General provisions; creating the Preserving Oklahoma Values Act of 2026. Emergency.
SB 1681, the “Preserving Oklahoma Values Act of 2026,” would create a new state policy aimed at preventing Oklahoma courts and other state adjudicative bodies from enforcing decisions or contracts that rely on foreign law, legal codes, or legal systems when those rules are viewed as contrary to the bill’s defined “Judeo-Christian Western rights and values.” The bill defines those values to include due process, equal protection, freedom of religion and speech, press freedom, the right to keep and bear arms, privacy, and the right to marry as defined by the Oklahoma Constitution, subject to federal law and U.S. Supreme Court precedent.
The measure would declare void and unenforceable any court ruling based in whole or part on foreign law if it violates those listed rights and values. It would also invalidate contractual provisions that choose foreign law or foreign jurisdictions for dispute resolution when that foreign legal system does not provide those rights and values. The bill contains an exception for business entities that voluntarily contract to subject themselves to foreign law, and it preserves constitutional protections for religious exercise and internal religious governance.
In practical terms, the bill would affect Oklahoma courts, administrative agencies, arbitration-related disputes, and private contracts that incorporate foreign law or foreign forums. It would add a new section to Title 25 of the Oklahoma Statutes and would likely be cited as a broad restriction on the use of foreign legal principles in state proceedings. The bill also includes an emergency clause, indicating it would take effect immediately upon passage and approval.
No committee transcript or recorded vote is provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or formal support/opposition in the supplied materials. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears ideologically driven and likely intended to appeal to constituents concerned about preserving state sovereignty, religious liberty, and traditional values. At the same time, its broad references to foreign law and “Western values” suggest it could draw scrutiny over vagueness, enforceability, and potential conflicts with contract law or constitutional principles.
The bill would create a new uncodified policy statement and add Section 2010 to Title 25 of the Oklahoma Statutes. It would require courts, boards, tribunals, administrative agencies, and other state or local enforcement bodies to refuse enforcement of certain rulings or contractual provisions that depend on foreign law, legal codes, or systems when those rules are deemed inconsistent with the bill’s enumerated rights and values. It would also preserve religious autonomy for ecclesiastical matters and expressly exempt certain business entities that voluntarily choose foreign law.
No committee discussion or vote history is included, so sentiment cannot be measured from recorded debate. From the bill’s language, the measure appears to be framed positively by its sponsor as a protection of Oklahoma values, constitutional rights, and religious freedom. The absence of recorded opposition in the provided materials prevents a factual assessment of legislative support or resistance, but the bill’s sweeping restrictions suggest it could be controversial among legal, business, and civil liberties stakeholders.
The main points of contention are likely to be the bill’s broad and subjective definitions, especially “foreign law” and “Judeo-Christian Western rights and values,” and whether those terms are sufficiently clear for courts to apply. Potential critics may argue that the bill could interfere with private contracting, arbitration, and conflict-of-laws principles, while supporters are likely to emphasize state sovereignty, protection from foreign legal norms, and preservation of constitutional and religious rights. The carve-out for business entities and the religious-organization exception may also be debated as to whether they are adequate or internally consistent.