OklahomaOklahoma defense system will pay experts for death sentence reviews
Starting November 1, 2026, Oklahoma’s defense system must arrange and pay for experts needed to represent indigent people seeking review after a death sentence.
What it does
For indigent people seeking review after a death sentence, Oklahoma’s defense system must arrange and reasonably pay for experts needed to provide effective representation.
Argument forExpert help may let appointed lawyers investigate claims more fully when an indigent person challenges a death sentence.
Argument againstPaying experts may require public money, and the law gives no set payment amount.
More detail
The Oklahoma Indigent Defense System must contract with experts and provide reasonable payment for their work. This covers indigent defendants in capital cases who seek post-conviction relief, a court review after conviction. The experts must be needed for effective representation. The system represents the defendant after a district court appoints it following a hearing that finds the defendant indigent. The law takes effect November 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 13Becomes law without Governor's signature 05/13/2026Latest
- May 6Sent to GovernorTo Governor
- Vote recorded Fourth Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 6Enrolled measure signed, returned to House
- May 6Enrolled, signed, to Senate
- May 6Referred for enrollment
- May 6Fourth Reading, Measure passed: Ayes: 86 Nays: 1Major
- May 6SA's read, adoptedMajor
- Apr 23SA's received
- Apr 23Engrossed to HouseMajor
- Apr 22Referred for engrossment
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 22Measure passed: Ayes: 47 Nays: 0Major
- Apr 22General Order, Considered
- Apr 20Placed on General Order
- Apr 20Withdrawn from Appropriations committee
- Apr 14Referred to AppropriationsMinor
- Vote recorded Judiciary. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 14Title restored
- Apr 14Reported Do Pass as amended Judiciary committee; CR filedMinor
- Apr 1Second Reading referred to Judiciary Committee then to Appropriations CommitteeMinor
- Mar 5First ReadingMinor
- Mar 5Engrossed, signed, to SenatePassed Senate
- Mar 4Referred for engrossment
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 4Third Reading, Measure passed: Ayes: 87 Nays: 6Passed House
- Mar 4Title stricken
- Mar 4AmendedMajor
- Mar 4General Order
- Feb 24CR; Do Pass, amended by committee substitute Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded Judiciary And Public Safety Oversight Committee: Do Pass As Amended By Cs. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 18Authored by Senator Howard (principal Senate author)
- Feb 18Coauthored by Representative(s) Caldwell (Trey)
- Feb 18Policy recommendation to the Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight committee; Do Pass, amended by committee substitute Criminal JudiciaryMinor
- Feb 17Referred to Criminal JudiciaryMinor
- Vote recorded Criminal Judiciary Committee: Do Pass As Amended By Cs. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 17Referred to Judiciary and Public Safety OversightMinor
- Feb 17Withdrawn from Rules Committee
- Feb 12Remove Representative Caldwell (Trey) as principal House author and substitute with Representative Worthen
- Feb 3Second Reading referred to RulesMinor
- Feb 2Authored by Representative Caldwell (Trey)
- Feb 2First ReadingIntroduced
Criminal Justice