OKLAHOMA CITY – In the new legislative assembly that opened Feb. 3, Rep. Daniel Pae (R-Lawton) plans to revisit a few familiar topics from last session that weren’t signed into law.
For starters, House Bill 2011 reintroduces the Fighting Chance for Firefighters Act. The goal is to allow cancer treatment facilities in the State of Oklahoma to carry out the purposes and functions of the Act, which would cover the costs of occupational cancer screenings. After the screenings, further testing and procedures would be billed to the provider’s insurance coverage.
“The Fighting Chance for Firefighters Act, devoid of deductibles and copayments, is a testament to our commitment to safeguarding those who risk their lives and health tirelessly protecting our communities,” Pae said in a 2024 legislative press release. “By confronting cancer head-on and encouraging early detection, we can give all of Oklahoma’s firefighters their best chance for a healthy and resilient future.”
Statistics show that cancer is the number one cause of death for active-duty firefighters. In June 2022, according to the press release, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organization, classified the firefighter occupation as carcinogenic to humans based on sufficient evidence for cancer in humans.
In 2024, Rep. Gerrid Kendrix (R-Altus) co-sponsored the measure, which died in committee after a second reading in the Senate. It had unanimously passed the House. The 2025 bill is co-sponsored by Sen. Avery Frix (R-Muskogee).
The Cancer Centers of Southwest Oklahoma launched a similar program in 2024 to offer free annual cancer screenings to first responders at their Lawton, Altus and Duncan locations.
Another topic being revisited is a measure, HB 2015, relating to landlord and tenant relationships. This is an area that Pae, along with other lawmakers, have sought various degrees of reform for several years.
According to Southwest Ledger archives, Pae teamed up in 2021 with then-Sen. John Michael Montgomery (R-Lawton) and co-sponsored Senate Bill 200 in the House, which Gov. Kevin Stitt approved and signed into law in May of that year. The measure permits tenants in apartments and houses to terminate their lease early without penalty by providing written notice to the landlord, along with a protective order or police report within 30 days of the alleged abuse.
In 2023, Pae authored HB 2109 which sought to shield renters from retaliation by resentful landlords. It specified that a landlord could not retaliate against a tenant by increasing rent, decreasing service, bringing a legal action or terminating a rental agreement under certain circumstances. After passing the House, the anti-retaliation bill died in the Senate.
In 2024, Pae co-sponsored HB 3499 which was another measure related to landlord and tenant relationships. The bill sought to amend existing law to provide more detailed requirements for landlords of properties that receive affordable housing tax credits. Specifically, it would have required landlords to have a clearly defined criminal history screening policy. It also died in the Senate, after having passed through the House.
Now, in 2025, Pae has introduced HB 2015, which again proposes to prohibit landlords from retaliating against tenants in certain circumstances. It will also establish clear guidelines for addressing landlord-tenant disputes. The bill and potential law is directed at landlords with more than 10 dwelling units in the state.
In addition, the 2025 proposal will also expand tenants’ rights by providing more detailed procedures for addressing landlord noncompliance, defining emergency conditions (such as lack of utilities or unsafe living conditions) and allowing tenants more flexibility in addressing repair issues. The bill also clarifies landlords’ obligations to maintain habitable living conditions and provides tenants with specific recourse when those obligations are not met.
Rep. Toni Hasenbeck (R-Elgin) has filed four bills relating to veterinary schools.
House Bills 2682, 2863, 2864 and 2865 all pertain to what is called the Oklahoma Veterinary Schools Act of 2025. This appears to be a primarily procedural measure that will create a new legal framework for veterinary education in the state. At this time, there are not explanatory or extensive details about specific changes to veterinary education or purposes to the proposed act.