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Bill > SB632
OK SB632
OK SB632Business courts; creating business court divisions in certain judicial districts; providing for appointment of business court judges; specifying authority and jurisdiction of business court. Effective date.
summary
Introduced
02/03/2025
02/03/2025
In Committee
04/22/2025
04/22/2025
Crossed Over
03/25/2025
03/25/2025
Passed
05/29/2025
05/29/2025
Dead
Signed/Enacted/Adopted
05/29/2025
05/29/2025
Introduced Session
2025 Regular Session
Bill Summary
An Act ENROLLED SENATE BILL NO. 632 By: Paxton of the Senate and Hilbert and Duel of the House An Act relating to business courts; amending 20 O.S. 2021, Sections 91.7, 92.1A, 95.1, and 125, as amended by Section 2, Chapter 271, O.S.L. 2022 (20 O.S. Supp. 2024, Section 125), which relate to business court divisions, salaries, places of holding court, and office of secretary-bailiff; modifying certain legislative findings; creating business court divisions in certain judicial districts; authorizing promulgation of rules and procedures; specifying location of business court divisions; requiring certain consultation for determining quarters for business court divisions; clarifying proper venue; providing for salary of judge of business court; providing exception for location of holding court; authorizing secretary-bailiff for business court judges; authorizing appointment of law clerk by business court judges; updating statutory language; updating statutory reference; providing for appointment of business court judges by Governor; requiring Senate confirmation; requiring Speaker of the House of Representatives to provide certain lists; establishing qualifications for appointment of business court judges; specifying terms; authorizing reappointment; requiring taking and filing of certain oath; specifying method of filling vacancies; authorizing temporary designation as business court judge under certain circumstances; specifying authority and jurisdiction of business court; specifying amount in controversy jurisdiction; establishing subject matter jurisdiction of business court; defining term; specifying types of claims determined to be complex claims; providing for supplemental jurisdiction over certain claims; prohibiting exercise of jurisdiction over certain claims; prohibiting filing, transferring, or removing actions to business court prior to certain date; providing for filing with or transferring actions to business court; clarifying proper venue; requiring transfer from business court upon certain determinations; authorizing removal of certain actions; establishing procedures for notice of removal; stating applicability of Oklahoma Pleading Code; establishing requirements for jury trials in business court; establishing time limitation for disposition of non-jury trials; authorizing extension upon agreement of parties; requiring Supreme Court to promulgate rules for electronic filing; establishing filing fees; providing for codification; and providing an effective date. SUBJECT: Business courts
AI Summary
This bill establishes business court divisions in Oklahoma to handle complex commercial litigation, creating two specialized court divisions in Oklahoma and Tulsa Counties. The bill creates a framework for appointing business court judges, who must be licensed attorneys with at least 10 years of experience in business law or related legal practice, and will be appointed by the Governor with Senate confirmation. The business courts will have jurisdiction over cases with damages of at least $500,000 and specialized types of business-related disputes, including corporate governance, contract disputes, intellectual property issues, and complex commercial litigation. The courts will be empowered to handle equitable relief and will have specific rules about case management, including a requirement to resolve non-jury trials within 12 months. Business court judges will receive a salary equal to an associate justice of the Supreme Court and will be allowed to have a law clerk. The bill also establishes a $1,500 filing fee for cases in these specialized courts and sets an effective date of September 1, 2025. The goal is to provide a more efficient and technically sophisticated judicial process for complex business-related legal matters by creating dedicated judicial resources with specialized expertise.
Committee Categories
Budget and Finance, Justice
Sponsors (3)
Last Action
Approved by Governor 05/29/2025 (on 05/29/2025)
Official Document
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