Bill > HB2628

This bill modifies Oklahoma's existing law (12 O.S. Section 2702) regarding expert witness testimony in civil court proceedings by introducing a new procedural requirement. Specifically, before an expert can provide testimony, the party presenting the expert must now demonstrate to the court that it is "more likely than not" that the expert's testimony meets three key criteria: first, the testimony is based on sufficient facts or data; second, the testimony is derived from reliable principles and methods; and third, the expert has reliably applied those principles and methods to the specific facts of the case. The bill makes a subtle but important linguistic change by shifting the language from focusing on whether the witness has "applied" methods reliably to whether the expert's "opinion reflects a reliable application" of those methods. The bill is set to take effect on November 1, 2025, which gives courts and legal professionals time to prepare for and understand the new standard for expert testimony. This change appears designed to create a more rigorous standard for admitting expert testimony, ensuring that such testimony is scientifically sound and appropriately applied to the specific case at hand.

Justice

http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=hb2628&Session=2600