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HB 1217OKLAHOMASession 2026State BillSigned into law

Enacted

Oklahoma criminalizes adult performances containing obscene material in public places and preempts local rules

Original title: Obscene material; making certain acts unlawful; codification; emergency.

Last action · May 12, 2025: Approved by Governor 05/09/2025Sponsors: Cody Maynard and 2 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Does

Oklahoma House Bill 1217 prohibits individuals and s from engaging in, organizing, or permitting adult performances containing obscene material in public places where minors may view them. Violations carry a misdemeanor penalty of up to one year in county jail, a fine between $500.00 and $1,000.00, or both. The law takes effect immediately as an emergency measure.

Why it matters

Local governments lose the authority to enforce ordinances or issue licenses that conflict with this new state restriction on public adult performances.

Background

House Bill 1217 was enacted by the Oklahoma Legislature and approved by the Governor during the 2025 legislative session. context

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

minors

Minors are restricted from viewing adult performances containing obscene material in public places.

Directly affected

political subdivisions

Political subdivisions are barred from permitting or organizing adult performances containing obscene material on public property and face preemption of conflicting local ordinances.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an adult performance under this law?

An adult performance is defined as any performance containing obscene material that is conducted in view of a minor or in a public place.

Are ticketed venues or venues restricted to adults exempt?

Yes, any place that limits access through an admissions process or restricts minors from entering is exempt from the provisions of the section.

What are the penalties for violating this law?

A violation is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for up to one year, a fine ranging from $500.00 to $1,000.00, or both.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

26 actions

May 12, 2025HouseEnrolled
Approved by Governor 05/09/2025
May 5, 2025House
Sent to Governor
May 5, 2025Senate
Enrolled measure signed, returned to House
May 5, 2025House
Enrolled, signed, to Senate
May 1, 2025HouseCommittee
Referred for enrollment
May 1, 2025Senate
Engrossed measure signed, returned to House

Show 20 earlier actions

May 1, 2025Senate
Measure and Emergency passed: Ayes: 39 Nays: 8
May 1, 2025Senate
General Order, Considered
May 1, 2025Senate
Coauthored by Senator Hamilton
May 1, 2025Senate
Coauthored by Senator Deevers
Apr 24, 2025Senate
Placed on General Order
Apr 22, 2025SenateFloor
Reported Do Pass Judiciary committee; CR filed
Apr 1, 2025SenateCommittee
Second Reading referred to Judiciary
Mar 26, 2025SenateIntroduced
First Reading
Mar 26, 2025House
Engrossed, signed, to Senate
Mar 25, 2025HouseCommittee
Referred for engrossment
Mar 25, 2025House
Third Reading, Measure and Emergency passed: Ayes: 79 Nays: 17
Mar 25, 2025House
Coauthored by Representative(s) Maynard
Mar 25, 2025House
General Order
Feb 27, 2025HouseFloor
CR; Do Pass Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight Committee
Feb 19, 2025House
Authored by Senator Bullard (principal Senate author)
Feb 19, 2025HouseFloor
Policy recommendation to the Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight committee; Do Pass Criminal Judiciary
Feb 4, 2025HouseCommittee
Referred to Criminal Judiciary
Feb 4, 2025HouseCommittee
Second Reading referred to Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight
Feb 3, 2025House
Authored by Representative West (Kevin)
Feb 3, 2025HouseIntroduced
First Reading

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift95% confidence

State Preemption of Local Authority

The legislation explicitly overrides any existing local ordinances or licenses issued by political subdivisions that conflict with the new statewide standards.

Oklahoma

Connected Entities

Dusty Deevers, Oklahoma, West (Kevin) and 3 more

PersonDusty Deevers“Senate author of House Bill 1217”Map →

locationOklahoma“State enacting the legislation”Map →

PersonWest (Kevin)“House author of House Bill 1217”Map →

PersonCody Maynard“House author and sponsor of House Bill 1217”Map →

PersonBullard“Senate author of House Bill 1217”Map →

PersonWarren Hamilton“Senate author of House Bill 1217”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.oklegislature.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance75
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy85
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment15
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz60
Current news / social attention level

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