All Roll Calls
Yes: 370 • No: 4
OklahomaHB 3298Oklahoma 2026 Regular SessionHouse
Civil procedure; Uniform Judicial Interview of Children Act; terms; scope; judicial officer; judicial interview; considerations; training; procedure; record; codification; effective date.
Sponsored By: Aletia Timmons (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
Senate Committee
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Privacy and access to interview records
Beginning 2026-11-01, if a judge interviews a child, a record must be made. On appeal, a party can get the record after requesting it and paying required costs, unless an approved waiver blocks access. All parties may agree on the record to give up access, but a judge approves only if each party clearly waives access, notice of child communications, and the right to respond; unless the stipulation says otherwise, it also blocks access later, including appeals. The judge sets limits on what nonparties can see during and after the case. The court seals the record from the public if it makes the finding required by Section 24A.29 of Title 51. Other state law decides whether the child, the child’s lawyer, and the guardian ad litem can access the record and whether the child may testify.
Rules for judges interviewing children
Beginning 2026-11-01, a judge may interview a child only if it is in the child’s best interest and allowed by law. The judge weighs the child’s views, age and maturity, likely help or harm, and other options. Judges who conduct these interviews must have training. The child, the child’s lawyer, the guardian ad litem, or a party may ask for an interview, and the judge may start one, unless another law bars it. Before the interview, the judge must tell the child, in plain terms, that the child does not have to answer, a record will be made, who may listen, if it may be shared, and that the judge decides the case. The child’s lawyer and guardian ad litem may attend; parties and their lawyers cannot. Parties, the child’s lawyer, and the guardian ad litem can propose questions on the record, but the judge chooses which to ask. If the child makes a contested, case-deciding factual claim, the judge must tell the parties and let them offer evidence and arguments before a final decision. The law applies only to judicial-officer interviews in covered proceedings and excludes interviews under the Children’s Code or Juvenile Code, child testimony, and interviews by non-judges.
Courts keep rules consistent across states
Beginning 2026-11-01, courts apply this law with an eye to keeping it uniform with other states that enacted the same Act. This helps make rulings more predictable across states in covered proceedings.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Aletia Timmons
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
Mary B. Boren
Democratic • Senate
Mickey Dollens
Democratic • House
Michelle McCane
Democratic • House
Annie Menz
Democratic • House
Nikki Nice
Democratic • Senate
Mike Osburn
Republican • House
Dave Rader
Republican • Senate
Suzanne Schreiber
Democratic • House
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 5/6/2026
FOURTH READING
Yes: 85 • No: 4
Senate vote • 4/29/2026
THIRD READING
Yes: 46 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/14/2026
Committee vote: Judiciary
Yes: 7 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/14/2026
Top_of_Page
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 3/24/2026
Top_of_Page
Yes: 95 • No: 0
House vote • 3/24/2026
THIRD READING
Yes: 95 • No: 0
House vote • 2/26/2026
DO PASS
Yes: 13 • No: 0
House vote • 2/26/2026
DO PASS
Yes: 13 • No: 0
House vote • 2/19/2026
DO PASS
Yes: 8 • No: 0
House vote • 2/19/2026
DO PASS
Yes: 8 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Approved by Governor 05/12/2026
5/12/2026HouseSent to Governor
5/6/2026HouseEnrolled measure signed, returned to House
5/6/2026SenateEnrolled, signed, to Senate
5/6/2026HouseReferred for enrollment
5/6/2026HouseFourth Reading, Measure passed: Ayes: 85 Nays: 4
5/6/2026HouseSA's read, adopted
5/6/2026HouseSA's received
4/29/2026HouseEngrossed to House
4/29/2026SenateReferred for engrossment
4/29/2026SenateCoauthored by Senator Nice
4/29/2026SenateMeasure passed: Ayes: 46 Nays: 0
4/29/2026SenateGeneral Order, Considered
4/29/2026SenateCoauthored by Representative Dollens
4/16/2026SenatePlaced on General Order
4/16/2026SenateReported Do Pass, amended by committee substitute Judiciary committee; CR filed
4/14/2026SenateCoauthored by Representative Menz
4/1/2026SenateSecond Reading referred to Judiciary
4/1/2026SenateFirst Reading
3/25/2026SenateEngrossed, signed, to Senate
3/25/2026HouseReferred for engrossment
3/24/2026HouseThird Reading, Measure passed: Ayes: 95 Nays: 0
3/24/2026HouseCoauthored by Senator(s) Boren
3/24/2026HouseRemove Senator Boren as principal Senate author and substitute with Senator Rader
3/24/2026HouseCoauthored by Representative(s) Schreiber, Osburn, McCane
3/24/2026House
Bill Text
Enrolled (final version)
5/6/2026
Amended And Engrossed
4/29/2026
Floor (Senate)
4/15/2026
Senate Committee Substitute for House Bill
4/15/2026
Senate Committee Report
4/14/2026
Engrossed
3/24/2026
Floor (House)
3/2/2026
House Committee Report
2/26/2026
House Policy Committee Report
2/19/2026
Introduced
1/14/2026
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