Criminal Justice

passed · Oklahoma · House Feb 2, 2026

HB 1990: Firearms; defining term; effective date.

HB 1990 amends Oklahoma's firearm law (21 O.S. 21, Section 1283) to clarify restrictions on firearm possession. It specifically allows individuals with a full pardon for nonviolent felonies to regain firearm rights, while maintaining prohibitions for: convicted felons (without pardon), people on felony probation, delinquent children/youthful offenders (for 10 years after adjudication), and illegal aliens. The bill also defines key terms like "altered toy pistol" and "sawed-off shotgun" to clarify enforcement. This amendment takes effect November 1, 2025, and directly affects restricted groups by defining their firearm access under state law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestores firearm rights for pardoned nonviolent felons, reducing post-conviction barriers and aligning with criminal justice reform goals.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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vetoed · Oklahoma · House May 29, 2025

HB 2131: Criminal procedure; procedures for advising grand juries; transcripts; hearings; witnesses; effective date.

HB 2131 amends Oklahoma's criminal procedure laws to clarify rules for grand jury operations and handling of transcripts. It restricts who can advise grand juries (prohibiting district attorneys from advising during investigations of their own office), requires sealed court proceedings for transcript requests, and bans using grand jury transcripts in unrelated civil cases. The bill directly affects defense attorneys, prosecutors, witnesses, and judges by limiting transcript access to only criminal proceedings related to the original grand jury investigation. Key provisions include strict penalties for unauthorized disclosure (misdemeanor or contempt) and requiring the prosecutor to be notified before any transcript is released. The law takes effect November 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts DA conflicts of interest, mandates sealed transcripts, bans misuse in civil cases, protecting civil rights and enhancing procedural fairness in criminal justice.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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vetoed · Oklahoma · House May 29, 2025

HB 1563: Criminal procedure; authorizing the issuance of subpoena duces tecum to businesses and commercial entities; codification; effective date.

HB 1563 allows criminal defendants to subpoena specific records from law enforcement and businesses in Oklahoma. It permits defendants to request body camera footage, traffic videos, incident reports, or security camera recordings covering the time of the alleged crime from businesses or commercial entities. The bill includes safeguards: law enforcement can object if records involve juvenile confidentiality, ongoing investigations, or informant privacy, and requires strict fee limits ($0.25/page for copies). This directly affects criminal defendants seeking evidence, while balancing access with protections for sensitive information.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllows defendants to subpoena business records (bodycam, security footage) for evidence access, enhancing transparency and defendant rights in criminal cases.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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vetoed · Oklahoma · House May 29, 2025

HB 1273: Domestic violence; providing for alternative batterers' intervention programs; effective date.

HB 1273 creates an alternative batterers' intervention program option for defendants convicted of domestic abuse in Oklahoma. It requires courts to mandate participation in either a standard 52-week batterers' intervention program or a shorter 26-week certified alternative program. The alternative programs, approved by the Attorney General, must prioritize victim safety and include specific strategies to stop violence and hold offenders accountable. This change directly affects individuals convicted of domestic abuse under Oklahoma law and the domestic violence organizations providing these certified programs. The bill amends sentencing requirements to allow courts to order completion of the alternative program instead of the standard 52-week option.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates certified alternative batterers' program prioritizing victim safety and offender accountability, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 29, 2025

SB 85: County jails; increasing reimbursement rate amount. Effective date.

SB 85 increases the daily reimbursement rate for Oklahoma counties housing state inmates from $27 to $32 per inmate. Counties that incur higher actual costs can request reimbursement for those costs by September 30, with the state either accepting the amount or having the State Auditor determine it if rejected. The bill also adds a 3% annual inflation adjustment to the base rate and specifies that reimbursements must cover jail operational expenses and personnel costs. This directly affects county governments managing jails under state incarceration agreements.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeIncreases county jail reimbursement rates for inmate housing, directly funding correctional operations under criminal justice funding framework.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Oklahoma · House May 28, 2025

HB 1462: Criminal procedure; directing courts to prioritize orders of payments of restitution; effective date.

