First, an update to everything that has gone on with SB495, the abolition bill that was authored by Dusty Deevers in 2025.
In Summary, it was killed in committee, with a vote of 2 ayes, and 6 nays. The “Ayes” were Senators (R) Shane Jett and (R) Lisa Standridge. The “Nays” were Senators (D) Mary Boren, (D) Michael Brooks, (R, Vice Chair) Todd Gollihare, (R, Chair) Brent Howard, (R) Darcy Jech, and (R) Paul Rosino.
Abortion is still legal in Oklahoma because these legislators voted “Nay”.
This means that SB495 has received final action, and will most likely not be brought back into the legislature this session, which in Oklahoma, is a two-year session. This next year, 2026, is the 2nd half of this current legislature. Dusty Deevers and Warren Hamilton did publicly put forward a proposed amendment to a different bill, HB1168, which would have caused it to abolish abortion, and the bill didn’t ever get voted on, possibly as a result of their proposed amendment. If that’s true, that’s a good thing. HB1168, without the amendment, was a bad bill.
As a result of the killing of SB495, four of the Republican legislators who voted against it were censured by the OKGOP. While this is more of a performative gesture than anything, it is a reflection of the will of the OKGOP delegates, that they did not take kindly to those Republicans voting the way they did. This is a big deal. There is no bill that dies in the Oklahoma Senate without the approval of Republicans. The fact that Republicans in this state allow one more prenatal human to be killed under the color of illegitimate Oklahoma law is a travesty.
In 2026, it is my belief that there will be legislation to abolish abortion, but it will have to be through the House, because the Senate has made final action on this subject. More on that will come soon.
However, we must take the momentum from last year and turn it into action. In the 2026 primaries, we must make opponents to abolition pay for their crimes. Especially those who voted nay in this committee. In short, it’s time for us to get “mean.”
By “mean”, I don’t mean unChrist-like. I mean serious about the cause of Christ, and unrelenting in our opposition to his opponents in the legislature. We want them to repent more than anything, but if they won’t, we want them replaced. We must learn to engage our legislators in a way that signals that we have the God of the universe on our side, and we legitimately have the power to do everything we threaten them with. They will call us extreme, rude, harsh, etc. The one thing we can’t allow them to call us is “inconsequential”.
So what does it look like to get M.E.A.N.?
M – Mailers and Flyers
We must engage the communities of these legislators and let them know what’s going on. We are the only ones who know, and we are the ones who have the duty to make others aware. Mailers cost money, but flyers cost effort. When we don’t have money, we still have feet. For example, we must be putting flyers on every house in Altus, Oklahoma (where Brent Howard represents) telling his constituents what he did, the reasoning he used, and the stupid things he said in the process. He must be replaced. The same goes for these other legislators. These attacks will make enemies. Todd Gollihare, has already tried to pass legislation to keep people from protesting at his church, after abolitionists showed up to try and alert his congregation to what he did. This vitriol from legislators will most likely continue. What they should begin to understand, is that if they don’t want the smoke, they shouldn’t start the fire.
E – Engage the Public
While partially covered in Mailers & Flyers, abolitionists in Oklahoma need to put more effort into educating the public on the general reality of abortion in this state, and the answer that is abolitionism. That is the purpose of this site, and this organization. It is our intention to ramp up our advertising efforts, and to reach your neighborhood good-ol’ boy who listens to talk radio and isn’t aware of what’s going on. This is going to require solid preachers educating their flocks, as well. “As goes the pulpit, so goes the world.” We must also go to GOP meetings, town festivals, etc. with our literature and petition. We must do our best to get on podcasts, shows, in the houses of influential pastors and leaders, to get our message across: abortion is still happening in this state, and we must all do something about it!
A – Advance on the Legislature
Abolitionists need to be running for office. If we can’t, we need to be actively pushing others who can, and be serious when we tell them we’ll be behind their backs, with our money, time, and resources. The idea of merely convincing the legislators who are currently in power that we’re right, assumes that they aren’t sinners, who have ulterior motives. While we must act like Christians, and be kind, at a certain point, the only language they speak is power. We must yield the power we have, through the providence of God, to assert Christ’s kingdom in the legislative realm here in Oklahoma. Sometimes we tell ourselves we don’t have the power that we need, but did God not save Israel and defeat the Midianites through Gideon’s 300 men? We have the God of the universe on our side. Who can stand against him? Enemies of God and persecutors of image-bearers of God must be deposed.
N – Never Stop Until Abortion is Abolished
We, as abolitionists, struggle with time management. It’s understandable, because our higher obligation is to our families, our churches, and our personal walks with God. However, we need to understand that even though the legislature has an off-season, we shouldn’t. In fact, the “off-season” is when we should buckle down and do the real work. This is something we all need to improve on, but admittedly, AAOK must improve on this aspect as well. We will do our best to fix this moving forward.
In summary, the time for action is now. The time for movement-wide cohesion and teamwork is yesterday. Oklahoma is far ahead other states. Why do we act like our goal is so far away? Why couldn’t next year be the year we abolish abortion? We must stand up and be the voice for the voiceless, and make our presence known.
Want to help us in our goal? Please consider joining AAOK, and partnering with us in our mission.
