Oklahoma
Marissa Murrow Act takes effect, requiring specialized training for event venue bartenders
A new Oklahoma law aimed at preventing drunk driving tragedies took effect Tuesday, requiring bartenders at event venues to obtain a specialized license and complete alcohol service training before serving guests.
The Marissa Murrow Act was named in honor of Marissa Murrow, a University of Central Oklahoma sophomore who was killed in a wrong-way crash in 2020 after an intoxicated driver left a wedding.
Supporters say the legislation closes a gap in Oklahoma’s alcohol laws by holding bartenders at private event venues to many of the same standards already required at bars and restaurants.
Closing a loophole
Rep. Brian Hill, R-Mustang, authored the legislation after working with Murrow’s family for several years to address what he called an unintended loophole in state law.
Before the law took effect, bartenders working in restaurants and bars were required to hold an employee license and receive training on responsible alcohol service. Those requirements, however, did not apply when bartenders served alcohol at rented event venues such as wedding halls and banquet facilities.
“What we tried to do through the Marissa Murrow Act was identify a space where there was an exception to the rules that everyone else abides by,” Hill said. “We wanted to protect families, protect venues and keep our roads safer.”
The legislation creates a separate event venue bartender license requiring applicants to complete in-person training through the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement (ABLE) Commission.
Hill said the goal is not to punish businesses but to provide bartenders with the same training and authority to recognize intoxication and stop serving alcohol when necessary.
“This legislation is very much about empowering and providing proper training,” Hill said. “By doing that, we’re making Oklahoma stronger, and we’re making it safer for our kids and our grandkids.”
A law inspired by tragedy
The legislation honors Murrow, a Mustang High School graduate and UCO student whose death prompted her family to advocate for changes in Oklahoma’s alcohol laws.
According to court documents, Malcolm Penney was approximately twice the legal blood alcohol limit after leaving a wedding when he drove the wrong way on the John Kilpatrick Turnpike and struck Murrow’s vehicle head-on as she was returning to Edmond.
Hill said Murrow’s parents, Jeff and Christy Murrow, began working with lawmakers shortly after the crash to prevent similar tragedies.
“I’ve found Jeff and Christy and families like theirs to be an inspiration,” Hill said. “To push through the pain and continue showing up to try to fix a problem—hopefully because of their willingness, one more life will be saved.”
Hill said the issue remains significant statewide, noting that an average of nine Oklahomans die each week in crashes involving impaired drivers.
“We can and should do better,” he said.
New licensing requirements
The Marissa Murrow Act establishes an annual event venue bartender license that is separate from the employee license already required for bartenders at bars and restaurants.
Applicants must pay a $50 annual fee, register through the ABLE Commission and complete mandatory in-person training before receiving the license.
Lori Carter, general counsel and assistant director of the ABLE Commission, said the training focuses on identifying intoxicated patrons, preventing overservice and ensuring alcohol is not served to minors.
“We give those event venue bartenders the in-person training that will equip them with the ability to make sure they’re not serving underage people and that they’re not overserving the people that attend these events,” Carter said.
The commission has already hosted free training sessions in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Poteau and Eufaula and plans to continue offering classes statewide as demand increases.
“We really want Oklahomans to be safe,” Carter said. “We want everyone who’s licensed by ABLE to follow those rules and make everyone safer.”
To learn more about license, click here
Who the law applies to
The law applies to venues that are regularly rented or contracted for events where alcohol is served, including wedding venues and banquet facilities.
Government-owned properties and properties owned by nonprofit organizations are exempt from the licensing requirement.
Carter said the event venue license cannot be used to operate a mobile bar, which remains illegal in Oklahoma.
Penalties for violations
Bartenders and event venues that fail to comply with the law may face administrative sanctions from the ABLE Commission, including fines and licensing penalties.
In some cases, violations may also result in criminal charges under Oklahoma’s alcohol laws.
Hill said the legislation simply extends existing accountability measures to event venues rather than creating entirely new penalties.
“All we’ve done is make sure that the same requirements that are already in law are also in place when someone is at a venue consuming alcohol,” he said.
For Hill and Murrow’s family, the law represents years of work aimed at ensuring the circumstances surrounding her death are less likely to be repeated.
“Life shouldn’t be at risk when our kids leave our homes,” Hill said. “We shouldn’t have to fear because someone was overserved.”
