More than 20 anti-abortion bills failed in Oklahoma. But reproductive health bills are still up for debate

The 2024 legislative session in Oklahoma saw over 20 anti-abortion bills, but none met passage requirements, effectively killing all of them.

Abortion is already banned in the state except to save the life of the pregnant person. State law doesn't include exceptions for rape or incest.

Still, Republican lawmakers sought further restrictions through bills that would've banned emergency contraceptives, adjusted the definition of homicide to include abortions and granted a father the right to disagree with someone's decision to have an abortion, among others.

While none of these bills met passage requirements, some bills that promote reproductive and sexual health are still active.

Senate Bill 1742: Coverage for contraceptive drugs

Authored by Sen. Jo Anna Dossett (D-Tulsa) and Rep. Cynthia Roe (R-Lindsay), SB 1742 would require any health benefit plan that offers coverage for contraceptive drugs to provide coverage for an enrollee to obtain a three-month supply of a contraceptive drug the first time the enrollee obtains the drug.

It also requires the plan to provide coverage for a 12-month supply of the contraceptive drug each subsequent time that the enrollee obtains the same drug.

In May, the bill passed the Senate 30-11 before the bill was amended and passed in the House 70-26.

The House amendments were rejected in the Senate and a conference was requested.

Senate Bill 1491: Expedited partner therapy for STI patients

Authored by Sen. Brenda Stanley (R-Midwest City) and Roe, SB 1491 would allow healthcare providers who diagnose a patient with a sexually transmitted infection to provide expedited partner therapy if the patient's sexual partner is unlikely or unable to present of examination, testing and treatment.

The bill would require the health care provider who provides expedited partner therapy to give counseling to the patient, including distributing written materials from the State Department of Health.

SB 1491 passed the Senate 40-5 in February. With amendments, the bill passed the House 59-21 on Thursday and was referred to the Senate for engrossment.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma anti-abortion bills fail in 2024 legislative session