Req. No. 1697 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 STATE OF OKLAHOMA 1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023) COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL 649 By: Montgomery of the Senate and Echols of the House COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE [ limited liability companies - limited partnerships – registered series – effective date ] BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 18 O.S. 2021, Section 1006, is amended to read as follows: Section 1006. CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION; CONTENTS A. The certificate of incorpora tion shall set forth: 1. The name of the corporation which shall contain one of the words “association”, “company”, “corporation”, “club”, “foundation”, “fund”, “incorporated”, “institute”, “society”, “union”, “syndicate”, or “limited” or abbreviations thereof, with or without punctuation, or words or abbreviations thereof, with or without punctuation, of like import of foreign countr ies or jurisdictions; Req. No. 1697 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 provided that such abbreviations are written in Ro man characters or letters, and which shall be such a s to distinguish it upo n the records in the Office of the Secretary of State from: a. names of other corporations, whether domestic or foreign, then existing or which existed at any time during the preceding three (3) years, b. names of partnerships whethe r general or limited, o r domestic or foreign, then in good standing or registered or which were in good standing or registered at any time during the preceding three (3) years, c. names of limited liabili ty companies, whether domestic or foreign, then in g ood standing or registe red or which were in good standing or registered at any time during the preceding three (3) years, d. names of registered seri es of a limited liabil ity company, e. trade names or fictitious names filed with the Secretary of State, or e. corporate, limited liability company or limited partnership names f. names of corporations , limited liability companies, limited partnerships, or registered series of limited Req. No. 1697 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 liability companies reserved with the Secretary of State; 2. The address, inc luding the street, number, city and postal code, of the corporatio n’s registered office in this state, and the name of the corporation ’s registered agent at such address; 3. The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted. It shall be sufficient to state, either alone or with other businesses or purp oses, that the purpose of the corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the gen eral corporation law of Oklahoma, and by such statement all lawful acts and activities shall be within the purposes of the corporation, except for express limitations, if any; 4. If the corporation is to be authorized to issue only one class of stock, the total number of shares of stock which the corporation shall have authority to issue and the par value of each of such shares, or a statement that all such shares are to be without par value. If the corporation is to be authorized to issue more than one class of stock, the certificate of incorporation shal l set forth the total number of shares of all classes of stock whi ch the corporation shall have authority to issue and the number of shares of each class, and shall specify each class the shares of which are to be without par value and each class the share s of which are to have par value and the par value of the shares o f each such class. The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to Req. No. 1697 Page 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 corporations which are not organized for profit and which are not to have authority to issue capital stock. In the ca se of such corporations, the fact that they are not to have author ity to issue capital stock shall be stated in the certificate of incorporation. The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to nonst ock corporations. In the case of nonstock corporati ons, the fact that they are not authorized to issue capital stock shall be stated in the certificate of incorporation. The conditions of membership, or other criteria for identifying members, of nonstock corporations shall likewise be stated in the certif icate of incorporation or the bylaws. Nonstock corporations shall have members, but the failure to have members shall not affect otherwise valid corporate acts or work a forfeiture or dissolution of the corporation. Nonstock corporations may provide for classes or groups of members having relative rights, powers and du ties, and may make provision for the future creation of additional classes or groups of members having such relative rights, powers and du ties as may from time to time be established, including rights, powers and duties senior to existing classes and groups of members. Except as otherwise provided in the Oklahoma General Corporation Act, nonstock corporations may also provide that any membe r or class or group of members shall have full, limited, or no voting rights or powers, including that any member or class or group of members shall have the right to vote on a specified transaction even if that member or class or group of Req. No. 1697 Page 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 members does not have the right to vote for the election of members of the governing body of the corporation. Voting by members of a nonstock corporation may be on a per capita, number, financial interest, class, group, or any other basis set forth. The provisions referred to in the three preceding sentences may be set forth in the certificate of incorporation or the bylaws. If neithe r the certificate of incorporation nor the bylaws of a nonstock corporation state the conditions of membership, or other criteria for identifying members, the members of the corporation shal l be deemed to be those entitled to vote for the election of the m embers of the governing body pursuant to the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of such corporation or otherwise until thereafter otherwise provided by the certificate of incorporation o r the bylaws; 5. The name and mailing address of the incorporator or incorporators; 6. If the powers of the incorporator or incorporators are to terminate upon the filing of the certificate of incorpora tion, the names and mailing addresses of the persons who are to serve as directors until the first annual meeting of s hareholders or until their successors are elected and qualify; 7. If the corporation is not for profit: a. that the corporation does not afford pecuniary gain, incidentally or otherwise, to its members as such, Req. No. 1697 Page 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 b. the name and mailing address of each memb er of the governing body, c. the number of members of the governing body to be elected at the first meeting, and d. in the event the corpo ration is a church, the street address of the locati on of the church. The restriction on affording pecuniary gain to m embers shall not prevent a not-for-profit corporation operating as a cooperative from rebating excess revenues to patrons who may also be members; and 8. If the corporation is a charitable nonstock and does not otherwise provide in its certificate of inco rporation: a. that the corporation is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, and scientific purposes including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organ izations that qualify as exempt organizations under section Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code, b. that upon the dissolution of the corpora tion, its assets shall be distributed for on e or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code, for a public purpose, and Req. No. 1697 Page 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 c. that the corporation complies with the requirements in paragraph 7 of this subsection. B. In addition to the matters required to be set forth i n the certificate of incorporation pursuant to the provisions of subsection A of this section, the certificate of incorporation ma y also contain any or all of the following m atters: 1. Any provision for the management of the business and for the conduct of the affairs of the corporation, and any provision creating, defining, limiting and regulating the powers of the corporation, the directors, and the shareholders, or any cla ss of the shareholders, or the governing body, the members, or any class or group of the members of a nonstock corporation, if such provisions are not contrary to the laws of this state. Any provision which is r equired or permitted by any provision of the Oklahoma General Corporation Act to be stated in the bylaws may instead be stated in the certificate of incorporation; 2. The following provisions, in substantially the following form: a. for a corporation, oth er than a nonstock corporation: “Whenever a compromise or arrangement is proposed between this corporation and its creditors o r any class of them and/or between this corporation and its shareholders or any class of them, any court of equitable jurisdiction within the State of Oklahoma, Req. No. 1697 Page 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 on the application in a summary way of this corporation or of any creditor or shareholder there of or on the application of any receiver or receivers appointed for this corporation under the provisions of Section 1106 of this title or on the application of trustees in dissolution or of any receiver or receivers appointed for this corporation under th e provisions of Section 1100 of this title, may order a meeting of the creditors or class of creditors, and/or of the shareholders or class of shareholders of this corporation, as the case may be, to be summoned in such manner as the court directs. If a m ajority in number representing three -fourths (3/4) in value of the creditors or class of creditors, and/or of the shareholders or class of shareholders of this corporation, as the case may be, agree to any compromise or arrangement and to any reorganizatio n of this corporation as a consequence of such compromise or arrangement, the compromise or arrangement and the reorganization, if sanctioned by the court to which the application has been made, shall be binding on all the creditors or class of creditors, and/or on all the shareholders or class of shareholders, of this Req. No. 1697 Page 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 corporation, as the case may be, and also on this corporation”, and b. for a nonstock corporation: “Whenever a compromise or arrangement is proposed between this corporation and its creditors or any class of them and/or between this corporation and its members or any class of them, any court of equitable jurisdiction within the State of Oklahoma may, on the application in a summary way of this corporation or of any creditor or member thereof o r on the application of any receiver or receivers appointed for this corporation under the provisions of Section 110 6 of this title or on the application of trustees in dissolution or of any receiver or receivers appointed for this corporation under the pr ovisions of Section 1100 of this title, order a meeting of the creditors or class of creditors, and/or of the member s or class of members of this corporation, as the case may be, to be summoned in such manner as the court directs. If a majority in number representing three-fourths (3/4) in value of the creditors or class of creditors, and/or of the members or class of members of this corporation, as the case may be, agree to any compromise or arrangement and to any reorganization of Req. No. 1697 Page 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 this corporation as a c onsequence of such compromise or arrangement, the compromise or arrangement and the reorganization, if sanctioned by the court to which the application has been made, shall be binding on all the creditors or class of creditors, and/or on all the members or class of members, of this corporation, as the case may be, and also on this corporation ”; 3. Such provisions as ma y be desired granting to the holders of the stock of the corporation, or the holders of any class or series of a class thereof, the preempti ve right to subscribe to any or all additional issues of stock of the corporation of any or all classes or series thereof, or to any securities of the corporation convertible into such stock. No shareholder shall have any preemptive right to subscribe to an additional issue of stock or to any security convertible into such stock unless, and except to the extent that, such right is expressly granted to him in the certificate of incorporation. Preemptive rights, if granted, shall not extend to fractional sh ares; 4. Provisions requiring, for any corporate action, the vote of a larger portion of the stock or of any class or series thereof, or of any other securities having voting power, or a larger number of the directors, than is required by the provisions o f the Oklahoma General Corporation Act; Req. No. 1697 Page 11 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 5. A provision limiting the duration of the corporation ’s existence to a specified date; otherwise, the corporation shall have perpetual existence; 6. A provision imposing personal liability for the debts of the corporation on its shareholders to a specified extent and upon specified conditions; otherwise, the shareholders of a corporation shall not be personally liable for the payment of the corporation’s debts, except as they may be liable by reason of their own c onduct or acts; 7. A provision eliminating or limiting the personal liability of a director to the corporation or i ts shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, provided that such provision shall not eliminate or limit t he liability of a director: a. for any breach of the director ’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its shareholde rs, b. for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, c. under Section 1053 of this title, or d. for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. Req. No. 1697 Page 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 No such provision shall eliminate or limit the liability of a director for any act or omission occurring before the date when such provision becomes effe ctive. C. It shall not be necessary to set forth in the certificate of incorporation any of the powers conferred on corporations by the provisions of the Oklahoma General Corporation Act. D. Except for provisions included under paragraphs 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7 of subsection A of this section and paragraphs 2, 5 and 7 of subsection B of this section, and provisions included under paragraph 4 of subsection A of this section specifying the classes, number of shares and par value of shares a corporation other than a nonstock corporation is authorized to issue, any provision of the certificate of incorporation may be made depend ent upon facts ascertainable outside the instrument, provided that the manner in which the facts shall operate upon the provision is clearly and explicitly set forth therein. As used in this subsection, the term “facts” includes, but is not limited to, th e occurrence of any event, including a determination or action by any person or body, including the corporation. SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 18 O.S. 2021, Section 2001, is amended to read as follows: Section 2001. DEFINITIONS Req. No. 1697 Page 13 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 As used in the Oklahoma Limited Liability Company Act, unless the context otherwise requires: 1. “Articles of organizati on” means documents filed for t he purpose of forming a limited liability company, and the articles as amended; 2. “Bankrupt” means bankrupt under the United S tates Bankruptcy Code, as amended, or insolvent under any state insolvency act; 3. “Business” means any trade, occupation, prof ession or other activity regardless of whether engaged in for gain, profit or livelihood; 4. “Capital contribution ” means anything of value that a person contributes to the limited liability company as a prerequisite for, or in connection with, membership including cash, property, services rendered or a promissory note o r other binding obligat ion to contribute cash or property or to perform services; 5. “Capital interest” means the fair market value as of the date contributed of a member’s capital contribution as adjusted for any additional capital contributions or withd rawals, a person’s share of the profits and losses of a limit ed liability company and a person’s right to receive distributions of the limited liability company’s assets; 6. “Charitable entity” means any nonprofit limited liability company or other entity that is exempt from ta xation under Section Req. No. 1697 Page 14 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C., Section 501(c)(3), or any successor provisions ; 7. “Corporation” means a corporation organized under the laws of this state or the l aws of any jurisdiction other than t his state; 7. 8. “Court” includes every court and judge having jurisdiction in the case; 8. 9. “Document” means: a. any tangible medium on which information is inscribed including handwritten, typed, printed, or similar instruments and copies of such i nstruments, and b. an electronic transmis sion; 10. “Electronic transmission” means any form of communication not directly involving the physical transmission of pape r including the use of or participation in one or more elec tronic networks or databases, including one or more distributed electron ic networks or databases, that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved, and reviewed by a recipient thereof and tha t may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an au tomated process; 11. “Foreign corporation” means a corporation organized under the laws of any jurisdiction other than this state; 9. 12. “Foreign limited liability company” means: a. an unincorporated association, Req. No. 1697 Page 15 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 b. formed under the laws of any jurisdiction other th an this state, and c. formed under a statu te pursuant to which an association may be formed that affords to each of its members limited liability with respect to the liabilities of the entity; 10. 13. “Foreign limited partnership ” means a limited partnership formed under the laws of any jurisdict ion other than this state; 11. 14. “Jurisdiction”, when used to refer to a political entity, means the United States, a state, a tribal government, a foreign country or a political subdivision of a foreign country ; 12. 15. “Limited liability company ” or “domestic limited liability company” means an entity formed under the Oklahoma Limited Liability Company Act and existing under the laws of this state; 13. 16. “Limited partnership” means a limited partnership formed under the laws of this state or a fore ign limited partnership as defined in this section; 14. 17. “Manager” or “managers” means a person or persons designated by the members of a limited liability company to manage the limited liability company as pro vided in the articles of organization or an operating agreement and includes a manager of the limited liability company generally and a manager associated with a series of the limited liability company. Unless the context Req. No. 1697 Page 16 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 otherwise requires, references in this act to a manager shall be deemed to be references to a manager of the limited liability company generally and to a manager assoc iated with a series with respect to such series ; 15. 