Criminal Justice

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 5, 2026

SB 1232: Crimes and punishments; creating felony offense related to copper theft. Effective date.

SB 1232 elevates copper theft from a misdemeanor to a felony offense under Oklahoma law. It directly affects individuals who steal copper, such as from power lines, pipes, or infrastructure, by increasing penalties. The bill amends Section 1727 of the Oklahoma Statutes to establish felony charges for copper theft, moving it from a lower-level offense to a more serious criminal classification. This change specifically targets theft of copper valued at $100,000 or less, as referenced in existing statutes.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeElevates copper theft from misdemeanor to felony, increasing penalties and expanding criminalization of property crime.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Oklahoma · House May 4, 2026

HB 3086: Prisons and reformatories; Corrections Act of 1967; expanding powers and duties of the State Board of Corrections; effective date.

HB 3086 requires Oklahoma's State Board of Corrections to approve the Director's authority over prisoners' discipline and work programs. It specifically creates a Construction Division within the Department of Corrections for inmate work crews and prohibits inmates in this program from forming unions, striking, or engaging in collective bargaining. The bill also mandates Board approval for the Director to appoint staff, accept funding, or establish policies governing prison operations. These changes primarily affect prisoners working in the Construction Division and correctional staff managing prison programs.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeProhibits inmate union formation and collective bargaining, restricting prisoner rights within corrections95% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentProhibits prison inmates from unionizing or collective bargaining, directly restricting labor organizing rights within correctional work programs.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Oklahoma · House May 4, 2026

HB 3497: Criminal procedure; appeals taken by the state or municipality; clarification; effective date.

HB 3497 expands when the state or local governments can appeal pretrial rulings in criminal cases. It specifically adds two new grounds for appeals: 1) decisions suppressing evidence in felony cases where appellate review serves justice, and 2) rulings suppressing evidence in cases involving specific drug or trafficking laws (Sections 13.1 of Title 21 and 571 of Title 57). The bill prioritizes these appeals and requires courts to pause proceedings while appeals are pending. This directly affects prosecutors and municipalities seeking to challenge evidence suppression before trial. The changes take effect November 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands state appeals for evidence suppression, weakening defendant rights by allowing prosecution to challenge evidence exclusion more easily.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Oklahoma · House May 4, 2026

HB 3849: Oklahoma Juvenile Code; Oklahoma Mentoring Children of Incarcerated Parents Program; purpose; mentoring services; applicant requirements; grants; effective date.

HB 3849 establishes the Oklahoma Mentoring Children of Incarcerated Parents Program under the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth. It provides one-on-one mentoring services to two specific groups: children in juvenile custody outside the home, and children identified as at risk of entering the juvenile justice system, who have parents in prison. The bill requires the Commission to issue competitive grants every three years to qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations meeting strict criteria, including serving ages 6-18, having statewide presence, 3+ years working with this population, and adhering to safety protocols. Grants are capped at $1,500 per mentor-mentee match, with awards to be made by November 1, 2024, for services starting in 2026. The program is effective November 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill prevents youth at risk of entering juvenile justice system through mentoring, aligning with criminal justice reform goals by addressing root causes of incarceration.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Oklahoma · House May 4, 2026

HB 1739: Retirement; Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System; contribution; top base salary; benefit computation; effective dates; contingent effective dates; emergency.

HB 1739 increases employer contributions to Oklahoma's law enforcement retirement system from 11% to 16.5% over five years, starting July 2025. It changes how retirement benefits are calculated for certain officers by using the highest salary for similar positions (instead of final average salary) to determine payments. The bill directly affects current and future retirees in the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System, including highway patrol officers, investigators, and other covered law enforcement roles. Benefits will be based on the greater of either the top salary for comparable positions or the member's final average salary, multiplied by 2.5% per year of service.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeIncreases employer contributions to law enforcement retirement system, directly funding officer benefits and supporting retention within criminal justice workforce.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncreases employer contributions (11%→16.5%) and uses higher salary basis for retirement benefits, strengthening law enforcement retirees' financial security under employment benefits.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Oklahoma · House Apr 29, 2026

HB 3742: Criminal procedure; Due Process Protection Act of 2026; preliminary examinations and proceedings; disclosure; effective date.

