Criminal Justice

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 7, 2025

SB 76: Parole; authorizing parole revocation by certain entity. Effective date.

SB 76 clarifies Oklahoma's parole revocation process by explicitly authorizing both the Governor and the Pardon and Parole Board to revoke parole for violations, rather than relying solely on the Department of Corrections. It requires parolees arrested for violations to be jailed immediately, halting parole time and earned credits until a revocation decision is made. The bill also creates a new option: parolees may be placed in specialized correctional programs (intermediate sanctions facilities) instead of facing full revocation for minor violations, at the Department's discretion. This law, effective November 1, 2025, directly affects people on parole in Oklahoma who violate terms, and the state agencies managing parole.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeIntroduces specialized correctional programs (intermediate sanctions) as an alternative to incarceration, promoting rehabilitation-focused parole management.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 623: Protection from Domestic Abuse Act; requiring service in certain location; requiring initial attempt of service of protective orders upon defendant within specified time frame. Emergency.

SB 623 requires that protective orders in domestic abuse cases be served to the accused person within 24 hours of issuance, with priority service available 24/7 when the defendant's location is known. It mandates electronic service between counties via sheriff's offices and allows sheriffs to use private process servers or other law enforcement if initial service fails. The bill directly affects domestic abuse victims (by expediting protection) and law enforcement (by changing service protocols), while ensuring orders have statewide validity for cross-jurisdiction service. These changes aim to improve the speed and reliability of serving protective orders to enhance victim safety.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpedites protective order service for domestic abuse victims, enhancing victim safety and court efficiency within criminal justice system.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Oklahoma · House May 5, 2025

HB 1364: Crimes and punishments; sexual obscenity; making certain acts unlawful; effective date.

HB 1364 prohibits the nonconsensual sharing of AI-generated sexual images or real images of someone in a sexual act or showing intimate body parts without their consent. It defines "artificially generated sexual depiction" as images created using AI or photo editing that appear authentic but did not occur in reality. Violating this law is a misdemeanor (up to 1 year in jail or $1,000 fine) for first offenses, and a felony (up to 10 years in prison and sex offender registration) for repeated violations (three or more images within six months). The law applies to both real images and AI-generated content, with exemptions for criminal investigations and public exposure.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits nonconsensual sharing of intimate images, defining new criminal offense to protect victims' privacy rights under criminal justice framework.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProhibits nonconsensual sharing of AI-generated intimate images, protecting privacy against tech-enabled exploitation and aligning with data privacy safeguards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

vetoed · Oklahoma · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 37: Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation; authorizing response to certain events; creating revolving fund. Effective date.

SB 37 would have authorized the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) to independently respond to mass casualty events caused by violent crime (defined as incidents injuring ≥3 people, requiring unusual emergency resources, and causing a sudden surge of casualties) without needing a local law enforcement request. It created a "Mass Casualty Revolving Fund" in the state treasury to cover OSBI costs for these investigations, funded by state appropriations, federal grants, or other designated sources. The fund would allow ongoing, unrestricted spending for OSBI's role in coordinating with local agencies during such events. This bill was vetoed by the Governor on May 5, 2025, so it did not become law.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates Mass Casualty Revolving Fund funded by state appropriations for OSBI investigations, directly allocating budget resources to public safety program.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates Mass Casualty Revolving Fund to enable OSBI response to violent crime incidents without local request, directly funding law enforcement capacity for criminal justice response.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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signed · Oklahoma · House May 5, 2025

HB 1001: Crimes and punishments; Lauria and Ashley's Law; minimum prison sentences; effective date.

HB 1001, known as "Lauria and Ashley's Law," requires individuals convicted of 23 specific serious crimes - including murder, rape, child exploitation, trafficking, and certain violent assaults - to serve at least 85% of their prison sentence before becoming eligible for parole. It prohibits earned credits or other reductions that would shorten sentences below this 85% threshold. The law applies to all offenders convicted of these designated offenses and takes effect November 1, 2025. It was signed into law by the Governor on May 5, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRequires 85% minimum prison sentence for serious crimes, prohibits sentence reductions via earned credits, increasing mandatory incarceration and reducing parole eligibility.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 369: Assault and battery; modifying scope of certain unlawful act. Effective date.

