Criminal Justice (Courts)

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 594: Child abuse; modifying scope and penalty of certain offenses. Effective date.

SB 594 amends Oklahoma law to expand admissible testimony in child abuse cases and elevate penalties for specific offenses. It updates rules allowing statements from children under 16, disabled youth, or incapacitated persons describing abuse, neglect, sexual contact, or witnessing harm to be used in court. The bill also classifies "child abuse" (under §843.5) and "failure to protect a child from abuse" as Class A3 felonies - the highest penalty tier - effective upon enactment. These changes directly affect child abuse victims, their witnesses, and individuals charged with these offenses, streamlining legal proceedings while increasing penalties for perpetrators.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeElevates child abuse penalties to Class A3 felonies (highest tier) and expands admissible testimony, strengthening legal accountability in criminal justice cases.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 1786: Victim protective orders; directing peace officers to complete return of service when filing petition; effective date.

HB 1786 requires peace officers to make every effort to serve protective order subjects and complete service documentation when filing petitions with the court. If immediate service isn't possible, officers must file the petition the next business day, and court clerks must prioritize service through county sheriffs. This affects victims seeking emergency protective orders (for domestic violence, stalking, or related offenses) and the law enforcement/court staff handling these cases. The bill streamlines the process to ensure timely court review while clarifying procedures for service attempts and filing deadlines. It amends Oklahoma statutes to standardize how protective order petitions are processed after emergency requests.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires officers to complete protective order service documentation and prioritize victim cases, enhancing victim safety and procedural efficiency in domestic violence criminal justice cases.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Law Enforcement

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signed · Oklahoma · House May 28, 2025

HB 1460: Criminal procedure; fees; fines; court; sentencing; revolving fund; effective date.

HB 1460 adds new fees for criminal convictions in Oklahoma. It requires courts to collect a $10 fee for most convictions (excluding parking violations) and a $150 laboratory analysis fee for cases involving forensic services from OSBI, the Chief Medical Examiner, or local agencies. Funds from these fees are deposited into specific accounts: the $150 fees go to OSBI, medical examiner, or local law enforcement revolving funds, while the $10 fees fund the CLEET Training Center and General Revenue. The bill also creates a $5 fee for misdemeanor marijuana possession cases, with proceeds going to a drug education fund. These fees apply to individuals convicted of offenses punishable by fines or jail time, excluding minor traffic violations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAdds $10 and $150 fees to fund CLEET Training Center, General Revenue, and law enforcement revolving funds, increasing state revenue streams for budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAdds fees funding forensic services (OSBI) and law enforcement training (CLEET), strengthening operational capacity within criminal justice system.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Corrections Courts Drug Policy

in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 2525: Criminal procedure; modifying eligibility procedures for indigent representation by the Oklahoma Indigent Defense System; effective date.

HB 2525 modifies Oklahoma's process for determining eligibility for free legal representation through the Oklahoma Indigent Defense System. It requires criminal defendants seeking free counsel to pay a $40 nonrefundable application fee (with possible court deferral), submit a sworn statement confirming they contacted three licensed Oklahoma attorneys without success, and provide details about bond status. The bill deletes a prior rule that created a rebuttable presumption of eligibility if a defendant couldn't post bail (other than personal recognizance), removing a key pathway for some low-income defendants to qualify. This directly affects criminal defendants in Oklahoma who cannot afford private attorneys and seek court-appointed counsel.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeAdds $40 fee and procedural barriers to indigent defense eligibility, reducing access to legal counsel for low-income defendants and weakening defendant rights.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 14, 2026

SB 1216: Drug courts; modifying eligibility requirements. Effective date.

SB 1216 updates Oklahoma's drug court eligibility rules by clarifying who can participate. It requires offenders to not be charged with drug trafficking under the Trafficking In Illegal Drugs Act, have committed a felony or specific misdemeanor, and demonstrate a substance abuse addiction (through admission, apparent signs, or known history) or have an offense eligible for drug court. The bill mandates an eligibility form explaining the program process, required waivers (including giving up the right to a quick trial), and consequences of failure (such as up to six months in an intermediate facility). This bill takes effect November 1, 2026, and directly affects offenders seeking drug court alternatives in Oklahoma.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill clarifies drug court eligibility to prioritize rehabilitation (substance abuse demonstration) over punitive measures, aligning with criminal justice reform goals to reduce recidivism through treatment programs.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Drug Policy

