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Senate approves change to mental‑health hold definition, removes "immediate" requirement
Summary
The Oklahoma Senate approved Senate Bill 740 on third reading to remove the word “immediate” from the statutory definition of a person requiring treatment and to eliminate an automatic exclusion for people who are homeless, allowing earlier intervention in some cases; the measure passed 36‑10.
The Oklahoma Senate passed Senate Bill 740 on third reading, 36‑10, on March 10, 2025. The bill removes the word “immediate” from the statutory definition of a “person requiring treatment” and strikes a provision that treated homelessness as an automatic exemption from involuntary evaluation procedures.
Senator Daniels, who explained the bill on the floor, said removing “immediate” would allow law enforcement and other responders to seek emergency evaluation and involuntary holds when a person is clearly deteriorating but not posing an immediate threat. “We’re just allowing for these situations where it is not immediate but it’s obviously a very serious situation and these are very vulnerable people,” Daniels said on the floor.
The bill also deletes language that had said a person who is homeless would not, by virtue of homelessness alone, be considered a person requiring treatment. Daniels told senators the change is intended to prevent automatic exclusion of unsheltered people who meet the substantive criteria for an involuntary evaluation: a substantial risk of physical harm to self or others manifested by evidence such as serious threats or attempts at suicide.
Opponents warned the combination of changes could expand the circumstances under which people are subject to involuntary evaluation. Minority Leader Kurt said during debate, “This combined change, is a bridge too far for me,” expressing concern about potential impacts on civil liberties and people experiencing homelessness. Senators also questioned how the bill would affect on‑the‑ground assessments by law enforcement and the interaction with assisted‑outpatient procedures; Senator Bergstrom asked why an assisted‑outpatient review period was extended from 24 to 36 months in the bill’s draft language, and Daniels said the change simply lengthens the look‑back period used before filing a petition.
Supporters said many other states have removed “immediate” from similar statutes and that the change gives authorities the option to activate existing emergency evaluation procedures without waiting until a situation becomes immediate and obvious. Dain closed debate urging colleagues to consider the safety of vulnerable individuals and staff across public spaces as a rationale for the change.
The measure passed on third reading with a roll call recorded as 36 ayes and 10 nays.
