The Oklahoma House of Representatives has passed a bill named after Marissa Murrow, a 19-year-old killed by a drunk driver in 2020. The Marissa Murrow Act, led by Rep. Brian Hill, requires bartenders at event venues to have a separate license for better training and responsibility. Marissa was hit by a driver who had been overserved at a wedding venue, which inspired this law to enforce stricter alcohol oversight at such events, as reported by the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
Representative Hill emphasized the purpose of the bill: "This bill is not just about policy; it’s about protecting children and families and ensuring that tragedies like Marissa's never happen again," as he commented on the importance of accountability and proper training for those serving alcohol at these events. Jeff and Kristy Murrow, Marissa’s parents, have been instrumental in pushing for the bill, according to Hill's statement on the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
The bill details that bartenders must complete training for identifying signs of inebriation and mandates that all beer and wine served at event venues be handled by an ABLE-licensed caterer or an event bartender licensee; this new license would cost $50 annually and is set to come into effect on November 1, 2025. Jeff Murrow highlighted the scale of alcohol service at event venues across the state, recognizing the potential this bill has in ensuring that those served alcohol can get home safely and that it significantly contributes to the safety of Oklahoma roads as mentioned in his comment revealed by the Oklahoma House of Representatives news release.
The Marissa Murrow Act passed the House with a vote of 82-2 and will now go to the Senate. Statistics from VOID show that nine Oklahomans die each week in alcohol-related crashes, highlighting the bill's importance. The Murrow family thanked lawmakers for supporting the bill, hoping it will prevent further tragedies, as per the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
