Child stealing; prohibiting child stealing and creating a felony offense. Effective date.

SB 2181 creates a new felony offense for knowingly removing, enticing, or withholding a child under 18 to interfere with lawful custody, affecting parents, guardians, or custodians. It classifies the primary offense as a felony punishable by up to five years in prison, while enticing a child to leave lawful custody (first two violations) becomes a misdemeanor with a $500 fine. Repeat offenses or taking a child out of state escalate to felony charges, and the bill establishes graduated civil fines starting at $500 for the first violation, doubling for each subsequent offense. The law repeals Oklahoma’s existing child-stealing statute (21 O.S. § 891) and takes effect November 1, 2026.