Senate Bill No. 863 amends the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act to enhance firearms safety and training requirements for handgun license applicants. The bill allows applicants to complete a firearms safety and training course either in-person with a registered instructor or through an approved interactive online course. It removes the requirement for applicants to list specific firearms on their application forms and eliminates the need for a replacement license for an additional firearm. The bill also updates the responsibilities of the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET) in approving instructors and courses, streamlines the application form, and establishes a revolving fund for CLEET to support training and qualification courses.

Furthermore, the bill modifies the process for obtaining substitute handgun licenses by allowing individuals to submit a notarized statement to the Bureau if their original license is missing, lost, stolen, or destroyed, along with a $15 replacement fee. During this period, individuals are prohibited from carrying a concealed or unconcealed handgun. The Bureau must issue the substitute license within ten days of receiving the notarized statement and fee. Additionally, the bill introduces a felony penalty for carrying a concealed or unconcealed handgun with a stolen license and updates the fees for changes to the license, such as address or name updates, which will also incur a $15 fee. The act is set to take effect on November 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 21-1290.14
Floor (Senate): 21-1290.14