SB 981 Oklahoma Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Bail; authorizing denial of bail under certain circumstance. Effective date.

SB 981, now law in Oklahoma, expands circumstances where a judge may deny bail to defendants charged with specific offenses. It allows bail denial for violent offenses, crimes carrying life sentences, repeat felony offenders (two or more separate felonies), certain drug offenses (with 10+ year potential sentences), and DUI with two prior felony DUI convictions. The bill requires that for most cases, the state must prove guilt is "evident" or the presumption "great" and that no release conditions would ensure community safety. The law took effect on November 1, 2025.
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 12, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

Floor (House) Floor (Senate) · 2 edits
MINOR
The bill was converted from the House version to the Senate version, with minor formatting changes and a committee report date update. The substantive policy content regarding bail denial criteria remains unchanged.
TECHNICAL

Header changed from 'HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES' to 'SENATE FLOOR VERSION' with updated date to February 25, 2025

Committee report date updated from 04/17/2025 to February 25, 2025

Floor votes · Senate Mar 12, 2025 · House May 1, 2025

How they voted

450
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 49
Mar 12, 2025
D Democratic9
9 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican40
36 Yea 4
90% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
23
Key actions
6
Committee
6
May 1, 2025
Committee
Referred for enrollment
upper
May 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third Reading, Measure passed: Ayes: 82 Nays: 0
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
CR; Do Pass Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight Committee
lower
Apr 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
Policy recommendation to the Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight committee; Do Pass Criminal Judiciary
lower
Apr 1, 2025
Committee
Referred to Criminal Judiciary
lower
Mar 13, 2025
Introduced
First Reading
lower
Mar 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
Engrossed to House
upper
Mar 12, 2025
Committee
Referred for engrossment
upper
Mar 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
Measure passed: Ayes: 43 Nays: 0
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