Criminal Justice

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 29, 2025

SB 85: County jails; increasing reimbursement rate amount. Effective date.

SB 85 increases the daily reimbursement rate for Oklahoma counties housing state inmates from $27 to $32 per inmate. Counties that incur higher actual costs can request reimbursement for those costs by September 30, with the state either accepting the amount or having the State Auditor determine it if rejected. The bill also adds a 3% annual inflation adjustment to the base rate and specifies that reimbursements must cover jail operational expenses and personnel costs. This directly affects county governments managing jails under state incarceration agreements.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeIncreases county jail reimbursement rates for inmate housing, directly funding correctional operations under criminal justice funding framework.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 1325: Protection from Domestic Abuse Act; requiring defendants charged with certain domestic violence offenses to use a Global Positioning System (GPS) device when released on bond. Effective date.

SB 1325 requires courts to mandate GPS monitoring for defendants charged with specific domestic violence offenses - such as domestic abuse by strangulation, with a deadly weapon, or after a prior conviction - when released on bond. Defendants must pay all costs for the GPS device and monitoring, which the Oklahoma Department of Corrections will administer until the case concludes. Victims may also request limited location monitoring (e.g., alerts if the defendant nears specified locations, excluding their home or workplace), but only after a court finds evidence of the defendant’s intent to commit violence. The bill takes effect November 1, 2026, and GPS devices must be removed if the defendant is acquitted, incarcerated, or the case dismissed.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires GPS monitoring for domestic violence offenders on bond, enhancing victim safety and offender accountability - aligns with reform goals to reduce recidivism and improve court oversight.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Domestic Violence

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 6, 2026

SB 1255: Pardons and paroles; requiring medical director of the Department of Corrections to make certain request. Effective date.

SB 1255 requires Oklahoma's Department of Corrections medical director to certify qualifying medical conditions and request the Pardon and Parole Board to place eligible inmates on a special docket for compassionate parole consideration. It directly affects inmates with specific terminal or debilitating conditions like dementia, cancer, HIV/AIDS, or conditions causing near-death (six-month life expectancy), or those unable to perform basic self-care. The bill bypasses the standard two-step parole hearing process for these inmates and mandates that at least three Board members must concur to consider medical parole. The Board must document concurrence in meeting minutes, and parolees may face revocation if their medical condition poses public safety risks.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enables compassionate parole for terminally ill/incapacitated inmates, reducing unnecessary incarceration and promoting humane treatment per criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires medical certification for compassionate parole, improving access to healthcare outside prison for terminally ill inmates with qualifying conditions.65% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Probation & Parole

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 1396: Sales tax; providing exemption for certain organizations providing support for first responders. Effective date.

SB 1396 amends Oklahoma's sales tax law to exempt certain organizations that support first responders from paying sales tax on goods and services they purchase. Specifically, it adds exemptions for organizations providing support to municipal law enforcement, fire departments, emergency medical services, municipal disaster mitigation services, and first responder canine training facilities. This means these eligible organizations will not pay state sales tax on qualifying purchases directly related to their support services. The bill updates the existing tax exemption list in Section 1356 of Oklahoma Statutes without changing other existing exemptions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides sales tax exemption for first responder support organizations, reducing tax burden on qualifying purchases per bill's explicit language.90% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill provides tax exemption for organizations supporting law enforcement, fire, and EMS, indirectly funding first responder services under criminal justice topic.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Tax Incentives Law Enforcement

Track

signed · Oklahoma · House May 8, 2025

HB 2705: Sexual assault victims; directing law enforcement agencies to inform sexual assault victims of the status of certain evidence; codification; effective date.

HB 2705 requires Oklahoma law enforcement agencies to inform sexual assault victims about the status of forensic evidence in their case upon the victim's request. Specifically, victims must be told whether DNA was tested, if the DNA profile was entered into the state DNA database (CODIS), and if a match was found with another case. The law does not compel agencies to provide this information without a request and explicitly excludes details that could interfere with ongoing investigations. This law, effective November 1, 2025, directly affects sexual assault victims and law enforcement agencies handling such cases.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires law enforcement to inform sexual assault victims about evidence status, enhancing victim transparency and rights within criminal justice system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Victims' Rights Violent Crime

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 1235: Personal property; prohibiting municipality, county, and state from seizing certain personal property. Emergency.

SB 1235 prohibits Oklahoma municipalities, counties, and the state from seizing personal property on public property without specific legal justification, such as the property being abandoned, a threat to safety, evidence of a crime, or contraband. It requires written notices 48 hours in advance for abandoned property and two verbal warnings (48 and 24 hours prior) for unclaimed property, plus 90 days of secure storage before disposal. The bill specifically protects birth certificates, state/national IDs (like driver licenses), and unexpired prescription medications from disposal, even after the 90-day period. This law directly affects property owners who leave items unattended in public spaces, ensuring due process before removal or disposal.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates procedural safeguards for property seizures (notices, storage), protecting civil rights in law enforcement actions related to evidence handling.90% confidence

Track

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 1331: Alicia's Law; creating the Internet Crimes Against Children Revolving Fund. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1331, "Alicia's Law," creates the Internet Crimes Against Children Revolving Fund within the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI). The fund, financed by legislative appropriations, grants, and other designated sources, directly supports the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and enhances collaboration with local, state, and federal law enforcement. Key provisions establish this as a continuing fund (not limited by fiscal years) for specific expenditures approved by the OSBI Director. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and was declared an emergency to address urgent public safety needs.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, enhancing law enforcement collaboration and victim protection in criminal justice.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyCreates fund for Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, enhancing cybersecurity efforts to combat online child exploitation through law enforcement collaboration.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

Track

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 1318: Alicia's Law; creating the Internet Crimes Against Children Revolving Fund. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1318, "Alicia's Law," creates a dedicated revolving fund called the "Internet Crimes Against Children Revolving Fund" within Oklahoma's State Treasury. The fund, managed by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI), is designed to support the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and foster collaboration with local, state, and federal law enforcement. It is financed through legislative appropriations, grants, and other designated funds, and can be continuously used without annual budget constraints for the fund's specified purposes. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates dedicated fund for ICAC Task Force to combat internet crimes against children, strengthening law enforcement collaboration in criminal justice.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyFunds ICAC Task Force for cybersecurity efforts combating online child exploitation, enhancing digital safety and law enforcement capabilities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

Track

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 14, 2025

SB 731: Oklahoma Evidence Code; modifying certain hearsay exception to include statements by vulnerable adults. Effective date.

SB 731 expands Oklahoma's evidence rules to allow statements from "vulnerable adults" (as defined in state law) to be admitted as evidence in court cases involving abuse, neglect, or sexual contact. The bill specifically permits such statements in juvenile delinquency cases, criminal trials, and related proceedings when the vulnerable adult is a victim or witness to crimes like physical abuse, sexual assault, or domestic violence. These statements can be used without the person testifying in court if they're unavailable or if the court deems the statement non-testimonial. The law applies to cases involving specific crimes listed in Oklahoma statutes, including those against children or vulnerable adults.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands admissibility of vulnerable adult statements in abuse/sexual assault cases, facilitating victim access to justice in criminal proceedings.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Juvenile 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

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole