Officers; Governmental Tort Claims Amendments Act of 2025; effective date.

HB 1779 modifies Oklahoma's Citizens Participation Act to clarify which lawsuits are excluded from its protections against frivolous claims. The bill adds specific exclusions, including cases involving government enforcement actions, business sales/leases, bodily injury claims, insurance disputes, and employment-related disputes over trade secrets or non-compete agreements. These changes mean the law’s anti-SLAPP protections (which shield free speech from meritless lawsuits) will not apply to these categories of cases. The bill takes effect on November 1, 2025, directly affecting businesses, insurance providers, government entities, and employees in such legal disputes.