HB 3122 strengthens whistleblower protections in Oklahoma by making retaliation against employees who report wrongdoing a punishable offense. It defines retaliation as actions like termination, demotion, or intimidation by public officials, employers, or supervisors, with penalties including up to one year in jail and a $5,000 fine. The bill also allows whistleblowers to sue for economic and emotional damages, plus attorney fees, if they successfully prove retaliation. The law takes effect on November 1, 2026.
SB 1462 extends the deadline for the Oklahoma Organized Retail Crime Task Force from June 1, 2026, to July 1, 2036. The task force, composed of 15 members representing law enforcement, retail associations, and government agencies, must submit a report by December 31, 2025, analyzing organized retail theft impacts and recommending solutions. The bill updates statutory language and declares an emergency to take effect July 1, 2026. It directly affects the task force members, state officials receiving the report, and Oklahoma businesses impacted by retail theft.
SB 1584 modifies Oklahoma law regarding sexual assault evidence kits by reducing the deadline for law enforcement to submit kits to crime labs from 20 to 10 days after a sexual assault report is filed, unless the victim requests no testing. It requires crime labs to test kits within 30 days of receipt and mandates that medical providers inform victims of their right to request future testing. The bill also maintains a 50-year retention requirement for untested kits and requires law enforcement to coordinate with the Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence Task Force (SAFE) on processing guidelines. This directly affects law enforcement agencies, crime laboratories, and sexual assault victims in Oklahoma. The bill takes effect November 1, 2026.
SB 2094, the "Firearm Preservation Act," requires Oklahoma law enforcement agencies to auction firearms they acquire (e.g., through court orders, forfeitures, or estates) instead of destroying them. Agencies must sell these firearms only to individuals legally eligible to purchase them under state and federal law, with buyers passing required background checks. Proceeds from auctions fund agency operations or training, and agencies are shielded from liability if auctioned firearms are later used in crimes. The law mandates agencies to maintain detailed auction records for five years and imposes fines for noncompliance.
SB 1467 requires Oklahoma criminal justice agencies (like police departments, courts, and correctional facilities) to share specific public criminal justice data with approved researchers upon request. This includes information on law enforcement stops, arrests, court proceedings, and corrections, but only if the data is already available to the public under Oklahoma's Open Records Act. Researchers must prove they are "bona fide" (with institutional review board approval and agreements to use data solely for research, without public disclosure) and agencies may charge reasonable fees for search and copying. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, with requests not accepted before July 1, 2027, and the Attorney General must provide compliance guidance.
SB 1542 amends Oklahoma's stalking laws to define stalking as a Class B6 felony when someone willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly follows or harasses another person, causing both a reasonable person and the victim to feel frightened or threatened. It increases penalties for repeat offenses (up to 12 years for third violations) and elevates stalking to a Class B5 felony (up to 15 years) if the perpetrator violates a restraining order, is on probation for violence, or has prior stalking convictions involving violence. The bill directly affects individuals convicted of stalking and their victims, with penalties varying based on prior offenses and protective orders. It replaces existing stalking provisions in Oklahoma Statutes Section 1173 without adding monitoring device provisions as suggested by the bill title.
HB 3695 amends Oklahoma's definition of "great bodily injury" in motor vehicle laws to explicitly include bone fractures, disfigurement, loss of body function, or serious risk of death. It increases penalties for drivers causing such injuries while violating traffic laws: first offenses become misdemeanors (90 days-1 year jail, up to $2,500 fine), and repeat offenses or causing "great bodily injury" become Class B1 felonies (4-20 years prison, up to $5,000 fine). The bill directly affects drivers convicted of traffic violations resulting in severe injuries. It takes effect November 1, 2026.
HB 3379 prohibits Oklahoma public colleges and universities from asking about a prospective student's criminal history on initial application forms or during early admissions decisions, except for convictions related to sex offenses listed in Oklahoma law (21 Okl. Stat. §§ 843.5, 1111, etc.). After admission, institutions may inquire about criminal history for counseling, campus participation decisions, or specific programs like teacher preparation, but must consider factors like time passed, rehabilitation, and the offense's relevance. The bill specifically prevents denial of admission or academic program continuation for students seeking licensed careers (e.g., teaching) based solely on criminal history, requiring institutions to offer counseling about licensing requirements instead. It takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB 4151 requires Oklahoma law enforcement to interview family members before finalizing death investigations when a decedent has an identifiable history of domestic abuse and specific factors are present (e.g., premature death, scene resembling suicide, history of coercive control, or strangulation). It mandates current domestic abuse training for investigators, allows family access to victim services during investigations, and gives families the right to request investigation records if a case is closed without a homicide finding. The bill also specifies 10 conditions triggering autopsy requests and clarifies that it doesn’t override existing investigation discretion or impose new liability on agencies. It applies to deaths involving domestic abuse victims and takes effect November 1, 2026.
SB 1711 prohibits the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) from collecting fingerprints from firearms unless there is reasonable suspicion the firearm was used in a crime. This law directly affects the OSBI’s evidence collection practices and applies to all firearm-related investigations handled by the agency. The key provision requires officers to have reasonable suspicion before taking fingerprints, replacing previous broader authority. The bill becomes effective November 1, 2026, and would be codified under Oklahoma Statutes Title 74, Section 151.5.
