OklahomaOklahoma law authorizes legislative security police starting November 2026
Starting November 1, 2026, Oklahoma’s public safety commissioner must work with a legislative leader to authorize up to two certified security staff members per chamber as police officers.
What it does
Starting November 1, 2026, Oklahoma’s public safety commissioner must work with a legislative leader to authorize up to two certified security staff members per chamber as police officers.
Starting November 1, 2026, authorized legislative security officers have police powers only during official duties. State law governs where they may act, and the public safety commissioner can limit or revoke their authority.
Argument forCertified legislative security staff with police powers could respond directly to crimes they encounter while carrying out their official duties.
Argument againstPeople encountered during legislative security duties could face arrest or searches, giving these security roles substantial power over the public.
More detail
The Commissioner of Public Safety must authorize selected legislative security staff to serve as police officers. The law covers up to two members of the Oklahoma Senate security team and up to two members of the Oklahoma House security team. The commissioner must act with either the Oklahoma Senate’s top leader or the House speaker. Selected staff must obtain and keep certification as full-time police officers. The law takes effect November 1, 2026.
Authorized security officers have police powers, including making arrests, enforcing criminal laws, and conducting searches. Their powers include serving legal papers and the sergeant at arms’ arrest powers. Referenced state laws govern where they may act. The public safety commissioner sets requirements and may limit, suspend, or revoke an officer’s authority. Authorization ends when an officer leaves service or moves outside the chamber’s security team. These officers are not Department of Public Safety employees or agents, and their actions are not treated as the department’s actions. These provisions take effect November 1, 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 Fourth Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- May 5Measure passed: Ayes: 38 Nays: 8Major
- May 5HAs adoptedMajor
- Apr 29HAs read
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 29Engrossed, signed, to SenateMajor
- Apr 29Referred for engrossment
- Apr 29Third Reading, Measure passed: Ayes: 72 Nays: 7Major
- Apr 29Remove Senator Kirt as principal Senate author and substitute with Senator Gollihare
- Apr 29General Order
- Apr 22Emergency removed
- Vote recorded Rules Committee: Do Pass As Amended By Cs. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 22CR; Do Pass, amended by committee substitute Rules CommitteeMinor
- Apr 20Referred to RulesMinor
- Apr 20Withdrawn from Government Oversight Committee
- Apr 20Withdrawn from General Government Committee
- 2025
- Apr 1Referred to General GovernmentMinor
- Apr 1Second Reading referred to Government OversightMinor
- Mar 31First ReadingMinor
- Mar 31Engrossed to HousePassed House
- Mar 27Referred for engrossment
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 27Measure and Emergency passed: Ayes: 36 Nays: 8Passed Senate
- Mar 27Title restored
- Mar 27General Order, Amended
- Mar 26Coauthored by Representative Hilbert (principal House author)
- Feb 24Placed on General Order
- Feb 19Title stricken
- Vote recorded Do Pass Amended. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 19Reported Do Pass as amended Retirement and Government Resources committee; CR filedMinor
- Feb 17Coauthored by Senator Stanley
- Feb 4Second Reading referred to Retirement and Government ResourcesMinor
- Feb 3Authored by Senator Kirt
- Feb 3First ReadingIntroduced
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