Criminal Justice

signed · Oklahoma · House May 8, 2025

HB 1935: Criminal procedure; crimes; limitation; effective date.

HB 1935 amends Oklahoma's statute of limitations for prosecuting certain criminal cases. It shortens the time limit for prosecuting embezzlement of public funds (including school district funds) and specific financial crimes from 7 to 5 years after discovery. For sexual crimes against children, prosecutions can now continue until the victim's 45th birthday, while cases involving DNA evidence preserved at the time of the crime may proceed even after standard time limits expire. The bill also prohibits relying solely on recovered memories from therapy in such cases and sets a 3-year limit for wildlife crimes and fraud.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends prosecution window for child sexual abuse until victim's 45th birthday, prioritizing victim access to justice and aligning with criminal justice reform goals.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Oklahoma · House May 5, 2025

HB 1001: Crimes and punishments; Lauria and Ashley's Law; minimum prison sentences; effective date.

HB 1001, known as "Lauria and Ashley's Law," requires individuals convicted of 23 specific serious crimes - including murder, rape, child exploitation, trafficking, and certain violent assaults - to serve at least 85% of their prison sentence before becoming eligible for parole. It prohibits earned credits or other reductions that would shorten sentences below this 85% threshold. The law applies to all offenders convicted of these designated offenses and takes effect November 1, 2025. It was signed into law by the Governor on May 5, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRequires 85% minimum prison sentence for serious crimes, prohibits sentence reductions via earned credits, increasing mandatory incarceration and reducing parole eligibility.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 369: Assault and battery; modifying scope of certain unlawful act. Effective date.

SB 369 expands the definition of aggravated assault and battery against law enforcement officers in Oklahoma. It specifically includes attempts to gain control of an officer's firearm or strangulation as qualifying offenses. The law applies to police officers, sheriffs, deputies, highway patrol officers, corrections personnel, and state/federal peace officers enforcing state laws while on duty. This change makes those specific acts punishable as a felony with penalties including up to life in prison or a $5,000 fine. The bill was approved by the governor on May 3, 2025, and is now in effect.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization of offenses against officers, increasing penalties to felony level with life sentences, aligning with 'oppose' indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

passed · Oklahoma · House May 5, 2025

HB 1591: Crimes and punishments; adding specific crimes to list of offenses; effective date.

HB 1591 requires individuals convicted of 25 specific serious crimes in Oklahoma to serve at least 85% of their prison sentence before becoming eligible for parole. This applies to offenses like first-degree murder, child sex trafficking, domestic violence with weapons, human trafficking, and certain violent assaults. The bill prohibits earned credits or other sentence reductions that would allow offenders to serve less than 85% of their sentence. It becomes effective November 1, 2025, and directly affects those sentenced for the listed crimes under Oklahoma law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRequires 85% prison term for serious crimes, prohibits sentence reductions, increasing mandatory incarceration without reform elements.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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signed · Oklahoma · House Apr 30, 2025

HB 1579: Juvenile bureaus; salaries and expenses; limitations; effective date.

HB 1579 sets salary limits for juvenile bureau staff in Oklahoma counties, capping directors' pay at 90% of Class A county officer salaries and other employees at 85%. It requires juvenile court judges (with county commissioner oversight) to establish expense limits for bureau operations and mandates that all bureau costs - salaries and expenses - be funded through county budgets or dedicated sales taxes. The bill also specifies that county excise boards must appropriate funds for bureau staffing and operations, consistent with other county officer budgets. Additionally, it clarifies that district attorneys represent juvenile bureaus in lawsuits, unless conflicts arise. The law became effective November 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCapping juvenile bureau staff salaries and requiring county budget funding limits restricts resource allocation for juvenile justice services.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Oklahoma · Senate Apr 28, 2025

SB 595: Jail standards; creating the Oklahoma Jail Standards Act. Emergency.

SB 595 creates the Oklahoma Jail Standards Act, requiring all city and county jails to meet new safety, health, and operational standards. It mandates annual inspections by the State Department of Health, sets specific requirements for inmate food, sanitation, medical care, staff training (4-8 hours yearly for direct-contact staff), and inmate classification, and requires facilities to develop written policies for emergencies and medical services. The bill directly affects all county jails, sheriff's departments, and facility administrators, while allowing temporary tent jails to operate under different rules. The Act also clarifies that medical care must cover illnesses or injuries from arrest through incarceration, and includes exceptions for short-term holding facilities under 12 hours.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates improved jail standards including medical care, sanitation, staff training, and inspections, directly advancing corrections reform and inmate safety standards.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates medical care standards for inmates in jails, strengthening healthcare provision within correctional facilities as part of operational requirements.80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 16, 2025

HB 2422: Sex offenders; establishing conditions for parole eligibility for certain sex offenders; codification; effective date.

HB 2422 modifies Oklahoma's parole rules for certain sex offenders convicted of crimes involving minors under 13. It requires a mental health evaluation to determine if hormonal treatment (medroxyprogesterone acetate) could reduce reoffending risk, making voluntary hormonal treatment a condition for parole eligibility. Parolees must continue this treatment while incarcerated, and failure to comply - along with new offenses - revokes parole eligibility. The bill applies only to offenders convicted on or after its effective date and amends existing parole statutes (57 O.S. §§ 332.21, 512) to implement these requirements.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires hormonal treatment to reduce recidivism risk, aligning with rehabilitation-focused criminal justice reform.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 1, 2025

HB 1593: Criminal procedures; authorizing peace officers to dispute reports of misconduct; codification; effective date.

HB 1593 prevents prosecutors from disqualifying peace officers as witnesses based on unproven misconduct allegations. It allows officers who are placed on a "Do Not Call" list for alleged misconduct to dispute the claim by filing a petition with the Attorney General. An administrative law judge will hold a hearing to review the allegations, and if the misconduct claim isn't proven by a preponderance of evidence, the officer must be reinstated as credible. Courts must then consider the judge's findings when evaluating the officer's testimony. This bill directly affects peace officers and changes how misconduct allegations impact their ability to testify in criminal cases.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill weakens accountability by requiring proof to disqualify officers for misconduct, reducing oversight of law enforcement conduct.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Mar 5, 2025

HB 1108: Oklahoma Open Meeting Act; adding the Judicial Nominating Commission to the definition of a public body; effective date.

HB 1108 amends Oklahoma's Open Meeting Act to include the Judicial Nominating Commission within the definition of a "public body." This means meetings of the Judicial Nominating Commission, which recommends candidates for judicial appointments, will now be subject to the same open meeting requirements as other public bodies. Specifically, the commission must provide public notice, allow public attendance, and maintain accessible meeting records. The change takes effect November 1, 2025, directly affecting how judicial selection processes are conducted and observed.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeIncreases transparency in judicial appointments, enhancing oversight of court processes within criminal justice system.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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