This tracker will be updated as the MLB Draft progresses throughout the weekend.
Oklahoma is still basking in the shine of capturing the program’s third national title last month.
The players have spread out to participate in summer leagues across the country, and head coach Skip Johnson has been hard at work finalizing the roster for next year through the transfer portal and rounding out the coaching staff, which now includes his son Tyler Johnson to fill the void left by Todd Butler, who departed for Florida.
A handful of OU upperclassmen will have big decisions to make.
The MLB Draft got underway on Saturday, meaning a few Sooners will have to decide whether to return to school for an additional year or start their professional careers.
Here are the Oklahoma players who have been selected in the draft.
|
Player |
Position |
Round |
Pick |
Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Brendan Brock |
C/OF |
3 |
99 |
New York Yankees |
|
Jaxon Willits |
INF |
5 |
141 |
Los Angeles Angels |
|
LJ Mercurius |
RHP |
5 |
148 |
Arizona Diamondbacks |
|
Deiten Lachance |
C |
6 |
184 |
Cleveland Guardians |
|
Camden Johnson |
INF |
9 |
269 |
Kansas City Royals |
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Oklahoma’s Draft Picks
- Brendan Brock did a bit of everything for the Sooners. He started 65 of OU’s 66 games either at catcher, in the outfield or as the Sooners’ designated hitter. He hit .302 for the year, totaling 74 hits, 11 doubles, two triples and he scored 60 runs. Brock bashed 13 home runs, finished with 55 RBIs and stole 28 bases. He hit .400 in the Men’s College World Series, which included a home run, a double and three RBIs.
- Oklahoma shortstop Jaxon Willits was the second Sooner off the board. The junior started 64 games and hit .313 with seven home runs, 55 RBIs, 20 doubles and three triples. Willits truly shined in the World Series. He was named the Most Outstanding Player in Omaha. Willits went 13-for-26 at the plate, setting the school record for hits in a single MCWS, and he had a home run, four doubles and seven RBIs. He’s the son of OU associate head coach Reggie Willits, and his brother, Eli, was the first-overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft.
- Right-handed pitcher LJ Mercurius was selected a few picks after Willits. The junior transferred to OU from UNLV and was able to play alongside his brother, Xander. LJ began the year as one of Oklahoma’s starters, landing him on the Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List, but later in the year he transitioned to a bullpen role, where he thrived. He ended the year with a 4.43 ERA in 83 1/3 innings. He started 12 games and made 22 appearances, ending with a 7-7 record and four saves. He struck out 103 batters and issued 27 walks while also hitting 10 batters. Mercurius held opponents to a .235 batting average against him in 2026.
- A member of the MCWS All-Tournament Team, catcher Deiten Lachance was the man for the big moment throughout the postseason. He finished the year batting .327 with 18 home runs and 69 RBIs in 65 appearances, and he also added 12 doubles and two triples. Lachance homered three times at the World Series, including a pair of bombs in the first contest of the Championship Series against North Carolina.
- Camden Johnson started 62 games at third base and appeared in all but one game for the Sooners. He hit .298 for the season with 11 doubles, three triples and nine homers, and Johnson drove in 48 runs. He also stole 31 bases.
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New Oklahoma laws on abortion, insulin access go into effect July 1
New Oklahoma laws on a permanent classroom phone ban, barring abortion referrals and boosting access to insulin go into effect on July 1.
An out-of-state anti-abortion group successfully lobbied to change Oklahoma law after it was rejected for public funding from a program that encourages women to keep their unplanned pregnancies.
Human Coalition is a Texas-based nonprofit that uses internet marketing to connect women with crisis pregnancy centers and social workers. The group has pushed for several states to expand anti-abortion programs. About two-thirds of the group’s revenue in the 2025 fiscal year — $20.7 million — came from government grants, according to tax records. The group spent about $7.5 million on advertising and $241,728 on lobbying nationwide.
Human Coalition applied for funding from Oklahoma’s Choosing Childbirth program in 2024. The State Department of Health rejected the group because it determined that its lack of a physical presence in Oklahoma didn’t comply with state law.
The Choosing Childbirth program has become a key part of Oklahoma’s strategy to support young children and pregnant women since the state enacted a near-total abortion ban in 2022. Oklahoma nonprofits can get taxpayer-funded grants through the program to provide things like employment assistance, parenting education and diapers.
