From shoplifting to protests, 4 crime-related bills to watch in Oklahoma Legislature
These are a few examples of crime-focused bills that are still waiting for a final vote by the state Legislature or approval by Gov. Kevin Stitt.
Lawmakers have been at the State Capitol since February, ironing out details and negotiating on which bills should advance and which ones aren't quite ready. The following pieces of legislation have made it through both the House and Senate, but are still lacking the final couple of steps needed to become state law.
The Legislature must finish its work by May 30.
House Bill 1003 would raise Oklahoma's age of consent from 16 to 18. That means that any adult engaging in sexual activity with someone under 18, barring one exception, could lead to a rape conviction.
In an attempt to protect special needs students from exploitation, the bill also raises the age of consent to 20 for those in public or private elementary or secondary school, junior high or high school, or public vocational school when engaging in sexual acts with a school employee.
The proposed law includes one exception.
Oklahoma's current "Romeo and Juliet" law exempts sexual activity between people who are 14 to 17 years old. This new version would exempt activity between one person who is either 16 or 17 and another person who is not more than four years older.
Therefore, a 16-year-old could legally have sex with someone who is 20 if the bill becomes law. The bill is on its way to the governor's desk for his approval or veto.
House Bill 2164 upgrades some corruption crimes from a misdemeanor to a felony, and in some cases can lead to a ban on holding a future state office.
The measure is the outcome of a legislative interim study examining Oklahoma's laws against government officials using their office for personal gain. Versions of the legislation have overwhelmingly passed both the House and Senate, but both chambers still need to agree on which language to send to the governor.
"(We're) trying to make sure we have clear, concise laws and help clear up some of the inconsistencies in our state corruption laws for all levels of government," the bill's author state Rep. John Pfeiffer, R-Mulhall, told The Oklahoman.
If the bill becomes law, state employees authorized to sell and lease property, or are involved with contract negotiations and approval, are guilty of a felony if they voluntarily personally benefit from the deal. Upon conviction, they would be subject to termination and barred from holding any public office in Oklahoma.
The bill also targets state employees, officials and contractors who use non-public information for personal gain or to benefit an immediate family member. That includes market speculation and disclosing information to outside parties. Anyone found guilty of this crime would face up to a $10,000 fine and/or five years in state prison. Additionally, a state officer or employee who uses their office to benefit them or a close family member must, if found guilty, spend at least a year in prison and/or pay a fine.
Another provision of the proposed law would nullify bids made by contractors if they are done in collusion to bid at afixed price or to avoid competition by agreeing not to bid on a state contract. Violators face a felony conviction along with a ban on holding public office or obtaining any future state contracts.
Finally, the bill would require new heads of state agencies, boards and commissions to attend an ethics course within one year of their appointment.
During debate in the Senate, Minority Leader Julia Kirt supported the bill but encouraged her colleagues to extend corruption laws and ethics training to legislators and elected officials who don't run a state agency.
"We continue to add ethics training requirements for lots of other professions without actually doing it ourselves," said Kirt, D-Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma lawmakers have taken a step toward barring protesters from being near church services.
Senate Bill 743 puts a buffer between two groups of people who are both exercising their First Amendment rights.
It says that when a religious meeting is being held, it is illegal to obstruct the entrance to that meeting. It would also be illegal, if done within 100 feet of a church meeting, to get within eight feet of someone to hand out literature, hold a sign or vocally protest without that person's consent.
Disturbing a religious meeting could therefore be punishable by a year in jail and/or a $500 fine. A second conviction of the same crime would increase punishment to a $1,000 fine and up to two years in state prison.
An earlier version of the bill would have created a one-mile buffer zone around churches where non-permitted protests would be criminalized. State Sen. Dusty Deevers debated against that proposal, pointing out the regular sidewalk anti-abortion protests that take place in front of an Oklahoma City Planned Parenthood office, which is in the same block as Paseo Church. The bill was amended, however, when it reached the House of Representatives.
If the Senate agrees to the House changes, it would head to the governor. If not, both chambers will negotiate on a final version to present to members for another vote.
An enhanced law against organized retail crime could hit the books this year targeting individuals who shoplift and also meet two of the following criteria:
Resell stolen items
Work as part of a team
Using "tools of theft" that include tag cutters, foil-lined bags, weapons or other means of evading detection
Use of non-public exits
Destruction or deactivation of anti-theft devices
Receiving or purchasing stolen retail items
Use of a getaway driver or stolen vehicle
Use of a fraudulent or paper license plate
Anyone convicted of organized retail crime totaling less than $15,000 stolen could face up to five years in prison, one year in jail and/or a $1,000 fine. If the stolen property totals more than $15,000, the incarceration could be bumped up to eight years in state prison.
House Bill 1592 also extends "pattern of criminal offenses" to include those committed in two or more municipalities, instead of just counties.
The bill easily passed both the House and Senate, and is being sent to the governor's desk.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma lawmakers target corruption, organized shoplifting in 2025
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