Bill > HB1595

This bill increases penalties for assault and battery offenses in Oklahoma by modifying existing criminal statutes. Specifically, the bill lengthens the maximum jail time for simple assault from 30 to 90 days and increases the maximum jail time for assault and battery from 90 days to 6 months. The legislation also provides more severe penalties for domestic abuse scenarios, such as assaults committed against intimate partners, family members, or in the presence of children. For instance, domestic abuse committed against a pregnant woman can now result in felony charges with prison sentences ranging from 5 to 20 years depending on the circumstances. The bill mandates that courts require defendants convicted of domestic abuse to participate in batterers' intervention programs, attend counseling, and undergo evaluations. Additionally, the bill defines specific terms like "strangulation" and "great bodily injury" and establishes that prior domestic violence convictions from other states can be used to enhance current charges. The new law will become effective on November 1, 2025, and aims to provide more robust legal protections for victims of domestic violence and assault.

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http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=hb1595&Session=2600