Each year, Oklahoma lawmakers consider hundreds of bills that can affect young people, families, schools, healthcare providers, and community organizations. While only a small number of bills become law, the bills introduced during the session show us which issues lawmakers are prioritizing and what policy conversations may continue in the future.
Honestly works with partners in the Central Oklahoma Teen Pregnancy Prevention Collaboration (“the Collaboration”) and other statewide coalitions to monitor policy issues related to youth sexual health. Guided by our position statements, we help partners stay informed about policy developments that may affect their work.
This recap is an overview of what legislation became law during the 2026 legislative session, and what those legislative trends were – including what policy issues we will continue to monitor. This recap is intended for educational purposes and is not legal guidance or advocacy for or against specific legislation.
Bills That Became Law
Several bills passed this session relate to issues that intersect with the Collaboration’s areas of interest:
- SB 904: Prohibits the use of Oklahoma public funds, Medicaid coverage, or state-owned facilities for gender transition procedures for minors and adults.
- SB 1503: Expands eligibility for Oklahoma’s Choosing Childbirth grant program, allowing certain out-of-state organizations to receive grant funding.
- SB 1806: Extends voluntary foster care services through ages 18 and 19.
- SB 1810: Authorizes the Attorney General to enter agreements for services for victims of human trafficking and establishes certification requirements for certain shelters and programs.
- HB 1168: Creates felony penalties related to certain distribution of abortion-inducing medication.
- HB 2586: Prohibits denying adoption eligibility based on a prospective parent’s refusal to provide certain gender transition care and excludes related actions from definitions of child abuse.
- HB 2959: Requires allegations of abuse or neglect involving school employees to be reported to law enforcement within 24 hours.
Legislative Trends
Bills that become law tell only part of the story. Proposed bills that did not pass offer insight into the issues lawmakers focused on this session, and what they may focus on again next session.
There were multiple bills proposing changes to sex ed curriculum requirements and restrictions on school-based instruction. There were proposals related to restricting school library materials, student online safety, and parental access to information. Lawmakers also introduced bills that could affect minors’ ability to receive confidential healthcare by expanding parents’ access to their children’s medical information.
Certain legislation addressed reproductive healthcare, human trafficking prevention, and broader public health issues. Although many of these bills did not become law, they reflect policy conversations that are likely to continue in future legislative sessions. Many bills would have directly and negatively impacted several priority populations, including youth in foster care, 2SLGBTQ+ youth, and immigrant communities.
How honestly Decides What to Monitor
With hundreds of bills introduced each year, no organization can closely follow every policy proposal. This is why honestly developed public position statements that identify the policy topics most closely connected to the Collaboration’s strategic plan.
These position statements are not intended to address every piece of legislation or represent the individual views of every Collaboration partner. Instead, they provide a consistent framework for deciding which policy developments honestly monitors, shares with partners, and uses to inform strategic learning.
These position statements keep us focused on three issue areas:
- Sexual health education. Honestly monitors policies related to comprehensive, medically accurate, evidence-based, and age-appropriate sexual health education because these approaches are associated with better health outcomes for young people.
- Adolescent access to contraception. Honestly follows policies that may impact access to confidential and affordable reproductive healthcare.
- Equitable health outcomes for priority populations. Honestly also monitors policies affecting young people who experience greater barriers to health and healthcare, including youth in foster care, 2SLGBTQ+ youth, immigrant youth, and pregnant and parenting youth.
We appreciate our partners who help monitor legislation, share expertise, and keep these conversations moving forward. Together, we can stay informed and better understand how policy changes may shape the health and well-being of Oklahoma’s young people.