Senate Bill No. 535 amends the Oklahoma Open Records Act to enhance the process of requesting and accessing public records. Key changes include the modification of the definition of "record" to encompass various forms of documentation related to public business, and the inclusion of specific provisions allowing public bodies to require advance payment for records requests exceeding $75 or from requestors with outstanding fees. Additionally, the bill mandates that any excess advance payment be returned to the requestor. It 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.

Furthermore, the bill updates statutory references and language, and it allows public bodies to deny requests that lack reasonable specificity even after attempts to clarify have been made. The legislation also clarifies that certain records, such as those protected by evidentiary privileges or personal information, remain confidential. The effective date for these changes is set for 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