OklahomaOklahoma bars enforcement of some foreign-law rulings and contracts
Oklahoma bars certain rulings and contract terms relying on foreign law that fails listed rights protections, while exempting businesses and other legal entities agreeing to foreign law.
What it does
Oklahoma bars enforcement of rulings based on covered foreign law when they violate listed rights. Businesses and other legal entities that agree to foreign law are exempt.
Contracts or terms choosing covered foreign law or a place to resolve disputes cannot be enforced if they fail the listed rights requirements. Businesses and other legal entities agreeing to foreign law are exempt.
Argument forPeople in covered disputes could avoid enforcement of foreign-law rulings that violate rights such as religious freedom and fair legal process.
Argument againstIndividuals choosing foreign law for contracts could face uncertainty about enforcement because courts must judge whether that law meets the listed rights standards.
More detail
Rulings based wholly or partly on covered foreign law are invalid and cannot be enforced if they violate any listed right. The rule covers Oklahoma courts and state or local bodies that decide disputes or enforce decisions. Listed rights include fair legal process, equal treatment under law, and religious freedom. Covered foreign law comes from outside U.S. states and territories, including international organizations, and is contrary to Western values. Oklahoma tribal laws are excluded. Businesses and other legal entities that agree to foreign law are exempt from this section. The section cannot limit constitutional religious freedom or interfere with constitutionally protected decisions about religious leadership, membership, or beliefs. The law took effect upon passage and approval. The governor approved it on May 11, 2026.
Covered contracts or terms are invalid and cannot be enforced when their choice of foreign law or place for resolving disputes fails the listed rights requirements. The rules cover agreed contracts directing courts or arbitration panels, which resolve disputes outside court, to use foreign law or hear disputes in a chosen place. The chosen foreign law must grant the listed rights. A chosen place for resolving disputes cannot apply covered foreign law contrary to those rights. Businesses and other legal entities that agree to foreign law are exempt. Oklahoma tribal laws are excluded. Constitutional religious freedom and protected decisions about religious organizations' internal affairs remain protected. These contract rules took effect upon passage and approval. The governor approved the law on May 11, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 12Approved by Governor Kevin Stitt 05/11/2026Became Law
- May 6Sent to GovernorTo Governor
- May 6Signed, returned to Senate
- May 6Enrolled, to House
- May 5Referred for enrollment
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 5Signed, returned to Senate
- May 5Third Reading, Measure and Emergency passed: Ayes: 71 Nays: 17Major
- May 5Coauthored by Representative(s) Maynard, Woolley, Adams
- May 5General Order
- Apr 14CR; Do Pass Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded Judiciary And Public Safety Oversight Committee: Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 6Coauthored by Senator(s) McIntosh, Burns
- Apr 6Policy recommendation to the Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight committee; Do Pass Civil JudiciaryMinor
- Apr 2
- Vote recorded Civil Judiciary Committee: Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 31Referred to Civil JudiciaryMinor
- Mar 31Second Reading referred to Judiciary and Public Safety OversightMinor
- Mar 30First ReadingMinor
- Mar 30Engrossed to HousePassed House
- Mar 26Referred for engrossment
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 26Measure and Emergency passed: Ayes: 37 Nays: 8Passed Senate
- Mar 26Coauthored by Senator Prieto
- Mar 26General Order, Considered
- Mar 26Coauthored by Senator Standridge
- Mar 9Placed on General Order
- Mar 5Coauthored by Representative Moore (principal House author)
- Mar 4Coauthored by Senator Green
- Vote recorded Rules. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 4Reported Do Pass Rules committee; CR filedMinor
- Mar 4Coauthored by Senator Seifried
- Mar 4Coauthored by Senator Thompson
- Mar 4Coauthored by Senator Bullard
- Mar 3Coauthored by Senator Haste
- Feb 3Second Reading referred to RulesMinor
- Feb 2Authored by Senator Hamilton
- Feb 2First ReadingIntroduced
Civil Rights & Voting