Oklahoma Senate Bill SB1542

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/2/26
• Refer: 2/3/26

Caption

Stalking; authorizing use of certain monitoring device. Effective date.

Summary

SB1542 updates Oklahoma’s criminal code by revising the state’s Class B6 offense list and by amending the stalking statute. The bill adds stalking to the list of offenses classified as Class B6 and makes conforming changes to the stalking law, including clarifying that “following” can include tracking a person’s movement or location with a GPS device or other monitoring device without consent. It also preserves exceptions for lawful use, including certain motor vehicle creditor actions after default and employer tracking of employer-owned or leased vehicles. The bill restates and reorganizes the existing stalking statute’s definitions and penalty structure. It keeps stalking as a felony offense with escalating penalties for repeat or aggravated conduct, including higher felony classes for violations involving protective orders, probation or parole conditions, prior stalking convictions, or repeated offenses within specified time periods. The measure also updates cross-references and repeals a prior version of the stalking statute to avoid duplication, with an effective date of November 1, 2026.

Impact

SB1542 would amend Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes by expanding and clarifying the offenses that fall under Class B6 and by replacing the current stalking statute with an updated version. The practical effect is to codify GPS and other electronic monitoring as a form of stalking when done without consent, while preserving lawful monitoring exceptions for creditors and employers. It also affects sentencing exposure for stalking and related repeat-offense scenarios by maintaining the existing felony classification framework and associated penalties.

Sentiment

The available legislative record shows little direct debate or recorded vote history, so overall sentiment is difficult to measure from committee discussion. Based on the bill’s structure and caption, the measure appears to be framed as a public-safety and victim-protection update, with an emphasis on modernizing stalking law to address electronic tracking. The absence of recorded opposition or committee testimony in the provided materials suggests no clearly documented controversy at this stage, though the bill’s expansion of stalking definitions could draw scrutiny from privacy or business interests.

Contention

The main point of potential contention is the bill’s treatment of GPS and other monitoring devices as stalking when used without consent. Supporters are likely to view this as a necessary update to address modern harassment and surveillance tactics, while opponents could raise concerns about overbreadth, privacy, or unintended effects on legitimate tracking. The bill also includes explicit exceptions for motor vehicle creditors and employers using tracking devices on owned or leased vehicles, which may be important to business and lending stakeholders seeking to preserve lawful monitoring practices.