18. “Member” means a person with an ownership interest in a limited liability company, with the rights and obligations specified under the Oklahoma Limited Liability Company Act and includes a member of the limited liability company ge nerally and a member associated with a series of the limited liability company . Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this act to a member shall be deemed to be references to a member of the l imited liability company generally and to a member as sociated with a series with respect to such series; 16. 19. “Membership interest” or “interest” means a member’s rights in the limited liability company, collectively including the member’s share of the profits and lo sses of the limited liability company, the right to receive distributions of the limited liability company’s assets and capital interest, any right to vote or participate in management and such other rights accorded to members under the articles of organiz ation, operating agreement or the Oklahoma Limited Liability Company Act; 17. 20. “Operating agreement”, regardless of whether referred to as an operating agreemen t and whether oral, in a reco rd, implied or in any combination thereof, means any agreement of the members, Req. No. 1697 Page 17 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 including a sole member, as to the affairs of a limited liability company including any protected series o r registered series the reof and the conduct of its business including t he agreement as amended or restated; 18. 21. “Person” means an individual, a general partnership, a limited partnership, a limited liability company, a trust, an estate, an association , a corporation or any other legal or commercial entity; 19. 22. “Protected series” means a designated series of members, managers, m embership interests, or assets that is established in accordance with Section 2054.4 of this title; 23. “Registered series” means a designated series of members, managers, membership interests, or assets that is formed in accordance with Section 14 of this act; and 24. “State” means a state, territory or possession of the United States, the District o f Columbia or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and 20. “Charitable entity” means any nonprofit limited liability company or other entity that is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C., Section 501(c)(3)), or any successor provis ions. SECTION 3. AMENDATORY 18 O.S. 2021, Sec tion 2005, is amended to read as follows: Section 2005. A. The articles of organization shall set forth: Req. No. 1697 Page 18 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1. The name of the limited l iability company; 2. The term of the existence of the limited liability c ompany which may be perpetual; and 3. The street address of its principal place of business, wherever located, and the name and street address of its reg istered agent which shall be identical to its registered office in this state. B. If the limited liab ility company is to establish two or more series of members, managers or membership interests having separate rights, powers or duties as provided under S ection 2054.4 of this title or Section 14 of this act and the debts, liabilities and obligations incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to a particular series are to be enforceable against the assets of the series only, the articles of organization shall set forth a notice of the limitation on liabilities of the series. C. The articles of organization may set forth any other matt ers the members determine to include. It is not necessary to set out in the articles of organization any of the powers enumerated in this act Section 2000 et seq. of this title . SECTION 4. AMENDATORY 18 O.S. 2021, Section 2006, is amended to read as follows: Section 2006. A. Articles required by this act Section 2000 et seq. of this title to be filed with the Office of the Secretary of State shall be executed in the following manner : Req. No. 1697 Page 19 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1. Articles of organization must be signed by at le ast one person who need not be a member of the limited liabilit y company; and 2. Articles of amendment, registered series, merger, consolidation, conversion, division, or dissolution must be signed by a manager. B. Any person may sign any articles by an attorney in fact. A person who executes articles as an attorne y-in-fact, agent or fiduciary is not required to exhibit evidence of his or her authority as a prerequisite to filing. C. The execution of any articles under this act the Oklahoma Limited Liability Company Act constitutes an affirmation under the penalties of perjury that the facts stated therein are true. D. Any signature on articles or any other instrument a uthorized by this act the Oklahoma Limited Liability Company Act may be a facsimile signature, a conformed signature or an electronically transmitted signature. SECTION 5. AMENDATORY 18 O.S. 2021, Section 200 8, is amended to read as follows: Section 2008. A. The name of each limited liability company as set forth in its articles of organization : 1. Shall shall contain either the words “limited liability company” or “limited company” or the abbreviations “LLC”, “LC”, Req. No. 1697 Page 20 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 “L.L.C.”, or “L.C.” The word “limited” may be abbreviated as “LTD.” and the word “Company” may be abbreviated as “CO.”; and 2. a. May. B. The name of each registered series as set forth in its articles of registered series shall set forth the n ame of the limited liability company including any word, abbr eviation, or designation required by s ubsection A of this section, and the name of the registered seri es. C. The name of the limited liability company or regis tered series may not be the same as or indistinguishable from: (1) names 1. Names upon the records in the Office of the Secretary of State of limited liability companies, whether organized pursuant to the laws of this state or licensed or registered as f oreign limited liability companies, then in good standing or registered or which were in good standing or registered at any time durin g the preceding three (3) years, or (2) names; 2. Names upon the records in the Office of the Secretary of State of corporations organized under the laws of this state or of foreign corporations registered in accorda nce with the laws of this state then existing or which existed at any time during the preceding three (3) years , or (3) names; Req. No. 1697 Page 21 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 3. Names upon the records in the O ffice of the Secretar y of State of general or limited partnerships, whether formed under the laws of this state or register ed as foreign general or limited partnerships, then in good standing or registered or which were in good standing or registered at an y time during the pre ceding three (3) years, or (4) trade; 4. Names upon the records in the Office of the Secretary of State of registered series, whether formed under the laws of this state or registered as foreign registered series, then in good standing or registered or w hich were in good standing or registered at any time during the preceding three (3) years; or 5. Trade names, fictitious names, or other names reserved with the Secretary of State. b. D. The provisions of subparagraph a subsection C of this paragraph section shall not apply if one of the following is filed with the Secretary of State: (1) the 1. The written consent of the other limited liability company, registered series, corporation, limited partnership, or holder of the trade name, fictitious name or other r eserved name to use the same or indistinguishable name with the ad dition of one or more words, numerals, numbers or letters to make that name distinguishable upon the records of the Secretary of State, except Req. No. 1697 Page 22 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 that the addition of words, numerals, numbers o r letters to make the name distinguishable shall not be required w here such written consent states that th e consenting entity is about to change its name, cease to do busines s, withdraw from the state or be wound u p,; or (2) a 2. A certified copy of a fi nal decree of a court of competent jurisdiction establishing the pr ior right of such limited liability company or holder of a limited liability company name to the use of such name in this state. SECTION 6. AMENDATORY 18 O.S. 2021 , Section 2010, is amended to read as follows: Section 2010. A. Every domestic limited liability company and registered series shall continuously maintain in this state: 1. A registered office which may be, but need not be, the same as its principal place of business; and 2. A registered agent for service of process o n the limited liability company or registered series that may be the domestic limited liability company or registered series itself, an individual resident of this state or a domestic or qualified foreign corporation, limited liability company or general o r limited partnership including a limited liab ility partnership or a limited liability limited partnership. Each registered agent shall maintain a business office id entical with the registered office which is open Req. No. 1697 Page 23 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 during regular business hours to accept s ervice of process and otherwise perform the fu nctions of a registered agent. B. 1. A limited liability company or registered series may designate or change its registered agent, re gistered office or principal office by filing with the Office of th e Secretary of State a statement authorizing the designation or change and signed by any manager. 2. A limited liability company or registered series may change the street address of its r egistered office by filing with the Office of the Secretary of State a sta tement of the change signed by any manager. 3. A designation or change of a principal office or registered agent or street address of the registered office for a limited liability company or registered series under this subsection is effective when the Of fice of the Secretary of State file s the statement, unless a later effectiv e date or time, which shall be a specified date or time not later than a time on the ninetieth day after the filing, is provided in the statement. C. 1. A registered agent who cha nges its, his or her name or street address in the state may notify the Office of the Se cretary of State of the change by filing with the Office of the Secretary of State a statement of the change signed by the agent or on the agent’s behalf. 2. The statement shall include: Req. No. 1697 Page 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 a. the name of the limited liability company or registered series for which the change is effective, b. the new name or street address, or both, of the registered agent, and c. the date on which the change is effective, if to be effective after the filing date. 3. If the new addre ss of the registered agent is the same as the new address of the principal office of the limited liability company or registered series , the statement may include a change of address of the principal office if: a. the registered agent notifies the limited liability company or registered series of the change in writing, and b. the statement recites that the registered agent has done so. 4. The change of address of the registered agent or principal office is effective when the Office of the Secretary of Stat e files the statement, unless a later effective date or time, which shall be a specified date or time not later than a time on the ninetieth day after the filing, is provided in the statement. D. 1. A registered agent may resign by filing with the Office of the Secretary of State a copy of the resignation, signed and acknowledged by the registered agent, which contains a sta tement that notice of the resignation was given to the limited liability Req. No. 1697 Page 25 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 company or registered series at least thirty (30) days befor e the filing of the resignation by mailing or delivering the notice to the limited liability company or registered series at its address last known to the registered agent and specifying the address therein. 2. The resignation is effective thirty (30) day s after it is filed, unless a later effective date or time, whi ch shall be a specified date or time not later than a time on the ninetieth day after the filing, is provided in the resignation. 3. If a domestic limited liability company or registered series fails to obtain and designate a new registered agent before the resignation is effective, the Secretary of State shall be deemed to be the registered agent of the limited liability com pany or registered series until a new registered agent is designated. E. If a limited liability company or registered series has no registered agent or the registered agent cannot be found, then service of process on the limited liability company or registered series may be made by serving the Secretary of State as i ts agent as provided in Section 2004 of Title 12 of the Oklahoma Statutes. SECTION 7. AMENDATORY 18 O.S. 2021, Section 2012, is amended to read as follows: Section 2012. A. If any document filed with the Office of the Secretary of State under this act contains any typographical error, error of transcription, or other technical error or has been defectively executed Section 2000 et seq. of this title is an Req. No. 1697 Page 26 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 inaccurate record of the action referred to or was defectively or erroneously executed, the document may be corrected by the filing of articles of correction. B. Articles of correction shall set fort h: 1. The title of the document being c orrected; 2. The date that the document being corrected was filed; and 3. The provision in t he document as previously file d and as corrected and, if execution of the document was defective, the manner in which it w as defective. C. Articles of correction may not make any othe r change or amendment which would not have complied in all respects with the requirements of this act the Oklahoma Limited Liability Company Act at the time the document being corrected was filed. D. Articles of correction shall be exec uted in the same manner in which the document being corrected was required to be executed. E. Articles of correction may not: 1. Change the effective date of the document being corrected; or 2. Affect any right or liability accrued or incurred before it s filing, except that any right or liabi lity accrued or incurred by reason of the error or defect being corrected shall be extinguishe d by the filing if the person having the right has not detrimentally relied on the original document. Req. No. 1697 Page 27 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 F. Notwithstanding that any instrument authorized to be fil ed with the Secretary of State pursuant to the provisions of this act the Oklahoma Limited Liability Company Act is, when filed inaccurately, defectively, or erroneous ly executed, sealed or acknowledged, or otherwise defective in any respect, the Secretary of State shall not be liable to any person for the preclearance for filing, or the filing and indexing of the instrument by the Secretary of State. G. In lieu of filing articles of correction, a document may be corrected by filing with the Secretary of Stat e a corrected document which shall be executed and filed as if the corrected document were the document being corrected, and a fee equal to the fee payable to the Secretary of State for articles of correction as prescribed by Section 2055 of this title shall be paid to the Secretary of State. The corrected document shall be specifically designated as such in its heading, shall specify the inaccuracy or defect to be corrected , and shall set forth the entire document in corrected form. A document corrected in accordance with this section shall be effective as of the date the original document was filed, except as to those persons who are substantially and adversely affected by the correction and as to those persons the document as corrected shall be effective from the filing date. SECTION 8. AMENDATORY 18 O.S. 2021, Section 2012.1, is amended to read as follows: Req. No. 1697 Page 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Section 2012.1. CANCELLATION OF ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION A. The articles of organization or registered series shall be canceled upon: 1. Upon the dissolution and the completion of winding up of a limited liability company, or as or registered series; 2. As provided in subsection B of this section , or upon; 3. Upon the filing of a certificate of merger or consolidation if the domestic limited liability compa ny or registered series is not the surviving or resulting entity in a merger or consolidation , or upon; 4. Upon the conversion of a domestic limited liability company approved in accordance with Section 2054.2 o f this title; 5. Upon the filing of articles of division if the limited liability company is a dividing company that is not a surviving company; or 6. Upon the future effective date or time of the articles of division if the limi ted liability company is a dividing comp any that is not a surviving company. B. The articles of organization of a domestic limited liability company or articles of registered series of a registered series shall be deemed to be canceled if the domestic lim ited liability company or registered series fails to file the annual cert ificate and pay the annual fee provided in Section 2055.2 of this title or Req. No. 1697 Page 29 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 pay the registered agent fee to the Secretary of State due under Section 2055 of this title within three (3) years from the date the certificate or fee is due, the cancellation to b e effective on the third anniversary of the due date. C. A limited liability company whose articles of organization or registered series whose articles of r egistered series have been canceled under subsection B of this sec tion may apply for reinstatement under subsection G A of Section 2055.2 2055.3 of this title. SECTION 9. AMENDATORY 18 O.S. 2021, Section 2012.2, is amended to read as foll ows: Section 2012.2. OPERATING AGREEMENT OF LLC A. The operating agreement of the l imited liability company governs generally: 1. Relations among the members as members and between the members and the limited li ability company; 2. The rights and duties under the Oklahoma Limited Liability Company Act of a person in the capacity of mana ger; 3. The activities of the company and the conduct of those activities; and 4. The means and conditions for amending the ope rating agreement. Req. No. 1697 Page 30 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 If the operating agreement does not otherwis e provide, the Oklahoma Limited Liability Company Act governs the matter. The operating agreement may not vary the rights, privileges, duties and obligations imposed specifically under the Oklahoma Limited Liability Company Act. B. A limited liability co mpany, including any protected series or registered series ther eof, is bound by its operating agreement regardless of whether it executes the operating agreement. A member or manager of a limited liability compa ny, or any protected series or registered series ther eof, or an assignee of a capital interest is bound by the operating agreement regardless of whether the member, manager or assignee executes the ope rating agreement. C. An operating agreement of a limit ed liability company having only one member is not unenforceable because th ere is only one person who is a party to the operating agreement. D. The obligations of a limited liability company and its members to an assignee or dissociated member are governe