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.