The Governmental Tort Claims Act; requiring award of certain costs and fees for prevailing plaintiff; authorizing award of certain fees to defendant; providing for liability for exempted acts upon certain findings by court. Effective date.

SB 1069 amends Oklahoma's Governmental Tort Claims Act to change how legal costs and fees are handled in lawsuits against state or local government entities. It requires courts to award certain costs and attorney fees to plaintiffs who win their cases, while also allowing courts to award fees to defendants in specific situations. The bill modifies definitions of terms like "claimant" and "employee" to clarify who can file claims and who qualifies as a government employee. These changes directly affect individuals or groups suing government agencies (e.g., for accidents or negligence) and the government entities defending those lawsuits. The bill does not alter the basic grounds for suing government but shifts the financial burden of legal costs based on case outcomes.