Attorney General Gentner Drummond commended the Oklahoma Legislature on March 27 for unanimously passing four bills aimed at strengthening domestic violence prevention and prosecution in the state. The measures, which now await action in their opposite chambers, are designed to improve monitoring of high-risk offenders, increase penalties for serious injuries, expand admissible evidence in court, and require longer sentences for certain convictions.
The legislative push is seen as a significant step toward reducing domestic violence deaths and supporting victims across Oklahoma. “These bills help us bolster our statewide efforts to hold abusers accountable and to provide protection and support for victims to ensure these tragedies continue to decline. Even one domestic violence death is too many,” Drummond said.
The four measures include Senate Bill 1325, which would require GPS monitoring for individuals charged with severe forms of domestic abuse; Senate Bill 1264, which classifies abuse resulting in great bodily injury as a felony and broadens the definition of such injuries; House Bill 4342, allowing prior incidents of domestic violence to be introduced as evidence; and House Bill 3264, requiring those convicted of strangulation-related abuse to serve at least 85% of their sentence before becoming eligible for early release.
The proposals were recommended by the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board within the Office of the Attorney General. The Board’s latest report showed that Oklahoma recorded its lowest number of domestic violence homicide victims since 2017—a total of 87 in 2024—representing a 29% decrease from the previous year after five years with more than one hundred annual victims.
Drummond leads the Oklahoma Attorney General’s office by leveraging extensive legal experience according to his official biography. The office focuses on combating crime, ensuring government transparency, strengthening tribal relations, upholding the rule of law according to its official biography, advocating policies that support energy sectors and educational safeguards while seeking tougher laws on crimes such as rape and drug distribution according to its official biography. It also collaborates with state and federal partners against organized crime as noted by its official biography.
As these legislative changes move forward through their respective chambers, officials anticipate continued progress in protecting Oklahomans from domestic abuse.
