Senate Bill No. 535 amends the Oklahoma Open Records Act to enhance the process of requesting and accessing public records. Key modifications include the definition of "record" to encompass various forms of documents and materials related to public business, and the inclusion of state and local fire marshals as law enforcement agencies. The bill allows public bodies to require advance payment for records requests exceeding $75 or if the requester has outstanding fees. Additionally, it mandates that any excess advance payment be returned to the requester. The bill also introduces a requirement for requestors to complete a records request form and specifies that requests must be reasonably specific, including a general timeframe and identifiable records.

Further changes include the update of statutory references and the clarification of the Oklahoma Open Records Act's applicability to confidential records. The bill specifies that public bodies may deny requests that lack reasonable specificity even after engaging with the requester for clarification. It also emphasizes that fees for copying records should not be used to discourage requests and that public bodies must provide prompt access to records while maintaining their integrity and organization. The act is set to take effect on November 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 51-24A.3, 51-24A.5, 51-24A.17
House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill: 51-24A.3, 51-24A.5
Committee Substitute: 51-24A.3, 51-24A.5
Floor (House): 51-24A.3, 51-24A.5
Floor (Senate): 51-24A.3, 51-24A.5
Engrossed: 51-24A.3, 51-24A.5
Amended And Engrossed: 51-24A.3, 51-24A.5
Enrolled (final version): 51-24A.3, 51-24A.5
Sub Committee OR Policy Committee Recommendations (House) Policy Committee Recommendation: 51-24A.3, 51-24A.5