Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session Status: In Committee 1 D cosponsors

HB 1523 — Schools; student mental health; State Department of Education to create a school-based telehealth pilot program; request for proposals; definitions; optional school district participation; reporting to the Legislature; requiring the Department to seek funding; effective date; emergency.

Last action — Referred to Common Education

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced February 03, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the House.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Stalled 4% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 D).

  • Failed a recorded vote

    Failed 1 recorded vote so far — a real headwind.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

272 added · 175 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendment to Bill HB 1523 fundamentally overhauls the original draft by removing its entire content and replacing it with new language. This change suggests a complete shift in focus or strategy regarding the legislative intent of the bill. Such amendments typically matter because they can significantly alter how issues—such as student mental health—are addressed, potentially affecting programs, funding, and regulations within schools. It's important for stakeholders, like educators and parents, to stay informed about these changes as they can influence the services available to students.

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Latest
STATE OF OKLAHOMA 1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025) HOUSE BILL 1523 By:
HB1523 POLPCS1 Melissa Provenzano-SW 2/19/2025 11:31:20 am COMMITTEE AMENDMENT HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES State of Oklahoma SPEAKER:
Lowe (Dick) 5 AS INTRODUCED An Act relating to student mental health;
CHAIR:
mandating the State Department of Education to create a school- based telehealth pilot program;
I move to amend HB1523 Of the printed Bill Page Section Lines Of the Engrossed Bill By deleting the content of the entire measure, and by inserting in lieu thereof the following language:
AMEND TITLE TO CONFORM TO AMENDMENTS Amendment submitted by:
Melissa Provenzano Adopted:
_____________________________ ______________________________________ Reading Clerk STATE OF OKLAHOMA 1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025) PROPOSED SUBCOMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO.
1523 By:
Provenzano 6 8 PROPOSED SUBCOMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE An Act relating to student mental health;
mandating the State Department of Education to create a school- based telehealth program;
establishing request for proposal and contract timelines;
mandating the State Department of Education to select eligible schools;
requiring school participation to represent certain state populations;
providing a rubric for the selection of schools;
allowing contributions from charitable and non-state sources;
requiring Department matching of certain contributions;
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
Req.
No.
12260 Page 1 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
The State Department of Education ("Department") shall establish a school-based telehealth pilot program.
1.
The Department shall contract with a single telehealth provider to provide mental health care to students enrolled in participating school districts.
The State Department of Education shall establish a school-based telehealth program.
Req.
The State Department of Education (Department) shall contract with a single telehealth provider to provide mental health care to students enrolled in participating school districts.
No.
The Department shall issue a Request for Proposal to select the telehealth provider.
10345 Page 1 The Department shall issue a request for proposals to select the telehealth provider.
2.
The Department shall initiate the Request for Proposal within ninety (90) days of the passage and approval of this act.
The Department shall select a telehealth provider from the proposals within sixty (60) days of the publication of the Request for Proposal.
The awarded telehealth provider contract shall begin within sixty (60) days of the provider selection.
"Mental health care provider" means any person or other entity who is licensed pursuant to the provisions of Title 59 or Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes, or pursuant to the laws of another state, to render mental health care services in the practice of a profession or in the ordinary course of business;
"Health carrier" means an entity subject to the insurance laws and regulations of this state, or subject to the jurisdiction of the Insurance Commissioner, that contracts or offers to contract to provide, deliver, arrange for, pay for, or reimburse any of the costs of health care services including through a health benefit plan as defined in this section, and shall include a sickness and accident insurance company, a health maintenance organization, a Req.
No.
12260 Page 2 preferred provider organization or any similar entity, or any other entity providing a plan of health insurance or health benefits;
"Health carrier" means an entity subject to the insurance laws and regulations of this state, or subject to the jurisdiction of the Insurance Commissioner, that contracts or offers to contract to provide, deliver, arrange for, pay for or reimburse any of the costs of health care services including through a health benefit plan as defined in this section, and shall include a sickness and accident insurance company, a health maintenance organization, a preferred provider organization or any similar entity, or any other entity providing a plan of health insurance or health benefits;
"Mental health care provider" means any person or other entity who is licensed pursuant to the provisions of Title 59 or Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes, or pursuant to the laws of another state, to render mental health care services in the practice of a profession or in the ordinary course of business;
"Oklahoma health care programs" means state-purchased health care or state-subsidized health care purchased with or supported by state and federal funds through the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, the State Department of Health, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Veterans Affairs, other state agencies administering state-purchased or state-subsidized Req.
"Oklahoma health care programs" means state-purchased health care or state-subsidized health care purchased with or supported by state and federal funds through the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, the State Department of Health, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Veterans Affairs, other state agencies administering state-purchased or state-subsidized health care programs, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, the State Board of Education, and local school districts;
No.
10345 Page 2 health care programs, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, the State Board of Education, and local school districts;
"School district" or "district" has the same meaning as provide for in Section 1-108 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes;
"School district" or "district" has the same meaning as provided for in Section 1-108 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes;
