Administrative Rules

A bill extending the operations of state harm-reduction programs has passed committee. House Bill 2012 , authored by Rep. Daniel Pae, R-Lawton, extends harm-reduction services, including needle exchange programs and rapid testing for sexually transmitted infections, through July 1, 2031. Without legislative action, the law authorizing these programs would expire in 2026. "These programs save lives," Pae said. "By extending harm reduction programs, we are preventing the spread of disease and connecting people to critical resources. The data speaks for itself: Harm reduction works, and it’s our responsibility to ensure they continue." In 2021, Pae coauthored the original law allowing harm reduction programs registered with the Oklahoma State Department of Health to distribute clean needles, test kits, and naloxone, as long as no state funding is used. These organizations also provide referrals for substance abuse treatment and other health services. Last October, Pae led an interim study on the impact of these programs. Between 2022 and 2024, Oklahoma’s four registered harm reduction organizations: Served 8,896 clients Distributed 578,330 syringes Provided 25,125 naloxone kits Reported 1,212 overdose reversals Referred 1,528 people for substance use education or STI/HIV testing HB2012 passed the House Administrative Rules Committee by a vote of 10-5 and now moves to the full House for consideration.

The Oklahoma House of Representatives today passed House Bill 2728, a measure designed to enhance transparency and legislative oversight in the state’s administrative rulemaking process. House Bill 2728 , authored by Rep. Gerrid Kendrix, R-Altus, creates the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act of 2025, modeled after similar federal legislation. The bill ensures that state agency regulations receive greater legislative review before taking effect. "This is a major step toward ensuring the people’s elected representatives—not unelected agencies—have the final say on costly regulations," said Kendrix. "State agencies hold significant power in implementing laws, and this bill makes sure the Legislature plays a more active role in the process." If enacted, HB2728 would require all proposed agency rules to be submitted with an economic impact statement. Additionally, any rule projected to cost at least $1 million over five years would require separate legislative approval before it could take effect. "The rise of decentralized movements like DOGE shows that people value transparency, accountability, and freedom from unchecked control," said John Tidwell, state director with Americans for Prosperity Oklahoma. "The REINS Act embodies these same principles by ensuring that unelected bureaucrats can't impose costly regulations without legislative approval. State and federal governments must remain accountable to the people they serve. By passing the REINS Act, Oklahoma is reinforcing the fundamental idea that power should rest with the representatives elected by the people—not with runaway regulatory agencies." The bill establishes the Legislative Economic Analysis Unit (LEAU) within the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency (LOFT) to provide independent reviews of agencies' economic impact statements. This ensures accuracy and prevents unnecessary regulatory burdens. Similar models in other states have successfully cut excess red tape and saved taxpayers millions. "This legislation strengthens accountability by making sure agency rules receive independent review before becoming law," said House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow. "This is the second House priority bill we have passed in the first three weeks of the legislative session and I appreciate the speed at which the House has passed these important bills." House Bill 2728 passed 86-3 and now advances to the Oklahoma Senate for further consideration. The House also passed House Bill 1276 , banning cell phones in schools, and sent it to the Senate with the title on, meaning it is ready to become law if approved by the Senate.

The Oklahoma House Administrative Rules Committee has approved legislation aimed at reforming the state’s administrative rulemaking process—the system through which state agencies implement laws by drafting and proposing regulations. House Bill 2728 , authored by Rep. Gerrid Kendrix, R-Altus, would establish the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act of 2025, modeled after similar federal legislation introduced in Congress last year. Kendrix described the REINS Act as a crucial first step toward increasing transparency and oversight in what he referred to as an attempt by the unelected bureaucracy to create an unconstitutional "fourth branch of government." "Administrative rules allow agencies to impose regulations without being approved by the legislative branch," said Kendrix, who chairs the House Administrative Rules Committee. "Once approved, these rules carry the force of law and take effect by default, largely bypassing the Legislature's ability to intervene. House Bill 2728 provides a critical opportunity to create a more balanced and accountable administrative rulemaking process, ensuring that those elected by Oklahomans have greater oversight of the regulations impacting our state." After the Legislature passes a law, state agencies draft and propose the regulations necessary for its implementation. Agencies submitted 266 packets this year, totaling thousands of pages. The Legislature then reviews these rules and can disapprove them by passing a resolution. Once a rule takes effect, it has the same legal weight as a law. However, unlike other legislative measures, lawmakers can only reject rules in part or in whole but cannot amend individual rules. If the Legislature takes no action, the rules advance to the governor, who follows the same process. If the governor doesn’t address them, they automatically go into effect. “We all talk about the concern of growing government, and yet our current process allows that to happen by default,” Kendrix said. If HB2728 is enacted, all proposed rules would be submitted with an economic impact statement, while proposed rules with a projected fiscal impact of at least $1 million over the first five years would require separate proactive legislative approval. The bill would also establish the Legislative Economic Analysis Unit (LEAU) within the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency (LOFT) to provide independent reviews of agencies' economic impact statements to ensure accuracy and completeness, with all analyses made available online. This is modeled after many states that have put in place this third-party evaluation system for administrative rules, which has saved millions in cutting excess red tape and ensuring legislative intent is followed. "I want to thank Chairman Kendrix and the members of our caucus who have worked to put in place this thoughtful process that will ensure lawmakers have a say in how the laws we create are implemented at the agency level," said Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow. "It's the Legislature's duty to ensure that the rules governing our people are practical and accountable. The REINS Act is a crucial first step toward a better system, and I appreciate Chairman Kendrix’s efforts to drive meaningful reform." HB2728 passed the committee 12-1.