SB 535: Oklahoma Open Records Act; modifying requirements for public body to complete certain records requests. Effective date. - Oklahoma

Floor (House) → Floor (Senate) · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends the Oklahoma Open Records Act to clarify definitions and update statutory references. The changes include expanding the definition of 'record' to include digital formats, refining what constitutes a 'public body' and 'public official', and updating the list of law enforcement agencies covered under the act. These modifications ensure the law remains current with modern record-keeping practices and clarifies which entities and individuals are subject to open records requirements.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of records covered to include digital formats and clarifies which entities qualify as public bodies, while also updating the list of law enforcement agencies subject to the act's provisions.

DEFINITION

Updated the definition of 'record' to explicitly include digital formats like computer software, data files, and electronic recordings regardless of physical form.

Refined the definition of 'public body' to clarify which entities are included and excluded, particularly regarding higher education institutions and their governing boards.

Updated the definition of 'law enforcement agency' to include additional agencies such as the Department of Public Safety, Oklahoma State Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control, and the Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement Commission.

TECHNICAL

Corrected formatting and statutory references to align with the latest amendments to the Oklahoma Open Records Act.

Committee Substitute → Floor (House) · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill was renumbered and reorganized from a Committee Substitute to a House Floor version, with page numbers and formatting updated. The substantive content of the Oklahoma Open Records Act amendments remains unchanged, defining what records are public, who constitutes a public body, and what records remain confidential. No new policy provisions, funding, or eligibility criteria were added or removed in this version.

TECHNICAL

Header information changed from 'Committee Substitute' to 'House of Representatives - Floor Version' with updated page numbering and formatting.

Page headers and footers were reformatted to reflect House Floor version numbering instead of Committee Substitute numbering.

House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill → Committee Substitute · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill update primarily involves formatting and technical adjustments to the Oklahoma Open Records Act definitions. The changes include updating page reference numbers, adjusting spacing and indentation in the document structure, and reformatting list items within the definitions section. No substantive policy changes, new exemptions, or modifications to record access requirements were identified.

TECHNICAL

Updated page reference numbers from 'Req. No. 13570' to 'Req. No. 1733' throughout the document.

Adjusted spacing and indentation in the document header and section titles for formatting consistency.

Reformatted list indentation in the definitions section (e.g., under 'Record' and 'Public body' definitions) to improve visual alignment.

Enrolled (final version) → House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill · 1 edit

MINOR

This version of SB 535 is a House Committee Substitute that retains the same substantive policy content as the enrolled Senate version but includes formatting changes, page numbering, and line numbering for committee review. No substantive policy changes, amendments, or new provisions were added or removed between the two versions.

TECHNICAL

Added page numbers, line numbers, and committee substitute headers for legislative tracking purposes; no substantive policy changes.

Engrossed → Enrolled (final version) · 8 edits · May 19, 2025

MODERATE

This bill finalizes the Oklahoma Open Records Act amendments by updating definitions of 'record' and 'public body,' expanding law enforcement agency definitions, and adding new exemptions for confidential information including test materials, lottery data, and vehicle toll records.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains the same but clarifies applicability by adding specific examples of law enforcement agencies and new categories of exempt records.

DEFINITION

Added specific examples of law enforcement agencies including police departments, fire marshals, county sheriffs, Department of Public Safety, and Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

REQUIREMENT

New exemptions added for test forms, question banks, and answer keys for state licensure examinations while excluding test preparation materials.

Added exemption for personal financial information, credit reports, and financial data used for credit evaluation or licensing purposes.

Added exemption for vehicle movement records from the Oklahoma Transportation Authority's electronic toll collection system.

Added exemption for digital audio/video recordings of toll collection and safeguarding activities by the Oklahoma Transportation Authority.

Added exemption for lottery commission data including last names, addresses, Social Security numbers, tax IDs, and proof of identification for prize claimants.

Expanded Board of Medicolegal Investigations exemption to include hearsay, preliminary unsubstantiated findings, and confidential medical information.

TECHNICAL

Changed document header from 'ENGROSSED SENATE' to 'ENROLLED SENATE' indicating final passage, and updated page numbering and formatting.

Amended And Engrossed → Engrossed · 4 edits · May 15, 2025

MODERATE

This bill amends Oklahoma's Open Records Act to clarify definitions of 'record' and 'public body' while adding specific exemptions for certain confidential information. The changes expand what qualifies as a public record while simultaneously protecting sensitive personal data and test materials from disclosure.

Scope change

The bill modifies the scope of records subject to disclosure by adding new categories of exempt information while clarifying which entities qualify as public bodies.

DEFINITION

Expanded definition of 'record' to explicitly include applications and documents related to licensure matters filed in district courts, such as marriage licenses, process server licenses, and bail bondsmen registration.

Clarified that 'public body' does not include judges, justices, the Council on Judicial Complaints, legislators, or 501(c)(3) organizations whose sole beneficiary is a college or university, with specific restrictions on who can serve on governing boards of such organizations.

Added new definition for 'law enforcement agency' to include police departments, fire marshals, Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control, Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement Commission, and State Bureau of Investigation.

EXEMPTIONS

Added new exemptions for confidential information including driver records protected by federal privacy laws, medicolegal investigation files containing hearsay or preliminary findings, and test forms/question banks for state licensure examinations.

Introduced → Amended And Engrossed · 4 edits · May 15, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was amended to correct formatting errors, update statutory references, and modify the definition of 'law enforcement agency' to include semicolons after listed agencies. The amendment also expanded the scope of records excluded from the Open Records Act to include Section 24A.34 in addition to Section 24A.30.

Scope change

The bill's scope was slightly expanded by adding Section 24A.34 to the list of sections excluded from the Open Records Act's requirements.

DEFINITION

Added semicolons after listed law enforcement agencies in the definition to improve clarity and consistency.

REQUIREMENT

Expanded the list of excluded sections in the Open Records Act from 24A.1 through 24A.30 to include 24A.34 as well.

TECHNICAL

Removed formatting errors and inconsistent page numbering from the original bill text.

Added 'ENGROSSED HOUSE AMENDMENT' header and corrected the bill title and enacting clause.

Oklahoma Open Records Act; modifying requirements for public body to complete certain records requests. Effective date.

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