synchronous mechanisms, which may include live audiovisual interaction between a patient and a mental health care professional, b.
synchronous mechanisms, which may include live audiovisual interaction between a patient and a mental health care professional, Req.
No.
12260 Page 3 b.
other electronic means that support clinical mental health care, professional consultation, mental health- related education, and mental health care administration.
other electronic means that support clinical mental health care, professional consultation, mental health- related education, and mental health care administration;
Req.
and 6.
No.
Show all 99 changed rows (59 more)
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10345 Page 3 6.
Have experience providing mental health care through telehealth in educational settings, and at the time of application are providing access to mental health care through telehealth to at least one school district with a student population of fifty thousand (50,000) or more students;
Have experience providing mental health care through telehealth in educational settings, and at the time of application are providing access to mental health care through telehealth to at least one school district with a student population of one hundred thousand (100,000) or more students;
2.
Req.
No.
12260 Page 4 2.
and Req.
and 7.
No.
10345 Page 4 7.
2.
Req.
No.
12260 Page 5 2.
School districts electing to participate in the pilot program shall:
School districts eligible to participate in the pilot program shall be selected by the Department, and shall be representative of the student population across the state.
The Department shall prioritize eligibility by selecting at least one school from each of Oklahoma's congressional districts.
2.
Using the most recently available data, school districts shall be selected so that the totality of students served by the program are reflective of the racial and economic populations of the state, including:
be party to a valid contract with the selected telehealth provider, Req.
the percentage of students eligible for free/reduced lunch, b.
the percentage of students eligible for special education, Req.
10345 Page 5 b.
12260 Page 6 c.
the percentage of students identified as English learners, and d.
the percentage of students identified by ethnic group, within five percent (5%) so long as any deviation does not eliminate the potential participation by any group of students.
3.
The following rubric shall be used to score applicant districts:
a.
economically disadvantaged:
(1) less than 40% = 0 points, (2) 40% to 55% = 1 point, (3) 55.1% to 63% = 3 points, (4) 63.1% to 72% = 4 points, (5) 72.1% to 84% = 5 points, and (6) greater than 84.1% = 6 points, b.
English learners:
(1) less than 1% = 0 points, (2) 1% to 3% = 1 point, (3) 3.1% to 6% = 2 points, (4) 6.1% to 12.0% = 3 points, (5) 12.1% to 20% = 4 points, and (6) greater than 20.1% = 5 points, c.
special education:
(1) less than 11.0% = 0 points, Req.
No.
12260 Page 7 (2) 11.1% to 14.0% = 1 point, (3) 14.1% to 17.0% = 2 points, (4) 17.1% to 20.0% = 3 points, (5) 20.1% to 25.0% = 4 points, and (6) greater than 25.1% = 5 points, and d.
student population size:
(1) greater than 7,500 = 0 points, (2) 5,000 to 7,499 = 1 point, (3) 3,001 to 5,000 = 2 points, (4) 1,500 to 3,000 = 3 points, (5) 501 to 1,499 = 4 points, and (6) less than 500 = 5 points.
F.
1.
School districts electing to participate in the pilot program shall:
a.
be party to a valid contract with the selected telehealth provider, b.
School districts participating in the pilot program shall not use the mental health care services made available under this section to supplant the daily student support provided in the school by educational student service providers, including but not limited to licensed school nurses, educational psychologists, school social workers, and school counselors.
School districts participating in the pilot program shall not use the mental health care services made available under this Req.
F.
No.
Funds acquired or encumbered for the school-based telehealth pilot program as described in this section shall only be used for the following purposes:
12260 Page 8 section to supplant the daily student support provided in the school by educational student service providers, including, but not limited to, licensed school nurses, educational psychologists, school social workers, and school counselors.
G.
Funds acquired or appropriated for the school-based telehealth program as described in this section shall only be used for the following purposes:
To reimburse the telehealth provider for the one-time fixed costs for establishing the school-based telehealth pilot program;
To reimburse the telehealth provider for the one-time fixed costs for establishing the school-based telehealth pilot program in a school district;
G.
H.
The Department, in cooperation with participating school districts, shall evaluate the extent to which the pilot program Req.
The Department, in cooperation with participating school districts, shall evaluate the extent to which the pilot program increases student access to mental health care services.
No.
By January 15, 2027, and every two (2) years thereafter, the Department shall report the results of the evaluation to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over education finance and policy and health finance and policy.
10345 Page 6 increases student access to mental health care services.
By January 15, 2027, the Department shall report the results of the evaluation to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over education finance and policy and health finance and policy.
School districts shall provide the Department with information the Department deems necessary to monitor the districts' compliance with paragraph 2 of subsection E of this section.
School districts shall provide the Department with information the Department deems necessary to monitor the districts' compliance with paragraph 2 of subsection F of this section.
The Department shall include in the Department's report to the Legislature the Department's conclusions regarding any evidence that participating school districts are violating paragraph 2 of subsection E of this section.
The Req.
H.
No.
The Department shall seek funding from sources as may be available and authorized in order to implement the provisions of this section.
12260 Page 9 Department shall include in the Department's report to the Legislature the Department's conclusions regarding any evidence that participating school districts are violating paragraph 2 of subsection E of this section.
The Department shall not expend an amount in excess of the total funds acquired by the Department pursuant to the provisions of this subsection.
I.
The Department shall seek funding from sources as may be available and authorized in order to implement the provisions of this section, including from charitable sources and non-state entities.
The Department shall match all funds acquired from charitable sources and non-state entities.
The Department shall not expend an amount in excess of the matching funds and total funds acquired by the Department pursuant to the provisions of this subsection.
60-1-10345 SW 01/12/25 Req.
60-1-12260 SW 02/13/25 Req.
10345 Page 7
12260 Page 10
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Amendments

