A number of new state laws went into effect Nov. 1, and local lawmakers had mixed views on their passage.

Some of the laws included:

• House Bill 2026, which expands the Insure Oklahoma health insurance premium assistance program by creating a core benefits package for young, healthy Oklahomans to purchase inexpensive insurance policies, and an insurance hub to help match Oklahomans to private insurance plans that fit their needs.

• House Bill 1603, which provides civil justice legislation to cut down on frivolous lawsuits that supporters believe will help reduce health care costs, reverse a doctor and nurse shortage and attract businesses to the state. It caps non-economic damages except in cases of gross negligence.

• Senate Bill 812, a Lemon Law that gives vehicle buyers better protections if the new car or truck they have purchased turns out to be defective.

• House Bill 1114, which bans human cloning in Oklahoma.

• Senate Bill 135, which provides a plan to increase the number of therapists serving children with autism. The bill creates a licensing process for national board-certified behavioral analysts and trains more doctors to treat autism.

• House Bill 1953, which makes companies that support, repair and maintain service activities for wind industry energy companies eligible for the state’s Quality Jobs Act to help attract companies to Oklahoma involved in all aspects of the wind energy industry.

• House Bill 394, which eliminates barriers to alternative teacher certification.

• Senate Bill 833, which encourages state agencies to develop and implement an energy efficiency and conservation plan and calls for the designation of a current employee at each agency to help develop an energy plan.

Sen. Jim Wilson, D-Tahlequah, took issue with HB 1603, SB 135, and 394.

According to HB 1603’s author, Rep. Daniel Sullivan, R-Tulsa, the law is comprehensive lawsuit reform, similar to a bill the governor vetoed two years ago.

“Health care costs went up 6 percent this year and are expected to go up 9 percent next year – 15 percent for small businesses,” said Wilson. “The response from the Senate author of this bill, when I asked if we would see a decrease in health care costs, was, ‘This has never been about money.’”

Rep. Mike Brown, D-Tahlequah, said SB 1603 is a “terrible bill.”