Criminal Justice

SB 928 creates new misdemeanor and felony charges for assaulting or battering county employees while they are performing their duties. It defines "county employee" broadly to include workers for counties and contracted firms. Simple assault/battery becomes a misdemeanor (up to 1 year in jail or $1,000 fine), while aggravated attacks become felonies (up to 2 years in prison or $5,000 fine). The bill also requires counties to post clear signage stating that felony charges may apply for such attacks. This law directly affects county employees and aims to strengthen protections for them during work.

SB 461 repeals specific Oklahoma statutes related to "restricted bullets" and "body armor" from the legal code. It removes references to these provisions from the Oklahoma Sentencing Modernization Act (21 O.S. Supp. 2024, Section 20H) and the RICO Act (22 O.S. Supp. 2024, Section 1402), including the prior inclusion of "second or subsequent conviction for committing a felony while wearing body armor" as a Class B3 offense. The bill directly affects the state’s criminal code by eliminating these specific legal references, though it does not change penalties for related conduct. This is a technical repeal of outdated or redundant statutes, not a policy change to criminal penalties. The bill’s effective date is specified but not detailed in the provided text.

SB 882 modifies bail rules for people arrested for driving under the influence (DUI), specifically targeting second or subsequent offenses under Oklahoma Statute 47 O.S. § 11-902. It requires courts to consider a defendant’s history of alcohol or drug dependence when setting bail, creating a rebuttable presumption that standard bail would not ensure public safety if dependence is proven. The bill also removes mandatory drug/alcohol testing requirements from accident reporting rules under § 47 O.S. § 10-104. These changes directly affect individuals with documented substance dependence facing repeat DUI charges.

SB 864 modifies Oklahoma's Sex Offenders Registration Act to clarify who must register and strengthen requirements. It requires registration for individuals convicted of specific sex offenses (including child exploitation, sexual assault, and trafficking) who live, work, or attend school in Oklahoma, including those with out-of-state convictions. The bill explicitly prohibits plea agreements that allow offenders to avoid registration and clarifies that deferred convictions still mandate registration. It also states that sealing a criminal record does not remove the obligation to register, applying to both Oklahoma and certain out-of-state convictions.