OKLAHOMA CITY - A flurry of activity marked the end of the First Session of the 60th Oklahoma Legislature, including a marathon late-night session that led up to the Friday, May 30, sine die closure.
Unlike last year, tax reform or budget issues weren’t what kept legislative leaders in a frenzy of negotiations. This year’s political unrest slowly came to a boil as a record number of Gov. Kevin Stitt’s vetoes added fuel to the fire, especially after the governor did not approve several bills that were unanimously supported by both chambers.
This session, more than 3,200 pieces of legislation were introduced. Of the 527 bills sent to the governor, Stitt said Thursday that he vetoed 68 bills this year that would overregulate businesses and would increase taxes for Oklahomans.
In other legislative news, following a $30 million shortfall at the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, members from both houses of the Legislature came together Thursday to fire ODMHSAS Commissioner Allie Friesen, against the governor’s wishes. Friesen had been appointed to the commission in January 2024 by the governor.
New legislation brings ovation A standing ovation greeted the override of House Bill 1389, a measure which sought to amend existing state law by increasing the definitions and coverage requirements for diagnostic examinations and breast cancer screening. The bill adds several new types of examinations, including molecular breast imaging and contrast-enhanced mammograms.
The new law was authored by Rep. Melissa Provenzano (D-Tulsa) and co-sponsored by three southwest Oklahoma representatives, Reps. Stacy Jo Adams (R-Duncan), Dick Lowe (R-Amber) and Daniel Pae (R-Lawton).
“I am deeply sympathetic to the women across our state who have bravely fought breast cancer,” Stitt said in his veto remarks. “While early detection and access to care are critical priorities, this legislation imposes new and costly insurance mandates on private health plans that will ultimately raise insurance premiums for working families and small businesses.
“Mammograms are already covered, and when a doctor sees the need for further tests, they are empowered to order further tests that can be covered by insurance. Without fail, when government gets involved in markets, prices rise for everyone. Rather than expanding government mandates, we should focus on empowering individuals and encouraging innovation in the marketplace to improve access and affordability.”
The veto override of HB 1389 unanimously carried in both the House and Senate.
Southwest Oklahoma representatives each saw multiple bills they either authored or co-sponsored filed with the Secretary of State.
Those measures were either approved by the governor or became law without the governor’s signature, which occurs when a bill sent to his desk receives no action within five days.
Rep. Stacy Jo Adams (R-Duncan) authored or co-sponsored about 30 bills that became law, which includes a firearms-related measure.
HB 1095 creates the Municipal Carry Act and will amend the state’s existing firearms law to allow municipalities to authorize certain elected officials and designated employees to carry concealed handguns while engaged in official duties.
Restrictions include that firearms will still be prohibited in courtrooms and other locations that may be specifically designated as firearm-prohibited areas within municipal buildings. No municipal official or employee would be required to carry a firearm as a condition of employment.
Rep. Brad Boles (R-Marlow) authored or co-sponsored about 20 bills that became law, which includes the “Behind the Meter” legislation.
Senate Bill 480, which garnered the support of six southwest Oklahoma legislators, modifies the definition of a public utility. The new law will allow private industry to develop and manage their own power solutions “behind the meter” and could potentially open the door for new economic development worth billions of dollars across Oklahoma.
Co-sponsors of the measure include Reps.
Stacy Jo Adams (R-Duncan), Toni Hasenbeck (R-Elgin), Dick Lowe (R-Amber), Daniel Pae (R-Lawton) and Rande Worthen (R-Lawton). It was authored by Sen.
Grant Green (R-Wellston).
Rep. Trey Caldwell (R-Faxon) is the Chair of the House Appropriations and Budget Committee. His name appears on a plethora of measures, including HB 2762, which he authored.
The new law pertains to international corporation agents and creates the International Corporation Agent Political Activity Oversight Act of 2025.
It establishes new regulations for individuals representing international corporations in Oklahoma. Agents will be required to file a specific form with the Secretary of State and pay a $25 filing fee before being allowed to advocate or influence state laws or seek state funding for their associated corporation.
Rep. Toni Hasenbeck (R-Elgin) authored or co-sponsored about 15 bills that became law, including HB 1360, which will amend state statutes and expand protections for personal information confidentiality related to domestic abuse.
The new law will allow the program manager of the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Address Confidentiality Program to request that personal information be kept secure and not publicly available online. In addition, ACP participants can obtain a court order requiring county assessors to also keep personal information confidential.
Rep. Gerrid Kendrix (R-Altus) authored or co-sponsored about 30 bills that became law, with many of them pertaining to sunset dates of Oklahoma boards or councils.
New laws co-sponsored by Kendrix also include two bills related to military infrastructure funding.
The measures, HB 2516 and HB 2518, authored by House Speaker Kyle Hilbert (R-Bristow), intend to create revolving funds in the state Treasury for use by the Oklahoma Military Department. The fund will be known as the Base Infrastructure Needs and Development and will have two components, technology and schools.
The BIND-Schools Fund is intended to make infrastructure investments improving common education facilities located on military bases in the state. The BIND-Technology Fund will be used, on approval, to make infrastructure investments, which would include the purchase of license and software associated with military simulation training.
Rep. Dick Lowe (R-Amber) authored or co-sponsored about 10 bills that became law, including HB 1086, which will modify state school district funding regulations and will primarily focus on how general fund money can be calculated and used. It also amends existing statutes and provides school districts with more flexibility in using general fund revenues in specific circumstances.
Rep. Daniel Pae (R-Lawton) authored or co-sponsored about 25 bills that became law, including HB 2011 known as the Fighting Chance for Firefighter’s Act of 2025. Pae is co-sponsor of SB 209, pertaining to economic development and creates the Taiwan Regional Trade Office under the Oklahoma Department of Commerce.
Economic relationships between Oklahoma- based businesses and businesses in Taiwan would promote and facilitate trade.
Rep. Rande Worthen (R-Lawton) about 10 bills that became law, including HB 1693, which pertains to criminal procedure and, in part, will change state statutes relating to death penalty procedures for people deemed mentally incompetent.
A mentally incompetent person is defined as someone who is unable to rationally understand why they are being put to death.
The measure outlines the process an inmate’s attorney must follow if seeking a ruling of mental incompetence.
Most viewed measure House Bill 1343, authored by Rep. Justin Humphrey (R-Lane) became the most viewed and monitored bill of the 2025 regular legislative session.
The measure sought to abolish the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and transfer all of its duties, powers, responsibilities and assets to the State Department of Corrections.
The proposal garnered no co-sponsors and died on Feb. 4 in the House.