Bill > SB1666

This bill establishes that peace officers in Oklahoma can be held liable for injuries resulting from the deprivation of certain individual rights secured by the state's Bill of Rights, even if they fail to intervene in such actions. It explicitly states that standard legal protections like statutory immunities and limitations on liability, including the Governmental Tort Claims Act and qualified immunity, cannot be used as defenses against these claims. If a plaintiff wins a case under this bill, they will be awarded reasonable attorney fees and costs, with a specific provision for determining "prevailing plaintiff" status in cases seeking injunctive relief. The bill also mandates that employers of peace officers generally must cover their officers' liability, judgments, and settlements, with exceptions where the officer did not act in good faith or if their conduct constituted a criminal offense for which they were convicted, in which case the officer may be personally responsible for a portion of the costs. This new law will take effect on November 1, 2026.

Justice

http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=sb1666&Session=2600