As we discussed last week, the Oklahoma Legislature continues to move several potential laws forward for the 2026sessionover the past month. Lawmakers have held committee meetings to initially considerthe bills filed for 2026.
The ones that survivedcommittees will now be scheduled by the majority floor leaders – Rep. Josh West, R-Grove, in the HouseofRepresentatives,andSen.Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, in the Senate – along with their teams who develop the House’s and Senate’s daily agendas.
As I noted in last week’s column, if a billwouldcostmoney,despitethevalue of the idea, the chance of it becoming law is slim. A good idea may pass with languagestating,“iffundsareavailable” and then not receive sufficient appropriations to function. House Bill 1016, by Rep. Michelle McCane, D-Tulsa, and Sen. Michael Bergstrom, R-Adair, would create protection for minors who appear in online content created by adults, including their parents. This legislation would require compensation, trust funds, and protections under the law included in monetized online content. Minors would be engaged in content creation work if they appear in at least 30 percent of a creator’s compensated video content within a 30-day period or if their participation generates more than $10,000 in revenue.
HB3288byRep.CynthiaRoe,R-Lindsay, and Senator Brian Logan, R-Paden, requirestheStateBoardofEducationto require, as a condition of accreditation, thatpublicelementaryschoolsprovide physicaleducationorexerciseprograms forstudentsinfull-dayprekindergarten throughgrade5.Theamountofphysical education or exercise must average at least150minuteseachweek,notincluding recess. This is an increase from the current 60 minutes required under law.
HB 3636 by Rep. Emily Gise, R-OKC, andSen.KristenThompson,R-Edmond, provides that beginning with the 2027 program year, the State of Oklahoma mustparticipateinthefederalSummer Electronic Benefit Transfer for Children programtoprovidesupplementalnutrition assistancetoeligiblechildrenwhen school is not in session.
For those keeping up with this policy,Oklahoma’sexecutivebranchhas refused to participate in this program over the past three years, placing a tremendous strain on families across the state, along with churches and nonprofitorganizationswhoworktofill the gaps in feeding the hungry.
HB 4421 by Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, and Sen. Todd Gollihare, R-Kellyville, would require Oklahoma HumanServicestoincludefentanyland methamphetamine in drug screenings during child welfare investigations and before children are returned to parents or guardians. The legislation would require investigators to obtain a warrant for testing if parents refuse a drug test. This bill would make it a felony to knowingly expose a child to fentanyl.
Senate Bill 1377 by Sen. Chuck Hall, R-Perry, and Rep. John Kane, R-Bartlesville, would require Oklahoma Human Services to provide foster children who lackasuitcasewithaduffelbagorother adequatebaginwhichtopackpersonal belongings. Also, as funds allow, the department may include personal hygiene items or other personal supplies.
Foryears,fartoomanychildrentaken into foster care or moved from placement toplacementhavehadtheiritems placedingarbagebagsfortransport,so this bill would eliminate that practice.
SB 1521 by Sen. Warren Hamilton, R-McCurtain, and Rep. Cody Maynard, R-Durant, would prohibit the design, development,ormakingavailableartificial intelligencehuman-likechatbotsto minors,withapenaltyofupto$100,000 for each violation. The measure would require reasonable age certification measures to keep the technology away from children.
These and other bills will continue throughtheprocess,andtheOklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) will continue to monitor and engage in promoting legislation which supports the best interests of the health, safety, andwell-beingoftheyouthofourstate. Pleasesignupatoica.orgtofollowthese andotherbillsthroughourweeklyemail newsletter.
About OICA: The Oklahoma Intitute for Child Advocacy was established in 1983 by a group of citizens seeking to create a strong advocacy network that would provide a voice for the needs of children and youth in Oklahoma, particularly those in the state’s care and those growing up amid poverty, violence, abuse and neglect, disparities, or other situations that put their lives and future at risk. Our mission statement: “Creating awareness, taking action and changing policy to improve the health, safety, and well-being of Oklahoma’s children