The "Freedmen of Oklahoma Act" establishes new legal provisions regarding the rights of freedmen descendants in Oklahoma. It mandates that federally recognized Indian tribes that do not grant citizenship rights to these descendants, as stipulated in their treaties, will face significant consequences. Specifically, such tribes will forfeit all cooperative agreements and contracts with the State of Oklahoma, with the exception of certain intergovernmental agreements, and will also lose access to funds received or expended for their benefit. The Attorney General is tasked with enforcing these provisions through court proceedings.
Additionally, the Act creates the Freedmen of Oklahoma Commission, which will consist of fifteen members appointed by the Governor, the Speaker of the House, and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. This Commission is responsible for studying the economic and social impacts of the 1866 treaties and ensuring the rights of freedmen and their descendants are upheld. The Act is set to take effect on November 1, 2025.