Senate Bill 1503 removes the requirement for a nonprofit to have a location in the state. Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, and Rep. Mark Lepak, R-Claremore, sponsored the bill. A handful of groups headquartered out of state already receive Choosing Childbirth funding, but all awardees maintain a physical location in Oklahoma.
Daniels said the legislation was written with only Human Coalition in mind. She first came in contact with Human Coalition through her involvement in the conservative model legislation group American Legislative Exchange Council. She met with two lobbyists for Human Coalition at the council’s December policy summit and learned it had been unable to participate in the last round of Choosing Childbirth funding.
“I said, ‘Well, tell me more.’ And we realized it would be a very simple change in the law, and so that’s what we did,” Daniels said.
Daniels said she thinks Human Coalition’s online model can engage women who might not seek out services at crisis pregnancy centers on their own. She also said it’s “doubly sad” that Human Coalition didn’t receive funding because three crisis pregnancy centers in the state said they’d like to work with the group and wrote letters of support.
In Oklahoma, Human Coalition lobbied to boost funding for the state’s Choosing Childbirth program by about sixfold, from $3 million to $18 million in 2024, Lauren Enriquez, a spokesperson for the nonprofit, said in a statement.
“When Human Coalition advocates and provides care services, funding grows and families gain real, expanded choices,” Enriquez said in the statement. Human Coalition declined an interview after multiple requests from The Frontier and StateImpact.
Human Coalition has five active lobbyists in Oklahoma. Three work for Oklahoma consulting and lobbying firm CMA Strategies, and two work directly for the nonprofit.
Lobbyist Pat McFerron said in an email that the firm is proud to support Human Coalition’s efforts to expand access to “life-affirming care,” but he didn’t answer questions from The Frontier and StateImpact.
“We are pleased with the progress made to expand Oklahoma’s Choosing Childbirth program, including SB 1503, and look forward to building on that momentum,” McFerron said.
Programs in seven states
Human Coalition runs government telecare programs in seven states and has several pregnancy centers throughout the U.S., according to its most recent annual report.
Florida lawmakers awarded Human Coalition $500,000 this fiscal year to facilitate a statewide telecare network for “women who are challenged with unexpected pregnancies,” though the group asked the Florida House of Representatives and Senate for more money.
Human Coalition operates a statewide telecare network for the state of Louisiana, providing services for pregnant women and families. The organization is set to receive up to $3 million in state funding through the end of next year.
Whitney LaFrance, a spokesperson for the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services, said in an email that the agency recently celebrated the first birthday of a child “saved through Human Coalition’s services,” and that the group has exceeded the state’s expectations.
Human Coalition first applied in 2020 to serve as Oklahoma’s Choosing Childbirth grant administrator, a role that would allow the group to distribute state funding to other service providers. But the State Department of Health contract was ultimately awarded to another nonprofit, Oklahoma Pregnancy Care Network. The agency determined Human Coalition would have used most of the state funding to support its telehealth program instead of direct services in the state, Erica Rankin-Riley, a spokesperson for the Health Department, said in an email.
Service providers and watchdog groups have raised concerns about Human Coalition’s work in some states.
The liberal watchdog group Campaign for Accountability sent a letter to North Carolina officials in 2019, alleging that Human Coalition had improperly used state funding for religious purposes. According to the letter, Human Coalition’s website at the time said mentoring was “a vital part” of its program “that helps connect our clients to the church.” The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services didn’t respond to a question about whether the complaint was resolved.
North Carolina lawmakers still expanded Human Coalition’s funding from $1.2 million a year between 2019 and 2021 to $3.2 million a year between 2021 and 2023. The nonprofit was allocated more than $3.2 million for the 2027 fiscal year.
Texas Pregnancy Care Network, a nonprofit that contracts with service providers as part of the state’s alternatives to abortion program, said in 2018 that it declined to contract with Human Coalition because the group used advertising that appeared to be from an abortion provider but instead connected women to a crisis pregnancy center.
“TPCN requires that any advertising or marketing of a provider accurately describe and depict the services that the organization offers,” the group wrote in an application for funding. “TPCN does not tolerate any degree of deception or trickery in provider advertising.”
