Oklahoma Open Meeting Act; authorizing executive session for discussion of certain sale, lease, or acquisition; limiting parties allowed to participate in executive session for certain purposes. Effective date.
SB 491 amends Oklahoma's Open Meeting Act to explicitly allow public bodies (like city councils, school boards, and county commissions) to hold private executive sessions specifically for discussing the sale, lease, or acquisition of real property. It adds a key restriction: no person who may profit directly or indirectly from the transaction can attend or participate in these sessions. This change clarifies when private discussions about property deals are permitted and prevents conflicts of interest during such meetings. The bill became law on May 19, 2025, without a gubernatorial signature.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Feb 3, 2025
Signed May 19, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons
What changed between versions
Floor (House)
→
Floor (Senate)
·
2 edits
MINOR
The bill was transferred from the House to the Senate floor for consideration, with minor formatting adjustments and the addition of a new public body (Oklahoma Health Research Committee) to the list of entities authorized to hold executive sessions. The substantive policy content regarding executive session purposes remains unchanged.
Scope change
Added the Oklahoma Health Research Committee as an additional public body authorized to hold executive sessions for matters pertaining to research and development
ELIGIBILITY
Added the Oklahoma Health Research Committee to the list of public bodies permitted to hold executive sessions for research and development matters
TECHNICAL
Minor formatting changes including header updates, page numbering adjustments, and spacing modifications as the bill moved from House to Senate floor version
Floor votes · Senate Mar 27, 2025 · House May 8, 2025
How they voted
37–7
Passed · 5 other
Total votes 49
Mar 27, 2025
D
Democratic9
55% Nay
R
Republican40
82% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
23
Key actions
6
Committee
6
May 8, 2025
Committee
Referred for enrollment
upper
May 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third Reading, Measure passed: Ayes: 89 Nays: 2
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
CR; Do Pass Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight Committee
lower
Apr 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Policy recommendation to the Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight committee; Do Pass Civil Judiciary
lower
Apr 1, 2025
Committee
Referred to Civil Judiciary
lower
Mar 31, 2025
Introduced
First Reading
lower
Mar 31, 2025
Upper · Passed
Engrossed to House
upper
Mar 27, 2025
Committee
Referred for engrossment
upper
Mar 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Measure passed: Ayes: 36 Nays: 7
upper
Feb 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported Do Pass Judiciary committee; CR filed
upper
Feb 3, 2025
Introduced
First Reading
upper
2 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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