OKLAHOMA CITY — Legislation aimed at strengthening transparency and improving the stewardship of taxpayer dollars is now headed to the governor’s desk, following final passage of Senate Bill 491 carried in the House by Rep. Derrick Hildebrant, R-Catoosa.

SB491 updates the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act to allow public bodies to discuss the sale, lease or acquisition of real property during executive sessions. Under current law, such closed-door discussions are limited to purchases or appraisals only.

“This is a straightforward and necessary update to the Open Meeting Act,” Hildebrant said. “It ensures public bodies can handle all real estate transactions with consistency, confidentiality and care, while maintaining the public’s trust.”

Importantly, the bill does not alter existing legal requirements that all actions and votes must take place in open session.

“Today, many of these negotiations happen informally between a mayor and vice mayor, excluding the full governing body,” Hildebrant said. “This change allows all elected members to participate in sensitive discussions, which leads to better decision-making and stronger local accountability.”

Only members of the public body, their attorney, and immediate staff will be allowed to attend such executive sessions under SB491.

Sen. Brian Guthrie, R-Bixby, who authored the bill in the Senate, expressed pride in seeing it advance to the governor’s desk to be signed into law.

“This update to the Open Meetings Act ensures public bodies can negotiate real estate transactions in the best interests of Oklahoma taxpayers,” Guthrie said. “By allowing local authorities to enter executive session to consider leases, sales, or acquisitions, they will have greater ability to protect sensitive information, avoid undermining negotiations, and ensure better outcomes for the public. I’m proud to see this bill advance, and look forward to it being signed into law, ultimately enabling local officials to be effective stewards of taxpayer dollars.”

The legislation received bipartisan support and now awaits the governor’s signature.