Every year, I publish a list of some of the more important new laws that the Oklahoma Legislature has passed in the year. Here is my list of laws passed in 2024. Many of these laws will take effect on November 1; a few of them have already taken effect.
You can see my video about these laws here.
SB 1756 – Relates to supervised visitation in child custody cases. Before approving a third-party volunteer for supervised visitation, court must make a written determination of the fitness of the volunteer. This may include OSBI background checks, an affidavit from the volunteer, or testimony by the potential volunteer or other witness deemed necessary by the court. Volunteer must see and hear all interactions between parent and child. If supervised parent has exhibited suicidal or violent behavior, supervised visitation must occur in a professional setting.
SB 1756 – It shall be a rebuttable presumption that a person should not have custody of a child is the person has had custody, guardianship, or visitation rights terminated due to failure to participate in court-ordered substance abuse or mental health treatment.
HB 3727 – Requires each school district and charter school to teach cursive handwriting to students in third through fifth grade.
HB 3958 – If school personnel at public or charter school have any electronic or digital communication with an individual student, they must include the student’s parent or guardian in the communication. There is an exception if the communication is on a school-approved platform and related to school and academic communications. There is also an exception for emergencies, provided that the parent or guardian is notified of the communication later.
HB 1955 – Eliminates state sales tax on retail sales of food and food ingredients. City and county sales taxes on food and food ingredients would still be in effect.
HB 3571 – Businesses that sell alcohol are no longer required to check a buyer’s ID. However, businesses still may not sell alcohol to persons under 21, and they may check a buyer’s ID if they choose.
SB 2035 – Allows for temporary license plates on vehicles sold in the state, so no one will have to drive without a license plate.
HB 4050 – Allows institutions of higher education to grant religious degrees even if they are not accredited, so long as a “religious modifier” is on the transcript and wherever the title of the degree appears in school publications.
HB 4156 – Makes it a crime for an illegal immigrant to enter and remain in Oklahoma. Anyone who violates this law may be punished by up to a year in jail and/or a fine of up to $500. Anyone who is convicted under this law must leave the state within 72 hours of his conviction or his release from custody, whichever is later. A second and subsequent offense is punishable by up to two years in prison and/or a fine of up to $1,000. On June 28, 2024, a federal judge blocked Oklahoma from enforcing this law, “pending further proceedings.”
HB 1854 – Makes it a misdemeanor to stay overnight on public lands. However, on the first offense, the arresting officer may only issue a warning, and the officer may not issue a citation unless the person refuses the officer’s offer of assistance.
SB 1211 – Raises the maximum fine for domestic abuse by strangulation from $3,000 to $20,000. Also increases the amount of prison time a person can serve for domestic abuse by strangulation. The previous penalty was a minimum of one year and a maximum of three years; this law raises the penalty to a minimum of one year and a maximum of ten years.
SB 1701 – Allows a parent to name someone as a “standby guardian” for his/her children if the parent becomes unavailable due to military deployment, court proceeding, incapacity or other matter. If the parent has not named a standby guardian, a person may petition to be appointed as a standby guardian if the parent is unavailable.
HB 3782 – If a person was released on bond, and while free on bond, is arrested and charged for a violent crime, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that he is not to be released on bail again.
SB 1985 – Allows a school district to enter into an agreement with a church for the school district to use the church’s property.
HB 3778 – The “Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act.” Allows users to provide, in a power of attorney, or will, or trust, that another person may access the person’s digital assets and electronic communications. Requires companies that store digital assets and electronic communications to provide these assets to the person designated. Also requires corporations to provide digital assets and electronic communications to guardians, trustees, personal representatives, and attorneys-in-fact, under certain circumstances.
SB 1307 – Allows adults between the ages of 21 and 26, who have not completed high school and who were unable to complete high school before age 21, to attend school.
HB 2478 – If a party in a custody case alleges domestic abuse, the court must hold a custody hearing within 10 days.
SB 556 – Makes it a misdemeanor for a notary public to notarize a document without making “in good faith” a determination of the signer’s identity. Violation is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and/or up to ten days in jail.
SB 1593 – Allows convicted felons to act as executors and administrators of estates, if the court believes that they are competent to perform the duties of executors.
HB 3105 – Subjects powersports vehicles to state motor vehicle regulations
HB 4069 – Makes it a felony to falsely make, clone, or alter a magnetic stripe capable of storing data on a credit card.
HB 2158 – Requires students to complete courses in personal financial literacy in order to graduate from a public high school.
HB 3959 – Grants rebates to any Oklahoma sports team that is part of Major League Baseball, the National Football League, and National Basketball Association, the National Hockey League, or Major League Soccer.
HB 4148 – If a creditor or debt collector files a lawsuit to collect medical debt, the creditor must file certain information relating to the debt; the creditor must also file proof of compliance with hospital price transparency laws.
SB 468 – Allows persons to create estate planning documents, including wills, electronically.
SB 473 – Creates a task force to study creating a “Business Court System” in Oklahoma.
HB 1425 – Requires school districts to adopt a “released time” policy where students may be released to attend religious or moral instruction.
SB 426 – The World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations (UN), and the World Economic Forum (WEF) have no jurisdiction in Oklahoma. No government entity in Oklahoma shall be required to obey a mandate of the WHO, the UN, or the WEF, and any mandates issued by the WHO, UN or WEF shall have no effect in this state.
SB 1994 – Allows a property owner or his agent to remove any person unlawfully occupying the property.
HB 1795 – Allows children of Oklahoma peace officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians who have died in the line of duty, to attend state universities and career technology schools for free.