OKLAHOMA CITY – Children at risk of being taken or concealed during custody disputes will now have stronger legal protections under House Bill 2081, authored by Rep. Jason Blair, R-Moore, and recently signed into law.

HB2081 creates the Uniform Child Abduction Prevention Act, allowing courts to step in with preventative measures when there is credible evidence that a child may be at risk of being wrongfully taken. Judges can act on their own or respond to petitions from a parent, guardian or district attorney.

“This law strengthens the ability of Oklahoma courts to intervene when there is evidence that a child is at risk of abduction,” Blair said. “It puts safeguards in place to help protect children and provide a legal path for swift action when time is critical.”

The act allows a verified petition to be filed in a court with custody jurisdiction, along with a copy of any existing custody order. The law outlines what must be included in a petition, including risk factors, past abduction threats or attempts and ties to foreign countries.

If the court finds a credible risk, it must issue an abduction prevention order. The court can place restrictions on travel, order supervised visitation, require the surrender of passports or take other steps to prevent a wrongful removal.

In emergency situations, the court may issue an ex parte warrant to take immediate physical custody of a child. Law enforcement may also be directed to assist in carrying out prevention measures.

“This bill is about keeping children safe, and I’m grateful to my colleagues in the Legislature for their support and to Governor Kevin Stitt for signing it into law,” Blair said. “This is a strong step forward for families and for the courts tasked with protecting them.”

HB2081 takes effect Nov. 1.