Committees

OKLAHOMA CITY – Those who commit repeat peeping Tom offenses will face harsher penalties under an act that takes effect Nov. 1.  Rep. Ross Ford, R-Broken Arrow, is the author of House Bill 4104 . The new law will require repeat offenders and those who record others secretly in private spaces to register as sex offenders. "Watching or recording someone in a private space without their knowledge or consent is invasive and abusive and should be appropriately punished," Ford said. "We, of course, hope that stronger punishments will deter these crimes, but at the very least they will assure justice is served against those who choose to commit these offenses."  Ford explained the bill deals with three subsections of Oklahoma's Peeping Tom statute. One addresses watching people in a clandestine manner, such as watching someone changing clothes through a window, which is currently a misdemeanor. Another deals with attempting to take photos of peoples' private areas while they are in the public – also a misdemeanor. A third addresses an individual who hides a camera in a private area such as a locker or dressing room or a space where people would assume privacy when the offense involves three or more victims. This bill would turn second or subsequent misdemeanor offenses under this area of statute into felonies and require any felony offender to register as a sex offender. Perpetrators will face imprisonment of between one to five years and fines of up to $5,000. Ford said requiring offenders to register as sex offenders will grant greater public transparency and allow law enforcement to better protect the public moving forward. The measure was requested by the Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence (SAFE) Board, which is staffed by the office of the state's attorney general. Ford also is the author of House Bill 4108 , which adds trespass or willful damage to the operational area of an airport to the list of crimes punishable by misdemeanor. This too takes effect Nov. 1 The bill specifies the operational area of an airport is to be considered as critical infrastructure. Those found guilty will face a fine of not less than $1,000 or imprisonment in a county jail for a term of six months or both. An organization found to be a conspirator will face a $10,000 fine. "Airports are vital to our national transportation system," Ford said. "It's important we keep public travelers and airport staff safe not only from terrorist attacks but even from thoughtless pranksters whose actions can create havoc, delay travel or cause costly damage to these structures."

A new Oklahoma law protecting parental rights in adoption, foster care and child welfare decisions takes effect Nov. 1. House Bill 3586 , known as the Right to Raise Act, was authored by Rep. Erick Harris, R-Edmond. The measure protects Oklahomans from being denied the opportunity to adopt or foster children solely because they use biologically accurate language or choose to raise a child consistent with the child's biological sex. HB3586 also clarifies that those actions alone do not constitute child abuse, neglect or child endangerment. "Child welfare policy should be focused on protecting children from actual harm, not punishing parents for speaking biological truth," Harris said. "The Right to Raise Act clearly specifies that the state must evaluate families based on their ability to care for children, not whether they conform to an ideological agenda. Parents are responsible for raising their children, and government has a responsibility to respect that role." When debating in favor of the bill on the House floor in March, Harris told House members that the bill is "protecting the rights of parents to parent their children in the way that they see fit." Harris also reiterated that the bill still allows for abuse or neglect charges to be brought when appropriate. "If a parent is abusing their child, this bill still allows that parent to be charged with abuse, to be charged with child neglect, and whatever else that parent should be charged with for committing a crime," Harris said . With the Right to Raise Act taking effect, Oklahoma is establishing clear protections for parents in adoption, foster care and child-welfare proceedings. Harris, an attorney, said cases in other states highlight the need for this law. In Indiana, M.C. and J.C. v. Indiana Department of Child Services involved parents who challenged state intervention related to their decision to raise their child as their biological sex, and an Oregon family filed a federal lawsuit in July 2026 alleging that child-welfare officials penalized them for using biologically accurate language when raising their child. "Across the country, families have challenged child-welfare decisions they say penalized them for their beliefs about biological sex and gender identity," Harris said. "Oklahoma's Right to Raise Act establishes a clear standard for our state: parents should not be treated as abusive or neglectful simply because they hold those beliefs." The Right to Raise Act takes effect Nov. 1, 2026.

Two Edmond-area lawmakers thanked Gov. Kevin Stitt for naming numerous census tracts as federal Opportunity Zones, an effort aimed at attracting private investment, encouraging economic development and creating new opportunities in local communities. Three census tracts located in Edmond have been designated as Opportunity Zones, creating new opportunities to attract private investment for housing, downtown revitalization and commercial development. Rep. Erick Harris, R-Edmond, who represents two of the three selected tracts, highlighted municipal leaders' coordinated strategy to connect housing needs, downtown and University of Central Oklahoma traffic and future developments along the city's southern gateway. "I appreciate Gov. Stitt's leadership in securing these Opportunity Zone nominations for Oklahoma," Harris said. "Encouraging private investment in our communities can help create jobs, strengthen our local economies and create new opportunities for Oklahoma families and businesses. These designations give local leaders another tool to support growth and make our state more competitive." In addition to other economic development opportunities, planned projects within the three tracts include: Census Tract 1082.03: A $90 million housing and mixed-use development. Census Tract 1082.04: A proposed $150 million transit-oriented development, a proposed $10 million project and a potential future commuter rail along the Edmond-Oklahoma City-Norman corridor. Census Tract 1082.07: Two mixed-use and multi-family developments totaling $76 million. Together, the three tracts have a documented pipeline of $360.5 million in planned private investment across nine identified future projects. Approximately $285.8 million in public and private investment is anticipated to be completed. Rep. Mike Osburn, R-Edmond, represents one of the three tracts designated Wednesday. "Opportunity zones can help bring private capital to projects that might otherwise face challenges getting across the finish line," Osburn said. "Edmond has already taken advantage of this program, and this designation creates another opportunity to build on that work, attract businesses and expand housing options. From housing near jobs and services to investment around downtown and UCO, these three areas each have an important role in Edmond’s future." Osburn, Harris and other Edmond legislators worked with local leaders to develop the three-tract economic approach and advocate for the designations. "This designation comes in a large part thanks to the relentless work of our Edmond municipal leaders to coordinate with private partners," Harris said. "Edmond is now in a stronger position to attract new investment that benefits our community and strengthens Oklahoma's economy as a whole." Opportunity Zones are federally designated census tracts where qualifying investments made through Qualified Opportunity Funds may receive federal tax benefits. It does not guarantee project financing, approval or construction. The U.S. Department of the Treasury must certify the selected census tracts before they receive official Opportunity Zone designation. The renewed program is scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2027, with the new designations lasting 10 years. The full map of nominated tracts may be found here .