SB 369 expands the definition of aggravated assault and battery against law enforcement officers in Oklahoma. It specifically includes attempts to gain control of an officer's firearm or strangulation as qualifying offenses. The law applies to police officers, sheriffs, deputies, highway patrol officers, corrections personnel, and state/federal peace officers enforcing state laws while on duty. This change makes those specific acts punishable as a felony with penalties including up to life in prison or a $5,000 fine. The bill was approved by the governor on May 3, 2025, and is now in effect.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization of offenses against officers, increasing penalties to felony level with life sentences, aligning with 'oppose' indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Oklahoma · House Apr 30, 2025

HB 1579: Juvenile bureaus; salaries and expenses; limitations; effective date.

HB 1579 sets salary limits for juvenile bureau staff in Oklahoma counties, capping directors' pay at 90% of Class A county officer salaries and other employees at 85%. It requires juvenile court judges (with county commissioner oversight) to establish expense limits for bureau operations and mandates that all bureau costs - salaries and expenses - be funded through county budgets or dedicated sales taxes. The bill also specifies that county excise boards must appropriate funds for bureau staffing and operations, consistent with other county officer budgets. Additionally, it clarifies that district attorneys represent juvenile bureaus in lawsuits, unless conflicts arise. The law became effective November 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCapping juvenile bureau staff salaries and requiring county budget funding limits restricts resource allocation for juvenile justice services.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Oklahoma · Senate Apr 28, 2025

SB 595: Jail standards; creating the Oklahoma Jail Standards Act. Emergency.

SB 595 creates the Oklahoma Jail Standards Act, requiring all city and county jails to meet new safety, health, and operational standards. It mandates annual inspections by the State Department of Health, sets specific requirements for inmate food, sanitation, medical care, staff training (4-8 hours yearly for direct-contact staff), and inmate classification, and requires facilities to develop written policies for emergencies and medical services. The bill directly affects all county jails, sheriff's departments, and facility administrators, while allowing temporary tent jails to operate under different rules. The Act also clarifies that medical care must cover illnesses or injuries from arrest through incarceration, and includes exceptions for short-term holding facilities under 12 hours.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates improved jail standards including medical care, sanitation, staff training, and inspections, directly advancing corrections reform and inmate safety standards.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates medical care standards for inmates in jails, strengthening healthcare provision within correctional facilities as part of operational requirements.80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 22, 2025

HB 2802: Professions and occupations; additional terms; effective date.

HB 2802 amends Oklahoma's licensing laws for professions and occupations to limit when criminal history can block a license. It prohibits denial based on sealed/expunged records, arrests without conviction, or convictions over five years old (unless involving specific violent offenses like domestic abuse or sex offenses). Licensing agencies must now consider factors like the offense's relevance to the job, time passed, rehabilitation efforts, and provide written notice with appeal rights if denying a license. This directly affects applicants with criminal records seeking licenses for jobs like nursing, contracting, or childcare, ensuring decisions are based on specific, relevant criteria rather than vague standards.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves licensing barriers for individuals with past convictions, promoting reentry and rehabilitation - core criminal justice reform principles by reducing recidivism through employment access.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAmends licensing laws to reduce barriers for healthcare professionals (e.g., removing restrictions on sealed records), potentially increasing workforce access and patient care options.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill removes employment barriers by prohibiting license denial for certain criminal records, expanding workforce access and protecting workers' rights to gainful employment in licensed professions.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 22, 2025

HB 1689: Crimes and punishments; making certain acts unlawful; effective date.

HB 1689 amends Oklahoma's larceny law for lost property, establishing penalties based on the item's value: misdemeanor fines/imprisonment for items under $1,000, and escalating felony penalties up to 8 years for items valued at $15,000 or more. It specifically adds that removing retail shopping carts with intent to deprive the owner (or possessing such carts) is unlawful, punishable as a misdemeanor with up to 1 year in jail or $1,000 fine. The bill directly affects individuals who find lost property without making reasonable effort to return it or who remove shopping carts from retail parking areas. It takes effect November 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by creating new offenses (e.g., retail cart removal) and increasing penalties for property crimes, aligning with 'increases mandatory sentences' indicator.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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