SB 1255 requires Oklahoma's Department of Corrections medical director to certify qualifying medical conditions and request the Pardon and Parole Board to place eligible inmates on a special docket for compassionate parole consideration. It directly affects inmates with specific terminal or debilitating conditions like dementia, cancer, HIV/AIDS, or conditions causing near-death (six-month life expectancy), or those unable to perform basic self-care. The bill bypasses the standard two-step parole hearing process for these inmates and mandates that at least three Board members must concur to consider medical parole. The Board must document concurrence in meeting minutes, and parolees may face revocation if their medical condition poses public safety risks.
SB 76 clarifies Oklahoma's parole revocation process by explicitly authorizing both the Governor and the Pardon and Parole Board to revoke parole for violations, rather than relying solely on the Department of Corrections. It requires parolees arrested for violations to be jailed immediately, halting parole time and earned credits until a revocation decision is made. The bill also creates a new option: parolees may be placed in specialized correctional programs (intermediate sanctions facilities) instead of facing full revocation for minor violations, at the Department's discretion. This law, effective November 1, 2025, directly affects people on parole in Oklahoma who violate terms, and the state agencies managing parole.
HB 1624 amends Oklahoma law to clarify firearm possession restrictions for specific groups. It prohibits convicted felons, individuals on felony probation, delinquent youth (within 10 years of adjudication), and undocumented immigrants from possessing most firearms. The bill also restores firearm rights for pardoned nonviolent felons and penalizes licensed gun owners who knowingly allow prohibited individuals to possess firearms, with penalties including license revocation and fines up to $5,000. Key provisions define terms like "altered toy pistol" and "sawed-off shotgun" for clarity in enforcement. The law takes effect November 1, 2025.
SB 631 requires offenders convicted of 23 specific serious crimes - including child pornography, human trafficking, aggravated assault on a defender, and discharging firearms into buildings - to serve at least 85% of their prison sentence before becoming eligible for parole. It expands the existing 85% service requirement to include these new offenses, which were previously not subject to this rule. The bill also prohibits earned credits or other reductions that would lower the required service below 85% for these convictions. This applies to anyone convicted of these offenses in Oklahoma, effective November 1, 2025.
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.
SB 1244 modifies Oklahoma's parole rules for inmates aged 60 or older by requiring the Pardon and Parole Board to grant parole to eligible individuals who have served either 10 years or one-third of their sentence (whichever is shorter), provided they pose minimal public safety risks. The bill mandates that the Board use a risk-assessment tool including health status when evaluating these inmates and requires parole hearings for eligible aging inmates. It updates statutory language to define "aging inmate" as 60+ years old and specifies that the Board must consider health factors in risk assessments. The law takes effect November 1, 2026.
SB 887 proposes a 5-year pilot program called the "Secure Pre-Integration Pilot Program" for non-violent offenders in Oklahoma prisons, aiming to reduce prison populations and state costs. The program would require the Department of Corrections to release eligible inmates to family members or community organizations (like churches or nonprofits), which would monitor them and report to the state. Inmates remain under state custody, and the program explicitly does not replace probation or parole. A dedicated revolving fund would cover program costs, including up to 5% for administrative expenses, but the bill failed committee review in February 2025 and has not become law.
HB 1074 allows nonviolent offenders in Oklahoma to submit commutation applications (requests to reduce prison sentences) once every two years, instead of less frequently. It creates an accelerated process for inmates convicted of crimes reclassified from felony to misdemeanor under Oklahoma law. The bill also requires the Pardon and Parole Board to notify victims 20 days before hearings and provide detailed annual reports to the legislature on commutation and parole decisions. This affects nonviolent offenders seeking sentence reductions and ensures victims receive advance notice of review proceedings.
SB 144 creates a five-year pilot program for Oklahoma's Department of Corrections to help formerly incarcerated people find stable housing and access reentry services. It requires the DOC to develop affordable housing in rural and urban areas, identify high-risk inmates for homelessness, and modify existing programs to provide parenting, job skills, and substance abuse treatment support. The program will be funded through a new revolving fund in the state treasury, using state appropriations, grants, and donations, with up to 5% of funds allowed for administrative costs. The DOC must contract an independent evaluator to assess the program's effectiveness in reducing recidivism and submit annual reports to lawmakers. This bill directly affects inmates released from Oklahoma prisons who face housing instability upon release.
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.
