Bill > SB156

This bill modifies Oklahoma's existing false reporting law by changing the penalties based on the severity of the falsely reported crime. Currently, making a false report is a misdemeanor with a fixed penalty of up to 90 days in jail or a $500 fine. The new law introduces a tiered punishment system where false reports will be punished according to the severity of the crime being falsely reported. If someone makes a false report accusing another person of a misdemeanor, they will be charged with a misdemeanor. If someone makes a false report accusing another person of a felony, they will be charged with a felony, and the punishment will match the potential punishment for the crime falsely reported. The bill also maintains the existing provision that makes it a felony to falsely trigger an AMBER alert, which is a child abduction emergency alert system, with a potential punishment of up to one year in jail and a fine of at least $1,000. The bill is set to take effect on November 1, 2025, giving law enforcement and the judicial system time to prepare for the new penalties.

Justice

http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=sb156&Session=2600