d by the operating agreement. Subject only to any court order to effectuat e a charging order, an amendment to the operating agreement made after a person becomes an assignee or dissociated member is e ffective with regard to any debt, obligation, or other liability of the limited liability company or its members to the assignee o r dissociated member. Req. No. 1697 Page 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 E. If an operating agreement does not provide for the manner in which it may be amended, the operating agreement may be amended with the approval of members h olding a majority of the mem bership interest entitled to vote. SECTION 10. AMENDATORY 18 O.S. 2021, Section 2054.1, is amended to read as follows: Section 2054.1. CONVERSION OF AN ENTITY TO A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY A. As used in this section, the term “entity” means a foreign limited liability company, a dome stic or foreign public benefit limited liability company, a domestic or foreign corporation, a domestic or foreign partnership whether general or limited, and including a limited liability partnership and a limit ed liability limited partnership, and any do mestic or foreign unincorporated nonprofit or for-profit association, trust or enterprise having members or having outstanding shares of stock or other evidences of financial, beneficial or membership interest th erein, whether formed by agreement or under statutory authority or otherwise. B. Any entity may convert to a domestic limited liability company, including a protected or regis tered series of a limited liability company, by complying with subsection H of t his section and filing with the Secretary of State in accordance with Section 2007 of this title the statutes applicable to the converting enti ty articles of conversion to a limited liability company that have been Req. No. 1697 Page 32 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 executed in accordance with Section 2006 of this title the statutes applicable to the converting entity, to which shall be attached articles of organization that comply with Sections 2005 a nd 2008 of this title and have been ex ecuted by one or more authorized per sons in accordance with Se ction 2006 of this title. C. The articles of conversion to a limited liability company shall state: 1. The date on which the entity was first formed; 2. The name, jurisdiction of formation of the entity, and type of entity when formed and, if changed, i ts name, jurisdiction and type of entity immediately before filing of the articles of conversion to limited liability company; 3. The name of the limited l iability company as set forth in its articles of organization filed in acc ordance with subsection B of this section; and 4. The future effective date or time of the conversion to a limited liability company, which shall be a date or time certain not later than ninety (90) days after the filin g, if it is not to be effective upon the filing of the article s of conversion to a limited liability company and the articles of organization. D. Upon the effective date or time of the articles of conversion to limite d liability company and the articles o f organization, the entity shall be converted to a domestic li mited liability company and the limited liability company shall thereafter Req. No. 1697 Page 33 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 be subject to all of the provisions of the Oklahoma Limited Liability Company Act , except that notwithstanding Section 2004 of this title, the existence of the limited liability com pany shall be deemed to have commenced o n the date the entity was formed. E. The conversion of any entity into a domestic limited liability company shall n ot be deemed to affect any obligations or liabilities of the entity incurr ed before its conversion t o a domestic limited liability company o r the personal liability of any person incurred before the conversion. F. When an entity has converted to a domesti c limited liability company under this section, the domestic limited liabi lity company shall be deemed to be the same entity as the converti ng entity. All of the rights, privileges and powers of the entity that has converted, and all property, real, perso nal and mixed, and all debts due to the entity, as well as all other thing s and causes of action belonging to the entity, shall remain veste d in the domestic limited liability company and shall be the property of the domestic limited liability company, and the title to any real property vested by deed or otherwise in the entity shall not revert or be in any way impaired by reason of the conver sion, but all rights of creditors and all liens upon any property of the entity shall be preserved unimpaired, and all debts, liabilities and duties of th e entity that has converted shall re main attached to the domes tic limited liability company and may be enforced against it to the same extent Req. No. 1697 Page 34 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 as if the debts, liabilities and duties had been incurred or contracted by it in its capacity as a domestic limite d liability company. The rights, pr ivileges, powers and inter ests in property of the entity, as well as the debts, liabilities and duties of the entity, shall not be deemed, as a consequence of the conversion, to have been transferred to the domestic limi ted liability company to which the entity has converted for an y purpose of the laws of this state. G. Unless otherwise agreed or otherwise provided by any laws of this state applicable to the converting entity, the co nverting entity shall not be required to wind up its affairs or pay its liabilities and distribute i ts assets, and the conversion shall not be deemed to constitute a dissolution of the entity and shall constitute a continuation of the existence of the conv erting entity in the form of a domesti c limited liability company. H. Before filing the articles of conversion to a domestic limited liability company with the Office of the Secretary of State, the conversion shall be approved in the manner provided for b y the document, instrument, agreement or other writing, as the case may be, governing the internal a ffairs of the entity and the conduct of its business or by applicable law, as appropriate, and articles of organization shall be approved by the same author ization required to approve the conversion. Req. No. 1697 Page 35 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 I. In a conversion of an enti ty to a domestic limited l iability company under this section, rig hts or securities of or memberships or membership, economic or ownership interests in the entity that is to be converted to a domestic limited liability c ompany may be exchanged for or conve rted into cash, property, or rights or securities of or interests in the domestic limited liability company or, in addition to or in lieu thereof, may be exchanged for or converted into cash, property or rights or securi ties of or memberships or membership , economic or ownership in terests in another domestic limited liab ility company or other entity. J. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to limit the accomplishment of a change in the law governing, or the domicile of, an entity to this s tate by any other means pr ovided for in an operating agreement or other agreement or as otherwise permitted by law including by the amendment of an operating agreement or other agree ment. K. Nothing in this section shal l be deemed to authorize the conversion of a charitable entity into a domestic limited liability company, if the charitable status of such entity would thereby be lost or impaired. SECTION 11. AMENDATORY 18 O.S. 2021, Section 2054.2, is amended to read as follows: Section 2054.2. CONVERSION OF A LIMITED LIABIL ITY COMPANY TO AN ENTITY Req. No. 1697 Page 36 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 A. A domestic limited liability company m ay convert to an entity upon the authorization of such conversion in accordan ce with this section. As used in this section, the term “entity” means a domestic or foreign protected or registered series of a limited liability company, a foreign limited liab ility company, a domestic or foreign public benefit limited liability company , a domestic or foreign corporation including a public benefit co rporation, a domestic or foreign partnership whether general or limit ed, and including a limited liability partner ship and a limited liability limited partnership, and any domestic or foreign unincorporated nonprofit or for-profit association, trust or enterprise having members or having outstanding shares of stock or other evidences of financial, beneficial or member ship interest therein, whether formed by agreement or under statutory authori ty or otherwise. B. If the operating agreement specifies the manner of authorizing a conversion of the limited liability company, the conversion shall be authorized as specified in the operating agreement. C. If the operating agreemen t does not specify t he manner of authorizing a convers ion of the limited liability company and does not prohibit a conversion of the limited liability com pany, the conversion shall be authorized in t he same manner as is specified in the operating agreement for authorizing a merger or consolidation Req. No. 1697 Page 37 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 that involves the limited liability company as a constituent party to a merger or consolidation. D. If the operating agreement does not specify the manner of authorizing a conversion of the limited liability comp any or a merger or consolidation that involves the lim ited liability company as a constituent party and does not prohibit a conversion of the limited liability company, the conversion shall be author ized by the approval of a majority of the membership inte rest or, if there is more than one class or group of m embers, then by a majority of the membership interest in each class or group of members. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in addition to any other authorization required by this section, if the entity in to which the limited liability company is to convert d oes not afford all of its interest holders protection against personal liability for the debts of the entity, the conversion must be authorized b y any and all members who would be exposed to personal li ability. E. Unless otherwise agreed, the conversion o f a domestic limited liability company to another entity pursuant to this section shall not require the limited liability company to wind up its affairs or pay its liabilities and distribute its assets, and the conversion shall not constitute a dissolution of the limited liability company. F. In a conversion of a domestic limited liability company to an entity under this section, rights or securit ies of or interests Req. No. 1697 Page 38 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 in the domestic limited liability com pany which are to be converted may be exchanged for or converted into cash, property, rights or securities of or memberships or membership, economic or ow nership interests in the entity to which the domestic limited liability company is being converted or, in addition to or in lieu thereof, may be exchanged for or converted into cash, property, rights or securities of or memberships or membership, economic or ownership interests in another entity or m ay be canceled. G. If the governing act of a domestic en tity to which the limited liability company is convert ing does not provide for the filing of a conversion notice with the Secretary of State or the limited liability company is converting to a foreig n entity, articles of conversion executed in accordance w ith Section 2006 of this title, shall be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State in accordance with Section 2007 of this title. The articles of conversion shall state: 1. The name of the limi ted liability company and, if it has been changed, the na me under which its a rticles of organization were originally filed; 2. The date of filing of its original articles of organization with the Secretary of S tate; 3. The name and type of entity to whic h the limited liability company is converting and its jur isdiction of formati on, if a foreign entity; Req. No. 1697 Page 39 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 4. The future effective date or time of the conversion, which shall be a date or time certain not later than ninety (90) days after the filing, if it is not to be effective upon the filing of the articles of conversion; 5. That the conversion has been approved in accordance with this section; 6. The agreement of the foreign entity that it may be served with process in this state in any action, suit or pr oceeding for enforcement of any obligation of the foreign entity arising while it was a domestic limited liabil ity company, and that it irrevocably appoints the Secretary of State as its agent to accept service of process in any such action, suit or procee ding, and its street address to which a copy of the proce ss shall be mailed t o it by the Secretary of State; an d 7. If the domestic entity to which the domestic limited liability company is converting was requi red to make a filing with the Secretary of State as a condition of its formation, the type and date of such filing. H. Upon the filing of a conversion noti ce with the Secretary of State, whether under subsection G of this section or under the governing act of the domestic entity to which the limited liability company is converting, the filing of any forma tion document requir ed by the governing act of the dom estic entity to which the limited liability company is converting, and payment to the Secretary of Req. No. 1697 Page 40 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 State of all prescribed fees, the Secretary of State shall certify that the limited liability company h as filed all documen ts and paid all required fees, and thereupon the domestic limited liability company shall cease to exist as a limited liability compan y of this state. The Secretary of State ’s certificate shall be prima facie evidence of the conversion by the domestic limited liability company. I. The conversion of a domestic limited liability company to an entity under this section and the resulting c essation of its existence as a domestic limit ed liability company shall not be deemed to affect any ob ligations or liabili ties of the limited liability company incurred before the conversion or the personal liability of any person incurred before the conve rsion, nor shall it be deemed to affect the c hoice of law applicable to the limited liability company with respect to matt ers arising before the conversion. J. When a domestic limited liability company has converted to an entity under this section, the en tity shall be deemed to be the same entity as the limited liability company. All of the rights, privileges and powers of the domestic limited liability com pany that has converted, and all property, real, personal and mixed, and all debts due to the limite d liability company, as well as all other things and causes of action belonging to the limited liabili ty company, shall remain vested in the entity to which the domestic Req. No. 1697 Page 41 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 limited liability company has converted and shall be the property of the entity, and the title to any real property vested by deed or otherwise in the domestic limited liability company sh all not revert or be in any way impaired by reason of the conversion; but all rights of creditors and all liens upon any property of the limited liability company shall be preserved unimpaired, and a ll debts, liabilities and duties of the limited liability company that has converted shall remain attached to t he entity to which the domestic limited liability company has converted, and may be enforced against it to the same extent as if the debts, liabi lities and duties had originally been incurred or contrac ted by it in its cap acity as the entity. The rights, privileges, powers and interests in property of the domestic limited liability company that has conv erted, as well as the debts, liabilities and duties of the limited liability company, shall not be dee med, as a consequenc e of the conversion, to have been transferred to the entity to which the limited liability company has converted for any purpose of th e laws of this state. K. Nothing in this sec tion shall be deemed to authorize the conversion of a charitable domestic lim ited liability company into another entity, if the charitable status of such domestic limited liability company would thereby be lost or impaired. SECTION 12. AMENDATORY 18 O.S. 2021, Section 2054.3, is amended to read as follows: Req. No. 1697 Page 42 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Section 2054.3. An operating agreement or other agreement may provide that contractual appraisal rights with respect to a membership interest or another interest in a limited liability company shall be available for any class or group of members or membership interests in connection with any amendment of an operating agreement, any merger or consolidation to which the limited liability company is a constituent party, any conversion of the limited liability company to another business entity, any conversion of a protected series to a registered series or a registered series to a protected series, any di vision of the limited liability company, any plan of division, any transfer to or domestication in any jurisdiction by the lim ited liability company, or the sale of all or substantially all of the limited liability company’s assets. The district court shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine any matter relating to any such contractual appraisal rights. SECTION 13. AMENDATORY 18 O.S. 2021, Section 2054.4, is amended to read as follows: Section 2054.4. SERIES OF MEMBERS, MANAGERS, OR MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS HAVING SEPARATE RIGHTS - PERSONAL OBLIGATION OF MEMBER OR MANAGER A. An operating agreement may establish or provide for the establishment of one o r more designated series of members, managers , membership interests or assets. Any such series may have sep arate Req. No. 1697 Page 43 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 rights, powers or duties with respect to specifi ed property or obligations of the limited liability company or profi ts and losses associated with specified property or obligations, and any such series may have a sepa rate business purpose or investmen t objective. No provision of subsection B of this sec tion or Section 14 of this act shall be construed to limit the application of the principle of freedom of contract to a series that is not a protected or registered series. Other than under Sections 15 , 16, and 17 of this act, a series may not merge, consolidate, or convert under any section of this title or any other statute of this state. B. A series established in accor dance with this subsection is a protected series. Notwithstanding anything to th e contrary set forth in the Oklahoma Limited Liability Company Act or under other applicable law, if an operating agreement establishes or provides for the establishment of one or more series, and if to the extent the records maintained for any such series account for the assets associated with such series separately from the other assets of the limited liability company, or any other series thereof, and if the operating agreement so provides, and if notice of the limitatio n on liabilities of a series as referenced in this subsection is set forth in the articles of organization of the limited liability company, then the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect t o a particular such series shall be enforceable against