WPBN: On January 1, seven new bills will become law throughout Oklahoma as part of the new year.
Oklahomans will witness changes in state law on New Year’s Day, including increased voting rights, new healthcare protections, and more benefits for first responders.
A summary of each law that will take effect is provided below:
House Bill 1629
House Bill 1629 makes it clear that people with a felony conviction can register to vote provided they meet the following requirements:
They have no other pending sentences under any other felony convictions, and they were granted a commutation that reduced the sentence of any active felony conviction to time served.
For a crime that was reclassified from a felony to a misdemeanor with no time left to serve, they were granted a commutation.
They have no other pending sentences related to any other felony convictions and have been pardoned in accordance with federal or state law.
“There wasn’t a single vote on either side of the aisle against this bill, so I think at least maybe that means we now have an appetite for beginning to do real changes in the criminal justice system moving forward,” Mark Faulk, People’s Council for Justice Reform stated.
Investing in preventative resources like mental health and addressing incarceration rates are still necessary, according to Faulk, who sees this as only the beginning of justice reform.
House Bill 2872
The Out-of-Network Ambulance Service Provider Act, created by House Bill 2872, lays out guidelines and protocols for reimbursement of ambulance services when the provider works outside of its network.
House Bill 3190
The Ensuring Transparency in Prior Authorization Act is established by House Bill 3190. According to this statute, insurance companies must use licensed medical professionals to determine whether to reject care and establish online requirements for prior permission of medical procedures.
Big Changes Ahead: How Michigan’s New 2025 Laws Could Impact You?
Senate Bill 1334
Corinne’s Law, also known as Senate Bill 1334, guarantees that patients who have been diagnosed with cancer and are facing infertility loss can maintain their fertility prior to treatment.
“I learned that most patients have about ten to 14 days to kind of decide how they want to move forward, so it’s really beyond the emotions of the diagnosis. You have a lot of logistical decisions to make and so I think that’s why this bill is really important because it is requiring the fertility preservation because you’re losing fertility due to your cancer treatment.,” Senator Ally Seifried (R) Claremore stated.
Say Goodbye to Parking Near Intersections: New California Law Starts Jan. 1
Senate Bill 1401
Senate Bill 1401 modifies certain terminology pertaining to income tax credits in Section 1, Chapter 340 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
Senate Bill 1429
By virtue of Senate Bill 1429, the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MKARNS) revolving fund of the Oklahoma Department of Treasury is now known as the Oklahoma Ports Infrastructure Revolving Fund (OPIRF). The state waterway ports or MKARNS may receive any funds that the Department of Transportation collects.
Could You Get $5,108 in Social Security Payments in 2025? Here’s How?
Senate Bill 1457
There is some respite for soldiers on our front lines thanks to Senate Bill 1457. In order to be eligible for workers’ compensation for a mental illness or injury, law police, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians will no longer need to sustain a physical injury.
“The things that we see and deal with on a daily basis have a profound effect,” Mark Nelson, president, OKC Fraternal Order of Police stated.
According to Nelson, first responders have required and merited this law.
“It allows our members to get treatment generally consolidated into like a counseling or some type of medicine and hopefully get them back on the job, able to continue their career,” Nelson stated.
January 1st marks the implementation of the seven new legislation.
REFERENCE
