OklahomaOklahoma cities may set some fines up to state limits
Oklahoma municipalities with courts that are not courts of record may set penalties up to state limits for certain offenses when state law sets a penalty.
What it does
For certain offenses with a penalty set by state law, these municipalities may set a fine or deferral fee up to that state amount. Separate caps apply when state law sets no penalty.
Any municipal fine or fee above the legal maximum cannot be enforced above that limit; the amount is reduced to the maximum allowed.
Argument forCities could use state penalty limits for the same offenses, giving local courts room to impose penalties consistent with state law.
Argument againstWhen a state penalty is high, a city fine up to that amount could leave a cited person owing more than a lower local fine.
More detail
Municipalities with courts that are not courts of record may set fines or deferral fees up to the state penalty for certain offenses. This applies to municipalities with a municipal court that is not a court of record, for speeding or parking, alcohol- or drug-related, and other offenses. This applies when state law sets a penalty for the same offense. For speeding or parking offenses without a state-set penalty, the maximum is $200. For alcohol- or drug-related offenses without a state-set penalty, the maximum is $800; for other offenses without one, the maximum is $750. The act says it takes effect after passage and approval.
A municipal fine or fee above the legal maximum is void and unenforceable to the extent it exceeds that limit. This applies to fines, deferral fees, and other fine or fee schedules adopted by a municipality. The maximum may be set by this section or another applicable law. The act says it takes effect after passage and approval.
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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 13Approved by Governor Kevin Stitt 05/12/2026Became Law
- May 6Sent to GovernorTo Governor
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 6Signed, returned to Senate
- May 6Enrolled, to House
- May 6Referred for enrollment
- May 6Signed, returned to Senate
- May 6Third Reading, Measure and Emergency passed: Ayes: 91 Nays: 0Major
- May 6General Order
- Apr 14CR; Do Pass Government Oversight CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded Government Oversight Committee: Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 8Policy recommendation to the Government Oversight committee; Do Pass County and Municipal GovernmentMinor
- Vote recorded County And Municipal Government Committee: Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 31Referred to County and Municipal GovernmentMinor
- Mar 31Second Reading referred to Government OversightMinor
- Mar 30First ReadingMinor
- Mar 30Engrossed to HousePassed House
- Mar 26Referred for engrossment
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 26Measure passed: Ayes: 39 Nays: 2Passed Senate
- Mar 26General Order, Amended
- Feb 5Coauthored by Representative Dempsey (principal House author)
- Feb 5Placed on General Order
- Feb 3Reported Do Pass Local and County Government committee; CR filedMinor
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 3Second Reading referred to Local and County GovernmentMinor
- Feb 2Authored by Senator Pederson
- Feb 2First ReadingIntroduced
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