Attorney General; private attorney contracts; effective date.

HB 1685 requires Oklahoma state agencies to use a list of pre-approved private attorneys maintained by the Attorney General when hiring outside legal help, rather than selecting freely. It sets strict limits on contingency fees (paid only if a case is won), capping them at 25% for the first $10 million recovered, decreasing to 5% for amounts over $25 million, with a total cap of $50 million for all fees. The bill mandates public posting of all contracts and payments on the Attorney General’s website within specific timeframes. It also requires standard contract terms ensuring state attorneys retain final control over case decisions, settlement authority, and oversight.