More Than 190 New Oklahoma Laws Took Effect On Sunday

By Tara Vreeland, The News On 6

UNDATED -- More than 190 new state laws took effect on Sunday.

Some of those new state laws include health care, alternative energy and an updated Lemon Law inspired by a Broken Arrow woman.

One of the new laws will make health care more available and affordable for the uninsured in Oklahoma. House Bill 2026 expands the Insure Oklahoma premium assistance program. The public-private partnership will now be more accessible so small businesses can provide health care coverage for their low- and middle-income employees and reduce the state's 600,000 uninsured residents.

The measure creates a core benefits package for young, healthy Oklahomans to buy inexpensive insurance policies. Those policies are free of costs associated with the state's 36 health insurance mandates. The new measure also creates an insurance hub to help match Oklahomans to private insurance plans that fit their needs.

House Bill 1953 focuses on alternative energy. Companies that support and service wind energy companies are eligible for the state's Quality Jobs Act, in an attempt to attract them to Oklahoma. The Quality Jobs Act gives companies financial incentives to relocate to the state or expand if they create new jobs in the state.

The state's Lemon Law has been tweaked to give vehicle buyers better protections if the new car or truck they buy turns out to be a lemon.

"It's very difficult to negotiate with this big company that has a whole legal department that deals with lemon laws and you're you," Angie Gallant, a Broken Arrow resident, said in a previous interview.

5/21/2009 Related story: Broken Arrow Woman Helps Get Lemon Law Passed

The Lemon Law gives consumers the choice of a refund or replacement of a defective vehicle. It also places a standard in state law for a manufacturer's charge for mileage on a defective vehicle and prohibits a manufacturer from charging for mileage if the lemon is simply replaced.

11/1/2009  Related Story: New State Laws Go Into Effect