House Bill No. 2131, introduced by Kannady, amends Section 340 of Title 22 of the Oklahoma Statutes, which outlines the procedures for advising grand juries. The bill establishes new limitations on the use and disclosure of grand jury transcripts, including the requirement for closed hearings when releasing such transcripts and the necessity of showing good cause for their use in civil litigation. It also specifies that attorneys who obtain grand jury transcripts cannot represent parties in related civil cases or use the transcripts to benefit or harm any party in those proceedings. Additionally, the bill allows for the disclosure of transcribed testimony to witnesses for the purpose of preparing them for trial, while imposing restrictions on those witnesses regarding further disclosure.

The bill includes several key insertions and deletions to clarify the roles of various legal parties involved in grand jury proceedings. Notably, it prohibits the reproduction or disclosure of grand jury transcripts without proper authorization and establishes penalties for violations, categorizing them as misdemeanors or contempt. The effective date for this legislation is set for November 1, 2025. Overall, the bill aims to enhance the confidentiality and integrity of grand jury proceedings while allowing for necessary legal processes to continue concurrently.