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 specifically aimed at preventing the depositions of high-ranking officers within 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, has significant scheduling demands, and lacks unique personal knowledge of the issues being litigated. Additionally, the motion must be supported by an affidavit or declaration from the officer and identify another knowledgeable person within the organization.

The bill also outlines the conditions under which a court may issue or modify a protective order, emphasizing that the opposing party must exhaust all reasonable means of discovery before proceeding with the deposition. If the protective order is granted, the court may require the party whose conduct necessitated the motion to pay reasonable expenses incurred by the moving party, including attorney fees. Conversely, if the motion is denied, the moving party may be required to cover the opposing party's expenses unless justified otherwise. The act is set to take effect on November 1, 2025.