Notes provided by Metriarch unless otherwise noted
3 Replies to “HB 1224 (2025)”
HB 1224 has been substituted and no longer addresses denial of care based on conscience.
The committee substitute now focuses on clarifying the Parents’ Bill of Rights and a guardian’s access to a minor’s medical records. It specifies that if a minor seeks care for an STI, pregnancy, or substance use but does not receive treatment, their guardian may access those records. The bill does not change a minor’s ability to self-consent and receive anonymous treatment.
It is unclear how the bill interacts with Title X protections or how it applies when a minor is tested but receives a negative result, as testing could be considered part of the diagnosis.
HB 1224 is a “zombie bill” of SB 547, which passed the Senate Health and Human Services Committee but was not heard on the Senate floor.
When asked whether a health care worker can refuse care without first notifying their employer, the author stated that employers may ask candidates about potential objections during the hiring process. When questioned whether this violates federal law that prohibits most religion-based questions, the author dismissed the concern, comparing moral objections to asking if someone knows how to use a tool. This overlooks that moral objections are often tied to personal faith, unlike job skills.
The author did not address what happens if an employee’s beliefs change after being hired.
He argued that HB 1224 would not worsen Oklahoma’s health care shortage, stating that partial service is better than none. When asked about financial losses due to refusals, he reiterated that employers should screen for objections in interviews but did not address the cost of covering those tasks. He also cited Oklahoma’s strong employer protections, suggesting employers could dismiss staff for other reasons. When asked about wrongful termination, he again pointed to employer-friendly state laws.
Lastly, he claimed the bill would not apply to school nurses, some of which are RNs. The bill does not include language to support that.
Allows any medical worker or organization that provides health care to deny medical services based on conscience, without facing discrimination.
Key Definitions:
Medical Worker: Broadly defined to include anyone within the chain of care. This includes clinicians, non-clinical staff (e.g., receptionists), and organizations such as insurance companies.
Medical Services: Encompasses any activity connected to the health care system, including administrative tasks like paperwork and charting.
Conscience: Defined as an individual’s or entity’s ethical, moral, or religious beliefs. Individuals would not have to disclose their objections, however institutions such as hospitals and insurers would.
Discrimination: Defined as any professional consequence for acting on conscience. Employees cannot be reassigned, disciplined, or terminated—even if their objection substantially disrupts workflow or care delivery.
This bill closely resembles Sen. McIntosh’s SB 959 (2025), but HB 1224 imposes stricter transparency requirements on health insurers and health systems regarding their ethical policies.
Rep. Kevin West previously introduced a similar measure as HB 3214 (2024).
Health care; minor self-consent to health services; granting certain protections to parent or legal guardian related to medical records; effective date.
3 Replies to “HB 1224 (2025)”
HB 1224 has been substituted and no longer addresses denial of care based on conscience.
The committee substitute now focuses on clarifying the Parents’ Bill of Rights and a guardian’s access to a minor’s medical records. It specifies that if a minor seeks care for an STI, pregnancy, or substance use but does not receive treatment, their guardian may access those records. The bill does not change a minor’s ability to self-consent and receive anonymous treatment.
It is unclear how the bill interacts with Title X protections or how it applies when a minor is tested but receives a negative result, as testing could be considered part of the diagnosis.
HB 1224 is a “zombie bill” of SB 547, which passed the Senate Health and Human Services Committee but was not heard on the Senate floor.
When asked whether a health care worker can refuse care without first notifying their employer, the author stated that employers may ask candidates about potential objections during the hiring process. When questioned whether this violates federal law that prohibits most religion-based questions, the author dismissed the concern, comparing moral objections to asking if someone knows how to use a tool. This overlooks that moral objections are often tied to personal faith, unlike job skills.
The author did not address what happens if an employee’s beliefs change after being hired.
He argued that HB 1224 would not worsen Oklahoma’s health care shortage, stating that partial service is better than none. When asked about financial losses due to refusals, he reiterated that employers should screen for objections in interviews but did not address the cost of covering those tasks. He also cited Oklahoma’s strong employer protections, suggesting employers could dismiss staff for other reasons. When asked about wrongful termination, he again pointed to employer-friendly state laws.
Lastly, he claimed the bill would not apply to school nurses, some of which are RNs. The bill does not include language to support that.
Allows any medical worker or organization that provides health care to deny medical services based on conscience, without facing discrimination.
Key Definitions:
Medical Worker: Broadly defined to include anyone within the chain of care. This includes clinicians, non-clinical staff (e.g., receptionists), and organizations such as insurance companies.
Medical Services: Encompasses any activity connected to the health care system, including administrative tasks like paperwork and charting.
Conscience: Defined as an individual’s or entity’s ethical, moral, or religious beliefs. Individuals would not have to disclose their objections, however institutions such as hospitals and insurers would.
Discrimination: Defined as any professional consequence for acting on conscience. Employees cannot be reassigned, disciplined, or terminated—even if their objection substantially disrupts workflow or care delivery.
This bill closely resembles Sen. McIntosh’s SB 959 (2025), but HB 1224 imposes stricter transparency requirements on health insurers and health systems regarding their ethical policies.
Rep. Kevin West previously introduced a similar measure as HB 3214 (2024).
Comments are closed.