Journalist: Destiny Lugo (ORU)
Senate Bill No. ORU-001, the “Oklahoma Emergency Digital Mapping Critical Infrastructure Access” Act of 2026 authored by Makinde Amele (ORU) would aim to provide an accessible database designed to help first responders in critical high stake situations located in a “critical facility” which he defined as, “…any public or private K-12 school, institution of higher education, hospital, urgent care facility, nursing home, assisted living center, or state-owned government building exceeding ten-thousand (10,000) square feet.”
The information on this database would consist of critical information pertaining to the facts of these facilities such as, “entry and exit points, stairwells, fire suppression systems, utility shutoff locations, hazardous material storage areas, and other emergency-response-relevant infrastructure data.”
The new proposed law would be to have The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) work together with the Oklahoma 9-1-1 Management Authority, to set up, and manage a robust “statewide digital repository of critical facility building information.” as described in the bill.
Amele repeatedly stressed how this bill would help first responders in worst case scenario situations, enabling them to do their job with utmost efficiency, and serve others at their best capacity.
This bill passed in the Senate and went to the House, where the floor debated it with intention;
“It is critical to have accurate data on critical pieces of infrastructure like hospitals…” said Trey Wainman (OU).
“It’s good to have first responders having enough information before they act,” said Aristotle Orsrine (TU).
When representative Devore (SE) asked, “Is this bill meant to be preemptive or reactive?” Amele answered, “Both-”.
“Who will be liable? First responders in cases with security breaches or school shootings?” said Jonathan Gideon (ORU).
“First responders would be held liable in cases such as school shootings…This bill intends to create a database with that being the primary focus,” said Amele.
In Amele’s author summation, he explained that the passage of this bill would ensure that first responders can handle situations a lot faster.
When the time came to vote, there were a total of forty-one in the affirmative, and nineteen in the negative. As the House chanted the song of victory, Amele walked out of the chamber triumphant.