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HB 1187OKLAHOMASession 2026State BillSigned into law

Enacted

Oklahoma allows state employees opting out of health plans to keep life and disability benefits and receive $150 monthly

Original title: Oklahoma Employees Insurance and Benefits Act; opt-out option; removing group insurance; effective date.

Last action · May 5, 2025: Approved by Governor 05/03/2025Sponsors: Tammy Townley and 2 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Does

Oklahoma active state employees can now opt out of basic health and dental plans while retaining life and disability benefits, provided they show proof of separate group health coverage. Employees choosing this option will receive $150 in lieu of their standard , starting November 1, 2025.

Why it matters

Active state employees gain a new pathway to receive a monthly cash payment when declining state health coverage, while the state retains any resulting financial savings.

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Active state employees

Active employees gain the option to decline state health and dental coverage in exchange for a $150 monthly payment while retaining life and disability benefits.

Directly affected

State of Oklahoma

The state retains any financial savings realized as a result of participants opting out of health insurance plan coverage.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do state employees receive if they opt out of the state health plan?

Employees receive One Hundred Fifty Dollars ($150.00) in lieu of the they would otherwise be eligible to receive.

When does this new opt-out provision take effect?

The act becomes effective on November 1, 2025.

Can employees keep their life and disability benefits if they opt out of health and dental plans?

Yes, participants may opt out of the health and dental basic plan options only and retain their life and disability plan benefits.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

25 actions

May 5, 2025HouseEnrolled
Approved by Governor 05/03/2025
Apr 29, 2025House
Sent to Governor
Apr 29, 2025Senate
Enrolled measure signed, returned to House
Apr 29, 2025House
Enrolled, signed, to Senate
Apr 28, 2025HouseCommittee
Referred for enrollment
Apr 28, 2025Senate
Engrossed measure signed, returned to House

Show 19 earlier actions

Apr 28, 2025SenateFloor
Measure passed: Ayes: 35 Nays: 9
Apr 28, 2025Senate
Coauthored by Senator Hamilton
Apr 28, 2025Senate
General Order, Considered
Apr 15, 2025Senate
Placed on General Order
Apr 10, 2025SenateFloor
Reported Do Pass Business and Insurance committee; CR filed
Apr 1, 2025SenateCommittee
Second Reading referred to Business and Insurance
Mar 26, 2025SenateIntroduced
First Reading
Mar 26, 2025House
Engrossed, signed, to Senate
Mar 25, 2025HouseCommittee
Referred for engrossment
Mar 25, 2025HouseFloor
Third Reading, Measure passed: Ayes: 93 Nays: 0
Mar 25, 2025House
Coauthored by Representative(s) Menz, Townley
Mar 25, 2025House
General Order
Feb 27, 2025HouseFloor
CR; Do Pass Commerce and Economic Development Oversight Committee
Feb 12, 2025House
Authored by Senator Burns (principal Senate author)
Feb 12, 2025HouseFloor
Policy recommendation to the Commerce and Economic Development Oversight committee; Do Pass Insurance
Feb 4, 2025HouseCommittee
Referred to Insurance
Feb 4, 2025HouseCommittee
Second Reading referred to Commerce and Economic Development Oversight
Feb 3, 2025House
Authored by Representative West (Rick)
Feb 3, 2025HouseIntroduced
First Reading

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Connected Entities

Oklahoma

locationOklahoma“State jurisdiction enacting the legislation”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.oklegislature.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance45
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy10
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz15
Current news / social attention level

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