the assets of Req. No. 1697 Page 44 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 such series only, and not against the assets of the limited liability company generally or any other series ther eof, and, unless otherwise provided in the operating agreement, none of th e debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to the limited liability company generally or any other series thereof shal l be enforceable against the assets of the series. Neither the provisions of this subsection nor any provision pursuant thereto in an operating agreement or articles of organization shall (i) restrict a protected series or limited liability company on beh alf of a protected series from agreeing in the operating agreement or othe rwise that any or all of the debts, liabilities, obligations, and expenses incurred, contracted for, or otherwise existing with resp ect to the limited liability company generally or an y other series thereof shall be enforceable against the assets of such pro tected series; or (ii) restrict a limited liability company from agreeing in the operati ng agreement or otherwise that any or all of th e debts, liabilities, obligations, and expenses incurred, contracted for, or otherwise existing with respect to a protected series shall be enforceable against the assets of the limited liability company general ly. Assets associated with a protected series may be held directly or indirectly, including i n the name of such series, in the name of the limited liability company , through a nominee or otherwise. Re cords maintained for a protected series that reasonabl y identify its Req. No. 1697 Page 45 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 assets, including by specific li sting, category, type, qua ntity, computational or allocational formula or pr ocedure, including a percentage or share of a ny asset or assets, or by any other method where the identity of such assets is objectiv ely determinable, will be deemed to account for the assets associated wit h such series separately from the other assets of the limited liability company, or any other series thereof. Notice in articles of organization of the limitation on liabilities of a protected series as referenced in this subsection shall be sufficient for all purp oses regardless of whether the limited liability c ompany has established any protected series when the notice is included in the articles of organization, and there shall be no requirement that any specific protected series of the limited liability company be referen ced in the notice or that the notice use the term “protected”. The fact that articles of organization containing the foregoing notice of the limitation on liabilities of a protected series are on file in the office Office of the Secretary of State shall constitu te notice of the limitation on liabilities of a protected series. As used in this act, a reference to assets of a protected series includes assets associated with such series, and a reference to assets assoc iated with a protected series includes assets o f such series. A reference to members or managers of a protected series incl udes members or managers associated with such series, and a reference to members or managers associated with a protected series include s members or Req. No. 1697 Page 46 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 managers of such series. The following shall apply to a protected series: C. 1. A protected series established in accordance with subsection B of this section may carry on any lawful business, purpose or activity, regardless of whether or not for profit, with the exception of the busines s of a domestic insurer that a limited liability company may conduct in th is state. Unless otherwise provided in the an operating agreement, a protected series established in accordanc e with subsection B of this section shall have the power and cap acity to, in its own name, contract, hold title to assets, including real, personal and intangible property, grant liens and security interests, and sue a nd be sued.; D. 2. Except as otherwis e provided by this act, no member or manager of a protected series shal l be obligated personally for any debt, obligation, or liability of such se ries, whether arising in contract, tort, or otherwise, solely by reason of being a memb er or acting as manager of such series. Notwithstanding Section 2022 of this title paragraph, under an operating agreement or under anot her agreement, a member or manage r may agree to be obligated person ally for any or all of the debts, obligations and li abilities of one or more protected series.; E. 3. An operating agreement may provide for classe s or groups of members or managers associated with a protected series having such relative rights, powers an d duties as the operating agreement Req. No. 1697 Page 47 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 may provide, and may make provision for t he future creation in th e manner provided in the operating agreement of additional classes or groups of members or managers associated w ith the series having such relative rights, powers and duties as may from time to time be established, including rights, powers and duties senio r to existing classes and groups of members or managers associated with the series. An operating agreement may provide for the taking of an action, including the amendment of the operating agreement, withou t the vote or approval of any member or manager o r class or group of members or managers, includ ing an action to create under the provisions of the operating agr eement a class or group of the a protected series of membership interests that was not previous ly outstanding. An opera ting agreement may provi de that any member or class or group of members associated with a protected series shall have no voting rights.; F. 4. An operating agreement may grant to all or certain identified members or managers or a specified class or group of the members or managers associated with a protected series the right to vote separately or with all or any class or g roup of the members or managers associated with the series, on any matter. Voting by members or managers assoc iated with a protected series may be on a per capita, number, financial interest, class, group o r any other basis.; Req. No. 1697 Page 48 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 G. 5. Unless otherwise provided in an oper ating agreement, the management of a protected series shall be vested in the members associated with the series in proport ion to their membership interest, with the decision of members owning a majority of the membership interest controlling; provided, however, that if an operating agreement provides for the management of the a protected series, in whole or in part, by a mana ger, the management of the series, to the extent so provided, shall be vested in the manager who shall be chosen in the manner provided in the op erating agreement. The manager of the a protected series shall also hold the offices and have the responsibili ties accorded to the man ager as set forth in an operating agreement. A protected series may have more than one manager. Subjec t to paragraph 3 of Section 2014 of this title, a manager shall cease to be a manager with respect to a protected series as provided in an operating agr eement. Except as otherwise provided in an ope rating agreement, any event under this chapter or in an operating a greement that causes a manager to cease to be a manager with respect to a protected series shall not, in itself, cause the manager to cease to be a manager of the limited liability company or with respect to any other series thereof .; H. 6. Subject to subsections I and L paragraphs 7 and 10 of this section subsection, and unless otherwise provide d in an operating agreement, at the time a member associated with a series that has been establi shed in accordance with subsection B of this Req. No. 1697 Page 49 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 section of a protected series becomes entitled to receive a distribution with respect to the series, the member has the status of, and is entitled to all remedies available to, a creditor of the series, with respect to the distribution. An operating agreement may provide for the esta blishment of a record date with re spect to allocations and distributions with respect to a protected series.; I. 7. Notwithstanding Section 2040 of this title, a limited liability company may make a distribution with respect to a protected series that has been established in accordance wi th subsection B of this section . A limited liability company shall not make a distribution with res pect to a protected series that has been established in accordance with subsection B of this section to a member to the extent that at the time of the distr ibution, after giving effect to the distribution, al l liabilities of the series, other than liabiliti es to members on account of their membership interests with respect to the series and liabilities for which the recourse of creditors is limited to specifi ed property of the series, exceed the fair value of the assets associated with the series, except that the fair value of property of the series that is subject to a liability for which the recourse of creditors is limited shall be included in the assets as sociated with the series only to the extent that the fair value of that property exceeds that liability. For purposes of the immediately preceding sentence, the term “distribution” shall not include amounts constituting Req. No. 1697 Page 50 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 reasonable compensation for present or past services or reasonable payments made in the ordinary course of business pursuant to a bona fide retirement plan or other benefits program. A member who receives a distribution in violation of this subsection paragraph, and who knew or should have known at the time of the distribution that the distribution violated this subsection paragraph, shall be liable to a the protected series for the amount of the distribution. A member who receive s a distribution in violation of this subsection paragraph, and who did not know and had n o reason to know at the time of the distribution that t he distribution violated this subsection paragraph, shall not be liable for the amount of the distribution. Subject to subsection C of Section 2040 of this title, which shall a pply to any distribution made with respect to a protected series under this subsection paragraph, this subsection paragraph shall not affect any obligation or liability of a member under an agreement or other applicable law for the amount o f a distribution.; J. 8. Unless otherwise provided in the ope rating agreement, a member shall cease to be associated with a protected series and to have the power to exercise any rights or powers of a member with respect to the series upon the assignment of all of the member’s capital interest with respect to the se ries. Except as otherwise provided in an operating agreement, any event under this c hapter or an operating agreement that causes a member to cease to be Req. No. 1697 Page 51 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 associated with a protected series shall not, in itself, cause the member to cease to be associated wi th any other series or terminate the continued membership of a member in the limited liability company or cause the termination of the protected series, regardless of whether the member was the last remaining m ember associated with the series.; K. 9. Subject to Section 2037 of this title, except to the extent otherwise provided in the ope rating agreement, a protected series may be terminated and its affairs wound up without causing the dissolution of the limited liability company. The termination of a protected series established in accordance with subsection B of this section shall not affect the limitation on liabilities of the series provided by subsection B of this section. A protected series is terminated and its affairs shall be wound up upon the di ssolution of the limited liability company under Section 2037 o f this title or otherwise upon the first to oc cur of the following: 1. At a. at the time specified in the operating agreement ;, 2. Upon b. upon the happening of events specified in the operating agreement;, 3. Unless c. unless otherwise provided in the operating agreement, upon the affirmative vote or written consent of the Req. No. 1697 Page 52 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 members of the limited liability company associate d with the series or, i f there is more than one class or group of members associated with the series, then by each class or group of members associated w ith the series, in either case, by members associated with the series who own more than two -thirds (2/3) of the then- current membership interest owned by all of the members associated with the series or by the members in each class or group of the series, as appropriate;, or 4. The d. the termination of the series under subsection M paragraph 11 of this section. subsection; L. 10. Unless otherwise provided in the operating agreement, a manager associated with a protected series who has not wrongfully terminated the series or, if none, the members associated with the series or a person approved by the members associated with the series or, if there is more than one class or group of members associated with the series, then by each clas s or group of members associated with the series, in either case, by a majority of the membership interest owned by all of the members associated wi th the series or by the members in each class or group associated with the series, as appropriate, may wind up the affairs of the series; but, if the series has been established in accordance with s ubsection B Req. No. 1697 Page 53 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 of this section, the district court, upon caus e shown, may wind up the affairs of the a protected series upon application of any mem ber or manager associated with the series, o r the member’s personal representative or assignee, and in connectio n therewith, may appoint a liquidating trustee. The perso ns winding up the affairs of a protected series may, in the name of the limited liability compan y and for and on behalf of the lim ited liability company and the series, take all actions with respect to the series as are permitted under subsection A of Sect ion 2039 of this title. The persons winding up the affairs of a protected series shall provide for the claims and obligations of the series and distri bute the assets of the series as provided in Se ction 2040 of this title, which section shall apply to the winding up and distribution of assets of a protected series. Actions taken in accordance with this subsect ion shall not affect the liability of membe rs and shall not impose liability on a liquidating trustee.; M. 11. On application by or for a member or manager associated with a protected series established in accordance with subsec tion B of this section, the district court may de cree termination of the series whenever it is not rea sonably practicable to carry on the business of the series in conformity with an operating agreement; and 12. For all purposes of the laws of this state, a pro tected series is an association, regardless of the number of mem bers or Req. No. 1697 Page 54 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 managers, if any, of such series. An operating agreement does not need to use the term “protected” when referencing series or to refer to this section. N. C. If a foreign limited liability company that i s registering to do business in this state in accordance with Section 2043 of this title i s governed by an operating agreement that establishes or provides for the establishment of designated se ries of members, managers, membership interests or assets havi ng separate rights, powers or duties with r espect to specified property or obligations of the foreign limited liability company or profits and losses associated with specified property or obliga tions, that fact shall be so stated on the application for reg istration as a foreign limited liability co mpany. In addition, the foreign limited liability company shall state on the application whether the deb ts, liabilities and obligations incurred, cont racted for or otherwise existing with respect to a particular series, if any, shall be enforceable against the assets of the series only, and not agains t the assets of the foreign limited liability company gene rally or any other series thereof, and whether any of the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incur red, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to the foreign limited liability co mpany generally or any other series thereof shall be enfor ceable against the assets of the series. Req. No. 1697 Page 55 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 SECTION 14. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 2054.5 of Title 18, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: REGISTERED SERIES OF MEMBERS, MANAGERS, MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS, OR ASSETS A. If an operating agreement provides for the establishment or formation of one or more series, then a registered series may be formed by complying with this section. An operating agreement do es not need to use the term “registered” when referencing series or to refer to this section, and a reference in an operating agreemen t for a registered series, including a registered series resulting from the conversion of a protec ted series to a registered series, may continue to refer to Section 20 54.4 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma Statutes, which reference is deemed a reference to this section with respect to the registered series. A registered seri es is formed by the filing of articles of regist ered series in the Office of the Secretary of State. B. Notice of the limitation on liabilities of a registered series as referenced in subse ction C of this section shall be set forth in the articles of organization of the limited liability company. Notice in ar ticles of organization of the limitation on liabilities of a registered series as referenced in subsection C of this section shall be sufficient for all purposes of this subsection whether or not the limited liability company has fo rmed any Req. No. 1697 Page 56 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 registered series when the notice is included in the articles of organization, and there shall be no requirement that (i) any specific registered ser ies of the limited liability company be referenced in the notice, (ii) the notice use the term “registered” when referencing series or include a reference to this section, or (iii) the articles of organization be amended if it include s a reference to Section 2054.4 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma Statutes. Any reference to Section 2054.4 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma S tatutes in the articles of organization of a limited liabi lity company that has one or more registered series is deemed a reference to this section with respect to the registered series. The fact that articles of organization that contain the foregoing notice of the limitation on liabilities of a series is on fi le in the Office of the Secretary of State shall constitute notic e of the limitation on liabilities of a registered series. C. