HB 1708 Summary

• Amends Oklahoma bail bond regulations to include "charitable cash bail" alongside traditional bail bonds and cash bail in the definition of regulated bail activities.

• Adds "charitable cash bondsman" definition: a person approved by the Insurance Commissioner who deposits cash as security for bail bonds but does not charge or receive any compensation for services.

• Modifies cash bondsman license requirements to allow both cash bondsman and charitable cash bondsman applicants to meet all Section 1305 requirements except the one-year residency requirement, instead requiring only six (6) months bona fide state residency.

• Allows professional bondsman licenses to be transferred upon death or incapacitation to the bondsman's spouse or designated transferee for up to 180 days, provided the transferee holds a valid surety bondsman license and maintains required asset and deposit amounts.

• Effective date: November 1, 2025.