Oklahoma legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Oklahoma HB3269: Criminal procedure; authorizing telephonic or electronic communication of proposed arrest warrants to magistrates; effective date.
Status: Signed into law, May 4, 2026
What the bill says
An Act relating to criminal procedure; amending 22 O.S. 2021, Section 171, which relates to issuing arrest warrants by verified complaints; authorizing telephonic or electronic communication of proposed arrest warrants to magistrates; establishing criteria for communicating telephonically; equating orally recorded authorizations by magistrates with issuing arrest warrants; requiring the audio recording, transcribing and filing of conversations related to arrest warrants; providing procedures for obtaining proposed affidavits; and providing an effective date. SUBJECT: Criminal procedure.
From the enrolled text, April 28, 2026:
An Act relating to criminal procedure; amending 22 O.S. 2021, Section 171, which relates to issuing arrest warrants by verified complaints; authorizing telephonic or electronic communication of proposed arrest warrants to magistrates; establishing criteria for communicating telephonically; equating orally recorded authorizations by magistrates with issuing arrest warrants; requiring the audio recording, transcribing and filing of conversations related to arrest warrants; providing procedures for obtaining proposed affidavits; and providing an effective date. SUBJECT: Criminal procedure SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 22 O.S. 2021, Section 171, is amended to read as follows: Section 171. A. When a complaint, verified by oath or affirmation, is laid before a magistrate, of the commission of a public offense, he must the magistrate shall, if satisfied therefrom that the offense complained of has been committed, and that there is reasonable ground to believe that the defendant has committed it, issue a warrant of arrest. B. In addition to any other procedure authorized by law, a proposed arrest warrant may be communicated to the magistrate by telephone or by electronic mail or any similar electronic communication which delivers a complete printable image of the arrest warrant. 1. If the proposed arrest warrant is communicated telephonically, the affiant shall: a. recite information establishing probable cause to support issuance of the arrest warrant, and b. recite the proposed arrest warrant to …