Oklahoma Evidence Code; modifying certain hearsay exception to include statements by vulnerable adults. Effective date.
SB 731 modifies the Oklahoma Evidence Code to expand who can have their statements admitted as evidence in certain legal proceedings. The bill adds "vulnerable adults" to an existing hearsay exception, which previously applied to children and incapacitated persons. This change allows statements made by vulnerable adults describing physical abuse, domestic abuse, neglect, or specific sexual crimes against them or witnessed by them to be admissible. These statements can be used in juvenile deprived proceedings, pre-trial and post-trial criminal and juvenile delinquent proceedings, and criminal and juvenile delinquent trials under specified conditions.
Bill status
passed both
4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Governor
Introduced Feb 3, 2025
Last action May 14, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons
What changed between versions
Floor (House)
→
Floor (Senate)
·
5 edits
MODERATE
This bill amends the Oklahoma Evidence Code to expand protections for vulnerable adults by including them alongside children in hearsay exceptions for abuse cases. The changes allow statements from vulnerable adults to be admitted as evidence in criminal proceedings under similar conditions as statements from children, providing additional legal recourse for abuse victims.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of who can make admissible statements in abuse cases from primarily children to include vulnerable adults alongside children and incapacitated persons.
ELIGIBILITY
Added vulnerable adults as a protected category alongside children and incapacitated persons for hearsay exceptions in abuse cases
Modified the age threshold language to apply equally to children, incapacitated persons, and vulnerable adults
REQUIREMENT
Added provisions for admissibility when vulnerable adults do not testify at trial and are unavailable
DEFINITION
Added definition for 'disability' to clarify what constitutes a qualifying condition for vulnerable adult protections
TIMELINE
Changed committee report date from April 17, 2025 to February 11, 2025
Floor votes
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate. No roll call record of that vote is available.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
23
Key actions
6
Committee
6
May 6, 2025
Committee
Referred for enrollment
upper
May 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third Reading, Measure passed: Ayes: 94 Nays: 0
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
CR; Do Pass Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight Committee
lower
Apr 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
Policy recommendation to the Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight committee; Do Pass Criminal Judiciary
lower
Apr 1, 2025
Committee
Referred to Criminal Judiciary
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Introduced
First Reading
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
Engrossed to House
upper
Mar 11, 2025
Committee
Referred for engrossment
upper
Mar 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
Measure passed: Ayes: 42 Nays: 0
upper
Feb 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported Do Pass Judiciary committee; CR filed
upper
Feb 3, 2025
Introduced
First Reading
upper
2 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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