The Oklahoma Parental Decision-Making and Hepatitis B Immunization Act of 2026 aims to align state law with current recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) regarding the administration of the hepatitis B vaccine to infants. The bill establishes that the hepatitis B birth dose is not required to be administered in a hospital or birthing facility, allowing for shared clinical decision-making between parents and healthcare providers. It emphasizes parental rights to make informed medical decisions for their children, including the right to decline or defer the vaccine for personal, philosophical, or religious reasons without facing penalties.

Additionally, the bill mandates that birthing facilities and healthcare providers must inform parents about ACIP recommendations and obtain informed consent before administering the vaccine, except in emergencies. The State Commissioner of Health is tasked with amending existing rules to remove the requirement for a universal hepatitis B birth dose within twelve hours of birth, while still ensuring that appropriate immunoprophylaxis is offered to infants born to mothers who are hepatitis B-positive or whose status is unknown. The act is set to take effect on November 1, 2026.