Oklahoma House Bill HB2883

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/3/25
• Refer: 2/4/25
• Refer: 2/12/25

Caption

Crimes and punishments; creating the Utility Worker Protection Act of 2025; establishing assault or battery of a utility worker as a felony; effective date.

Summary

House Bill 2883 creates the “Utility Worker Protection Act of 2025” and adds a new section to Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes. The bill defines a “utility worker” broadly to include people employed by or contracted by entities involved in the sale, generation, distribution, or delivery of electricity, water, natural gas, or other utility services, including private, municipal, public, and cooperative providers. The bill makes it a felony to commit assault or battery against a utility worker who is performing duties within the scope of employment, so long as the act is done without justifiable or excusable cause and with intent to do bodily harm. A conviction would be punishable by up to two years in the custody of the Department of Corrections, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. The measure also states that this new offense is cumulative and does not replace any other criminal charges that may apply, and it would take effect on November 1, 2025.

Impact

HB2883 would expand Oklahoma criminal law by creating a specific felony offense for assault or battery against utility workers while they are on the job. It would provide an additional prosecutorial tool and enhanced protection for workers in electric, water, gas, and other utility sectors, while leaving existing assault, battery, and related offenses in place as cumulative charges under Title 21.

Sentiment

The available record shows no committee transcript or vote history, so there is no documented debate to indicate support or opposition. Based on the bill’s caption and text, the measure appears framed as a worker-safety and public-service protection bill, with a straightforward punitive approach rather than a controversial policy change.

Contention

No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. Potential areas of discussion, if raised, would likely involve the breadth of the definition of “utility worker,” whether felony treatment is proportionate for assault or battery offenses, and how the new offense would interact with existing criminal statutes, but no recorded speakers or votes are available to confirm any of those concerns.