Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed a bill on Wednesday stating that the state will not enforce any mandates from international organizations such as the World Health Organization, the United Nations, and the World Economic Forum.
Oklahoma is no longer obligated to follow any requirements or mandates set forth by certain organizations, thanks to the immediate implementation of Senate Bill 426.
According to Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, there are no legal barriers preventing the state from implementing recommendations from organizations such as WHO, the UN, or the World Economic Forum.
“Our health department, our government, our subdivisions are open to receiving recommendations from anyone and have the authority to make decisions,” Bergstrom stated. “However, we will not be constrained by their instructions or requirements.”
Bergstrom stated that the state’s response would remain unchanged. He mentioned the COVID-19 pandemic as an illustration.
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“In the previous pandemic, we exercised our autonomy in decision-making,” Bergstrom stated. “After receiving certain recommendations, it became evident that some of them were not up to par. As a result, we chose to handle things in a manner that aligns with the Oklahoma approach.”
However, some critics have raised concerns about the bill’s necessity and its potential impact on the state’s ability to effectively address global health emergencies.
During the pandemic, the United States received recommendations from WHO, but no mandates were issued that directly affected the country. Mandates were issued by state, tribal, county, and local officials.
Senator Carri Hicks, a Democrat from Oklahoma City, raised concerns about the potential conflict between state law and federal mandates or regulations.
In a recent statement, Bergstrom emphasized that if an agreement between the federal government and WHO were to conflict with Oklahoma’s constitutional laws, the state would not be obligated to adhere to it.
According to the U.S. Constitution, federal law generally holds more authority than state law.
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