Oklahoma Legislature Passes Bills to Strengthen Domestic Violence Laws

AG: Oklahoma Newsroom

Published March 27th, 2026

Detected March 28th, 2026

Summary

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond announced the unanimous passage of four bills by the state legislature aimed at strengthening domestic violence prevention and prosecution. The measures introduce GPS monitoring for high-risk offenders, elevate serious injuries to felonies, allow prior abuse evidence, and mandate longer sentences for strangulation convictions. These bills, recommended by the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board, aim to reduce domestic violence homicides.

View original document View source feed page

What changed

The Oklahoma Legislature has unanimously passed four bills designed to enhance domestic violence prevention and prosecution efforts, as announced by Attorney General Gentner Drummond. These bills include SB 1325, requiring GPS monitoring for bail for certain domestic abuse charges; SB 1264, classifying domestic abuse resulting in "great bodily injury" as a felony and expanding its definition; HB 4342, allowing prior domestic violence incidents as admissible evidence; and HB 3264, mandating that 85% of sentences be served for domestic abuse by strangulation convictions. These legislative actions are based on recommendations from the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board.

These measures represent a significant strengthening of domestic violence laws in Oklahoma. Compliance officers and legal professionals should note that these bills are moving to their respective opposite chambers for further action. While the specific compliance deadlines are not yet detailed, the intent is to hold abusers more accountable and provide greater protection for victims. The bills aim to build upon the recent decrease in domestic violence homicides observed in the state. Entities involved in the criminal justice system, particularly prosecutors and bail bond services, will need to adapt to these new evidentiary and sentencing requirements.

What to do next

Monitor legislative progress of SB 1325, SB 1264, HB 4342, and HB 3264 in opposite chambers.
Prepare for potential implementation of new bail, evidence, and sentencing requirements related to domestic violence offenses.
Review internal policies and training related to domestic violence cases in light of enhanced prosecution and sentencing measures.

Source document (simplified)

Drummond applauds Legislature’s unanimous push to strengthen domestic violence laws

Tweet PRINT Email Friday, March 27, 2026 OKLAHOMA CITY (March 27, 2026) – Attorney General Gentner Drummond today commended the Oklahoma Legislature for unanimously passing four bills to strengthen the state’s domestic violence prevention and prosecution efforts.

The measures collectively work to keep high-risk offenders monitored before trial, ensure serious injuries are prosecuted as felonies, allow a pattern of abuse to be presented as evidence in court and require those convicted of strangulation to serve the majority of their sentence. The bills now await action in their respective opposite chambers.

“I am grateful to the authors and both the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Oklahoma Senate for their unanimous support,” Drummond said. “These bills help us bolster our statewide efforts to hold abusers accountable and to provide protection and support for victims to ensure these tragedies continue to decline. Even one domestic violence death is too many.”

The four bills that have passed their respective floors are:

SB 1325, **** authored by Sen. Bill Coleman, requires anyone charged with domestic abuse by strangulation, with a deadly weapon or with a prior domestic abuse adjudication to wear a GPS monitoring device as a condition of bail until their case concludes.
SB 1264, authored by Sen. Christi Gillespie, ensures domestic abuse resulting in “great bodily injury” is treated as a felony. The measure also expands the definition of “great bodily injury” to include concussions, prolonged pain and injuries affecting more than 10% of a victim’s body and covers abuse committed in the presence of a minor.
HB 4342, authored by Rep. Anthony Moore, allows prior domestic violence incidents to be introduced as admissible evidence in court, giving prosecutors a fuller picture of a repeat abuser’s history while preserving defendants’ fundamental rights.
HB 3264, **** authored by Rep. John George, adds domestic abuse by strangulation to Oklahoma’s list of 85% crimes, requiring those convicted to serve at least 85% of their sentence before becoming eligible for early release. The measures were recommended by the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board which is housed within the Office of the Attorney General. The Board’s latest report, released in February, showed Oklahoma recorded 87 domestic violence homicide victims in 2024 – the lowest number since 2017 and a 29% drop from the prior year, marking the end of five consecutive years with more than 100 victims.

Last Modified on Mar 27, 2026