Title 25, Title 25 — Definitions and General Provisions

Words used in the masculine gender include the feminine and neuter. R.L.1910, § 2943.

Words used in the singular number include the plural, and the plural the singular, except where a contrary intention plainly appears. R.L.1910, § 2944.

Words used in the present tense include future as well as the present; the word "oath" includes "affirmation;" and every mode of oral statement under oath or affirmation is embraced by the term "testify," and every written one in the term "depose;" "signature" or "subscription" i…

The words "compound interest" mean interest added to the principal as the former becomes due, and thereafter made to bear interest. R.L.1910, § 2946.

The words "writing" and "written" include "printing" and "printed," except in the case of signatures, and where the words are used by way of contrast to printing. Writing may be made in any manner, except that when a person entitled to require the execution of a writing demands t…

law. The rule of the common law, that statutes in derogation thereof are to be strictly construed, has no application to the laws of this state, which are to be liberally construed with a view to effect their objects and to promote justice. R.L.1910, § 2948.

There are three degrees of care and of diligence, namely, slight, ordinary and great. The latter includes the former. R.L.1910, § 2916. R.L.1910, § 2916.

When the seal of a court, public officer corporation or person is required by law to be affixed to any process, commission, paper or instrument, the word "seal" includes an impression of such seal upon the paper alone, as well as upon wax, or a wafer affixed thereto. R.L.1910, § …

This act shall be known as the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act. Added by Laws 1977, c. 214, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1977.

It is the public policy of the State of Oklahoma to encourage and facilitate an informed citizenry's understanding of the governmental processes and governmental problems. Laws 1977, c. 214, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 1977.

All meetings of public bodies, as defined hereinafter, shall be held at specified times and places which are convenient to the public and shall be open to the public, except as hereinafter specifically provided. All meetings of such public bodies, except for executive sessions of…

As used in the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act: 1. “Public body” means the governing bodies of all municipalities located within this state, boards of county commissioners of the counties in this state, boards of public and higher education in this state and all boards, bureaus, commis…

In all meetings of public bodies, the vote of each member must be publicly cast and recorded. Laws 1977, c. 214, § 5, eff. Oct. 1, 1977.

videoconferences excepted. No informal gatherings or any electronic or telephonic communications, except teleconferences or videoconferences as authorized by Section 307.1 of this title, among a majority of the members of a public body shall be used to decide any action or to tak…

A. No public body shall hold executive sessions unless otherwise specifically provided in this section. B. Executive sessions of public bodies will be permitted only for the purpose of: 1. Discussing the employment, hiring, appointment, promotion, demotion, disciplining or resign…

A. A public body may hold meetings by videoconference where each member of the public body is visible and audible to each other and the public through a video monitor, subject to the following: 1. a. except as provided for in subparagraph b of this paragraph, no less than a quoru…

body. Any meeting between the governor and a majority of members of any public body shall be open to the public and subject to all other provisions of this act. Laws 1977, c. 214, § 8, eff. Oct. 1, 1977.

The Legislature shall conduct open meetings in accordance with rules to be adopted by each house thereof. Laws 1977, c. 214, § 9, eff. Oct. 1, 1977.

Words giving a joint authority to three or more public officers or other persons, are construed as giving such authority to a majority of them, unless it is otherwise expressed in the act giving the authority. R.L.1910, § 2950.

sessions. Any member of the Legislature appointed as a member of a committee of either house of the Legislature or joint committee thereof shall be permitted to attend any executive session authorized by the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act of any state agency, board or commission whene…

A. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, all regularly scheduled, continued or reconvened, special or emergency meetings of public bodies shall be preceded by public notice as follows: 1. All public bodies shall give notice in writing by December 15 of each calendar year o…

Internet. A. On or before January 1, 2002, or within six (6) months of the establishment of an Internet website, whichever is later, public bodies shall make available on their Internet website or on a general website if a public body uses a general website, a schedule and inform…

A. The proceedings of a public body shall be kept by a person so designated by such public body in the form of written minutes which shall be an official summary of the proceedings showing clearly those members present and absent, all matters considered by the public body, and al…

Any action taken in willful violation of this act shall be invalid. Laws 1977, c. 214, § 13, eff. Oct. 1, 1977.

A. Any person or persons willfully violating any of the provisions of this act shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine not exceeding Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or by imprisonment in the county jail for a period not exceeding one (1) ye…

Whenever any act of the Legislature is repealed, which repealed a former act, such former act shall not thereby be revived, unless it shall be expressly so provided, and the act revived be set out in full. R.L.1910, § 2951.