Human Coalition is now a separate service provider through the alternatives to abortion program, and it’s continued to secure growing amounts of state funding. A 2023 fiscal year program report indicates that Human Coalition had received a Texas state contract for more than $10 million. According to a report from the 2025 fiscal year, Human Coalition was awarded another state contract of more than $18 million and said it had recently “expanded its grassroots efforts” into the Austin, Houston, San Antonio and El Paso areas.
Similar services are already offered in Oklahoma
Another provider is already offering services in Oklahoma that are similar to those of Human Coalition.
Her First Women’s Health — an anti-abortion telehealth brand created by Dallas-based nonprofit Heroic Media — also uses online ads that encourage women considering abortion to contact a call center where they’re routed to local resources. It’s been awarded nearly $900,000 in Choosing Childbirth funding since 2024 and has locations listed on its website in Guthrie and Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma’s 211 hotlines are also now required to prioritize referrals to crisis pregnancy centers, adoption agencies and “other life-affirming resources” to support expectant mothers.
The new law opening up Choosing Childbirth funding to groups without a physical presence in Oklahoma takes effect Nov. 1. Newly eligible nonprofits can start applying for grants next year. Human Coalition said it will evaluate any future funding opportunities as they arise.
The Frontier is a nonprofit newsroom that produces fearless journalism with impact in Oklahoma. Read more at www.readfrontier.org.
The landmark housing affordability bill known as the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act became law July 11 at midnight after 10 days of inactivity from President Trump.
The bipartisan 21st ROAD to Housing Act was first created by the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs in July 2025, advancing after a 24-0 vote on July 29. It was introduced as H.R. 6644 in the House of Representatives on Dec. 11, 2025 by French Hill (R-AR.)
Bipartisan bill in Congress aims to solve the nation’s housing affordability crisis
After six months of edits and exchanges of the legislation between the House and the Senate, the final Senate vote was June 22, passing 85-5. The House of Representatives voted 358-32 to pass the bill June 23.
Per congressional record of the votes, Oklahoma Representatives Bice, Cole, Hern and Lucas voted Yea, as well as Senators Armstrong and Lankford. Representative Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma’s 2nd District was one of 41 to not vote.
The 21st ROAD to Housing Act was sent to President Trump’s desk for action June 24. He canceled the signing via Truth Social post.
The president refused to sign the housing affordability bill despite previously supporting it due to his stronger support for the SAVE America Act. He referred to the SAVE America Act, which has still not been passed, as “a National Emergency.”
Trump cancels bipartisan housing bill signing, reiterates demand for SAVE America Act
Many Oklahoma lawmakers reacted to the passage of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act in June when it passed the House and Senate.
The dream of homeownership is slipping further out of reach for too many Oklahomans. Home prices are at an all-time high, and Washington’s red tape has made it worse by making it harder and more expensive to build. The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is a straightforward…
— Sen. James Lankford (@SenatorLankford) June 22, 2026
The United States faces a significant housing supply shortage, leading to rising home prices and rent costs. This is why the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is so important. This bipartisan legislation reduces unnecessary regulatory barriers, modernizes HUD programs, and works… pic.twitter.com/eU7MVq1X7U
— Rep. Stephanie Bice (@RepBice) June 23, 2026
This critical legislation will help millions of Americans nationwide achieve the goal of owning a home. Homes will now be more affordable for Oklahomans with the cutting of red tape and the increase in housing supply. I thank @RepFrenchHill and @USRepMikeFlood for over a year of… https://t.co/Ao9xUu3nPH
— Frank Lucas (@RepFrankLucas) June 24, 2026
Rep. Brecheen, who did not vote in the final house call for the housing affordability legislation, posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, in support of President Trump’s stance.
President Trump posted to Truth Social July 10 that he still would not sign the housing affordability act into law.
Per the United States Constitution, Article I, Section 7, Clause 2, the president must either veto or sign a bill within ten days (excluding Sundays) of it being sent to his desk. In the event that the president does not either return or sign the bill, it becomes law as if it were signed.
As of midnight July 11, 2026, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act became federal law. The law will combat a number of obstacles facing homeowners and those hoping to become homeowners.
A full list of what each section contains, published by the House Committee on Financial Services can be found here.
Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt posted Saturday morning about the housing affordability act becoming law.
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