Oklahoma legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Oklahoma HB3974: Government Tort Claims Act; housing of inmates; counties; cities; emergency.
Status: In committee, April 23, 2026
What the bill says
An Act relating to the Governmental Tort Claims Act; amending 51 O.S. 2021, Section 153.1, which relates to actions associated with the housing of inmates; limiting actions to specific incarcerating entity; and declaring an emergency.
From the engrossed text, April 22, 2026:
An Act relating to the Governmental Tort Claims Act; amending 51 O.S. 2021, Section 153.1, which relates to actions associated with the housing of inmates; limiting actions to specific incarcerating entity; and declaring an emergency. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 51 O.S. 2021, Section 153.1, is amended to read as follows: Section 153.1. A. Nothing in the Governmental Tort Claims Act shall be construed as allowing an action or recovery against this state, against any city, town or county that is the sole beneficiary of a public trust, or against any employee of this state or any city, town or county of this state due to the housing of federal inmates or inmates from another state in facilities owned or operated by private prison contractors. If a public trust that has as its sole beneficiary a city, town or county has a facility that houses federal inmates or inmates from another state, the immunity SENATE FLOOR VERSION - HB3974 SFLR Page (Bold face denotes Committee Amendments) prov ided for in the Governmental Tort Claims Act shall not apply to that trust. B. In an instance of a shared inmate housing facility by any combination of the state, cities, counties, or tribes any otherwise allowable action or recovery by or on behalf …
Sponsors
- Judd Strom (R, HD-010)
- John Kane (R, HD-011)
- Josh Cantrell (R, HD-049)
- Caldwell (R) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : Placed on General Order
- : Reported Do Pass Judiciary committee; CR filed
- : Second Reading referred to Judiciary
- : First Reading
- : Engrossed, signed, to Senate
- : Referred for engrossment
- : Third Reading, Measure and Emergency passed: Ayes: 86 Nays: 6
- : Emergency added
- : Amended
- : General Order
Votes
- Senate Judiciary Committee (April 21, 2026): 6 yea, 2 nay, passed
- Third Reading (March 25, 2026): 86 yea, 6 nay, passed
- Floor Vote (February 26, 2026): 13 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Floor Vote (February 5, 2026): 9 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Civil Judiciary Committee (February 5, 2026): 9 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Torts
Common questions
- What is HB3974?
- HB3974 is a bill in the Oklahoma Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Government Tort Claims Act; housing of inmates; counties; cities; emergency.
- What does HB3974 do?
- In its own words: An Act relating to the Governmental Tort Claims Act; amending 51 O.S. 2021, Section 153.1, which relates to actions associated with the housing of inmates; limiting actions to specific incarcerating entity; and declaring an emergency.
- What is the status of HB3974?
- In committee as of April 23, 2026. Latest action: Placed on General Order (April 23, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB3974?
- Caldwell (R), with 3 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB3974?
- On the Oklahoma Legislature website: https://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=HB3974&Session=2600
Source: official Oklahoma record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.