Senate Bill 535 Summary

• Authorizes public bodies to require advance payment of estimated fees when copying costs exceed $75.00 or requestor has outstanding fees, with excess payments returned to requestor.

• Allows public bodies to require requestors to complete a records request form and establishes specificity requirements: requests must specify a general timeframe, seek identifiable records, and include sufficiently specific search terms.

• Permits public bodies to deny records requests if requestor fails to clarify an insufficiently specific request after the public body has engaged with the requestor and provided general topics or specific record lists.

• Updates the statutory reference range for the Oklahoma Open Records Act from Sections 24A.1 through 24A.30 to Sections 24A.1 through 24A.34.

• Expands the definition of "law enforcement agency" to include state and local fire marshals when investigating potential criminal violations or acting on behalf of a law enforcement agency.

• Becomes effective November 1, 2025.