OKLAHOMA CITY – If Rep. Molly Jenkins, R-Coyle, has her way, the people of Oklahoma could soon have the opportunity to cast a key vote in defense of property owners' rights. Jenkins has filed House Joint Resolution 1003, an initiative aimed at ending the abuse of eminent domain by private companies that take government subsidies and leverage them to seize private property. Jenkins introduced the resolution after a private company began approaching landowners in her district, pressuring them to relinquish their property for the construction of a transmission line tied to federally subsidized green energy projects. "The people of Oklahoma believe eminent domain should never be accessible to large, government-subsidized corporations," Jenkins said. "House Joint Resolution 1003 would give people the opportunity to have their voices heard and vote whether to prevent this kind of abuse." If passed by Oklahoma voters, the resolution would amend the State Constitution to ensure that subsidized private companies could no longer use eminent domain to take property. Instead, they would be required to negotiate directly with property owners. The measure would also prohibit wind energy companies from using eminent domain to construct wind turbines. "I trust that my fellow Oklahomans will do the right thing and advance this important proposal swiftly,” Jenkins said. “Oklahoma landowners are currently under duress and they need immediate relief.” Jenkins is urging any constituents who are threatened by the use of eminent domain to take their property to contact her office for assistance. HJR1003 will be eligible for consideration in the upcoming legislative session, which starts Feb. 3. If passed, Oklahomans could see it on the ballot in 2026.
OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Toni Hasenbeck, R-Elgin, has filed legislation to prohibit the sharing of revenge pornography developed through the use of artificial intelligence. House Bill 1364 , which Hasenbeck filed last week, would add sexual content created through artificial intelligence to the statute prohibiting the sharing of revenge pornography. The nonconsensual distribution of pornography with the intent to harass or humiliate the subject became a misdemeanor in 2016. "AI has its uses, but it also poses very serious threats," Hasenbeck said. "The sharing of revenge pornography, whether real or created by AI, destroys a person's sense of privacy and dignity, wrecks their mental health and ruins lives." Last year, Hasenbeck passed legislation to include artificial intelligence depictions of a child engaged in sexually explicit content in the definition of "child pornography." After House Bill 3642 took effect on Nov. 1, people using AI to create or view child porn may now be prosecuted. "The rapid development of AI has brought an equally rapid development of threats," Hasenbeck said. "Anybody with a smartphone could create a deepfake pornography video or photo using a screenshot from someone's social media or dating profile. It's critical that our existing laws keep pace with the risks posed by new technology in order to protect Oklahomans from exploitation and harassment." HB1364 is eligible for consideration in the upcoming legislative session, which starts Feb. 3.
OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Ross Ford, R-Broken Arrow, has filed a bill that would require investigating law enforcement agencies to inform victims of sexual assault the status of any forensic evidence collected as part of their criminal case. House Bill 2705 will be eligible for consideration during the upcoming legislation session, which starts Feb. 3. Ford, a former police officer with more than 25 years of service, said, "Sexual assault is a horrific crime that already steals too much from victims. This measure is intended to at least give them the peace of mind in knowing whether a law enforcement agency has forensic evidence in their possession and the status of that evidence being processed and potentially matched with the perpetrator of the crime." HB2705 includes a victim's right to be informed of whether a DNA profile was obtained during forensic evidence collection. If so, whether the DNA profile has been entered into a Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) Database, and whether there is a confirmed match between the DNA profile developed from the sexual assault evidence and a DNA profile contained within the CODIS Database. The measure does not, however, require the disclosure of evidence, information, or results which would impede or compromise an ongoing criminal investigation. If signed into law, the measure would take effect Nov. 1. HB2705 builds upon previous measures Ford has filed to better protect victims of sexual assault or domestic violence. House Bill 4374 was signed into law in 2022, expanding the definition of who can obtain a protective order. House Bill 3863 was signed into law in 2024, exempting domestic violence victims from initial credit and deposit requirements for public utilities in an effort to ensure they can secure safe housing in a timelier manner.