An Oklahoma House committee on Friday advanced a package of bills dealing with alcohol license timelines, vape product marketing, age restrictions on inhalant sales and bartender licensing, sending each to the oversight committee after recorded votes.

The bills moved forward after brief explanations by sponsoring representatives, adoption of a handful of amendments and roll-call votes. Most measures were approved unanimously or by clear majorities; one bill recorded a single “nay.” The measures address administrative timelines for the ABLE Commission, marketing and registry provisions for nicotine vaping products, age-verification requirements for nitrous-oxide products, and separate licensing and training requirements for bartenders who provide alcohol off-site.

House Bill 1270 was presented by Representative Hayes and advanced with an amendment that “struck the last line” to avoid a blanket approval of licenses, the sponsor said; the bill sets a timeline for the ABLE Commission to approve or disapprove licenses. The committee recorded a 5-0 vote and sent the bill to oversight.

Representative Hayes also presented House Bill 1367, a working draft (PCS) that would shield establishments from liability when an employee who was properly trained later breaks the law; the sponsor said the trained employee would be held responsible rather than the establishment. The committee voted 5-0 to move the measure to oversight.

House Bill 1265, described by its sponsor as a work in progress, seeks to set marketing guidelines and regulation for nicotine vape products in Oklahoma; the sponsor said a forthcoming amendment will address section 6 (a vape registry) and that she will circulate language before the bill goes to oversight. The committee voted 5-0 to forward the bill.

House Bill 1933, presented as the "Maddox Bias Act," was described by Representative Sterling as a request bill aimed at restricting recreational sales of certain inhalant products (used medically or in culinary settings) by requiring age verification and prohibiting sale to persons under 21. Sterling said the bill responds to a death involving nitrous oxide. The committee voted 5-0 to send the bill to oversight.

House Bill 2837 (listed in the record as 28 37) and House Bill 2804 were described as employee training or industry-registration fixes. HB 2837, framed as establishing educational training for employees, passed on a 5-0 vote and was sent to oversight. HB 2804 seeks to address a registration lapse that led to fines when a manufacturer failed to register a product before distribution; the sponsor said language is still being refined. The bill was reported "due pass" after the committee vote.

House Bill 2369, presented as the Marissa Murrow Act, moved as a PCS with an adopted amendment that clarified that beer and wine return to the definition used in the preexisting statute. The sponsor said the bill requires bartenders to obtain a separate license to provide alcohol at satellite locations and provides training to identify inebriation; the sponsor described the goal as to “keep our streets safer” by placing licensing and training obligations on bartenders rather than venues. The committee advanced the bill on a 5–1 recorded vote.

House Bill 2897 (recorded as 28 97 in the transcript) was presented by Representative Fat Gader; the sponsor indicated some formatting work remained (for signage font size) but moved the bill and it was sent to oversight on a 4–1 vote.

House Bill 2807 was presented as an OMA request bill to clarify fingerprint/background-check procedures, to exclude beverages from a three-ounce prepackaging limitation, and to permit transporters to show warehouse storage on manifests; the committee voted 4–1 to report the bill due pass.

Votes at a glance

- HB 1270 — Sets a timeline for the ABLE Commission to approve/disapprove licenses; amendment adopted (last line struck). Vote: 5–0. Outcome: forwarded to oversight.
- HB 1367 (PCS) — Establishment liability shield when employees are properly trained; sponsor recommended passage. Vote: 5–0. Outcome: forwarded to oversight.
- HB 1265 — Marketing/regulation for nicotine vape products; sponsor to file amendment on section 6 (vape registry). Vote: 5–0. Outcome: forwarded to oversight.
- HB 1933 ("Maddox Bias Act") — Age-verification requirement and prohibition of certain recreational inhalant sales to under-21s; sponsor described recent fatality prompting the bill. Vote: 5–0. Outcome: forwarded to oversight.
- HB 2837 — Employee training requirements (educational training for employees). Vote: 5–0. Outcome: forwarded to oversight.
- HB 2369 (Marissa Murrow Act) — Requires separate bartender licensing and training for satellite alcohol service; amendment adopted to clarify beverage definitions. Vote: 5–1. Outcome: forwarded to oversight.
- HB 2897 (28 97) — Sponsor noted formatting/signage work remains; advanced. Vote: 4–1. Outcome: forwarded to oversight.
- HB 2804 — Fixes for manufacturer registration lapse that previously led to a fine; language in progress. Vote: recorded as passed (due pass). Outcome: reported due pass.
- HB 2807 — OMA request bill clarifying fingerprint background checks, storage and manifest rules; excludes beverages from 3-ounce packaging limit. Vote: 4–1. Outcome: reported due pass.

Discussion versus action

Committee members asked a small number of clarifying questions but most votes occurred without extended debate. On HB 1265 the sponsor committed to circulate amendment language addressing section 6 (vape registry) before filing the amendment for oversight. On HB 1270 the sponsor explained the amendment was intended to avoid a blanket approval of licenses if the ABLE Commission missed the new timeline. The Marissa Murrow Act drew more comment and recorded one dissenting vote.

What’s next

Each bill was forwarded to the committee charged with oversight for further consideration. Sponsors repeatedly described several measures as "work in progress" and said they will file clarifying amendments before the oversight hearing.

Ending note

Speakers thanked one another for work on complex measures; the committee recessed after reporting the bills.