SB 731: Oklahoma Evidence Code; modifying certain hearsay exception to include statements by vulnerable adults. Effective date. - Oklahoma

Floor (House) → Floor (Senate) · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends the Oklahoma Evidence Code to expand hearsay exceptions for statements made by vulnerable individuals, including children, incapacitated persons, and vulnerable adults. The changes clarify which types of abuse or neglect are covered and establish conditions under which these statements can be used in court proceedings.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of protected individuals to explicitly include vulnerable adults alongside children and incapacitated persons, and clarifies the types of criminal conduct that trigger admissibility of their statements.

ELIGIBILITY

Expanded the definition of protected individuals to explicitly include vulnerable adults alongside children and incapacitated persons in hearsay exception provisions.

REQUIREMENT

Added specific conditions for when statements are admissible in criminal and juvenile delinquent trials, including requirements about whether the victim testifies and whether statements are nontestimonial.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'disability' to clarify it means a physical or mental impairment substantially limiting major life activities.

TIMELINE

Set the effective date of the act as November 1, 2025.

TECHNICAL

Added provisions requiring disclosure and notice under the Oklahoma Criminal Discovery Code for statements offered under this section.

Enrolled (final version) → Floor (House) · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill amends the Oklahoma Evidence Code to expand the hearsay exception for statements made by vulnerable adults, children, and incapacitated persons in abuse or neglect cases. The floor version maintains the core protections of the enrolled version while adjusting formatting and adding committee report details. The substantive legal changes remain consistent between versions.

Scope change

No substantive change in scope; the floor version is a formatting adjustment of the enrolled version with identical legal provisions.

TECHNICAL

Formatting changes from Senate enrolled version to House floor version, including page headers, bill numbering, and layout adjustments.

Added committee report information dated 04/17/2025 with recommendation to pass the bill.

Removed Senate-specific formatting elements including 'ENROLLED SENATE' designation and Senate passage date.

Introduced → Engrossed · 3 edits · Mar 11, 2025

MINOR

This bill modifies Oklahoma's hearsay exception rules to expand protections for vulnerable adults by clarifying the types of abuse and injuries covered. The changes update the language to explicitly include domestic abuse and death as reportable conditions alongside physical abuse and neglect, ensuring statements made by vulnerable individuals about these acts remain admissible in court proceedings.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of protected statements to include domestic abuse and death resulting from abuse, while maintaining the existing framework for juvenile and vulnerable adult testimony in criminal and delinquent proceedings.

ELIGIBILITY

Updated the definition of admissible statements to explicitly include domestic abuse and death as reportable conditions alongside physical abuse, neglect, and sexual contact.

REQUIREMENT

Revised language to clarify that statements are admissible when the vulnerable adult witnessed the act or omission resulting in injury or death.

TECHNICAL

Changed document formatting from 'Introduced' to 'Engrossed' status, adding passage dates and signatures for Senate and House approval.

Engrossed → Enrolled (final version) · 5 edits · May 7, 2025

MODERATE

This bill transitioned from an Engrossed version to an Enrolled final version, adding official signatures and dates from the Senate, House, and Governor. The substantive policy content of the bill remains unchanged, with the primary differences being formatting adjustments, page numbering updates, and the addition of final approval signatures required for a bill to become law.

TECHNICAL

Header formatting changed from 'ENGROSSED SENATE' to 'ENROLLED SENATE' to reflect final legislative approval status

Added official passage dates for Senate (March 11, 2025) and House (May 6, 2025) with signatures from Presiding Officers

Added Governor's signature block and Office of the Secretary of State receipt section for final enactment

Page numbering adjusted from 5 pages (Engrossed) to 4 pages (Enrolled) due to formatting consolidation

Removed placeholder signature lines for House passage date and Presiding Officer, replacing with actual May 6, 2025 date

Oklahoma Evidence Code; modifying certain hearsay exception to include statements by vulnerable adults. Effective date.

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