Oklahoma HB4198: Workplace violence; creating the Protection from Workplace Violence Act; authorizing certain persons to seek protective order relief; codification; effective date.

What the bill says

An Act relating to workplace violence; creating the Protection from Workplace Violence Act; defining terms; authorizing certain persons to seek protective order relief; providing guidelines and procedures for filing petitions for protective orders; directing court clerks to provide forms; requiring the Administrative Office of the Courts to develop standardized forms for petitions; prohibiting the assessment of filing fees and costs for plaintiffs; allowing courts to assess fees and costs to defendants; providing for the assessment of fees and costs for frivolous filings…

From the engrossed text, March 13, 2026:

An Act relating to workplace violence; creating the Protection from Workplace Violence Act; defining terms; authorizing certain persons to seek protective order relief; providing guidelines and procedures for filing petitions for protective orders; directing court clerks to provide forms; requiring the Administrative Office of the Courts to develop standardized forms for petitions; prohibiting the assessment of filing fees and costs for plaintiffs; allowing courts to assess fees and costs to defendants; providing for the assessment of fees and costs for frivolous filings; requiring persons seeking relief to prepare petitions; authorizing petitions for emergency temporary orders or emergency ex parte orders; directing the Administrative Office of the Courts to modify forms as necessary; establishing hearing requirements when requesting emergency ex parte orders; directing the Administrative Office of the Courts to develop standardized forms for emergency ex parte protective orders; requiring inclusion of certain information in protective orders; allow courts to verbally issue orders; providing time limitations for hearings; establishing procedures for the service of petitions for protective orders and notices of hearings; prioritizing the service of orders and notices of hearings; authorizing the court to schedule hearings within certain time period after issuing certain orders; providing for the issuance of new orders and hearing dates; providing for the renewal of petitions for protective orders; allowing petitioners to dismiss petitions at any …