Bill > HB1594

This bill amends Oklahoma's existing assault and battery law to clarify and expand definitions and penalties related to domestic violence offenses. Specifically, the bill modifies language around what constitutes a dangerous weapon, broadening the definition to include air guns, conductive energy weapons, and other means of assault, in addition to firearms. The bill maintains the existing structure of increasingly severe penalties for domestic abuse based on factors such as repeat offenses, presence of a child during the assault, use of weapons, and harm to a pregnant victim. It also reinforces mandatory counseling requirements for domestic abusers, including a minimum 52-week batterers' intervention program, and specifies that anger management or couples counseling alone cannot satisfy the treatment requirement. The bill emphasizes comprehensive intervention, requiring court review hearings to monitor defendant compliance and allowing for potential sentence acceleration or revocation if the defendant fails to meet treatment obligations. The changes aim to provide more comprehensive legal protection for victims of domestic violence and create a more structured approach to rehabilitating offenders. The law will become effective on November 1, 2025.

Justice

http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=hb1594&Session=2600