OklahomaAirport trespassing carries criminal penalties starting November 1, 2026
Starting November 1, 2026, the law covers airport operating areas under criminal trespassing rules when barriers or clear signs restrict entry.
What it does
Starting November 1, 2026, deliberate unauthorized entry into fully enclosed or clearly posted airport operating areas carries criminal penalties. Entry with intent to damage property or hinder operations carries a serious crime charge.
Argument forSerious criminal penalties could discourage people from entering airport operating areas to damage equipment or interfere with aircraft operations.
Argument againstPeople who deliberately enter fenced or posted airport operating areas without permission could face jail even without damaging property.
More detail
The law treats airport operating areas as critical infrastructure, places covered by criminal penalties for deliberate unauthorized entry and damage. Covered airport areas include runways, aircraft parking areas, fuel storage areas, and maintenance areas. Coverage also includes any other area used or intended for aircraft landing, takeoff, or movement on the ground. The airport area must be completely enclosed by a fence or other barrier clearly meant to exclude intruders, or have clear signs likely to catch their attention that forbid entry without permission. Deliberate entry without the owner's or lawful occupant's permission carries a misdemeanor penalty upon conviction: a fine of at least $1,000, six months in county jail, or both. Entry with intent to damage, vandalize, tamper with equipment, or hinder operations carries a felony penalty upon conviction. A felony is a serious crime. The penalty is a fine of at least $10,000, imprisonment under a separate sentencing law, or both. Deliberate damage, vandalism, or equipment tampering carries a felony penalty upon conviction: a $100,000 fine, up to ten years in prison, or both. An organization found to have conspired with people who committed these crimes faces a fine ten times the applicable amount. The airport provisions take 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 11Approved by Governor Kevin Stitt 05/07/2026Became Law
- May 5Sent to GovernorTo Governor
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- May 5Enrolled measure signed, returned to House
- May 5Enrolled, signed, to Senate
- May 5Referred for enrollment
- May 5Engrossed measure signed, returned to HouseMajor
- May 5Measure passed: Ayes: 45 Nays: 0Major
- May 5General Order, Considered
- Apr 15Placed on General Order
- Apr 13Reported Do Pass Aeronautics and Transportation committee; CR filedMinor
- Vote recorded Aeronautics & Transportation. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 1Second Reading referred to Aeronautics and TransportationMinor
- Mar 12First ReadingMinor
- Mar 12Engrossed, signed, to SenatePassed Senate
- Mar 11Referred for engrossment
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 11Third Reading, Measure passed: Ayes: 91 Nays: 0Passed House
- Mar 11General Order
- Mar 2CR; Do Pass, amended by committee substitute Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight CommitteeMinor
- Feb 26
- Vote recorded Judiciary And Public Safety Oversight Committee: Do Pass As Amended By Cs. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 18Authored by Senator Rader (principal Senate author)
- Feb 18Policy recommendation to the Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight committee; Do Pass, amended by committee substitute Criminal JudiciaryMinor
- Feb 17
- Vote recorded Criminal Judiciary Committee: Do Pass As Amended By Cs. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 9Referred to Criminal JudiciaryMinor
- Feb 9Referred to Judiciary and Public Safety OversightMinor
- Feb 9Withdrawn from Rules Committee
- Feb 3Second Reading referred to RulesMinor
- Feb 2Authored by Representative Ford
- Feb 2First ReadingIntroduced
Criminal JusticeTransportationPublic Safety