Oklahoma
Revised ’Oklahoma Survivors’ Act’ gets signed into law by stroke of Governor’s pen
OKLAHOMA CITY (KSWO) – Senate Bill 1835, a revised version of the Oklahoma Survivors’ Act, is officially set to become law after Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed his name to the bill.
SB1835 directs Oklahoma courts to consider a defendant’s history of being abused by their sexual partner, family member, any member of their household, a trafficker, or any person who used them for financial gain as a mitigating factor when sentencing or accepting a plea deal.
The defendant would have to provide the court with at least one piece of documentary evidence which shows the abuse took place.
This signing comes just after the Oklahoma Governor vetoed a previous version of the bill, Senate Bill 1470. The Oklahoma Senate quickly overrode it, sending the original bill to the House for consideration.
However, Senate Bill 1835 was officially modified to be a revised version of the original survivors’ act on May 14, according to the Legislature’s tracking webpage.
The biggest difference between the original, and now the signed version, is that the signed version has language which limits the scope of the bill to only apply to cases where the defendant has fought back against their alleged abuser.
The signed bill will officially take effect at the end of August.
Oklahoma has been in the bottom of state rankings for years on both rate of women murdered by men and rate of domestic violence.
You can read the full enrolled bill below:
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Oklahoma
Person dies after jumping from bridge near I-40 and I-35 in Oklahoma City
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) says a person died Tuesday after jumping from a bridge near the I-40 and I-35 interchange in Oklahoma City, prompting an ongoing law enforcement investigation.
Troopers say the response created traffic delays in the area as law enforcement worked the scene.
Drivers should expect delays and consider alternate routes until the scene is cleared, officials said.
OHP says more information will be released as the investigation continues.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Contemporary to host free ‘Polar Party’ event with winter activities
Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center is inviting families, children and community members to participate in its monthly Second Saturday program.
Organizers say Second Saturday is a free afternoon of hands-on art-making and gallery exploration held on the second Saturday of each month.
Families can enjoy guided activities, family-friendly gallery chats and take-home art experiences designed for all ages. Materials are provided at no cost, and no advance registration is required.
Periodically, the center expands the event into Second Saturday XL, which is a larger celebration featuring multiple art stations, performances and seasonal programming across the Oklahoma Contemporary campus.
The upcoming Second Saturday XL: Polar Party is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 13, from 1 p.m. 5 p.m.
Guests can take part in winter-themed projects, including wreath making, cookie decorating and snow-globe crafting, along with music, treats and additional family activities throughout the center.
See the full lineup of activities here.
All programming is free and open to the public.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Democratic Party Chair resigns due to personal reasons
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA (KOKH) — The Oklahoma Democratic Party has announced a new Chair following Representative John Waldron’s resignation due to personal reasons.
Waldron serves as the Representative for Oklahoma House District 77 and announced his resignation on Monday.
“It is with sincere consideration that I announce my resignation as Chair of the Oklahoma Democratic Party for personal reasons,” Waldron said. “With the legislative session coming up and pressing family commitments, I am handing over the reins to my capable partners on the executive committee. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished in revitalizing our party statewide over the past six months and I’m confident that work will continue under Erin Brewer’s leadership. Put simply, I’ve been pushing myself too hard, working four jobs very intensively this year. I lost my mother in October and my son is a junior in high school. I need to focus on my family and my own health. Thanks for understanding.”
The Oklahoma Democratic Party Vice Chair Erin Brewer has assumed the role of Chair of the Oklahoma Democratic Party. According to the Oklahoma Democrats, Brewer is hitting the ground running and continuing to bring her strong track record of relentless organizing, policy expertise, and ability to mobilize resources and voters to the table.
Brewer said she is ready to continue Waldron’s work and keep up the momentum.
“Over the last six months, Oklahoma Democrats have knocked thousands of doors, cheered as 100 candidates have stepped up to run for office, rebuilt our county party operations, earned the trust of donors large and small, and elevated our visibility and brand statewide,” Chair Erin Brewer said. “We are ready to maintain and expand this momentum into 2026. I am beyond grateful to the dedication of our staff, volunteers, and supporters.”
The Oklahoma Democratic Party said it is confident in the ongoing partnership of its elected officials, staff, local Democratic organizations, and State Central Committee, stating:
“We will continue to make progress toward our goal of flipping seats in 2026. It is as important as ever that we remain singularly focused on our mission to engage, connect, and organize in order to elect more Democrats across Oklahoma.”
The party said it is thankful for Waldron and what he did for the party during his time as chair:
“We are beyond grateful for his service to our state and party, particularly his commitment to building a strong slate of candidates for 2026.
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