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this act or under other appl icable law, to the extent the records maintained for a registered series account for the assets associated with the series separately from the other assets of the limited liability company, or any ot her series thereof, then the debts, liabilities, obligati ons, and expenses incurred, contracted for , or otherwise existing with respect to the series shall be enforceable against the assets of the series only, and not against the assets of the limited liability company generally or any other series thereof, Req. No. 1697 Page 57 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 and, unless otherwise provided in the operating ag reement, none of the debts, liabilities, obligations , and expenses incurred, contracted for, or otherwise existing with respect to the limited liability company generally or any other series thereof shall be enforceable against the assets of the series. N either the provisions of this subsection nor any provision pursuant thereto in an operating agreement, articles of organization , or articles of registered series shall (i) restrict a registered series or limite d liability company on behalf of a registered series from agreeing in the operating agreement or otherwise that any or all of the debts, liabilities, obligations , and expenses incurred, contracted for , or otherwise existing with respect to the limited liab ility company generally or any other series thereof shall be enforceable against the assets of the registered series ; or (ii) restrict a limi ted liability company from agreeing in the operating agreement or otherwise that any or all of the debts, liabiliti es, obligations, and expenses incurred, contracted for, or otherwise existing with respect to a registered series shall b e enforceable against the assets of the limited liability company generally. Assets associated with a registered series may be held di rectly or indirectly, including in the name of the series, in the name of the limited liability company, through a nomine e, or otherwise. Recor ds maintained for a registered series that reasonably identify its assets, including by specific listing, catego ry, type, quantity, Req. No. 1697 Page 58 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 computational or allocational formula or procedure including a percentage or share of any asset or ass ets, or by any other method where the identity of the assets is objectively determinable , will be deemed to account for the assets ass ociated with the series separately from the other assets of the limited liability company, or any other series thereof. A s used in this act, a reference to assets of a registered series includes assets associa ted with the series, a reference to assets ass ociated with a registered series includes assets of the series, a reference to members or managers of a registered series includes members or ma nagers associated with the series, and a reference to members or m anagers associated with a registered series in cludes members or managers of the series. The following shall apply to a registered series: 1. A registered series may c arry on any lawful bus iness, purpose, or activity, regardless of whether for profit, that a limited liability company may conduct in t his state. Unless otherwise provided in an operating agreement, a reg istered series shall have the power and capacity to, in its own name, contract, hold title to assets, including real, personal , and intangible property, grant liens and security interest s, and sue and be sued; 2. Except as otherwise provided by this act, no member or manager of a registered series shall be obligate d personally for any debt, obligation, or liability of the series, whether arising in contract, tort, or otherwise, solely by reason of being a member or Req. No. 1697 Page 59 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 acting as manager of the series. Notwithsta nding the preceding sentence, under an operating agreement o r under another agreem ent, a member or manager may agree to be obligated personally for any or all of the debts, obligation s, and liabilities of one or mo re registered series; 3. An operating agreement may provide for classes or groups of members or managers associated with a registered series having the relative rights, powers , and duties as the operating agreement may provide, and may make a provision for the future creation, in the manner provided in the operating agreement , of additional classes or groups of members or managers a ssociated with the series having the relative rights, powers , and duties as may from time to time be established, including rights, powers, and duties senior to existing classes and groups of members or managers associated with the series. An operating agre ement may provide for the taking of an action, including the amend ment of the operating agreement, without the vote or approval of any member, manager, or class or group of members or managers, including an action to create under the provisions of the ope rating agreement a class or group of a registered series of membership interests that was not previously outstanding. An operating agreement may provide that any member or class or group of members associated with a registered series shall have no voting rights; Req. No. 1697 Page 60 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 4. An operating agreement may grant to all or certain identified members or managers or a specified class or group of the members or managers associated with a regis tered series the right to vote separately or with all or any class or group of the members or managers associated with the series, on any matter. V oting by members or managers associated with a registered series may be on a per capita, number, financial i nterest, class, group, or any other basis; 5. Unless otherwise provided in an oper ating agreement, the management of a registered series shall be vested in the members associated with the series in proportion to t he then current percentage or other interes t of members in the profits of the series owned by all of the members associated w ith the series, the decision of members owning a majority of the percentage or other interest in the profits controlling; provided, how ever, that if an operating agreement provides for the management of a registered series, in whole or in part, by a m anager, the management of the series, to the extent so provided, s hall be vested in the manager wh o shall be chosen in the manner provided in the operating agreement. The manager of a registered series shall also hold the offices and have the responsibilities accorded to the manager as set forth in an operating agreement. A registered series may have more than one manager. Subject to Sectio n 2014 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma Statutes, a manager shall cease to be a manager with respec t to a Req. No. 1697 Page 61 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 registered series as provided in an operating agreement. Except as otherwise provided in an operating agreement, any event under this act or in an operating agreement that causes a manager to cease to be a manager with respect to a registered serie s shall not, in itself, cause the manager to cease to be a manager of the limited liability company or with respect to a ny other series thereof; 6. Notwithstanding Section 2029 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma Statutes, but subject to paragraphs 7 and 10 of this subsection, and unless otherwise provided in an operating agreement, at the time a member of a registered series beco mes entitled to receive a distribution with respect to the series, the membe r has the status of, and is entitled to all remedies availab le to, a creditor of the series, with respect to the distribution. An operating agreeme nt may provide for the establishment of a record date with respect to allocations and distributions with res pect to a registered series ; 7. Notwithstanding subsection A of Section 2030 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma Statutes, a limited liability company may make a distribution with respect to a registered series. A limited liability company shall not make a distribution with respect to a registered series to a member to the extent that at the time of the distribution, after giving effect to the distribution, all liabilities of the series, other than liabilities to members on account of their membership interests with respect to the series and liabilities for which the recourse of creditors is l imited to Req. No. 1697 Page 62 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 specified property of the series, exceed the fair value of the assets associated with the series, except that the fair value of property of the series that is subject to a liability for which the recourse of creditors is limited shall be included in the assets associated with the series only to the extent that the fair value of that property exceeds that liability. For purposes of t he immediately preceding sent ence, the term “distribution” shall not include amounts constitut ing reasonable compens ation for present or past services or reasonable payments made in the ordinary course of business pursuant to a bona fide retirement plan or other benefits program. A member who receives a distribution in violation of this paragraph, and who knew at the time of the distribution that the distribution violated this paragraph, shall be liable to the registered series for the amount of the dist ribution. A member who receives a distribution in violation of this paragraph, and who did not know at the time of the distribution that the distribution violated this paragraph, shall not be liable for the amount o f the distribution. Subject to Sectio n 2031 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma Statutes, which shall apply to any distribution made with r espect to a registered series under this paragraph, this paragraph shall not affect any obligation or liability of a member under an agreement or other applicable law for the amount of a distrib ution; 8. Unless otherwise provided in the operating agreem ent, a member shall cease to be associated with a registered series and to Req. No. 1697 Page 63 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 have the power to exercise any rights or powers of a member with respect to the series upon the assignment of all of the member’s membership interest with respect to the series. Ex cept as otherwise provided in an operating agreement, any event under this act or an operating agreement that causes a member to cease to be associated with a registered series shall not, in itsel f, cause the member to cease to be associated with any other series or terminate t he continued membership of a member in the limited liability compa ny or cause the dissolution of the reg istered series, regardless of whether the member was the last remainin g member associated with the series; 9. Subject to Section 2037 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma Statutes, except to the extent otherwise provided in th e operating agreement, a registered se ries may be dissolved and its affair s wound up without causing the dis solution of the limited liability company. The dissolution of a registered series shall not affect the limitation on liabilities of the series prov ided by this subsection. A registered series is dissolved and its affairs shall be wound up upon the dissol ution of the limited liability company under Section 2037 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma Statutes or otherwise upon the first to occur of the following : a. at the time specified in the oper ating agreement, b. upon the happening of events specified in the operating agreement, Req. No. 1697 Page 64 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 c. unless otherwise provi ded in the operating agreement, upon the vote or consent of members associated with the series who own more than two-thirds of the then- current percentage or other interest in t he profits of the series of the li mited liability company owned by all of the members associated with the series, or d. the dissolution of the series under paragraph 11 of this subsection; 10. Notwithstanding Section 2039 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma Statutes, unless otherwise provided in the operating agreement, a manager associated with a r egistered series who has not wr ongfully dissolved the series or, if none, the members associated with the series or a person approved b y the members associated with th e series, in either case, by members who own a majority of the then current percentage or other interest in the profits of the series owned by all of the members associated with the series, may wind up the affairs of the ser ies; but the district court, upon cause shown, may wind up the affairs of a registered series upon application of any member or manager associated with the series, or the member ’s personal representative or assigne e, and in connection therewith, may appoint a liquidating trustee. The persons winding up the affairs of a registered series may, in the name of the limited liability company and for and on behalf of the limited liability company and the series, take all actions with respect to the series Req. No. 1697 Page 65 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 as are permitted under subsection A of Section 2039 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma Statutes. The persons winding up the affairs of a registered series shall provide for the claims and obligations of the series and distribut e the assets of the series as provided in Section 2039 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma Statutes, which section shall apply to the winding up and distribution of assets of a registered series. Actio ns taken in accordance with this paragraph shall not affect the liability of members and shall not impos e liability on a liquidating tr ustee; 11. On application by or for a member or manager associated with a registered series, the district court may decree dissolution of the series whenever it is not reasonably pr acticable to carry on the business of the s eries in conformity with an ope rating agreement; and 12. For all purposes of the laws of th is state, a registered series is an association, regardless of the number of members or managers, if any, of the series. D. To form a registered series of a limite d liability company, articles of registered series must be filed in accordance with this subsection. 1. The articles of registered series: a. shall set forth: (1) the name of the limited liability company , (2) the name of the registered series , and Req. No. 1697 Page 66 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (3) the street address of its principal place of business, wherever located, and the name and street address of its registered agent which shall be identical to its registered office in this state, and b. may include any other matter that the members of the registered series determine to include therein . 2. Articles of registered series shall be executed in accordance with Section 2006 of Title 18 of the Okla homa Statutes and shall be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State in accordance with Section 2007 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma Statutes. Articles of registered series shall be effective as of the effective time of the filing un less a later effective date or time, which shall be a date or time certain , is provided for in the articles of registered series. The articles of registered series are not a n amendment to the articles of organization of the limited liability company. The filing of articles of registered series in the office of the Secretary of State shall make it unnecessary to file any other documents under this act. 3. The articles of registered series are amended by filing articles of amendment in the Office of the Secretary of State. The articles of amendment of the articles of registered series shall set forth: a. the name of the limited l iability company, Req. No. 1697 Page 67 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 b. the name of the registered series, and c. the amendment to the articles of registered series . 4. A manager of a registered series or, if there is no manager, then any member of a registered series who becomes aware that any statement in the articles of registered series filed with respect to the registered series was false when made, or that any matter described therein has changed making the articles of registered series false in any material respect, shall promptly amend the articles of registered series. 5. The articles of regi stered series may be amended at any time for any other proper purpose . 6. Unless otherwise provided in this act or unless a later effective date or time , which shall be a date or time certain, is provided for in the articles of amendment of the articles of registered series, the articles of amendment shall be effective at the time of filing with the Secretary of State. 7. The articles of registered serie s shall be canceled upon the cancellation of the article s of organization of the limited liability company named in the articles of registered series, or upon the filing of articles of dissolution of the articles of registered series or upon the future eff ective date or time of the articles of dissolution of th e articles of registered series, or as provided in subsection B of Section 2012.1 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma Statutes, or upon the filing of articles of merger or Req. No. 1697 Page 68 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 consolidation of the registered series if the registered series is not the surviving or resu lting registered series in a merger or consolidation, or upon the future effective date or time of the articles of merger or conso lidation of the registered series if the registered series is not the s urviving or resulting registered series in a merger or consolidation, or upon the filing of the articles of conversion of the registered series to a protected series, or upon the future effective date or time of the articles of conversion of the registered series to a protected series. Articles of dissolution of the articles of registered series may be fi led at any time, and shall be filed, in the Office of the Secretary of State to accomplish the cancellation of the articles of registered series upon the dissolution of a registered series for which the articles of registered series were filed and completi on of the winding up of the registere d series. Articles of dissolution of the articles of registered seri es shall set forth: a. the name of the limited l iability company, b. the name of the registered series , c. the date of filing of the articles of regis tered series, d. the future effective date or time, which shall be a date or time certain, of cancellation if it is not to be effective upon the filing of the articles of dissolution, and Req. No. 1697 Page 69 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 e. any other information the person filing the articles of dissolution of the articles of registered series determines. 8. Articles of dissolution that are filed in the Office of the Secretary of State before the diss olution or the completion of winding up of a registered ser ies may be corrected as an erroneously executed articles of dissolution by fili ng with the Office of the Secretary of State article s of correction of the articles of dissolution of the articles of registered series in accordance with Section 2012 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma Statutes. 9. The Secretary of State shall not issue articles of good standing with respect to a registered series if its articles of registered series are canceled or the li mited liability company has ceased to be in good standing. SECTION 15. