House Bill No. 2650 amends Section 3226.1 of Title 12 of the Oklahoma Statutes, focusing on abusive discovery practices in civil procedure. The bill introduces provisions for protective orders that can prevent the depositions of high-ranking officers from organizations, both public and private. To obtain such a protective order, the party seeking it must demonstrate that the officer in question is a current or former high-ranking official with significant scheduling demands and lacks unique personal knowledge of the issues being litigated. The motion for a protective order must be accompanied by an affidavit or declaration from the officer, as well as evidence identifying another knowledgeable person within the organization.

Additionally, the bill outlines the conditions under which a court may issue or modify a protective order, emphasizing the need for the opposing party to exhaust all reasonable means of discovery before proceeding with the deposition of the high-ranking officer. If the protective order is granted, the court may also award reasonable expenses incurred by the moving party, including attorney fees, unless justified otherwise. The act is set to take effect on November 1, 2025.