Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Domestic Violence Criminal Classification topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate passes bill classifying certain domestic assaults as violent crimes; vote 46-0
Summary
Senate Bill 541, part of a package requested by the state's domestic violence fatality review, passed the Oklahoma Senate unanimously. Sponsors said the bill makes subsequent domestic assault an aggravated offense and classifies domestic assault against a pregnant woman as a violent crime.
Senate Bill 541, part of a group of bills requested by the state's domestic violence fatality review, passed the Oklahoma Senate on a unanimous recorded vote, 46-0.
"In 2023, Oklahoma experienced the highest number of domestic violence related deaths in state, 82 percent of the domestic violence deaths are women. That means over a hundred women died in 2023 from domestic violence," Sen. Galahari said while explaining the bill and its intent. The sponsor said the bill makes assault domestic a subsequent offense and classifies domestic assault and battery on a pregnant woman as a statutorily violent crime.
Senator Galahari moved the bill for advancement and told senators the measure is intended to respond to data from domestic-violence fatality reviews. There was no floor debate recorded prior to the vote. The clerk recorded 46 aye votes and 0 nay votes on final passage.
The bill changes statutory classifications for certain domestic-assault offenses as described by the sponsor on the floor; senators did not discuss implementation details or fiscal impacts during the floor explanation.
