SB 1708: Child custody; creating a rebuttable presumption of joint child custody; creating a rebuttable presumption of sole custody if a parent is subject to certain registrations. Effective date. - Oklahoma

Floor (Senate) → SB1708 (3-25-26) (JECH) FS FA1.PDF · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was updated to reflect the official floor substitute version, incorporating several new sponsors and adding a specific definition for 'stalking' to the existing definitions of abuse and domestic violence. These changes expand the legal protections for victims of stalking in custody disputes and ensure the legislative record accurately lists all current sponsors.

Scope change

The scope of the bill remains focused on child custody presumptions and definitions of abuse, but the applicability is broadened by the inclusion of 'stalking' as a specific factor in determining custody arrangements.

DEFINITION

Added a specific definition for 'stalking' to the list of behaviors that create a presumption against granting custody to the perpetrator.

TECHNICAL

Updated the list of bill sponsors to include Wingard, Grellner, Frix, Logan, McIntosh, Murdock, Stewart, Woods, Stanley, and Burns.

Changed the document title from 'Committee Substitute' to 'Floor Substitute' to reflect the bill's current status in the legislative process.

Removed the 'Senate Floor Version' header and replaced it with the official 'State of Oklahoma' and session information headers.

Committee Substitute → Floor (Senate) · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was converted from a Committee Substitute version to a Senate Floor version, primarily updating the header information to reflect the Senate's final floor version dated February 24, 2026. The substantive legislative text regarding child custody presumptions, definitions of abuse, and registration requirements remains unchanged from the Committee Substitute.

TECHNICAL

Header information was updated to change the document title from 'Committee Substitute' to 'Senate Floor Version' and added the specific date of February 24, 2026.

The list of Senate sponsors was updated to include 'Jett, Standridge, and Prieto' alongside the original sponsor 'Jech' and House sponsor 'Tedford'.

Page numbering and formatting markers were adjusted to reflect the Senate Floor Version layout, including the addition of a footer note indicating that bold face denotes Committee Amendments.

Introduced → Committee Substitute · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended from its introduced version to create a committee substitute that adds new protections for children in custody cases. The most significant change is the addition of a rebuttable presumption against awarding custody to parents who are required to register as sex offenders or violent crime offenders. The bill also expanded the definition of domestic violence to include coercive control and harassment.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include new presumptions against joint custody when a parent is subject to sex offender or violent crime offender registration requirements.

ELIGIBILITY

Added a new presumption that sole custody is in the child's best interest when a parent is required to register as a sex offender or violent crime offender, rebuttable only by clear and convincing evidence.

DEFINITION

Expanded the definition of domestic violence to include coercive control involving physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, economic, or financial abuse.

Added a new definition for harassment as a knowing and willful course of conduct by a parent directed at another parent that seriously alarms or is a nuisance.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the standard of proof for rebutting the presumption against custody of registered offenders from preponderance of evidence to clear and convincing evidence.

Child custody; creating a rebuttable presumption of joint child custody; creating a rebuttable presumption of sole custody if a parent is subject to certain registrations. Effective date.

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