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 2054.6 of Title 18, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: CONVERSION OF A PROTECTED SERIES TO A REGISTERED SERIES A. A protected series of a domestic limited liability company may convert to a registered series o f the domestic limited liability company by complying with this section and filing in the Office of the Secretary of State in accordance with Section 2007 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma Statutes: Req. No. 1697 Page 70 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1. Articles of conversion of protected series to registered series that have been ex ecuted in accordance with S ection 2006 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma S tatutes; and 2. Articles of registered series that comply with su bsection D of Section 14 of this act and have been executed by one or more authorized persons in accordance with Section 20 06 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma Statutes. Each of the articles required by this subsection shall be filed simultaneously in the Office of the Secretary of State and, if the articles are not to become effective upon their filing as permitted by subsection C of Section 2007 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma Statutes, then each of the articles shall provide for the same effective date or time in accordance with subsection C of Section 2007 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma S tatutes. Upon the filing of a certificate of c onversion of protected serie s to registered series, or upon the future effective date or time of a certificate of conversion of protec ted series to registered series, the protected series with respect to which such fili ng is made is converted to a register ed series with the effect pr ovided in this section. An existing series may not become a registered series other than under this section. B. If the operating agreement specifies the manner of authorizing a conversion of a protected series of the limited liability company to a regist ered series of the limited liability company, the conversion of a protected series to a registered series Req. No. 1697 Page 71 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 shall be authorized as specified in the opera ting agreement. If the operating agreement does not specify the manner of au thorizing a conversion of a protected series of the limited liability company to a registered series of the limited liability company and does not prohibit a conversion of a protected series to a registered series, the conversion shall be authorized by mem bers of the protected series who own a majority of the then current per centage or other interest in the profits of the protected serie s owned by all of the members of the protecte d series. C. Unless otherwise agreed, the conversion of a protected series of a limited liability compan y to a registered series of the limited liability company under this section shall not require the limited liability company or the protected series of the limited liability company to wind up its affairs under Section 2039 or Section 2054.4 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma Statutes or pay its liabilities and distribute its assets under Section 2040 or Section 2054.4 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma S tatutes, and the conversion of a protected series of a limited liability company to a registered series of the limited liability company shall not constitute a dissolution of the limited liability company or a termination of the protected series. When a protected seri es of a limited liability company has converted to a registered series of the limited liability company under this section, for all purposes of the laws of this state, the registered series is deemed to be the same series Req. No. 1697 Page 72 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 as the converting protected series and the conversion shall constitute a continuation of the existence of the protected series in the form of the registered series. D. In connection with a conversion of a protected series of a limited liability company to a registered series of the limited liability company under this section, rights or securities of or interests in the protected series whic h is to be converted may be exchanged for or converted into cash, property, rights , or securities of, or interests in, the registered series into which the protected series is bei ng converted or, in addition to or in lieu thereof, may be exchanged for or converted into cash, property, rights, or securities of, or interests in, any other business entity, may remain outstanding, or may be canceled. E. If a protected series shall convert to a registered series in accordance with this sect ion, articles of conversion of a protected series to a registered serie s executed in accordance with Section 2006 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma Statutes shall be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State in accordance with Section 2007 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma Statutes. The articles of conversion of a protected series to a registered series shall state: 1. The name of the limited liability company and, if it has been changed, the name under which its articles of organization were originally filed; Req. No. 1697 Page 73 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 2. The name of the protected series and, if it has been changed, the name of the protected series as originally established; 3. The name of the registered series as set forth in its articles of registered series filed in accordance with subsection A of this section; 4. The date of filing of the original articles of organizat ion of the limited liability company with the Secretary of State; 5. The date on which the protected s eries was established; 6. The future effective date or time, which shall be a date or time certain, of the co nversion if it is not to be effective upon the filing of the articles of conversion of a protected series to a registered series; and 7. That the conversion has been approved in accordance with this section. F. A copy of the articles of conversion of a protected series to a registered series cert ified by the Secretary of State shall be prima facie evidence of the conversion by the protected series to a registered series of the limited liability company. G. When any conversion shall have become effective under this section, for all purposes of the laws of this state, all of the rights, privileges, and powers of the protected series that has converted, and all property, real, personal, and mixed, and all debts due to the protected series, as well as all other things and causes of action belonging to the protected series, shall remain Req. No. 1697 Page 74 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 vested in the regist ered series to which the protected series has converted and shall be the property of the registered series . The title to any real property vested by deed o r otherwise in the protected series shall not revert or be in any way impaired by reason of this act; but all rights of creditors and all liens upo n any property of the protected series shall be preserved unimpaired, and all debts, liabilities, and duties of the protected series that has converted shall remain attached to the registered series to which the protected series has converted, and may be enforced against it to the same extent as if the debts, liabilities, and duties had originally been incurred or contracted by it in its capacity as the registered series. The rights, privileges, powers , and interests in property of the protected series tha t has converted, as well as the debts, liabilities , and duties of the protected series, shall not be deemed, as a consequence of the conversion, to have be en transferred to the registered series to which the protected series of the limited liability company has converted for any purpose of the laws of th is state. H. An operating agreemen t may provide that a protect ed series of a limited liability company sh all not have the power to convert to a registered seri es of the limited liability company as set fort h in this section. Req. No. 1697 Page 75 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 SECTION 16. NEW LAW A new section of law t o be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 2054.7 of Title 18, unless there is created a duplica tion in numbering, reads as follows: CONVERSION OF A REGISTERED SERIE S TO A PROTECTED SERIES A. Upon compliance with this section, a registered series of a domestic limited liabili ty company may convert to a protected series of the domestic limited liability company. An existing registered series may not become a protecte d series other than under this section. B. If the operating agreement specifies the manner of authorizing a conversion of a registered series of the limited liability company to a protected series of the limited liability company, the conversion of a regi stered series to a protected series shall be authorized as specified in the operating agreement. If the operating agreement does not specify the manner of authorizing a conversion of a registered series of the limited liability company to a protected series of the limited liability company and does not prohibit a conversion of a registere d series to a protecte d series, the conversion shall be authorized by members of the registered series who own a majority of the then current percentage or other interest in the profits of the registered series owned by all of the members of the registered series. C. Unless otherwise agreed, the conversion of a register ed series of a limited liability company to a protected se ries of the Req. No. 1697 Page 76 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 limited liability company under this section shall not require the limited liability company or the registered series of the limited liability company to wind up its affairs under Section 2039 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma S tatutes or Section 14 of this act or pay its liabilities and distribute its assets under Section 2040 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma Statutes or Section 14 of this act, and the conversion of a registered series of a l imited liability company to a protected series of the limited liability company shall not constitute a dissolution of the limited liability company or of the registered series. When a registered series of a limited liability company has converted to a protected series of the limited liability company under this section, for all purposes of the laws of this state, the protected series is deemed to be the same series as the converting registered series and t he conversion shall constitute a continuation of the existence of the registered series in the form of the protected series. D. In connection with a conversion of a registered series of a limited liability company to protected serie s of the limited liability company under this section, rights or sec urities of or interests in the registered series which is to be conver ted may be exchanged for or conve rted into cash, property, rights, or securities of, or interests in, the protected series into which the registered series is being converted or, in additio n to or in lieu thereof, may be exchanged for or converted into cas h, property, Req. No. 1697 Page 77 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 rights, or securities of, or interests in, any other business entity, may remain outstanding or may be cancele d. E. If a registered series shall convert to a protected series in accordance with this section, articles of conversion of registered series to protected series executed in accordance with Section 2006 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma S tatutes shall be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State in accordance with Section 2007 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma S tatutes. The articles of conversion of registered series to protected s eries shall state: 1. The name of the limited liability company and, if it has been changed, the name under which its articles of organization were originally filed; 2. The date of filing of the original articles of organization of the limited liability com pany with the Secretary of State; 3. The name of the registered series and, if i t has been changed, the name under which its articles of registered series were originally filed; 4. The date of filing of its orig inal articles of registered series with the Secretary of State; 5. The future effective date or time , which shall be a date or time certain, of the conversion if it is not to be effective upon the filing of the articles of conversion of registered series to protected series; and Req. No. 1697 Page 78 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 6. That the conversion has been approved in accordance with this section. F. Upon the filing of a certificate of convers ion of registered series to protected series, or upon the future effective date or time of a certificate of c onversion of registered series to protected series, the registered series filing the certificate is converted to a protected series with the effec t provided in this section. A copy of the articles of conversion of registered series to protected series cer tified by the Secretary of State shall be prima facie evidence of the conversion by the registered series to a protected series of the limited liability company. G. When any conversion shall have b ecome effective under this section, for all purposes of th e laws of this state, all of the rights, privileges, and powers of the regis tered series that has converted, and all proper ty, real, personal, and mixed, and all debts due to the registered series, a s well as all other things and causes of action belonging to the registered series, shall remain vested in the protected series to w hich the registered series has converted and shall be the property o f the protected series. The title to any real pro perty vested by deed or otherwise in the registered series shal l not revert or be in any way impaired by reason of this act; but all rights of creditors and all liens upon any property of the registered series shall be preserved unimpaired, and all debts, liabilities, and duties of the registered series that Req. No. 1697 Page 79 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 has converted shall remain attached to the prote cted series to which the registered series has converted, and may be enforce d against it to the same extent as if the debts, liabilities, and duties had originally been incurred or contracted by it in its capacity as the protected series. The rights, privileges, powers, and interests in property of the registered series that has converted, as well as the debts, liabilities, and duties of the registered series, shall not be deemed, as a consequence of the conversion, t o have been transferred to the protect ed series to which the registered series of the limited liability company h as converted for any p urpose of the laws of this state. H. An operating agreement may provide that a registered series of a limited liability company shall not have the power to convert to a protected series of the limited liability company as set forth in this section. SECTION 17. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 2054.8 of Title 18, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: MERGER AND CONSOLIDATION OF REGIST ERED SERIES A. Under an agreement of merger or consolidation, one or more registered series may merge or consolidate with or into one or more other registered series of the same limit ed liability company with such registered series as the agreement shall provide being the surviving or resulting registered series. Unless otherwise provided Req. No. 1697 Page 80 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 in the operating agreement, an agreement of merger or con solidation shall be approved by each reg istered series which is to merge or consolidate by members of the registered series who own a majority of the then current percentage or other inte rest in the profits o f the registered series owned by all of the memb ers of the registered series. In connection with a merger or consolidation hereunder, rights or securities o f, or interests in, a registered series which is a constituent party to the merger or consolidati on may be exchanged for or converted into cash, pr operty, rights, or securities of, or interests in, the surviving or resulting registered series or, in additio n to or in lieu thereo f, may be exchanged for or converted into cash, proper ty, rights, or securities of, or interests in, a domestic limited liab ility company or other business entity which is not the surviving or resulting registered series in the merger or consolidation, may remain outstanding, or may be canceled. Notwithstanding prior approval, an agreement of merger or conso lidation may be terminated or amended under a provision for such termination or amendment contained in the agreement of merger or c onsolidation. B. If a registered series is merging or consolidating under this section, the regi stered series surviving or re sulting in or from the merger or consolidation shall file articles of merger or consolidation of registered series executed by one or more authorized persons on behalf of the registered series when it is th e Req. No. 1697 Page 81 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 surviving or resulting registered series in the Office of the Secretary of State. The articles of merger or consolidation of registered series shall state: 1. The name of each registered series whic h is to merge or consolidate and the name of the limit ed liability company that formed the registered series; 2. That an agreement of merger or consolidation ha s been approved and executed by or on behalf of each registered series which is to merge or co nsolidate; 3. The name of the surviving or resulting registered series; 4. Such amendment, if any, to the articles of registered series of the registered series that is the surviving registered series to change the name of the survi ving registered series , as is desired to be effected by the merger; 5. The future effective date or time, which shall be a date or time certain, of the merger or consolidation if it i s not to be effective upon the filing of the articles of merger or consolidation of registered series; 6. That the agreement of merger or consolida tion is on file at a place of business of the surviving o r resulting registered series or the limited liabil ity company that formed such registered series, and shall state the addr ess thereof; and 7. That a copy of the agreement of merger or consolidation will be furnished by the surviving or resulting registere d series, on Req. No. 1697 Page 82 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 request and without cost, to any memb er of any registered series which is to merge or consolidate. C. Unless a future effective da te or time is provided in articles of merger or consolidation of registered series, a merger or consolidation under this section shall be effective upon the filing in the Office of the Secretary of State of articles of merger or consolidation of registered series. D. Articles of merger or consolidation of re gistered series cancel the articles of registered series of the registered series which is not the surviving or resulting registered series in the merger or consolidation. Articles of merger or consoli dation of registered series that set forth any amendment in accordance wit h paragraph 4 of subsection B of this section is deemed to be an amendment to the articles of registered series of the surviving registered series, and no fu rther action shall be required to amend the articles of registered series of the surviving regist ered series under Section 14 of this act with respect to such amendments set forth in such articles of merger or consolidation. Whenever this