Children; adoption; eligibility; Oklahoma Children's Code; biological sex; abuse or neglect; crimes and punishments; child endangerment; effective date.

HB 3502 modifies Oklahoma's adoption eligibility rules and defines abuse under the Children's Code. It prohibits denying adoption placements or delaying adoptions based on an adoptive parent's refusal to support a child's gender transition. The bill explicitly states that raising or referring to a child using their biological sex (e.g., birth-assigned gender) does not constitute abuse or neglect under state law. These changes directly affect adoptive parents, children in foster care, and child welfare agencies in Oklahoma. The bill amends specific sections of Oklahoma Statutes related to adoption, abuse definitions, and child endangerment.