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Advocates and Friends:
In today’s column – Legislative update, OICA Legislative Priorities, and 2026 Legislative deadlines.
The Legislature is nearing the completion of its third week. On top of trying to move bills forward, authors are getting names of members from the opposite chamber to become authors for management of the bills,
In the House, bills are moving out of the policy committees to their parent Oversight Committees. Senate Committees are moving bills to the floor.
House policy committees have today to complete action on moving bills to their parent Oversight committees. Bills not moved to Oversight committees today are dead for the sessions.
Both the House Oversight Committees and Senate Committees have until March 5 to move bills to their respective floors for consideration. Any bills not moved to the next step by the March deadline are also considered dead.
OICA Legislative Priorities
HB 1979 by Rep. Ranson - Creates an Early Childhood Task Force to work towards creating a framework for a more efficient and effective governance structure for early childhood State programming. Options are to include improved coordination, program consolidation, or a new independent agency. The bill is before the House Appropriations and Budget Committee. It must be heard by March 5, 2026 to remain alive. https://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=hb1979&Session=2600
HB 2030 by Rep. Archer/Senator Thompson - Carried over from last session the bill increases foster care maintenance payment for Resources Parents to be at least $22.72 per day or $681.60 per month. The bill is held over from last session on Senate General Order. https://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=hb 2030&Session=2600
HB 4454 by Rep. Newton - Places per package THC limitations on edible medical marijuana products. Requires packaging to not resemble candy packaging and not be attractive to children. The bill is before the Alcohol, Tobacco & Controlled Substances Policy Committee of Health & Human Oversight Committee. The committee is not scheduled to meet again before the House’s March 19, 2026 deadline for policy committee consideration. https://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=HB 4454&Session=2600
HB 3510 by Rep Duel/ Rep. Williams - Creates child protection dockets within the district court system. These specialty dockets will streamline the handling of foster care, adoption, neglect, child welfare, and abuse cases. The bill is before the Civil Judiciary Policy Committee of the Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight Committee. The bill is on the Policy Committee’s February 19, 2026 agenda. The bill is facing resistance. Its passage is not assured. https://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=HB 3510&Session=2600
SB 1708 by Senator Jech/Rep. Tedford - Creates a presumption, rebuttable by a preponderance of the evidence, that joint custody and equally shared parenting time is in the best interest of the child. The Bill is before the Senate Judiciary Committee. https://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=SB 1708&Session=2600
SB 1591 by Senator Rosino/Rep. Newton - Limits THC amounts in certain edible medical marijuana products and packages.The bill is on Senate General Order. https://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=SB1452&Session=2600
SB 1806 by Senator Paxton - Requires DHS to provide extended services to individuals in foster care who are transitioning into adulthood. The bill has been double- assigned to the Health and Human Services Committee then to the Appropriations Committee. https://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=SB1806&Session=2600
Other Legislation of Interest Moving Forward
HB 1016 by Rep. McCane - Requires compensation, trust funds and protections for minors included in monetized online content. The bill is before the House Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight Committee. https://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=hb 1016&Session=2600
HB 1484 by Rep. Johns/Senator Weaver - Rain's Law. Requires student instruction on Fentanyl use/abuse in schools. The Senate amendments to the bill are awaiting consideration by the House of Representatives. https://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=hb1484&Session=2600
HB 2984 by Rep. Gise - Requests DHS to request a SNAP waiver to exclude certain items sold outside the state from benefit eligibility. The bill intends to reduce out of state skimming. The bill is before the House Health and Human Services Oversight Committee.
