Automated external defibrillators; creating the Doran Act of 2025; requiring on health spa premises; requirements; voidable contract; effective date.
HB2379, known as the Doran Act of 2025, requires every health spa in Oklahoma to have at least one automated external defibrillator (AED) on the premises. The bill defines “health spa” broadly to include businesses and organizations that sell memberships or access to exercise facilities and equipment, including for-profit gyms, nonprofit fitness organizations such as YMCAs and YWCAs, martial arts facilities, college and university fitness centers, country clubs, and certain weight-loss or weight-control services.
The bill also sets basic placement and notice requirements. The AED must be located where it is most accessible to staff, members, and guests. If a health spa is unstaffed, it must have a telephone for 9-1-1 access and signs in plain view showing the AED location and giving instructions for AED use and CPR. The measure provides limited liability protection by barring causes of action against a health spa or its employees for use or nonuse of an AED unless the spa failed to purchase the device as required or acted with gross negligence. It also makes noncompliance a consumer remedy issue by allowing a health spa contract to be voidable at the buyer’s option if the spa does not comply.
In practical terms, the bill would amend Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes by adding a new section governing AED requirements for health spas, while also creating a new statutory framework for enforcement through contract voidability and limited immunity. The act is set to become effective November 1, 2025.
The overall sentiment appears favorable. The bill advanced through committee with unanimous support in the House Business Committee and strong support in the House Commerce and Economic Development Oversight Committee, indicating broad agreement with the public-safety purpose of requiring AEDs in fitness settings. The committee substitute and coauthorship also suggest the measure was refined to address implementation and liability concerns.
The main point of contention is likely the cost and compliance burden on health spas, especially smaller, nonprofit, or unstaffed facilities that would need to purchase and maintain an AED, post signage, and ensure 9-1-1 access. Another possible concern is the scope of the definition of “health spa,” which reaches a wide range of facilities, and the bill’s liability provisions, which balance consumer protection with immunity for operators except in cases of noncompliance or gross negligence.
HB2379 would add a new section to Title 63 requiring health spas to maintain at least one automated external defibrillator on site, with related signage and emergency-access requirements for unstaffed facilities. It also creates a limited-liability rule for spas and employees, and gives buyers the right to void a health spa contract if the spa fails to comply. The bill affects gyms, fitness centers, YMCAs/YWCAs, martial arts studios, country clubs, and certain weight-loss services, while leaving enforcement primarily through contract remedies and negligence standards.
Committee action suggests the bill was generally well received. It passed the House Business Committee unanimously and the House Commerce and Economic Development Oversight Committee by a solid margin, both times as amended by committee substitute. That voting pattern indicates broad support for the safety objective of placing AEDs in health spas, with amendments likely used to refine the bill rather than oppose it.
The likely areas of concern are the financial and operational impact on health spas, especially smaller or nonprofit facilities that may face added equipment, signage, and training-related costs. There may also be debate over the breadth of the definition of health spa and whether the bill’s liability protections are sufficient or too restrictive. Supporters appear focused on emergency preparedness and cardiac safety, while any skeptics would likely emphasize compliance costs, contract consequences, and the reach of the mandate.