Oklahoma Behavioral Health Vacancy Registry Act

State Bills: Oklahoma

Published March 12th, 2026

Detected April 2nd, 2026

Summary

The Oklahoma State Legislature passed SB1794, the Behavioral Health Vacancy Registry Act, creating a mandatory registry for behavioral health workforce vacancies and reporting requirements. Sponsored by Senators Stanley and Kirt with Representative Roe as principal House author, the bill passed the Senate 35-6 and House Public Health Committee 5-0. State agencies and behavioral health providers will be required to report vacancy data under this new law.

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What changed

Oklahoma has enacted SB1794, creating the Oklahoma Behavioral Health Vacancy Registry Act, which requires the establishment of a behavioral health vacancy registry and mandates reporting by affected entities. The bill passed the Senate 35-6 on March 11, 2026, and received House Public Health Committee approval (5-0) on April 1, 2026, after being amended in Senate committee and on the Senate floor.

Behavioral health providers and related organizations in Oklahoma should prepare to comply with new reporting obligations under this registry. State agencies will need to establish and maintain the vacancy registry system. Regulated entities should monitor for implementing regulations from the Oklahoma State Department of Health or relevant state agencies that will define specific reporting timelines, formats, and thresholds.

What to do next

Identify whether your organization is covered under the behavioral health vacancy registry requirements
Prepare systems and processes to track and report behavioral health vacancies as required
Monitor for implementing regulations from Oklahoma state health agencies that will define specific reporting requirements

Source document (simplified)

ChangeBridge / Oklahoma / SB1794 Passed SB1794 Senate Bill Passed 2026-03-12

Mental health; creating the Oklahoma Behavioral Health Vacancy Registry Act; requiring establishment of certain behavioral health vacancy registry; mandating certain reporting. Effective date.

Bill Details

State Oklahoma

Session 2026 Regular Session

Chamber Senate

Official Source www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=s...

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Action History

2026-04-01 H Policy recommendation to the Health and Human Services Oversight committee; Do Pass Public Health 2026-03-30 H Referred to Public Health 2026-03-30 H Second Reading referred to Health and Human Services Oversight 2026-03-12 H First Reading 2026-03-12 S Engrossed to House 2026-03-11 S Referred for engrossment 2026-03-11 S Measure passed: Ayes: 35 Nays: 6 2026-03-11 S Title restored 2026-03-11 S General Order, Amended 2026-03-09 S Placed on General Order 2026-03-05 S Coauthored by Senator Kirt 2026-03-04 S Reported Do Pass, amended by committee substitute Appropriations committee; CR filed 2026-03-02 S Coauthored by Representative Roe (principal House author) 2026-02-16 S Referred to Appropriations 2026-02-16 S Title stricken 2026-02-16 S Reported Do Pass, amended by committee substitute Health and Human Services committee; CR filed 2026-02-02 S Remove as author Senator Rosino; authored by Senator Stanley 2026-02-03 S Second Reading referred to Health and Human Services Committee then to Appropriations Committee 2026-02-02 S Authored by Senator Rosino 2026-02-02 S First Reading

Votes

2026-02-16 Senate: Health & Human Services Committee: DO PASS AMENDED CS Yea: 11 Nay: 1 2026-03-04 Senate: ADOPT Yea: 23 Nay: 1 2026-03-04 Senate: Appropriations Committee: DO PASS AMENDED CS Yea: 23 Nay: 1 2026-03-11 Senate: THIRD READING Yea: 35 Nay: 6 2026-04-01 House: Public Health Committee: DO PASS Yea: 5 Nay: 0

Committee Referrals

2026-02-03 S Health and Human Services 2026-02-16 S Appropriations 2026-03-30 H Health and Human Services Oversight 2026-03-30 H Public Health

Amendments

2026-02-13 Senate Committee Committee Amendment 2026-03-04 Senate Committee Committee Amendment 1 2026-03-09 Senate Floor SB1794 (3-09-26) (STANLEY) RT FA1