https://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=HB 2984&Session=2600
HB 3052 by Rep Stewart - Creates the Sir Major White-Bullock Child Protection and Family Notification Act. Requiring DHS to conduct a child safety review in cases where mothers repeatedly give birth to drug dependent babies. The bill is before the House Appropriations and Budget Committee. https://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=HB 3052&Session=2600
HB 3467 by Rep. Boles - Provides for 6 weeks of paid adoption leave for full-time public school district employees, classroom instructional employees at technology center school districts, persons employed as teachers by the State Department of Rehabilitation Services, persons employed as correctional teachers or vocational instructors by the Department of Corrections, and persons employed as teachers by the Office of Juvenile Affairs. The adopted child must be younger than age 4. The bill is before the House Education Oversight Committee. https://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=hb3467&Session=2600
HB 3638 by Rep. Gise - Provides that, beginning with the 2027 program year, the State of Oklahoma must participate in the federal Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer for Children program to provide supplemental nutrition assistance to eligible children when school is not in session. The bill is before the House Appropriations and Budget Committee. https://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=hb 3638&Session=2600
HB 4117 by Rep. T West - Adds a definition of family resource center to Statutes to mean a community, school, or faith-based hub of family support services. The change provides opportunities for funding and eliminates duplication of effort. The bill is before the House Health and Human Services Oversight Committee. https://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=hb4117&Session=2600
HB 4421 by Rep. Hilbert - Requires DHS to include fentanyl and meth in drug screenings during child welfare investigations and before children are returned to parents or guardians. If parents refuse a drug test, the legislation instructs investigators to obtain a warrant for testing. Makes it a felony to knowingly expose a child to fentanyl. Creates a fund to support the costs of increased drug testing within DHS. The bill is on House General Order. https://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=hb 4421&Session=2600
HB 4422 by Rep. Hilbert - Bans immigrants from eligibility in multiple assistance programs including SNAP, TANF, Medicaid. The bill also requires Department of Human to to verify the immigration status of TANF or SNAP applicants using the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services' Systematic Alien Verification of Entitlements (SAVE) system. An applicant's legal status must be confirmed prior to receiving benefits. There is no required immigration status verification for qualified adults applying for child-only benefits. The bill is before the House Health and Human Services Oversight Committee. https://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=HB 4422&Session=2600
HB 4358 by Rep. Moore - Limits screen time for prekindergarten through fifth grade public school students to one hour per school day. The bill is before the House Education Oversight Committee. https://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=HB 4358&Session=2600
SB 1377 by Senator Hall - Requires DHS to provide foster children with a duffel bag to children who lack a suitcase or other adequate bag in which to pack personal belongings. Also, as funds allow, the Department may include personal hygiene items or other personal supplies. The bill is Senate General Order.
https://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=SB 1377&Session=2600
SB 1379 by Senator Reinhardt - Requires the Office of the Attorney General to establish a two-year pilot program to support victims of sexual and labor trafficking. The Office of the Attorney General shall make grants available from funds in the Victims of Human Trafficking and Prevention Revolving Fund. The Bill is before the Senate Judiciary Committee. https://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=SB 1379&Session=2600
SB 1388 by Senator Nice - Makes Oklahoma’s Child Tax Credit refundable. The bill is before the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee. https://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=sb 1388&Session=2600
SB 1810 by Senator Weaver/Rep. T. West - Authorizes Attorney General to enter into agreements for services for victims of human trafficking. Amends certain fines. The bill is on Senate General Order. https://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=SB 1810&Session=2600
SB 1833 by Senator Thompson - Directs DHS to seek a Federal SNAP waiver to impose prohibition on candy and soft drinks. The bill is on Senate General Order. https://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=sb 1833&Session=2600
SB 1996 by Senator Rader - Creates Children’s Promise Act, providing a tax credit for contributions to certain charitable organizations that provide housing and adoption services. https://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=SB 1996&Session=2600
SB 2097 by Senator Nice - Sets the minimum age for adjudication at 12.The bill is before the Senate Judiciary Committee. https://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=SB 2097&Session=2600
Upcoming Key 2026 Legislative Dates for Bills and Joint Resolutions
February 19 - (House Only) Deadline for bills/ joint resolutions to be reported out of Policy Committees and A&B Subcommittees.
March 5 – Senate deadline to report Senate bills/ joint resolutions from Senate Committees. House deadline to report House bills/joint resolutions from Oversight, Administrative Rules, and the A& B Committees.
March 18-20 - (House Only) House will not be in session.
March 26 - House and Senate deadline for third reading and final passage of bills/joint resolutions from chamber of origin.
April 9 - (House Only) Deadline for Senate bills/resolutions to be reported out of Policy Committees and A& B Subcommittees.
April 23 - Senate deadline to report House bills/ joint resolutions from Senate Committees. House deadline to report Senate bills/joint resolutions from Oversight, Administrative Rules, and the A& B Committees.
May 7 - House and Senate deadline for third reading and final passage of bills/joint resolutions from opposite chamber.
May 26 - The Second Regular Session of the 60th Oklahoma Legislature Sine Die Adjournment - May 29, 2026 no Later Than 5:00 p.m.
NOTE: The House has a bifurcated committee structure whereby the parent committee, referred to as “Oversight Committee” will have policy committees where legislation may be referred for consideration. The policy committee will make a recommendation to the Oversight Committee on the passage or amendment of the bill or resolution.
If you have any questions, comments, have a bill you feel we need to track or simply want to discuss any legislative concerns please contact me at gsawyer@oica.org or text at 405-823-1214. Thank you for your continued interest and support.
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