Bill > SB1069

This bill amends the Governmental Tort Claims Act to modify several key provisions related to government liability. The bill changes the definition of "scope of employment" to exclude corruption, fraud, gross negligence, and willful misconduct, and adds provisions for awarding court costs and attorney fees. Specifically, the bill requires courts to award costs and reasonable attorney and expert witness fees to a prevailing plaintiff in tort claims against the government, and allows courts to award fees to a defendant (up to $25,000) if the plaintiff's claim was determined to have no reasonable basis. The bill also modifies the conditions under which the state or political subdivisions can be held liable for certain actions, allowing for potential liability in cases of corruption, fraud, gross negligence, or willful misconduct where previously they would have been completely exempt. The liability limits for claims remain largely unchanged, with caps of $25,000 for property loss, $125,000-$175,000 for other losses depending on the jurisdiction, and a maximum of $1 million for multiple claims arising from a single occurrence. The bill is set to become effective on November 1, 2025, and aims to provide more balanced and nuanced guidelines for tort claims against governmental entities.

Justice

http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=sb1069&Session=2600