section requires the filing of articles of merger or consolidation of registered series, suc h requirement is deemed satisfied by the filing of an agreement of merge r or consolidation containing the information required by this section to be set forth in such articles of merger or consolidation . Req. No. 1697 Page 83 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 E. An agreement of merger or consolidation approved in accordance with subsection A of this section may effect any amendment to the operating agreement relating solely to the registered series that are constituent parties to the me rger or consolidation. Any amendment to an operating agreement relating solely to the registered series that are constituent parties to the merger or consolidation made under this subsection shall be effective at the effective time or date of the merger o r consolidation and sh all be effective notwithstanding any provision of the operating agreement relating to amendment o f the operating agreement, other than a provision that by its ter ms applies to an amendment to the operating agreement in connection with a merger or consolidation. The provisions of this subsection shall not be construed to limit th e accomplishment of a m erger or of any of the matters referred to herein by any other m eans provided for in an operating agreement or other agreement or as oth erwise permitted by law, including that the operating agreement relating to any constituent registered series to the mer ger or consolidation , including a registered series formed for t he purpose of consummating a merger or consolidation , shall be the operating agreement of the surviving or resulting registered series. F. When any merger or consolidat ion shall have become ef fective under this section, for all purposes of the laws of th is state, all of the rights, privileges , and powers of each of the registe red Req. No. 1697 Page 84 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 series that have merged or consolidated, and all property, real, personal, and mixed, and all debts due to any of the registered series, as well as all other things and causes of a ction belonging to each of the registered series, shall be vested in th e surviving or resulting registered series, and shall thereafter be the prop erty of the surviving or resulting registered series as they were of eac h of the registered series that have merged or consolidated. The title to any real property vested by de ed or otherwise, under the laws of this state, in any of the registered series, shall not revert or be in any way impaired by reason of this act; but all rights of creditors and all l iens upon any property of any of the registered series shall be preserv ed unimpaired, and all debts, liabilities, and duties of each of the registered series that have merged or consolidated shall remain attached to the surviving or resulting registered series, and may be enforced against it to the same extent as if the debts, liabilities, and duties had been incurred or contracted by it. Unless otherwise agreed , a merger or consolidation of a registered series of a limited liability company, including a registered series which is not the surviving or resulting registered series in the merg er or consolidation, shall not require the registered series to wind up its affairs under Section 14 of this act, or pay its liabilities and distribute its assets under Section 14 of this act, and the merger or consolidation shall not constitute a dissolut ion of the registered series. Req. No. 1697 Page 85 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 G. An operating agreement may provide that a registered series of a limited liability company shall not have the power to merge or consolidate as set fort h in this section. SECTION 18. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 2054.9 of Title 18, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: DIVISION OF A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY A. As used in this act: 1. “Dividing company” means the domestic limited liability company that is effecting a division in the manner provided in this section; 2. “Division” means the division of a dividing company into two or more domestic limi ted liability companies in accordance with this section; 3. “Division company” means a surviving company, if any, and each resulting company ; 4. “Division contact” means, in connection with any division, a natural person who is a resident of this state, any division company in the division or any other domestic limited liability company, or other entity as defined in Section 2054 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma Statutes formed or organized under the laws of this state, which division contact shall maintain a copy of the plan of division for a period of six (6) years from the effective date of the division and shall comply with paragraph 3 of subsection G of this section; Req. No. 1697 Page 86 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 5. “Organizational docume nts” means the articles of organization and operating agreement of a domestic limited liability company; 6. “Resulting company” means a domestic limited liability company formed as a consequence of a division ; and 7. “Surviving company” means a dividing company that survives the division. B. Under a plan of division, any domestic limited liability company may, in the manner provided in this section, be divided into two or more domestic limited liability companies. The division of a domestic limited liab ility company in accordance with this section and, if applicable, the resulting cessation of the existence of the dividing company under articles of division shall not be deemed to affect the personal liability of any person incurred before the division with respect to matters arising before the division, nor shall it be deemed to affect the validity or enforc eability of any obligations or liabilities of the dividing company incurred before the division; provided, that the obligations and liabilities of the dividing company shall be allocated to and vested in, and valid and enforceable obligations of, the divis ion company or companies to which the obligations and liabilities have been allocated under the plan of division, as provided in subsection H of this section. Each resulting company in a division shall be formed i n compliance with the requirements of this act and subsection H of this section. Req. No. 1697 Page 87 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 C. If the operating agreement of the dividing company specifies the manner of adopting a plan of division, the plan of division shall be adopted as specified in the operating agreement. If the operating agreement of the dividing company does not specify the manner of adopting a plan of divi sion and does not prohibit a division of the limited liability company, th e plan of division shall be adopted in the same manner as is specified in the operating agreement for authorizing a merger or consolidation that involves the limited liability company as a constituent party to the merger or consolidation. If the operating agreement of the dividing company does not specify the manner o f adopting a plan of division or authorizing a merger or consolidation that involves the limited liability company as a constituent party and does not prohibit a division of the limited liabil ity company, the adoption of a plan of division shall be authori zed by the approval of members who own a majority of the then current percentage or other interest in the profits of the dividing company owned by all of the members. Notwithstanding prior ap proval, a plan of division may be terminated or amended under a provision for the termination or amendment contained in the plan of division. D. Unless otherwise provided in a plan of division, the division of a domestic limited liability company under this section shall not require the limited liability company to wi nd up its affairs under Section 2039 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma Statutes or Req. No. 1697 Page 88 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 pay its liabilities and distribute its as sets under Section 2040 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma S tatutes, and the division shall not constitute a dissolution of the limited liability company. E. In connection with a divisio n under this section, rights or securities of, or interests in, the dividing company may be exchanged for or converted into cash, property, rights , or securities of, or interests in, the surviving company or any resulting company or, in addition to or in li eu thereof, may be exchanged for or converted into cash, property, rights, or securities of, or interests in, a domestic limited liability company or any other business entity which is not a division company or ma y be canceled or remain outstanding , if the dividing company is a surviving company. F. A plan of division adopted in a ccordance with subsection C of this section: 1. May effect any amendment to the operating agreement of the dividing company if it is a surviving company in the division; or 2. May effect the adoption of a new operating agreement for the dividing company if it is a surviving company in the division; and 3. Shall effect the adoption of an operating agreement for each resulting company. Any amendment to an operating agreement or adoption of a new operating agreement for the dividin g company, if it is a surviving company in the division, or adoption of a n operating agreement for each resulting company made under the Req. No. 1697 Page 89 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 foregoing sentence shall be effective at the effective time or date of the division. Any amendment to an operating agreement or adoption of an operating agreement for the dividing company, if it is a surviving company in the division, shall be effective notwithstanding any provi sion in the operating agreement of the dividing company relating to amendment or adoption of a new operating agreement, other than a provision that by its terms applies to an amendment to the operating agreement or the adoption of a new operating agreement , in either case, in connection with a division, merger, or consolidation. G. If a domestic limited liability company is dividing under this section, the dividing company shall adopt a plan of division which shall set forth: 1. The terms and conditions o f the division, including: a. any conversion or exchange of the membership interests of the dividing company into or for membership interests or other securities or obligations of any division company or cash, property, or rights or securities or obligatio ns of or interests in any other business entity or domestic limited liability company which is not a division company, or that the membership interests of the dividing company shall remain outstanding or be canceled, or any combination of the foregoing, and Req. No. 1697 Page 90 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 b. the allocation of assets, property, right s, series, debts, liabilities, and duties of the dividing company among the division companies; 2. The name of each resulting company and, if the di viding company will survive the division, the name of the surviving company; 3. The name and business addre ss of a division contact which shall have custody of a copy of the plan of division. The division contact, or any successor division contact, shall serve for a period of six (6) years following the effective date of the division. During the six-year period the division contact shall provide, without cost, to any creditor of the dividing company, within thirty (30) days following the division con tact’s receipt of a written request from any creditor of the divi ding company, the name and business address of the division company to which the claim of the creditor was allocated under the plan of division; and 4. Any other matters that the dividing co mpany determines to include therein. H. If a domestic limited li ability company divides under this section, the dividing company shall file articles of division executed by one or m ore authorized persons on behalf of the dividing company in the Office of the Secretary of State in accordance with Section 2006 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma Statutes and articles of organization that comply with Section 2005 of Title 18 of the Req. No. 1697 Page 91 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Oklahoma Statutes for each resulting company executed by one or more authorized persons in accordance with Section 2006 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma Statutes. The articles of division shall state: 1. The name of the dividing company and, if it has been changed, the name under which its articles of organization were originally filed and whether the dividing company is a surviving company; 2. The date of filing of the dividing company ’s original articles of organization with the Secretary of State; 3. The name of each div ision company; 4. The name and business address of the division contact required by paragraph 3 of subsection G of this section; 5. The future effective date or time , which shall be a date or time certain, of the division if it is not to be effective upon the filing of the articles of division; 6. That the division has been a pproved in accordance with this section; 7. That the plan of division is on file at a place of business of the division company as is specified therein, and shall state the address thereof; 8. That a copy of the plan of division will be furnished by the division company as is specified therein, on request and without cost, to any member of the dividing company ; and Req. No. 1697 Page 92 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 9. Any other information the dividing company determines to include therein. I. The articles of division and each of the articles of organization for each resulting company required by subsection H of this section shall be filed simultaneously in t he Office of the Secretary of State and, if the articles are not to become effective upon their filing as permitted by subsection C of Section 2007 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma Statutes, then each of the articl es shall provide for the same effective date or time in accordance with subsection C of Section 2007 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma Statutes. Concurrently with the effective date or time of a division, the operating agreement of each resulting company shall become effective. J. The articles of division shall act as a cancellation of the articles of organization for a dividing company which is not a surviving company. K. An operating agreement may provide that a domestic limited liability company shall not have the power to divide a s set forth in this section. L. Upon the division of a domestic limited liability company becoming effective: 1. The dividing company shall be divided into the distinct and independent resulting companies named in the plan of division, and, Req. No. 1697 Page 93 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 if the dividing company is not a surviving company, the existence of the dividing company shall cease; 2. For all purposes of the laws of th is state, all of the rights, privileges, and powers, and all the property, real, personal, and mixed, of the dividing company and all debts due on whatever account to it, and all other things and other causes of action belonging to it, shall without further action be allocated to and vested in the applicable division company in the manner and basis and with the effect as is specified in the plan of divi sion, and the title to any real property or interest therein allocated to and vested in any division company shall not revert or be in any way impaired by reason of the division; 3. Each division company shal l, from and after effectiveness of the articles of division, be liable as a separate and distinct domestic limited liabil ity company for the debts, liabilities , and duties of the dividing company as are allocated to the division company under the plan of division in the manner and on the basis provided in subparagraph b of paragraph 1 of subsection G of this section; 4. Each of the debts, liabilities , and duties of the dividing company shall withou t further action be allocated to and be the debts, liabilities, and duties of the division company as is specified in the plan of division as having the debts, liabilities, and duties allocated to it, in the manner and basis and with the Req. No. 1697 Page 94 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 effect as is specified in the plan of division, and no other division company shall be liable therefor, so long as the plan of division does not constitute a fraudulent transfer under applicable law, and all liens upon any property of the dividing company shall be preserved unimpaired, and all debts, liabilities, and duties of the dividing company shall remain attached to the divi sion company to which the debts, liabilities, and duties have been allocated in the plan of division, and may be enforced against the division company to the same extent as if the debts, liabilities, and du ties had originally been incurred or contracted by it in its capacity as a domestic limited liability company ; 5. In the event that any allocation of assets, debts, liabilities, and duties to division companies in accordance with a plan of division is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to constitute a fraudulent transfer, each division company shall be jointly and severally liable on account of the fraudulent transfer notwithstanding the allocations made in the plan of division; provided, however, the validity and effectiveness of the division are not otherwise affected thereby; 6. Debts and liabilities of the divid ing company that are not allocated by the plan of division shall be the joint and several debts and liabilities of all of the division companies; 7. It shall not be necessary for a plan of division to list each individual asset, property, right, series, d ebt, liability, or Req. No. 1697 Page 95 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 duty of the dividing company to be allocated to a divisi on company so long as the assets, property, rights, series, debts, liabilities, or duties so allocated are re asonably identified by any method where the identity of the assets, proper ty, rights, series, debts, liabilities, or duties is objectively determinab le; 8. The rights, privileges, po wers, and interests in property of the dividing company that have been allo cated to a division company, as well as the debts, liabilities, and duties of the dividing company that have been allocated to the division company under a plan of division, shall rem ain vested in the division company and shall not be deemed, as a result of the division, to have been assigned or transferred to the division c ompany for any purpose of the laws of this state; and 9. Any action or pr oceeding pending against a dividin g company may be continued against the surviving company as if the divisio n did not occur, but subject to paragraph 4 of subsection L of this section and against any resulting company to which the asset, property, right, series, debt, liability, or duty associated with the action or proceeding was allocated under the plan of division by adding or substituting the resulting company as a party in the action or proceeding. M. In applying the provisions of this act on distributions, a direct or indirect allocat ion of property or liabilities in a division is not deemed a distribution for purposes of this act. Req. No. 1697 Page 96 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 N. