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SB 944 Oklahoma Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Crimes and punishments; modifying provisions and penalties related to hazing. Effective date.

SB 944 modifies Oklahoma's hazing laws to better protect students at public and private schools and colleges. It defines hazing broadly to include activities endangering physical or mental health (like forced consumption or extreme stress), prohibits all hazing by student groups, and creates new misdemeanor charges for basic hazing (up to 90 days jail or $5,000 fines) and felony charges if hazing causes serious injury or death (up to 10 years in prison or $15,000 fines). The bill also establishes the Anti-Hazing Revolving Fund for educational programs, prohibits defenses like "tradition" or "consent," and grants immunity to students who report hazing or seek medical help for hazing victims. These changes directly affect student organizations, schools, and individuals involved in hazing incidents.
Issues: ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by creating new felony charges for hazing causing injury/death, increasing penalties under criminal justice framework.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly protects students in schools/colleges from hazing, creating safer educational environments which supports student well-being and access to learning.85% confidence
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 3, 2025 Last action Feb 24, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Floor (Senate) · 6 edits
MODERATE
The bill was updated from its introduced version to the Senate floor version, incorporating committee amendments that modify penalties and definitions related to hazing offenses. Key changes include clarifying penalty amounts for individuals and organizations, adding a new subsection on civil penalties being deposited into a fund, and restructuring how consent and institutional approval are treated as defenses in hazing cases.
Scope change
The scope of the bill remains focused on hazing prevention and penalties, but the enforcement mechanisms and penalty structures have been modified to clarify consequences for both individuals and organizations involved in hazing activities.
ENFORCEMENT

Penalty amounts for individuals convicted of hazing were adjusted, with specific distinctions made between violations resulting in serious bodily injury or death versus other violations.

The penalty structure for organizations violating hazing provisions was modified to clarify forfeiture of rights and privileges.

Defenses related to consent and institutional approval in hazing cases were restructured to limit their applicability.

FISCAL

A new provision was added requiring civil penalties to be deposited into the Anti-Hazing Revolving Fund.

DEFINITION

The definition of hazing and related terms was restructured to clarify what constitutes hazing and the conditions under which activities are presumed forced.

REQUIREMENT

Requirements for providing policy copies to students and incorporating anti-hazing policies into organizational bylaws were modified.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
6
Key actions
1
Committee
1
Feb 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported Do Pass Public Safety committee; CR filed
upper
Feb 3, 2025
Introduced
First Reading
upper
2 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Brian Guthrie
Brian Guthrie
RRepublican
OK
25
P
Photo of Emily Gise
Emily Gise
RRepublican
OK
90