Committees

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Scott Fetgatter, R-Okmulgee, on Wednesday passed a bill in the Public Health Committee that would allow ivermectin suitable for human use to be sold over-the-counter in pharmacies. House Bill 4124 would permit a pharmacist to supply ivermectin to a person without requiring a prescription from a health care professional. Notwithstanding any other law, a pharmacy would not be criminally or civilly liable for supplying ivermectin. "Many people throughout Oklahoma and the nation take ivermectin for a variety of ailments," Fetgatter said. "And while it can be prescribed by doctors, many currently choose to purchase this product over the counter at the local farm supply store. We're just asking that pharmacies be able to offer this the same way." Fetgatter said the bill was a constituent request. He said in rural communities, it can be a long commute to get to a healthcare practitioner if one is available. This bill would give his constituents the freedom and discretion to purchase a product they feel works best for them. The bill passed in the House Public Health Committee on a vote of 5-1. It now is eligible to be heard in the Health and Human Services Oversight Committee.

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.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Two measures by Rep. Kevin Norwood, R-Owasso, aimed at strengthening Oklahoma’s crisis response systems, have advanced in the legislative process. House Bill 4092 , which addresses the state’s 988 mental health crisis system, passed unanimously out of the Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee with a 6-0 vote and now heads to the full Appropriations and Budget Committee. House Bill 4095 , which updates governance of the state’s 211 system, passed the Children, Youth and Family Services Committee with a 6-0 vote and now moves to the Health and Human Services Oversight Committee. "I’m encouraged to see both of these bills advance to oversight," Norwood said. "Whether someone is facing a mental health crisis or simply needs help finding food, housing or other basic services, these systems have to work. Moving these measures forward means we are taking the next step toward strengthening the support networks Oklahomans rely on every day." HB4092 would designate the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services as the lead agency for suicide prevention and crisis services and require designated 988 centers to meet national standards and best practices. The measure would establish a statewide 988 Trust Fund to be administered by the department. The fund would support the creation and maintenance of a comprehensive, statewide 988 Lifeline system. The measure directs the state to implement strategies to ensure the behavioral health crisis system is adequately funded. The bill also calls for enhanced use of technology to improve coordination, data collection and analysis in the delivery of behavioral health crisis services. "988 has become a vital lifeline for Oklahomans facing mental health crises," Norwood said. "This bill makes sure we have clear oversight, strong coordination and sustainable funding so that when someone calls for help, the system is ready to respond." House Bill 4095, which focuses on the governance structure of the Oklahoma 211 Collaborative, passed the Children, Youth and Family Services Policy Committee unanimously and now moves to the Health and Human Services Oversight Committee. The Oklahoma 211 Collaborative is the lead entity for 211 call centers that connect Oklahomans to services such as food, housing, clothing, transportation and medical assistance. The measure would reduce the collaborative’s membership from 15 to nine members, with three from the public sector and six from the private sector. Under current law, the body consists of five public and 10 private sector members. The bill outlines appointment authority and would establish staggered initial terms to ensure continuity. Three members would serve one-year initial terms, three would serve two-year initial terms and three would serve three-year initial terms. After the initial terms, members would serve three-year terms and may be reappointed. Vacancies would be filled by the original appointing authority, rather than by the collaborative itself. "Our 211 system connects families to essential services every single day," Norwood said. "This update strengthens accountability and creates a clearer structure so the collaborative can continue serving Oklahomans effectively."