, where Sen. Brenda Stanley, R-Midwest City, is the Senate author.

A comprehensive bill strengthening data privacy protections for Oklahomans has been signed into law.  Senate Bill 546 , authored by House Majority Floor Leader Josh West, R-Grove, and Sen. Brent Howard, R-Altus, establishes new consumer rights regarding personal data and creates clear rules for businesses that collect and process information from Oklahoma residents. Under the new law, Oklahomans will be able to access, correct, delete and obtain copies of their personal data, as well as opt out of the sale of their personal data and certain targeted advertising practices.  West, who has pushed for strong data privacy laws in Oklahoma since 2019, said Oklahomans deserve to have a say in how their private information is used.  "In the age of the internet, personal data is valuable currency," West said. "People deserve to know how their data is being used and have the ability to make decisions about that information. Senate Bill 546 gives Oklahomans meaningful control over their own data while establishing clear standards for businesses operating in our state."  SB546 applies to businesses operating in Oklahoma that either process personal data of over 100,000 consumers or process data of 25,000 consumers while earning a majority of their revenue from selling data. The legislation also requires businesses to provide transparent privacy notices, maintain reasonable data security practices and obtain consent before processing sensitive personal information. If companies fail to comply, the Oklahoma Attorney General could take action against them.  "Senate Bill 546 puts Oklahomans back in control of their personal data," Howard said. "For too long, technology companies and online platforms have collected and sold consumers’ personal information, including search histories, spending habits and other browsing data, without giving them the chance to opt out. This new law protects Oklahomans’ privacy online by giving every individual the right to know what data is being collected, while also giving them the power to delete that information and prevent it from being sold."  West said the policy has been a long time coming. In 2021, he authored legislation that would have implemented the strongest data privacy law in the nation. The measure, which was coauthored by 44 legislators, passed the House broadly but stalled in the legislative process.  "I started working on this legislation in 2019 after a conversation with former Representative Collin Walke," West said. "After seven years and five drafts, Oklahomans will finally have the say they deserve in how their personal data is used. I appreciate Senator Howard's work to push Senate Bill 546 across the finish line and thank the governor for signing it into law."  There are exemptions for certain entities, including state agencies, nonprofits and higher education institutions, as well as exemptions for organizations working with data already regulated by federal laws, such as HIPAA.  SB546 will take effect January 1, 2027. 

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma House of Representatives has unanimously passed House Bill 2961 , now named the TSgt Marshal Dakota Roberts Gold Star Survivor Act, authored by Rep. Derrick Hildebrant, R-Catoosa. The measure honors the life and sacrifice of Tech. Sgt. Marshal Dakota Roberts of Claremore, who was killed in action on March 11, 2020. Roberts, a friend of Hildebrant, served in the 219th Engineering Installation Squadron, part of the 138th Fighter Wing, where Hildebrant also served. Roberts and his wife, Kristie, were both members of the Oklahoma Air National Guard, and Hildebrant shared a friendship with them both through years of service together. "I am grateful my colleagues recognized the weight of this bill, named for a fellow Airman and brother-in-arms who gave his life in service," Hildebrant said. "His family lives with that loss every single day, and this time of year is especially heavy for them. I wear his memorial bracelet in honor of his name and service dates and as a reminder of his sacrifice, and that of so many others, every day.  HB2961 provides spouses and children of fallen service members with free tuition, fees and room and board at Oklahoma public universities and career technology centers. Eligible recipients would have to maintain Oklahoma residency, and the fallen service member must have been an Oklahoma resident at the time of death. The Gold Star designation is given to those who lost their lives in the line of duty or in a combat zone since Sept. 11, 2001. Hildebrant, who is the chairman of the Oklahoma House of Representatives Veterans and Public Safety Caucus, said the legislation was driven by both personal conviction and a gap in state law. "When I reviewed the statute and realized Gold Star families were not explicitly named among survivors eligible for education benefits, I knew something needed to be done," Hildebrant said. "Oklahoma should stand with Gold Star families and ensure every opportunity is available for them to pursue the best education our state has to offer after their loved one gave everything in service of our state and nation." Roberts is survived by his wife and daughter, who was 8 years old at the time of his death. Hildebrant says that the TSgt Marshal Dakota Roberts Gold Star Survivor Act is about standing beside families like theirs and ensuring their sacrifice is never forgotten. "I made a promise to Marshal’s family that his name would never be forgotten," Hildebrant said. "Today, we were able to make good on that promise. TSgt Marshal Dakota Roberts’ name will live on through the benefits it provides to every Oklahoma Gold Star family." Hildebrant said his role was to also support the family in the aftermath of Roberts’ death. "At the time of Marshal’s death, I was assigned by the Wing Commander to serve as the family’s representative, and I walked with them every step of the way, even to the point of preaching Marshal’s funeral," Hildebrant said. "One of the hardest moments of my life was speaking with his 8-year-old daughter. I told her that her dad was a hero, but he is not coming home. That moment has never left me." A Gold Star family  refers to those who have lost a loved one in military service. The term comes from service flags used during World War I, when a blue star representing a service member was replaced with gold to signify a life lost in defense of the nation. "I was proud the bill was heard on the anniversary of Marshal’s death, because it serves as a solemn reminder of the weight of this sacrifice and the responsibility we carry to honor it," Hildebrant said. "If we, as the legislature, can lift even a small part of that burden by ensuring their children can pursue an education and a future, then we are doing what is right." The bill now moves to the Senate, where Sen. Tom Woods, R-Westville, also a member of the Oklahoma Air National Guard’s 138th Fighter Wing, is the Senate author. "This effort continues our service to Marshal and his family," Hildebrant said. "As brothers in arms, we have the duty to carry this bill forward and see it through to the Governor."