The terms "state agency", "agency of the state", "public officer" or "state officer", when used in any statute other than the Public Trust Act, Sections 176 through 180.55 of Title 60 of the Oklahoma Statutes, and Sections 164 through 166 of Title 60 of the Oklahoma Statutes, sha…

Pursuant to the authority granted by Section 2 of Article XX of the Oklahoma Constitution, the term "kerosene" shall mean a petroleum product having an A.P.I. gravity of not less than forty (40) degrees, at a temperature of sixty (60) degrees Fahrenheit and a minimum flash point …

As used in the Oklahoma Statutes: 1. "Geology" means the science which is: a. the study of the earth and its origin and history, in general, b. the investigation, including collection of specimens, of the earth's constituent rocks, minerals, fossils, solids, fluids including surf…

Except as otherwise specifically provided by law, the term "flammable liquids" shall mean all liquids having a flash point below seventy degrees Fahrenheit (70 F) as determined in accordance with the standard method of test for flash point by means of a tag closed tester (ASTM D5…

Slight care or diligence is such as persons of ordinary prudence usually exercise about their own affairs of slight importance; ordinary care or diligence is such as they usually exercise about their own affairs of ordinary importance; and great care or diligence is such as they …

A. All new and revised statutes, administrative rules, local laws, ordinances, charters, or regulations promulgated or any publication published by the state or any political subdivision that refers to persons with disabilities shall: 1. Avoid language that: a. implies that a per…

There are three degrees of negligence, namely, slight, ordinary and gross. The latter includes the former. R.L. 1910, § 2918.

A. The Legislature finds that the United States Census Bureau has initiated a number of reform efforts related to the means by which information is compiled, analyzed and reported by the Bureau, including changes in the terminology used by the Bureau to describe the methods by wh…

Slight negligence consists in the want of great care and diligence; ordinary negligence in the want of ordinary care and diligence; and gross negligence in the want of slight care and diligence. R.L.1910, § 2919.

The term children includes children by birth and by adoption. R.L.1910, § 2920.

Except as defined and used in Sections 2892 and 2893, every one who owes to another the performance of an obligation is called a debtor, and one to whom he owes it is called a creditor. R.L.1910, § 2921.

Acts to be performed on next succeeding business day - State employees authorized to observe certain holidays - "Holiday" defined. A. The designation and dates of holidays in Oklahoma shall be as follows: Each Saturday, Sunday, New Year's Day on the 1st day of January, Martin Lut…

by banks and offices. The following additional days are designated as holidays: Jefferson Day on the 13th day of April; Oklahoma Day on the 22nd day of April; Mother's Day on the second Sunday in May; Juneteenth National Freedom Day on the third Saturday in June; Indian Day on th…

The city of Guthrie, in the county of Logan, is declared to be the official city for the celebration of Oklahoma Day on the 22nd day of April of each year. Laws 1949, p. 768, § 1.

The third Saturday in June of each year is hereby declared an official holiday, to be known as "Juneteenth National Freedom Day". Added by Laws 1994, S.J.R. No. 21, § 2, emerg. eff. May 2, 1994.

The Governor is hereby authorized and requested to proclaim June 8 to June 14, 1939 and each succeeding year thereafter as Flag Week. To direct each state, county, municipal and district official to arrange for a suitable observance of Flag Week in all public schools, cities and …

Now, Therefore, be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the Seventeenth Session of the Oklahoma Legislature, the Senate joining therein, that October 10th be declared Oklahoma Historical Day and that the same be observed by the Governor issuing a proclamation setting fo…

proclaiming. That the Governor of the State of Oklahoma be, and he is hereby empowered and directed to issue a proclamation setting aside a day each year as "Citizenship Recognition Day" which will as nearly as possible conform to a day which the Congress or the President of the …

The fourth day of November each year is hereby declared a public holiday, to be known as "Will Rogers Day". Provided, this act shall not affect the legality of judicial proceedings, the service of process, making or execution of agreements or instruments in writing, or the transa…

May 1st of each year is hereby established as "Bird Day" in Oklahoma, to be commemorated in such manner as the Societies for the Preservation of Wildlife may prescribe, from time to time. Laws 1951, p. 356, § 2.

That the week beginning with November 11th through November 16th (Statehood Day) of each year is hereby designated as "Oklahoma Week". That every city in Oklahoma, every business, every organization, every man, woman and child are hereby urged during this week to conduct a person…

The Governor of the State of Oklahoma shall declare an official day for each Indian tribe in the State of Oklahoma. The particular designated day for each Indian tribe shall be selected by the respective Indian tribes. Laws 1972, p. 619, S.J.R.No.29, § 1. der

Good faith consists in an honest intention to abstain from taking any unconscientious advantage of another, even through the forms or technicalities of law, together with an absence of all information or belief of facts which would render the transaction unconscientious. R.L.1910…

The week in each year in which November 16 falls is hereby declared to be "Oklahoma Heritage Week," beginning on a Sunday when November 16 falls on such day or a following day of the week through Saturday. Laws 1972, p. 621, S.J.R.No.51, § 1.