Senate Bill No. 535 amends the Oklahoma Open Records Act to enhance the management and accessibility of public records. Key modifications include the introduction of a requirement for public bodies to potentially demand advance payment for records requests exceeding $75 or if the requester has outstanding fees. Additionally, the bill stipulates that any excess portion of the advance payment must be returned to the requester. It also allows public bodies to request clarification on records requests that lack specificity, establishing criteria for what constitutes a sufficiently specific request.

Furthermore, the bill updates definitions related to public bodies and records, including the inclusion of state and local fire marshals as law enforcement agencies when investigating potential violations of laws. It also revises the list of exemptions from public records disclosure, such as the inclusion of a United States Department of Defense Form 214 as confidential. The bill aims to streamline the process of accessing public records while ensuring that the integrity of sensitive information is maintained. 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
Sub Committee OR Policy Committee Recommendations (House) Policy Committee Recommendation: 51-24A.3, 51-24A.5