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The Oklahoma House of Representatives has approved legislation by Rep. Toni Hasenbeck, R-Elgin, aimed at protecting voluntary religious expression in public schools. House Bill 3240 requires school districts and charter schools to adopt policies allowing students and school employees the opportunity to participate in a voluntary period of prayer or reading of religious texts during the school day. Participation would be entirely voluntary and would require written consent from a parent or guardian for students. Hasenbeck filed the bill to provide clarity for school districts who may fear litigation following the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court case Kennedy v. Bremerton School District . She said the legislation is intended to provide school districts with a clear and constitutional framework for accommodating voluntary prayer or religious text reading. "Students and school employees should never feel like they have to hide their faith or worry about whether voluntary religious expression is allowed," Hasenbeck said. "House Bill 3240 provides clear guidance so schools can respect the religious freedom of students and educators while also respecting the rights of those who choose not to participate." The bill specifies that the period may not replace instructional time or involve prayer or readings broadcast over school public address systems. It also allows the designated period to take place before the start of the regular school day or in classrooms where all participants have submitted a consent form. The House approved the measure 61-30. It now moves to the Senate for further consideration, where it's authored by Sen. Jerry Alvord, R-Wilson.

A measure aimed at improving access to care and strengthening health insurance protections for the over 40,000 Oklahomans living with epilepsy has been passed by the Oklahoma House of Representatives.  Rep. Daniel Pae, R-Lawton, authored House Bill 4294  to require individual and group health insurance policies providing medical and surgical benefits to offer the same coverage protections to individuals diagnosed with epilepsy as they would to those without the condition. The measure also prohibits insurers from terminating or refusing coverage based solely on an epilepsy diagnosis.  The bill also requires insurance plans to cover medically necessary neurostimulation devices when prescribed by a licensed physician treating the patient. These devices can help reduce or prevent seizures for individuals whose epilepsy does not respond to medication alone. "Epilepsy can be life-altering for those living with it, as well as for their loved ones," Pae said. "Under House Bill 4294, the tens of thousands of Oklahomans with epilepsy would no longer be unfairly penalized by their insurance coverage. By expanding access to treatments and proven medical technology, patients and their doctors can fully pursue the care that works best for them." According to the Epilepsy Foundation of Oklahoma , around 41,000 Oklahomans are diagnosed with epilepsy. Last year, Pae authored Dylan's Law , a measure improving education and awareness around Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP), a fatal complication of epilepsy. The law is named for Dylan Cheatwood, who passed away in 2017 from SUDEP, and took effect Nov. 1, 2025. Having passed the House 63-32, HB4294 moves to the Senate for consideration. It's authored in the Senate by Sen. Brenda Stanley, R-Midwest City.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma House of Representatives has unanimously passed House Bill 3802, authored by Rep. Chris Sneed, R-Fort Gibson, to protect surviving spouses from auto insurance rate increases following the loss of a spouse. House Bill 3802 prohibits insurers from raising motor vehicle liability premiums solely because a deceased spouse is removed from a policy. It also would clarify a change cannot be treated as material change in risk when determining rates.  "Losing a spouse is one of life's deepest heartbreaks. In those moments of grief, families should be met with compassions, not added burdens," said Sneed. "This bill would ensure that insurance companies treat everyone fairly, by honoring their policy and not raising rates simply because they've lost their spouse. It's a small step toward offering stability and dignity during a time when it's needed most."  Insurers may still adjust premiums for legitimate, actuarially supported reasons, but not solely due to the removal of a deceased spouse. Any increase made in violation would be considered void and must be refunded.  Rep. Stacy Jo Adams, R-Duncan, worked closely with Sneed on this bill.  "As a personal lines agent, I’ve sat across the table from widows having to navigate heartbreaking loss," Adams said. "To then see their insurance rates go up, when the risk has actually gone down, just feels wrong. This bill corrects that and restores fairness to the system."  HB3802 passed the House with a 95-0 vote and now moves to the Senate for further consideration, where Sen. Avery Frix, R-Muskogee, is the Senate author.