Oklahoma legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Oklahoma SB743: Criminal disturbance; specifying range of punishment for certain offenses; modifying elements of certain offense. Emergency.
Status: Signed into law, February 9, 2026
What the bill says
An Act relating to criminal disturbance; declaring legislative findings; amending 21 O.S. 2021, Sections 915 and 916, which relate to disturbance of religious meeting; specifying range of punishment for certain misdemeanor offense; establishing felony offense for certain convictions; specifying range of punishment for certain felony offense; modifying elements of certain offenses; providing for noncodification; and declaring an emergency. SUBJECT: Criminal disturbance of religious meeting.
From the enrolled text, February 5, 2026:
An Act relating to criminal disturbance; declaring legislative findings; amending 21 O.S. 2021, Sections 915 and 916, which relate to disturbance of religious meeting; specifying range of punishment for certain misdemeanor offense; establishing felony offense for certain convictions; specifying range of punishment for certain felony offense; modifying elements of certain offenses; providing for noncodification; and declaring an emergency. SUBJECT: Criminal disturbance of religious meeting SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law not to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes reads as follows: The Legislature finds that the right of the people to meet and assemble for religious worship is imperative for the people of this state; that the exercise of the right of a person to protest at places of religious worship must be balanced against the right of another person to meet and assemble for religious worship in an unobstructed manner; and that preventing the willful obstruction of access of a person to places of religious worship is a matter of statewide concern. Therefore, the Legislature declares that it is a compelling public interest of this state to protect the ability of its people to meet and assemble for religious worship without willful obstruction. SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 21 O.S. 2021, Section 915, is amended to read as follows: Section 915. Every person who willfully disturbs, interrupts, or …