OklahomaHB 1965Oklahoma 2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Children; Children's Code; term; procedure if jury trial is waived; individualized service plan; termination of parental rights; district attorney; exceptions; informal adjustments; Office of Juvenile Affairs; effective date.

Sponsored By: Danny Williams (Republican)

Became Law

Senate Committee

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Analyzed Economic Effects

7 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.

Parents face a 15-month reunification timeline

Beginning November 1, 2025, service plans must include reunification services for 15 months starting when a child enters foster care. After that period, the district attorney must seek termination of parental rights only when both legal conditions are met. The parent must have failed to correct the circumstances that led to the deprived-child finding. The court must also make the finding required by 10A O.S. § 1-4-904(B)(16). This filing rule does not automatically end parental rights or require all services to stop after 15 months.

First-time youth offenders get diversion services

Beginning November 1, 2025, children must receive diversion services for first-time offenses that would be misdemeanors for adults. Services must come before a child-in-need-of-supervision petition is filed or when custody is assumed under the juvenile custody law. Diversion services must include Functional Family Therapy, first-time offender programs, community-at-risk services, or similar programs. The law does not guarantee a specific program for each child.

Child service plans must fit families

Beginning November 1, 2025, Oklahoma requires a written service plan for every child a court finds deprived. The Department of Human Services or a licensed child-placing agency must prepare and maintain the plan. It must reach the court within 30 days after that finding. Plans must consider parents’ work schedules, transportation, and travel distances to services. Families must receive plans in simple English or translated.

Day treatment includes more child placements

Beginning November 1, 2025, Oklahoma’s day treatment definition includes children living in group homes and residential child care facilities. Day treatment provides intensive services without being a residential program itself. The definition also covers children living at home, with relatives, or in foster homes. It does not guarantee a treatment placement.

Broader harm standard in child-welfare cases

Beginning November 1, 2025, Oklahoma’s Children’s Code defines child harm to include real or threatened physical, mental, or emotional injury. This broader standard applies when officials and courts make child-welfare decisions.

Kin get priority; home-study duties narrow

Beginning November 1, 2025, courts must favor relatives and people with a kinship relationship when appointing a child’s guardian. This preference does not guarantee an appointment. For children in state custody, the responsible department must conduct or arrange a required guardianship home study. Courts cannot require the Department of Human Services or Office of Juvenile Affairs to provide one for children outside both departments’ custody.

Parents face firm rights-trial deadlines

Beginning November 1, 2025, Oklahoma courts must issue a scheduling order within 30 days after a jury demand or waiver. When a jury is waived, the judge-only trial must begin within 90 days after that order. A jury trial must begin within six months after the order. Delay requires a written court order finding exceptional circumstances or agreement by the parties and any guardian ad litem.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Danny Williams
Republican • House

Cosponsors

David Bullard
Republican • Senate
Roland Pederson
Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 254 • No: 3

House vote • 5/21/2025

FOURTH READING

Yes: 91 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/7/2025

THIRD READING

Yes: 45 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/15/2025

Committee vote: Judiciary

Yes: 8 • No: 0

House vote • 3/26/2025

THIRD READING

Yes: 90 • No: 3

House vote • 3/6/2025

DO PASS

Yes: 11 • No: 0

House vote • 2/20/2025