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SB1506 • 2026

Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services; modifying appointing authority of the Commissioner. Effective date.

Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services; modifying appointing authority of the Commissioner. Effective date.

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Hicks
Last action
2026-02-03
Official status
Second Reading referred to Health and Human Services
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services; modifying appointing authority of the Commissioner. Effective date.

Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services; modifying appointing authority of the Commissioner.

What This Bill Does

  • Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services; modifying appointing authority of the Commissioner.
  • Effective date.
  • Bill Summaries/Fiscal Impact for SB 1506 (Senate): Introduced (1/12/2026)

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-03 Senate

    Second Reading referred to Health and Human Services

  2. 2026-02-02 Senate

    First Reading

  3. 2026-02-02 Senate

    Authored by Senator Hicks

Official Summary Text

Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services; modifying appointing authority of the Commissioner. Effective date.
Bill Summaries/Fiscal Impact for SB 1506 (Senate): Introduced (1/12/2026)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
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STATE OF OKLAHOMA

2nd Session of the 60th Legislature (2026)

SENATE BILL 1506 By: Hicks

AS INTRODUCED

An Act relating to the Department of Mental Health
and Substance Abuse Services; amending 43A O.S. 2021,
Section 2-101, which relates to the Board of Mental
Health and Substance Abuse Services; modifying
appointing authority of the Commissioner of Mental
Health and Substance Abuse Services; conforming
language; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 43A O.S. 2021, Section 2-101, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 2-101. A. 1. There is hereby established in this
state a Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.
2. This Department’s governing board shall be the Board of
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, and its chief executive
officer shall be the Commissioner of Mental Health and Substance
Abuse Services. The Commissioner shall be appointed by the Governor
with the advice and consent of the Senate and shall serve at the
pleasure of the Governor Board and may be removed or replaced
without cause. Compensation for the Commissioner shall be

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determined by the Governor. The Commissioner may be removed from
office by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members elected to and
constituting each chamber of the Legislature Board.
3. The Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
shall exercise all functions of the state in relation to the
administration and operation of all state facilities for the care
and treatment of the mentally ill and drug- or alcohol-dependent
persons.
B. All references in the Oklahoma Statutes to the Department of
Mental Health or the Board of Mental Health shall be construed to
refer to the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse
Services or the Board of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services,
respectively.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2026.

60-2-2646 DC 1/9/2026 11:22:07 PM