Criminal Justice (Firearms)

SB 381 modifies Oklahoma law to restore firearm rights for certain nonviolent convicted felons who have completed their sentences and maintained a 5-year clean record (no new misdemeanor or felony charges). It specifically allows these individuals to possess non-semi-automatic firearms and apply for handgun carry permits under the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act. However, rights are denied for those convicted of offenses like domestic abuse, sexual assault, child endangerment, or stalking. The bill maintains existing prohibitions for felons under supervision, delinquents, and undocumented immigrants possessing firearms.

HB 1987 creates Oklahoma's "Extreme Risk Protective Order Act," establishing a legal process for courts to issue orders restricting firearm access. It allows family members, intimate partners, or law enforcement to file petitions alleging an immediate danger of harm from a respondent possessing firearms, including emergency orders without prior notice to the respondent. The bill requires no filing fees for petitions or court services, mandates specific notice procedures for domestic violence cases, and outlines procedures for firearm seizure, return, and record-keeping. This directly affects individuals ordered to surrender firearms (respondents) and those filing petitions (family members, intimate partners, or law enforcement).

SB 769 prohibits juveniles adjudicated for violent crimes from possessing or purchasing firearms until they turn 25 years old. It requires juvenile courts to inform these juveniles of the restriction before accepting a guilty plea or after a ruling, and mandates electronic submission of case details to background check systems. The bill also allows juveniles aged 19 or older (with at least one year since the offense) to petition courts for reinstatement of firearm rights, based on their behavior and future criminal risk. This policy directly affects young people convicted of violent offenses in juvenile court, with the law taking effect November 1, 2025.

HB 1363 prohibits licensed bail enforcers from breaking into a dwelling to recover a defendant, except when they have direct evidence (such as seeing the defendant inside or receiving verified information from a witness) that the defendant is present and refusing to surrender after a reasonable request. It defines "first-hand knowledge" as direct visual contact, eyewitness testimony, or other confirmed evidence provided directly to the bail enforcer. Homeowners or occupants can defend their property (including using a firearm if legally permitted) without liability for injuries to the bail enforcer, and they may seek compensation for property damage caused by an unlawful entry. The law becomes effective November 1, 2025.

SB 526 (Oklahoma Senate Bill 526) prohibits Oklahoma courts and law enforcement from enforcing any order requiring firearm confiscation from law-abiding citizens, declaring such actions an infringement on Second Amendment rights. It mandates that law enforcement officers may refuse to follow orders violating the Second Amendment or their oath, and prohibits retaliation or budget cuts against officers or police departments that refuse such orders or designate their area as a "Second Amendment sanctuary." The bill defines "law-abiding citizen" as someone legally permitted to possess firearms and lawfully present in the U.S. It takes immediate effect as an emergency measure.