Criminal Justice (Corrections)

HB 1153 increases penalties for distributing obscene material or child sexual abuse material in Oklahoma. It raises punishments for distributing obscene material to a misdemeanor felony (1-3 years in jail or $2,000 fine), and for child sexual abuse material to a felony (3-20 years in prison or $10,000 fine for first offense; 10-30 years or $20,000 fine for repeat offenses), with mandatory sex offender registration. The bill directly affects individuals who distribute such material, including photos, videos, or publications. Key provisions include steeper fines, longer prison terms for repeat violations, and automatic sex offender registration upon conviction. The law takes effect November 1, 2025.

SB 780 creates a felony offense for removing or taking down the U.S. flag from public property or private property (without permission) and replacing it with another flag. It directly affects individuals who handle U.S. flags on public or private property, including property owned by others. The bill imposes penalties of up to $3,000 in fines, up to three years in prison, or both for violations. The law becomes effective November 1, 2025.

SB 871 modifies Oklahoma's law against eluding police officers by updating penalty structures for different offenses. For first-time offenders, it increases the maximum fine for misdemeanor eluding from $2,000 to $5,000 and raises the jail term for second offenses to up to one year. If eluding endangers others, the offense becomes a felony punishable by 1-5 years in state prison; if it causes "great bodily injury" (defined as serious harm like permanent disfigurement or long-term disability), penalties increase to 1-7 years. The bill also clarifies legal language around these offenses and takes effect November 1, 2025. It directly affects drivers convicted of eluding police in Oklahoma.

SB 137 creates the "Oklahoma State Penitentiary Prison Rodeo Revolving Fund" to finance improvements to the prison rodeo arena at Oklahoma State Penitentiary. It appropriates $8.3 million from the General Revenue Fund for facility construction, repair, and upgrades to support prison rehabilitation programs and local economic development. The fund, managed by the Department of Corrections, will cover costs for the arena's maintenance and programming. This bill directly affects the Oklahoma Department of Corrections and the operations of the prison rodeo program at Oklahoma State Penitentiary.