1 amendment

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Action History

  1. Referred to Common Education

  2. Referred to Education Oversight

  3. Withdrawn from Appropriations and Budget Committee

  4. Withdrawn from Appropriations and Budget Education Subcommittee Committee

  5. Referred to Appropriations and Budget Education Subcommittee

  6. Referred to Appropriations and Budget

  7. Withdrawn from Rules Committee

  8. Remove Representative Lowe (Dick) as principal House author and substitute with Representative Provenzano

  9. Second Reading referred to Rules

  10. Authored by Representative Lowe (Dick)

  11. First Reading

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 150 not signed on · 6 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (150)

150 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 150 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Common Education Committee: Do Pass As Amended By Cs

Failed 5 Yea · 6 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 3600
Democrat 2000
Total 5600
% of votes cast 45%55%0%0%
How each member voted (11)
Member Party Vote
Ellen Pogemiller Democrat Yea
Jacob Rosecrants Democrat Yea
Chad Caldwell Republican Nay
Chris Banning Republican Nay
Chuck Hall Republican Nay
Cody Maynard Republican Nay
Danny Sterling Republican Yea
Dick Lowe Republican Yea
Mark Tedford Republican Nay
Molly Jenkins Republican Nay
Ronny Johns Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

healthcare education
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 1523?
HB 1523 is sponsored by Melissa Provenzano (Democrat).
What is the current status of HB 1523?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced February 03, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HB 1523?
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