By Journalist Alexandria Willard (OSU)
A stuffed animal might seem like a simple gift, but its impact can be profound. For a newborn, it can become a cherished first toy, offering comfort and familiarity. It might symbolize a connection to a place or community, like being born in a particular state. Additionally, in some cases, it can serve as a keepsake, marking a significant milestone in a child’s life.
House Bill OSU-504, known as the “Stuffed Animals for Children” Act, was passed through both the House on Thursday, and the Senate late Saturday evening. The bill, authored by Castro (OSU), mandates the provision of an American Bison (the state animal) stuffed animal to every newborn leaving Oklahoma hospitals. An additional point the author made during the questioning of his bill, was that this could encourage mothers to give birth at hospitals versus the common issue in rural areas of women giving birth at home or in an unsanitary environment.
The Oklahoma Department of Human Services is tasked with covering the cost from their discretionary budget. Hospitals failing to comply face a $100 fine per baby without a bison stuffed animal, and the DHS will mail one to those affected. The legislation is slated to take effect 120 days post-approval.
Senator Koehn (NWOSU) said, “I ended up voting yes, just because I thought it would be a cool little thing to just have, signifying that you were born in Oklahoma other than just a birth certificate.”
Senator Robison (SE) with opposing thoughts on the bill, said, “I voted no and opposed it, because I don’t particularly want tax dollars paying for a stuffed animal for every newborn child when the parents can simply buy the stuffed animal themselves if they wanted to. I don’t see what the state interest here is or how it is meaningful or impactful for the state as a whole.”