House Bill No. 1215, titled the "Oklahoma Human Trafficking Law," aims to strengthen the legal framework surrounding human trafficking in Oklahoma. The bill amends existing laws to update definitions and penalties related to human trafficking, including the addition of terms such as "pimping" and "debt bondage." It modifies the penalties for human trafficking offenses, establishing specific prison terms and fines based on the age of the victim, and mandates that individuals convicted of human trafficking for commercial sex register as sex offenders. The Department of Corrections is also required to report conviction information to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Key changes in the bill include the removal of life imprisonment as a penalty and the introduction of a maximum sentence of twenty years for general human trafficking and ninety-nine years for trafficking involving minors. The bill also clarifies that the consent of a victim does not serve as a defense in trafficking cases and establishes that a lack of knowledge regarding a victim's age is not a valid defense for trafficking minors. The act is set to take effect on November 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 21-748, 21-748.2
House Committee Substitute: 21-748
Floor (House): 21-748
Floor (Senate): 21-748
Engrossed: 21-748
Sub Committee OR Policy Committee Recommendations (House) Policy Committee Recommendation: 21-748