Oklahoma Senate Bill SB1793

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/2/26
• Refer: 2/3/26

Caption

Gender transition procedures; prohibiting certain use of public funds; prohibiting certain acts by certain public entities. Effective date. Emergency.

Summary

SB 1793 would restrict the use of state public funds for entities, organizations, health care providers, or individuals that provide or refer for gender transition procedures. The bill defines public funds broadly to include state money from any source, including appropriations, fees, fines, and other revenue collected by state agencies. It also bars state employees from using public funds in connection with such providers or referrals, and subjects employees who violate the restriction to possible disciplinary action, including termination. The bill further prohibits gender transition procedures from being provided or referred for in health care facilities owned by the state, counties, or local governments, or by health care providers employed by those public entities. Publicly employed providers who violate that prohibition could face disciplinary action and, upon conviction, misdemeanor penalties including fines and jail time. The measure is set to take effect July 1, 2026, but also contains an emergency clause intended to make it effective immediately upon passage and approval.

Impact

If enacted, SB 1793 would add a new section to Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes and create new restrictions on how public funds may be used by state agencies and public entities in connection with gender transition procedures. It would also impose employment consequences and criminal penalties for certain public employees and publicly employed health care providers who provide or refer for those procedures in government-owned or government-operated facilities. The bill would directly affect state agencies, county and local government health facilities, public employees, and health care providers working for public entities.

Sentiment

The available context shows the bill was introduced and advanced to committee referral, but there are no recorded committee transcripts or votes provided here to show detailed debate or bipartisan support/opposition. Based on the bill text and caption, the measure appears to be part of a broader policy effort to limit government involvement in gender transition-related care, suggesting support from sponsors favoring those restrictions and likely opposition from those concerned about access to care and the role of public health systems. Because no vote history is included, the overall legislative sentiment cannot be measured beyond its introduction and referral status.

Contention

The main point of contention is likely whether the state should prohibit public funding and public facilities from being used for gender transition procedures. Supporters would view the bill as a restriction on government spending and public employee conduct, while opponents would likely argue it interferes with medical decision-making, access to care, and the ability of public health systems to serve patients. Another likely dispute is the bill’s breadth, since it covers not only direct provision of procedures but also referrals and indirect use of public funds, and it imposes both employment discipline and criminal penalties on public providers.