Public health; requiring certain perinatal mental health screenings; requiring compilation and publication of certain data. Effective date.
SB 2036 creates a new set of public health requirements focused on the perinatal period, defined as pregnancy through one year after birth. It requires health care providers who see a mother or infant during that period to conduct a mental health screening of the mother for signs of perinatal depression and anxiety. Providers must also share data with the State Department of Health, to the extent permitted by state and federal privacy laws, to support implementation of the bill.
The bill also directs the State Department of Health to build and maintain a public website and mobile application that provide information on programs, services, and resources for women and infants during the perinatal period. The platform is intended to improve access to health care, mental health services, public assistance, and other supports. The Department may also use the platform to conduct surveys and may enter into contracts as needed to carry out the bill.
In addition, SB 2036 requires the Department to collect data on maternal health, mental health, and infant health outcomes from multiple sources, including provider-reported data, surveys, and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. The Department must compile this information into an annual report that includes the incidence of perinatal depression and anxiety and breaks data down by age, ethnicity, and other relevant demographic factors. The report must be posted online and sent electronically to legislative leaders and the Governor.
The bill would add new provisions to Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes and take effect November 1, 2026. Its practical impact would be to formalize screening, data collection, and public resource coordination around maternal and infant health, while also creating a recurring reporting obligation for the Department of Health.
There is little recorded debate or voting history in the provided materials, so overall sentiment appears neutral to supportive based on the bill’s public health framing and its focus on maternal and infant outcomes. No specific objections are documented in the transcript materials provided, but likely areas of concern include provider workload, privacy and data-sharing limits, and the administrative cost of building and maintaining the website, app, surveys, and annual reporting system.
SB 2036 would amend Oklahoma law by creating new statutory duties in Title 63 for health care providers and the State Department of Health. It mandates perinatal mental health screenings, authorizes limited data sharing, requires the Department to create public-facing digital resources, and imposes ongoing data collection and annual reporting obligations on maternal, mental, and infant health outcomes. The bill affects health care providers serving pregnant and postpartum patients, the Department of Health, and state policymakers who would receive the annual report.
The available record shows no committee transcript, floor debate, or vote tally, so there is no documented opposition or support beyond the bill’s introduction and referral. Based on the bill’s subject matter and structure, the measure appears to be framed as a maternal and infant health initiative, suggesting generally favorable or at least noncontroversial treatment in committee referral. However, the absence of recorded discussion means sentiment cannot be assessed beyond that limited procedural history.
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. Potential issues that could arise from the bill’s implementation include whether providers have the capacity to add required screenings during perinatal visits, how data-sharing will comply with privacy laws, whether the Department has resources to build and maintain the website and mobile app, and whether the annual reporting requirements create additional administrative burden. If debated, those concerns would likely involve health care providers, privacy advocates, and budget or agency administration stakeholders.