NEWS: Major Wins for Smart Justice in Oklahoma — New Bills Eliminate Some Court Fees, Prioritize Victim Restitution
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK — Justice Action Network applauds the Oklahoma Legislature for the passage of House Bill 1460 and House Bill 1462: commonsense reforms that prioritize public safety, successful financial re-entry, and fairness and justice for crime survivors.
Sponsored by Representative Tammy West (R-District 84) and Senator Todd Gollihare (R-District 12), House Bill 1460 and 1462 the bills mark a significant step toward smarter justice policy. House Bill 1460 eliminates six burdensome fees for individuals exiting the justice system that currently have low collection rates. House Bill 1462 ensures restitution payments to crime victims are prioritized ahead of other court-imposed fines and fees.
Oklahoma’s criminal justice system imposes over 100 fees that are unrelated to a person’s sentence or victim restitution, and many of which cost the state money to collect.
House Bill 1460 targets six such fees with low collection rates, including:
$5 misdemeanor marijuana/paraphernalia fee
Reimbursement for illegal drug lab cleanup
$300/month electronic monitoring fee
$40 indigent representation application fee
$15 DUI assessment
$100 Drug Abuse Education and Treatment Fund assessment
“When folks get out of prison and they start their re-entry journey, they can leave with tens of thousands of dollars in fees. That’s a lot of debt for anyone to carry, much less anyone who is starting from the ground up,” said Representative Tammy West (R), House sponsor of House Bill 1460 and House Bill 1462.
“When you don’t have sensible financial re-entry,” she continued, “you’re impacting the restoration of families. We are working to make sure Oklahoma’s criminal justice system is focused on setting people up for success, and that their success brings about generational change.”
House Bill 1462 directs courts to collect victim restitution before other government fees, ensuring crime victims are not left waiting to be made whole. This simple administrative change can have profound effects on families and communities across Oklahoma.
By prioritizing restitution and eliminating some counterproductive fees, lawmakers are striking a balance between accountability and fairness and keeping the focus on those most impacted by crime.
“Saddling people with debt at the very moment they need a path to stability undermines public safety,” said Lauren Krisai, Executive Director of Justice Action Network. “We’re thrilled to see the legislature advance these smart reforms that eliminate burdensome fees and prioritize restitution for victims. We extend our deepest appreciation to Rep. Tammy West and Sen. Todd Gollihare for their tireless leadership on these bills and for their commitment to delivering real public safety and better outcomes across the entire justice system.”
House Bill 1460 passed the House 84–3 and the Senate unanimously. House Bill 1462 passed both chambers unanimously. The bills now await Governor Kevin Stitt’s signature.