Bill No. 978, introduced by Senator Howard and Representative Pfeiffer, amends Section 298 of the Oklahoma Statutes regarding the filing of recordable instruments by county clerks. The bill modifies the margin requirements for documents submitted for recording, specifying that the top margin of the first page must be at least two inches, while all other margins must be at least one inch. Additionally, it clarifies that documents must be original or certified copies, clearly legible, and provide necessary information for indexing. If an instrument contains more than twenty-five legal descriptions, it must be sorted appropriately, and an additional filing fee of one dollar per extra description will apply.

The bill also allows for the acceptance of documents that do not meet certain requirements if they are original or certified copies, legible, and reproducible by the county clerk's equipment, provided that the additional fee for nonconforming documents is paid. Furthermore, it permits digitized images or electronic copies of original documents to satisfy the original requirement if submitted electronically. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and includes an emergency clause for immediate implementation upon passage and approval.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 19-298
Floor (House): 19-298
Floor (Senate): 19-298
Engrossed: 19-298