HB 3742 amends Oklahoma's criminal discovery rules to shorten the time limit for completing pre-trial evidence exchanges. It specifically requires prosecutors to disclose detailed information about jailhouse informants - including their criminal history, any deals made with them, and specific statements made to them - 10 days before trial. The bill also mandates district attorneys to maintain centralized records of all cases using jailhouse informants, with annual de-identified reports published by the District Attorneys Council. This directly affects criminal defendants, prosecutors, and jailhouse informants in Oklahoma court proceedings by increasing transparency around informant credibility. The changes aim to streamline discovery while improving accountability for informant testimony.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires disclosure of jailhouse informant details and centralized records, enhancing transparency and accountability in criminal procedure, aligning with reform indicators like oversight and civil rights protection.92% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 28, 2026

HB 3794: Professions and occupations; grounds for licensure or certification denial; updating reference to the Insurance Department; effective date.

HB 3794 modifies Oklahoma's licensing rules for professions by restricting when criminal history can deny a license. It requires licensing boards to determine if an offense "substantially relates" to the job duties and "poses a reasonable threat" to public safety before denying an application, considering factors like offense seriousness, time elapsed, and rehabilitation evidence. The bill creates a pre-application process (Section F-G) where applicants can request a written determination on eligibility before applying, with boards required to respond within 60-90 days. It also prohibits denial based on sealed/expunged records, most convictions over five years old (with specific exceptions like sex offenses), or vague "good character" standards.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeModifies licensing rules to reduce barriers for individuals with criminal records by requiring job-related threat assessments, aligning with criminal justice reform goals to promote rehabilitation and reduce recidivism.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves unnecessary barriers to professional licensing for individuals with criminal records, advancing employment opportunities and aligning with worker rights protections.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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signed · Oklahoma · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 1936: Crimes and punishments; creating felony offense related to false impersonation of peace officers; broadening scope of allowable seizure. Effective date.

SB 1936 reclassifies 49 existing offenses as Class D1 felonies in Oklahoma law, including a new felony for falsely impersonating a peace officer (under amended Section 264 of Title 21). It also broadens seizure authority in forfeiture proceedings (amending Section 1738) and updates related statutory references. The bill affects individuals committing these specific offenses, such as those impersonating law enforcement or violating banking regulations. It takes effect January 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill reclassifies offenses as felonies, creates new felony for impersonating officers, and broadens seizure authority - expanding criminalization and penalties without reform indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 27, 2026

HB 3264: Crimes and punishments; minimum prison sentences; criminal offense; list; effective date.

HB 3264 requires individuals convicted of 24 specific serious crimes - including first-degree murder, child sexual abuse, human trafficking, domestic abuse by strangulation, and discharging a firearm into occupied buildings - to serve at least 85% of their prison sentence before becoming eligible for parole. The bill eliminates earned credits or other sentence reductions that would allow offenders to serve less than 85% of their sentence. It applies to all convictions for these listed offenses, including attempts, conspiracies, or solicitations. The law would take effect on November 1, 2026, if passed.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates 85% minimum prison time for serious crimes, eliminating parole eligibility and sentence reductions, increasing mandatory sentences.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 23, 2026

HB 3345: Inmate assessment and evaluations; providing risk, mental health and substance abuse screenings for arrested persons; effective date.

HB 3345 requires mandatory mental health, substance abuse, and risk screenings for individuals arrested on felony charges in Oklahoma after their initial court appearance. These screenings, conducted by certified professionals from the Department of Mental Health, must be shared with courts, prosecutors, defendants, and their attorneys. Results cannot be used as evidence in criminal trials unless the defendant waives this right, but may inform sentencing or diversion options. The law takes effect November 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates mental health/substance abuse screenings for felony arrestees, protects defendant rights by prohibiting trial evidence use, and enables diversion/sentencing alternatives - key criminal justice reform elements.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health screenings by certified professionals, expands access to mental health services for arrested persons, and protects patient rights by restricting trial evidence use without waiver.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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