Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight

The Oklahoma House of Representatives has approved the Shai Cooper Act, a bill aiming to streamline the adoption process while ensuring the safety of children.  Rep. Erick Harris, R-Edmond, introduced House Bill 2647 , which would establish clear provisions on when a court can waive preplacement home studies and expand the eligibility for these waivers to include immediate relatives of the child.  Immediate relatives, including siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles, could apply for a home study waiver if they have been married for at least one year, have no felony convictions and have no protection orders against them.  "The Shai Cooper Act ensures that children are given the best opportunities for stability and that family members who are committed to their well-being can act quickly to provide loving homes," Harris said. "By making this process more accessible and flexible, we are helping to strengthen families and protect the interests of our most vulnerable children. I was honored to carry this legislation in recognition of one of my constituents and help make this process easier for other Oklahomans who find themselves in similar situations." The bill is named after Harris' constituent 13-year-old Shai Cooper, who is adopted. HB2647 passed the House floor 86-0 and now moves to the Senate for consideration. 

Legislation preventing the abuse of Oklahoma's legal system by outside influences has been passed by the Oklahoma House of Representatives and sent to the Senate. Rep. Erick Harris, R-Edmond, authored House Bill 2619 , known as the Foreign Litigation Funding Prevention Act, which aims to increase transparency with litigation and prevent the abuse of Oklahoma's courts. If passed, the bill would make commercial litigation funding agreements discoverable in litigation. "We must ensure that our courts remain a place for justice, free from manipulation by foreign powers seeking to influence the outcomes of cases for their own benefit," Harris said. "This bill strengthens the integrity of Oklahoma's legal system and prohibits foreign adversaries, like Russia and China, from attempting to fund litigation that could undermine the fairness of our courts. This legislation will help preserve the sanctity of our judicial process and protect the rights of Oklahomans from external interference." In addition to making commercial litigation funding agreements visible in litigation, the bill requires a disclosure by the producing party as to whether a foreign state or instrumentality of a foreign state is, has been, or will be a source of funding for the agreement. HB2619 passed the House 88-2 on Tuesday and now moves to the Senate. 

The Oklahoma House of Representatives has approved a measure to help keep communities safe. House Bill 2622 , authored by Rep. Erick Harris, R-Edmond, streamlines the public nuisance process by categorizing the repeated use of a property for drug distribution, prostitution, human trafficking, and sex trafficking as a public nuisance. "This legislation gives our law enforcement another tool to help protect the public and keep the peace," Harris said. "By quickly addressing these properties that are persistently engaged in criminal activity, we can ensure that our communities remain safe and secure. This is a step forward in creating a safer environment for all Oklahomans." Having passed the House 88-0, HB2622 moves to the Senate for consideration.