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 25, 2025

SB 734: Fees; increasing sheriff's fee for certain service. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 734 increases court fees for defendants convicted in Oklahoma criminal cases, directly affecting individuals sentenced for offenses like traffic violations, misdemeanors, and felonies. The bill adds new mandatory fees: $3 for the Child Abuse Multidisciplinary Account, $10 for courthouse security, $15 for impaired driving cases, and additional amounts for the Law Library Fund, Court Information System, Victim Services, and other state accounts. It maintains the existing sheriff’s service fee range ($50-$150 for within-county service) but clarifies how these fees are allocated. These changes apply to all criminal cases, with fees collected at sentencing and deposited into specified state funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAdds mandatory fees to fund state accounts (Child Abuse, courthouse security, etc.), increasing state revenue for public services per bill summary.90% confidence ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory fees on defendants for criminal cases, adding financial burden without reform measures, aligning with 'oppose' indicators of reduced defendant rights.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement Sentencing

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 1987: Protective orders; creating the Oklahoma Extreme Risk Protective Order Act; providing procedures for filing petition for firearms restraining order; repealers; codification; effective date.

HB 1987 creates Oklahoma's "Extreme Risk Protective Order Act," establishing a legal process for courts to issue orders restricting firearm access. It allows family members, intimate partners, or law enforcement to file petitions alleging an immediate danger of harm from a respondent possessing firearms, including emergency orders without prior notice to the respondent. The bill requires no filing fees for petitions or court services, mandates specific notice procedures for domestic violence cases, and outlines procedures for firearm seizure, return, and record-keeping. This directly affects individuals ordered to surrender firearms (respondents) and those filing petitions (family members, intimate partners, or law enforcement).

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates court-ordered firearm restrictions to prevent violence, aligning with criminal justice reform by addressing extreme risk prevention through legal process.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Firearms

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 624: Searches and seizures; prohibiting certain court orders; providing exceptions; requiring notice; specifying factors for determining punitive damages. Effective date.

SB 624 prohibits Oklahoma government entities from seeking or using "reverse-keyword" court orders (requiring data on people who searched specific terms/websites) or "reverse-location" court orders (requiring location data for unspecified devices in an area). It also bans government requests for such data without a court order. The bill requires government entities to notify individuals if their data was improperly obtained, and allows affected people to sue for $1,000 per violation or actual damages, plus punitive damages based on factors like targeting protected activities. This directly affects state/local governments and individuals whose digital data might be improperly collected under broad surveillance methods.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits warrantless government data collection (reverse-keyword/location orders), requires court oversight, mandates notification for improper data access, and enables civil lawsuits for privacy violations - enhancing accountability and civil ri...92% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProhibits government use of reverse-keyword/location court orders, requiring notice and allowing lawsuits for data privacy violations, directly strengthening privacy protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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vetoed · Oklahoma · House May 29, 2025

HB 2131: Criminal procedure; procedures for advising grand juries; transcripts; hearings; witnesses; effective date.

HB 2131 amends Oklahoma's criminal procedure laws to clarify rules for grand jury operations and handling of transcripts. It restricts who can advise grand juries (prohibiting district attorneys from advising during investigations of their own office), requires sealed court proceedings for transcript requests, and bans using grand jury transcripts in unrelated civil cases. The bill directly affects defense attorneys, prosecutors, witnesses, and judges by limiting transcript access to only criminal proceedings related to the original grand jury investigation. Key provisions include strict penalties for unauthorized disclosure (misdemeanor or contempt) and requiring the prosecutor to be notified before any transcript is released. The law takes effect November 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts DA conflicts of interest, mandates sealed transcripts, bans misuse in civil cases, protecting civil rights and enhancing procedural fairness in criminal justice.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 26, 2026

SB 1372: Probation; permitting certain offenders to receive completion and education credits under certain circumstances. Effective date.

SB 1372 allows eligible Oklahoma probationers to shorten their probation term by earning credits. Offenders who complete their first year of probation or earn a high school diploma, college degree, or vocational certificate can receive credits equal to 1/4 of their probation length. Supervising agencies must track these credits, notify offenders annually about their projected termination date, and inform courts when credits qualify for early termination. The bill excludes those convicted of certain serious offenses (like specific sex crimes or violent felonies) and allows offenders who complete education after probation ends to file a court motion for credit reduction.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill reduces probation terms via education credits, promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism - direct criminal justice reform aligns with support indicators.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill incentivizes probationers to earn education credits (diplomas, degrees, certificates) to shorten probation, promoting educational access and achievement for offenders.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Probation & Parole Higher Education K-12 Education

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