Breastfeeding Legislation

Breastfeeding in Public:
In 2004 the Oklahoma State Legislature passed House Bill 2102 which states "Mothers have the right to breastfeed anywhere they have a right to be, and shall be excused from jury duty upon request."

Breastfeeding Friendly Business Decals are available for businesses to post at their entries to let families know that breastfeeding is welcome in their locations.

Best for Babes has a good review of what to do when harassed for nursing in public so that the difficulty does not escalate -- check it out before you or a loved one ever encounter problems!

Breastfeeding at Work:
Published in April 2017, the Guide to the Rights of Breastfeeding Employees in Oklahoma, from COBA and the United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC), shows in detail how federal employment and civil rights laws and Oklahoma state laws affect working parents.

In 2006 the Oklahoma State Legislature passed House Bill 2358 which states "Breastfeeding mothers may use unpaid break and meal times to breastfeed or express breast milk at work. Employers are urged to provide a private area (other than a toilet stall) for this purpose."
  • This STATE law applies to all employed breastfeeding mothers.
  • The law includes no enforcement provisions. The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) provides information about the law (see below/right)​.
  • COBA joins OSDH and the Preparing for a Lifetime Infant Mortality Reduction Initiative, and the Oklahoma Healthy Birth Alliance, in recognizing Oklahoma employers who meet Oklahoma Recognized Breastfeeding Friendly Worksites criteria.

In 2010 the United States Congress passed ​​the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Provisions in Section 4207 amend the Fair Labor Standards Act to establish requirements for time and space for employees to express breast milk for one year after their child's birth.

Breastfeeding Laws Wallet Cards

These wallet cards were developed through a partnership between COBA and OSDH. They summarize the laws and give contact information to promote the laws, as well as to get general breastfeeding help through the Oklahoma Breastfeeding Hotline. Keep one on hand to politely let people know how Oklahoma supports breastfeeding families anywhere and any time! To order a professionally printed wallet card or a bulk supply of these cards, please complete the Breastfeeding Legislation Cards Order Form. The cards are also available as pdf files to download:

For Travelers

Letter to the Transportation Security Administration from the Congressional Caucus on Maternity Care about importance of exemption of breast milk from 3-1-1 Liquids Rule. Families who are transporting expressed breastmilk while flying may want to carry a copy of this letter with them to show to TSA staff who may tell them incorrectly that breastmilk is not allowed as a carry on.

Contact the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) about your breastfeeding experience:

Have you visited a business that was breastfeeding friendly?  
  • Let us know and they will receive a thank you letter.
Have you been asked to leave a public place because you were breastfeeding?
  • Tell us and we will send a letter with information about the current laws.
Does your employer support breastfeeding? Are you discouraged from expressing milk or from breastfeeding during work hours?
This page was last updated 5/16/2017 by RMP.