An Act
ENROLLED SENATE
BILL NO. 1574 By: Floyd of the Senate
and
Townley and Swope of the
House
An Act relating to the Oklahoma Open Records Act;
amending 51 O.S. 2021, Section 24A.3, as last amended
by Section 1 of Enrolled House Bill No. 3779 of the
2nd Session of the 59th Oklahoma Legislature , which
relates to definitions; modifying definition;
updating statutory reference; updating statutory
language; and providing an effective date.
SUBJECT: Oklahoma Open Records Act
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOP LE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 51 O.S. 2021, Section 24A.3, as
last amended by Section 1 of Enrolled House Bill No. 3779 of the 2nd
Session of the 59th Oklahoma Legislature , is amended to read as
follows:
Section 24A.3. As used in the Oklahoma Open Records Act:
1. “Record” means all documents including, but not limited to,
any book, paper, photograph, microfilm, data files created by or
used with computer software, computer tape, disk, record, sound
recording, film recording, video record or other material regardless
of physical form or characteristic, created by, received by, under
the authority of, or coming into the custody, control or possession
of public officials, public bodies or their representatives in
connection with the transaction of public business, the expenditure
of public funds or the administering of public property. Record
shall also mean applications and other documents related to
ENR. S. B. NO. 1574 Page 2
licensure matters that are filed of record in a district co urt,
including, but not limited to, marriage licenses, process server
licenses, closing out sale licenses, transient merchant licenses,
pool hall licenses, and bail bondsmen registration . Record does not
mean:
a. computer software, or
b. nongovernment personal effects;
2. “Public body” shall include, but not be limited to, any
office, department, board, bureau, commission, agency, trusteeship,
authority, council, committee, trust or any entity created by a
trust, county, city, village, town, township, district, school
district, fair board, court, executive office, advisory group, task
force, study group or any subdivision thereof, supported in whole or
in part by public funds or entrusted with the expenditure of public
funds or administering or operatin g public property, and all
committees, or subcommittees thereof. Except for the records
required by Section 24A.4 of this title, public body does not mean
judges, justices, the Council on Judicial Complaints, the
Legislature or legislators. Public body s hall not include an
organization that is exempt from federal income tax under Section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and
whose sole beneficiary is a college or university , or an affiliated
entity of the college or university, that is a member of The
Oklahoma State System of Higher Education. Such organization shall
not receive direct appropriations from the Oklahoma Legislature.
The following persons shall not be eligible to serve as a voting
member of the governing board of the organization:
a. a member, officer, or employee of the Oklahoma State
Regents for Higher Education,
b. a member of the board of regents or other governing
board of the college or university that is the sole
beneficiary of the organization, or
c. an officer or employee of the college or university
that is the sole beneficiary of the organization;
ENR. S. B. NO. 1574 Page 3
3. “Public office” means the physical location where public
bodies conduct business or keep records;
4. “Public official” means any official or employee o f any
public body as defined herein; and
5. “Law enforcement agency” means any public body charged with
enforcing state or local criminal laws and initiating criminal
prosecutions including, but not limited to, police departments,
county sheriffs, the De partment of Public Safety, the Oklahoma State
Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control, the Alcoholic
Beverage Laws Enforcement Commission, and the Oklahoma State Bureau
of Investigation.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2024.
ENR. S. B. NO. 1574 Page 4
Passed the Senate the 22nd day of May, 2024.
Presiding Officer of the Senate
Passed the House of Representatives the 25th day of April, 2024.
Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Received by the Office of the Governor this _______ _____________
day of _________________ __, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _________________________________
Approved by the Governor of the State of Oklahoma this _______ __
day of _________________ __, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
_________________________________
Governor of the State of Oklahoma
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
Received by the Office of the Secretary of State this _______ ___
day of _________________ _, 20 _______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _________________________________