Office of public defender; increasing certain population requirements. Effective date.

SB 606 raises Oklahoma's population threshold for counties required to establish a public defender office from 300,000 to 400,000 residents, affecting only large counties (over 400,000) under the latest federal census. It updates statutes to require public defenders in these counties to provide training on mental health and substance abuse treatment, and clarifies conflict resolution for appeals between county public defenders and the state Indigent Defense System. The bill also specifies that public defenders are deemed state employees under tort law. It takes effect November 1, 2025.