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to limit the means of accomplishing a division by any other means provided for in an operating agr eement or other agreement or as otherwise permitted by this act or as otherwise permitted by law. O. All limited liability companies formed on or a fter November 1, 2023, shall be governed by this section. All limited liability companies formed before November 1, 2023, shall be governed by this section; provided, that if the di viding company is a party to any written contract, indenture , or other agreement entered into before November 1, 2023, that, by its terms, restricts, conditions, or prohibits the consummation of a merger or consolidation by the dividing company with or into another party, or the transfer of assets by the dividing company to anothe r party, then the restriction, condition , or prohibition is deemed to apply to a division as if it were a mer ger, consolidation, or transfer of assets, as applicable. SECTION 19. AMENDATORY 18 O.S. 2021, Section 2055, is amended to read as follows: Section 2055. The Secretary of State shall charge and collect the following fees: 1. For filing the origina l articles of organization, a fee of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00); Req. No. 1697 Page 97 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 2. For filing amended, corrected or restated articles of organization, including amended and restated articles of organization, a fee of Fifty Dollars ($50.00); 3. For filing articles of correction, amendment , merger or consolidation, registered series, conversion, or divi sion and issuing a certificate of correction, amendment, merger or consolidation or filing articles of, registered series, conversion, or division, a fee of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00); 4. For filing articles of dissolution a nd issuing a certificate of cancellation, a fee of Fifty Dollars ($50.00); 5. For filing a certificate of cor rection of statements in an application for registration of a foreign limi ted liability company, a fee of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00); 6. For issuing a certificate for any purpose wha tsoever, a fee of Ten Dollars ($10.0 0); 7. For filing an application for reservation of a name, or for filing a notice of the transfer or cance llation of any name reservation, a fee of Ten Dollars ($10.00); 8. For filing a statement of change of address of the principal office or change of resident agent, or both, a fee of Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00); 9. For filing a change of address for an i ndividual, corporation, limited li ability company or limited partnership designated by a limited liability compa ny as its registered agent Req. No. 1697 Page 98 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 for service of process, for change of name of registered agent or for the resignation of a registered agent, a fee of Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) for the first forty corporations and Five Dollars ($5.00) for each additional corp oration within any bulk filing; 10. For filing an application for reg istration as a foreign limited liability company, a fee of Three Hundred D ollars ($300.00); 11. For filing an application of withdrawal as provid ed in Section 2047 of this title, a fee of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00); 12. For any service of notice, dema nd, or process upon the Secretary of State as resident agent of a limited liability company or registered series, a fee of Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00), which amount may be recovered as taxable costs by the party to be sued, action, or proceeding causing s uch service to be made if such party prevails therein; and 13. For acting as the registered agent of a limited liability company or registered series , a fee of Forty Dollars ($40.00) shall be paid on July 1 each year to the Office of the Secretary of Stat e. All fees shall be properly accounted for and shall be paid into the State Treasury monthly. All fees rec eived by the Secretary of State pursuant to the p rovisions of this section shall be p aid to the credit of the Revolving Fund for the Office of the S ecretary of State created pursuant to Se ction 276.1 of Title 62 of the Okl ahoma Statutes. Req. No. 1697 Page 99 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 SECTION 20. AMENDATORY 18 O.S. 2021, Section 2055.1, is amended to read as follows: Section 2055.1. FAILURE TO PAY REGISTERED AGENT FEES A domestic or foreign limi ted liability company or registered series for which the Secretary of State acts as the registered agent that fails to pay the registered agent fee by the due dat e as provided in paragraph 12 of Section 2055 of this title shall be subject to the provisions of Sections 29 2012.1 and 39 2055.2 of this act title. SECTION 21. AMENDATORY 18 O.S. 2021, Secti on 2055.2, is amended to read as follows: Section 2055.2. ANNUAL CERTIFICATE FOR DOMESTIC LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AND REGISTERED SERIES AND FOREIGN LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY A. Every domestic limited liability compa ny and every foreign limited liability company reg istered to do business in this state shall file a certificate e ach year in the Office of the Secretary of State, which confirms it is an ac tive business and includes its principal place of business address, and shall pay an annual certificate fee of Twenty -five Dollars ($25.00). B. The annual certificate shall be due on the anniversary date of filing the articles of organization , articles of registered series, or registration, as the cas e may be, until canc ellation of Req. No. 1697 Page 100 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 the articles of organizatio n or articles of registered series or withdrawal of the registration. C. The Secretary of State shall, at least sixty (60) days before the anniversar y date of each year, cause a notice of the annual certificate to be sent to each domestic limited liability company and registered series and each foreign limited liability company and registered series required to comply with the provisions of this section to its last known electronic mail address of record with the Secretary of State. D. A domestic limited liability company or registered series or foreign limited liability compan y or registered series that fails to file the annual certificate and pay the annual certificate fee within sixty (60) days after the date due s hall cease to be in good standing as a domestic limited liability company or registered series or registered as a foreign limited liability company or registered series in this state. E. Except for accepting a resignation of a registered agen t when a successor registered agent is not being appointed or an application for reinstatemen t, the Secretary of State shall n ot accept for filing any certificate or articles, or issue any certificate of good standing, in respect to any domestic limited liability company or registered series that has ceased to be in good standing or foreign limite d liability company or registered series that has ceased to be registered, unless or until the domestic Req. No. 1697 Page 101 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 limited liability company or registered series has been reinstated as a domestic limited liability company in good standing or the foreign limited liability company or registered series has been reinstated as a foreign limited liability company or registered series duly registered in this state. F. A domestic limite d liability company or registered series that has ceased to be in good standing or a foreign limited liability company or registered series that has ceased to be registered in this state may not main tain any action, suit or proceeding in any court of this state unti l the domestic limited liability company or registered series has been reinstated as a domestic limited liabilit y company in good standing or the foreign limited liability company or registered series has been reinstated as a foreign limited liability comp any or registered series duly registered in this state. An action, suit or proc eeding may not be maintained in any court of this state by any successor or assignee of the domestic limited liability company or registered series or foreign limited liability company or registered series on any right, claim or demand arising out of the t ransaction of business by the domestic limited liability company or registered series after it has ceased to be in good standing or a foreign limited liability company or registered series that has ceased to be registered in this state until the domestic l imited liability company or registered series or foreign limited liability company or registered series, or any Req. No. 1697 Page 102 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 person that has acquired all or substantially all of its assets, has caused the limited liability company or registered series to be reinstated as a domestic limited liability company in good standing or as a foreign limited liability company or registered series duly registered in this state, as applicable. SECTION 22. AMENDATORY 18 O.S. 2021, Sect ion 2055.3, is amended to read as follows: Section 2055.3. REINSTATEMENT OF A L IMITED LIABILITY COMPANY OR REGISTERED SERIES A. A domestic limited liability company or registered series not in good standing for failure to file an annual certificate and pay the annual certificate fees or register ed agent fees, including a domestic limited liability company or registered series whose articles of organization or registered series have been canceled under subsection B of Section 2012.1 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma Statutes this title, or a foreign limited liability c ompany or registered series whose registration was withdra wn for failure to file an annual certificate and pay the annual certificate fees or registered agent fees may apply to the Secretary of Sta te for reinstatement by: 1. Filing all delinquent annual certificates with the S ecretary of State and paying all del inquent annual certificate fees or paying all delinquent registered agent fees to the Secretary of State; and Req. No. 1697 Page 103 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 2. Filing an application for reinstatement with the Secretary of State stating its na me at the time it ceased to be in good standing or was withd rawn, the date it ceased to be in good standing or was withdrawn, and its current nam e, if its name at th e time it ceased to be in good sta nding or was withdrawn is no longer available under Secti on 2008 or 2045 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma Statutes this title. If the Secretary of State determines that the application contains the required information, the inf ormation is correct, all delinquent certificates or other filings are submitted, all delinquent fees are paid, and the name satisfies the requirements of Section 2008 or 2045 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma Statutes this title, the Secretary of State shall acc ept the application for reinstatement and issue a certificate of reinstatement in the manner provided in Section 2007 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma Statutes this title for domestic limited liability companies, Section 14 of this act for domestic registered s eries, or Section 2044 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma Statutes this title for foreign limited li ability companies or foreign registered series . If the limited liabili ty company or registered series is required to change its name because its name at the time it ceased to be in good standing o r was withdrawn is no longer available, acceptance of the reinstatement shall constitute an amendment to the domestic limited liab ility company’s articles of organization or the domestic registered Req. No. 1697 Page 104 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 series’ articles of registered series to change its name o r the adoption of a fictitious name by the foreign limited liability company or registered series, as applicable. The application for reinstatement may amend the articles of organization of the domesti c limited liability company or the articles of registe red series of the registered series or the application for registration of the foreign limited liability company or registered series, subject in either case to the payment of the additional fee require d in Section 2055 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma Statutes this title for amendments; provided, that the application may not extend the ter m of a limited liability company or registered series that had expired before the application for reinstatement. For pur poses of this section, a foreign limited liability c ompany or registered series applying for reinstatement is dee med to have done busin ess continually in the state following the admini strative withdrawal. B. When reinstatement under this section has becom e effective, the reinstatement relates back to and tak es effect as if the domestic limited liability company or registered series had never ceased to be in good standing and as if its articles of organization or articles of registere d series, as the case m ay be, had never been canceled, or as if the foreign limited liability company’s or registered series registration was never withdrawn. C. The failure of a domestic lim ited liability company or registered series or foreign limited liability company or registered Req. No. 1697 Page 105 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 series to file an annual certificate and pay a n annual certificate fee or a registered agent fee to t he Secretary of State shal l not impair the validity on any c ontract, deed, mortgage, security interest, lien or act of the domestic limited liabili ty company or registered series or foreign limited lia bility company or registered series or prevent the domestic limited liability com pany or registered series or foreign limited liability company or registered series from defending any action, suit or proceeding with any co urt of this state. D. All real and personal property, and all rights and interests, which belonged to the domestic limited liability company or registered series at the time its articles of organization or articles of registered series , as the case may be , were canceled or which were acquired by the limited liability company or registered series after cancellation, an d which were not disposed of before its reinstatement, shall be vested in the limited liability company or registered series after its reinstatement as fully as they were held by the limited liability company or registered series at, and after, as the case may be, the time its articles of organiza tion or articles of registered series were canceled. E. A member or manager of a domestic limited liability company or registered series or foreign limited liability company or registered series is not liable for the debts, obligations or liabilities of the dome stic limited liability company or registered Req. No. 1697 Page 106 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 series or foreign limited l iability company or registered series solely by reason of the failure of the domestic limited liability company or registered series or foreign limited liability company or registered series to file an annual certificate and pay an an nual certificate fee or a registered agent fee to the Secretary of State or by reason of the domestic limited liability company or registered series ceasing to be in good standing or its articles of organization or articles of registered series being canceled or the foreign limited liability compa ny or registered series ceasing to be duly registered. SECTION 23. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 2058.1 of Title 18, unless there is created a duplication in numb ering, reads as follows: DOCUMENT FORM, SIGNA TURE, AND DELIVERY. A. Except as provided in subsection B of this sec tion, without limiting the manner in which any act or transaction m ay be documented, or the manner in which a document may be signed or delivered: 1. Any act or transaction contemplated or governed by the Oklahoma Limited Liability Company Act or an operating agreement may be provided for in a document, and an electronic transmi ssion is the equivalent of a written document ; 2. Whenever the Oklahoma Limited Liability Company Act or an operating agreement r equires or permits a signature, the signat ure Req. No. 1697 Page 107 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 may be a manual, facsimile, conformed , or electronic signature. “Electronic signature” means an electronic symbol or process that i s attached to, or logical ly associated with, a document and executed or adopted by a person with an intent to execute, authenticate, or adopt the document. A person may execute a document with such person’s signature; 3. Unless otherwise provided in an operating agreement or agreed upon between the sender and recipient, an electronic transmission is deliver ed to a person for p urposes of this title and an operating agreement when it enters an info rmation processing system that the person has designated for t he purpose of receiving electronic transmissions of the type delivered, so long a s the electronic transmission is in a for m capable of being processed by that system and such person is able to r etrieve the electronic transmission. Whether a person has so designated an information processing system is determined by the operating agreem ent or from the context and surrounding c ircumstances, including the party’s conduct. An electronic transmissio n is delivered under this section even if no person is aware o f its receipt. Receipt of a n electronic acknowledgement from an information proc essing system establi shes that an electronic transmission was received but, by itself, does not establish that th e content sent corresponds to the content received. Req. No. 1697 Page 108 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 This section shall not prohibit one or mor e persons from conducting a transaction in accordance with the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act so long as the part or parts of the transaction that are governed by the Oklahoma Limited Liability Company Act or an operating agreement are documented, signed , and delivered in accordance with this subse ction or otherwise in accordance with this section. This subsection shall apply solely for purposes of determining whether an act or transaction has been documented, and the document has been signed and delivered, in accordance with the Oklahoma Limited Liability Company Act or an operating agreement. B. Subsection A of this section shal l not apply to a docu ment filed with or submitted to the Secretary of State, a county clerk, or a court or other judicial or governmental body of this state. This subsection shall not create any presump tion about the lawful means to document a matter addr essed by this subsect ion, or the lawful means to sign or deliver a document addressed by this subsection. A provision of an operating agreement shall not limit the application of subsection A of this s ection unless the provision expressly restricts one o r more of the means o f documenting an act or transaction, or of signing or delivering a document, permitted by subsection A of this section. C. If any provision of this section is deemed to modify, limi t, or supersede the Electronic Signatures in Global an d National Commerce Act, 15 U.S.C. Section 7001 et. seq., the provisions of Req. No. 1697 Page 109 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 this section shall control to the fullest e xtent permitted by Section 7002(a)(2) of such act. SECTION 24. This act shall become effective November 1, 2023. 59-1-1697 TEK 2/28/2023 4:12:51 PM