HB 1462 requires Oklahoma courts to prioritize ordering restitution payments to crime victims when sentencing convicted defendants (excluding death penalty cases). The bill amends sentencing procedures to ensure courts consider restitution as a key requirement before other sentencing options, with interest accruing at 12% annually. It directly affects convicted individuals who must pay restitution, crime victims who receive priority for compensation, and courts that must now formally prioritize this in sentencing decisions. The law applies to all criminal convictions where restitution is feasible without causing undue hardship to the defendant.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePrioritizes victim restitution in sentencing procedures, advancing victim rights and fair sentencing within criminal justice reform.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Oklahoma · House May 28, 2025

HB 1460: Criminal procedure; fees; fines; court; sentencing; revolving fund; effective date.

HB 1460 adds new fees for criminal convictions in Oklahoma. It requires courts to collect a $10 fee for most convictions (excluding parking violations) and a $150 laboratory analysis fee for cases involving forensic services from OSBI, the Chief Medical Examiner, or local agencies. Funds from these fees are deposited into specific accounts: the $150 fees go to OSBI, medical examiner, or local law enforcement revolving funds, while the $10 fees fund the CLEET Training Center and General Revenue. The bill also creates a $5 fee for misdemeanor marijuana possession cases, with proceeds going to a drug education fund. These fees apply to individuals convicted of offenses punishable by fines or jail time, excluding minor traffic violations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAdds $10 and $150 fees to fund CLEET Training Center, General Revenue, and law enforcement revolving funds, increasing state revenue streams for budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAdds fees funding forensic services (OSBI) and law enforcement training (CLEET), strengthening operational capacity within criminal justice system.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Oklahoma · House May 27, 2025

HB 1886: Human trafficking; creating the Oklahoma Human Trafficking Justice for Victims and Advocacy Act of 2025; increasing penalties for certain unlawful act; codification; effective date.

HB 1886, now law after governor approval on May 23, 2025, updates Oklahoma's human trafficking sentencing by reducing the maximum sentence for certain trafficking acts from 25 to 10 years. The bill specifically targets traffickers convicted under these provisions, directly affecting individuals facing criminal prosecution for human trafficking offenses. Key changes include codifying this reduced sentence range into state law and adjusting related penalty structures. The amendment process clarified the exact sentencing term, replacing "twenty-five (25)" with "ten (10)" in the law. This represents a concrete policy shift in sentencing severity for specific trafficking crimes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReduces maximum trafficking sentence from 25 to 10 years, aligning with criminal justice reform to avoid overly harsh penalties.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Oklahoma · House May 21, 2025

HB 1414: Counties and county officers; qualifications for county sheriff; military police service; effective date.

HB 1414 changes Oklahoma's requirements for county sheriff candidates by adding a four-year full-time peace officer experience prerequisite, or equivalent military police service (verified by a DD214 form). It also mandates that newly elected sheriffs complete an approved sheriff's administrative training program within 12 months of taking office or risk losing their CLEET certification. The bill applies to all candidates filing for office after November 1, 2025, and does not affect current or previous sheriffs. This update aims to standardize qualifications and training for county law enforcement leadership.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires four years' peace officer experience/military service and mandatory training for sheriffs, enhancing law enforcement standards and accountability per criminal justice reform indicators.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExplicitly accepts military police service (verified by DD214) as equivalent sheriff qualification, supporting veteran employment in law enforcement roles.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Oklahoma · House May 15, 2025

HB 2103: Judicial Nominating Commission; recusal of member; removal of board member; campaign contributions disclosure; eligibility of members; effective date.

HB 2103 updates procedures for Oklahoma's Judicial Nominating Commission. It requires Commission members to recuse themselves if related by blood or marriage to a judicial applicant within the third degree, and mandates immediate removal for violations. The bill also requires members to disclose campaign contributions to judicial candidates within 10 days of receiving applications, with this information posted publicly online. These changes take effect November 1, 2025, and the bill was approved by the Governor on May 14, 2025. The law focuses on transparency and conflict avoidance in judicial appointments.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires judicial recusal and campaign disclosure to enhance court integrity and transparency, supporting judicial accountability within criminal justice system.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice