An Act
ENROLLED SENATE
BILL NO. 473 By: Treat and Paxton of the
Senate
and
O’Donnell, Sneed, Manger,
West (Kevin), Cantrell, and
Hilbert of the House
An Act relating to courts; establishing judicial
office in District No. 7; establishing judicial
office in District No. 14; creating the Task Force
for the Study of Business Courts; establishing method
for appointing members; providing deadline for
organizational meeting; specifying quorum
requirements; providing meeting authorization;
providing for task f orce duties; requiring staff
assistance; directing submission of reports of
findings and recommendations by certain deadlines;
providing for travel reimbursement; providing
exception; providing for termination of task force;
providing for codification; pro viding an effective
date; and declaring an emergency.
SUBJECT: Business courts
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 9 2.8f of Title 20, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
There is hereby established one (1) judicial office in District
No. 7 for the purpose of providing a business court judge.
ENR. S. B. NO. 473 Page 2
SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 92.15e of Title 20, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
There is hereby established one (1) judicial office in District
No. 14 for the purpose of pro viding a business court judge.
SECTION 3. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 91.7a of Title 20, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. There is hereby created the Task Force for the Study of
Business Courts.
B. The task force shall consist of eleven (11) members to be
appointed or selected as follows:
1. Five members to be appointed by the Governor, one of whom
shall be designated by the Governor as the chair of the task force;
2. Two members to be appointed by the Speaker of the Oklahoma
House of Representatives;
3. Two members to be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of
the Oklahoma State Senate;
4. One member to be appointed by the Chief Justice of the
Oklahoma Supreme Court; and
5. One member to be appointed by the Administrative Director of
the Courts.
C. The task force shall conduct an organizational meeting no
later than September 30, 2024. A majority of the members present at
the organizational meeting, or any subsequent meeting , shall
constitute a quorum for the purpose of any action except the vote on
the final report. A majority of the total membership of the task
force shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of voting on t he
final report required by subsection H of this section.
D. The task force shall be authorized to meet as necessary in
order to perform the duties imposed on it.
ENR. S. B. NO. 473 Page 3
E. The task force shall conduct a study to analyze the
implementation, effect, and impact of creating a Business Court
System in the State of Oklahoma. The study shall include but shall
not be limited to:
1. The existing Oklahoma court structure;
2. The examination and study of business court structures in
other states; and
3. Such other matters related to business courts as the task
force deems relevant.
F. Staff assistance for the task force shall be provided by the
staff of the Secretary of State.
G. The task force shall produce a preliminary written report
and a final written rep ort of its findings and any recommendations
regarding the creation of business courts in this state which shall
include but not be limited to recommendations to determine :
1. Matters that shall and shall not be heard in the business
court;
2. The manner in which a business court judge may be selected;
3. The qualifications, salary, and term limit of a business
court judge, and the manner in which a business court judge shall be
replaced if a vacancy occurs;
4. Whether an office for a secretary -bailiff shall be created
for business court judges and the compensation of a secretary-
bailiff;
5. How proper venue is to be determined for a case on the
business court docket;
6. A dollar amount to determine which district shall have
jurisdiction over a bu siness court case;
ENR. S. B. NO. 473 Page 4
7. Whether the business court shall exercise supplemental
jurisdiction;
8. Whether the business court judge may transfer a matter to a
civil docket;
9. The manner in which the transfer of qualified cases to the
business court shall occur, if at all;
10. If a business court judge should be disqualified from
hearing a case, or whether recusal should be required, and the
manner in which a business court judge shall be replaced;
11. The procedure governing an appeal from the busines s court;
12. Whether the business court may conduct remote proceedings;
13. Filing costs for actions filed in the business court; and
14. Such other recommendations as the task force deems
relevant.
H. The preliminary report shall be submitted to t he Governor,
the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the President Pro
Tempore of the Senate not later than January 1, 2025. The final
report shall be submitted to the Governor, the Speaker of the House
of Representatives, and the President Pro T empore of the Senate not
later than January 1, 2026.
I. Members of the task force shall be reimbursed for their
travel expenses from the resources of the appointing authority.
Members of the task force who are legislators shall not be eligible
to receive travel reimbursement.
J. The provisions of this section shall cease to have the force
and effect of law and the task force shall terminate effective
January 31, 2026.
SECTION 4. Sections 1 and 2 of this act shall become effective
July 1, 2026.
ENR. S. B. NO. 473 Page 5
SECTION 5. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
ENR. S. B. NO. 473 Page 6
Passed the Senate the 2 9th day of May, 2024.
Presiding Officer of the Senate
Passed the House of Representatives the 29th day of May, 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: _________________________________