The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Oklahoma House Bill 1818 renames social work associate titles to bachelor's social workers, extends board sunset date, and modifies licensure requirements
Last action · April 1, 2026: Second Reading referred to Health and Human Services
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
What This Bill Proposed
Oklahoma House Bill 1818 modifies terms and titles for licensed social workers, redesignating licensed social work associates (LSWA) as bachelor's social workers (LBSW) and extending the for the State Board of Licensed Social Workers to July 1, 2028. The bill updates qualifications, requires criminal history record checks for applicants, establishes a fine of up to $500 for unlawful practice, and becomes effective November 1, 2026.
Social work applicants and current practitioners in Oklahoma face updated degree requirements, fingerprinting rules, and title changes, while the regulatory board's operational lifespan is extended by one year.
- The Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Social Workers regulates the licensing, certification, and professional practice of social workers throughout the state. context
- Sunset laws require state agencies and boards to undergo periodic legislative review to determine if their functions remain necessary. context
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Licensed social workers
Social workers face updated professional designations, title rules, independent practice restrictions, and continuing board oversight.
Social work applicants
Applicants must undergo mandatory national criminal history record checks and fingerprinting at their own expense.
State Board of Licensed Social Workers
The Board's operational lifespan is extended, and its enforcement and regulatory authorities over licensing terms are updated.
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 title change does HB 1818 make for social work associates?
When does the State Board of Licensed Social Workers sunset under this bill?
What are the penalties for practicing social work without a license under this legislation?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · passed the House · in Senate committee.
Procedural history
15 actions- Apr 1, 2026SenateCommitteeSecond Reading referred to Health and Human Services
- Mar 10, 2026SenateIntroducedFirst Reading
- Mar 10, 2026HouseEngrossed, signed, to Senate
- Mar 9, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred for engrossment
- Mar 9, 2026HouseFloorThird Reading, Measure passed: Ayes: 97 Nays: 0
- Mar 9, 2026HouseGeneral Order
Show 9 earlier actions
- Feb 26, 2026HouseAuthored by Senator Jech (principal Senate author)
- Feb 26, 2026HouseFloorCR; Do Pass, amended by committee substitute Health and Human Services Oversight Committee
- Feb 18, 2026HouseFloorPolicy recommendation to the Health and Human Services Oversight committee; Do Pass Public Health
- Feb 11, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred to Public Health
- Feb 11, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred to Health and Human Services Oversight
- Feb 11, 2026HouseCommitteeWithdrawn from Rules Committee
- Feb 4, 2025HouseCommitteeSecond Reading referred to Rules
- Feb 3, 2025HouseAuthored by Representative Newton
- Feb 3, 2025HouseIntroducedFirst 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.
View official text →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.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Title Harmonization and Sunset Extension
The bill systematically replaces legacy associate titles with bachelor's social worker designations and extends the regulatory board's existence by one year.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.oklegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 45)
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools