Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Oklahoma Legislature, fetched 2026-07-23. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2 2nd Session of the 60th Legislature (2026)
3 HOUSE BILL 3574 By: Wolfley
4
5
6 AS INTRODUCED
7 An Act relating to elections; permitting a registered
candidate to bring proper action for the enforcement
8 of election laws; requiring written demand; providing
a time frame for written demand; providing a time
9 frame within which a civil suit must be filed;
directing for thirty percent of meritorious claims to
10 be awarded; directing for certain fees be recoverable
by the registered candidate; defining registered
11 candidate; providing for codification; and providing
an effective date.
12
13
14
15 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
16 SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
17 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 16-127 of Title 26, unless there
18 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
19 A. A registered candidate, as defined by subsection D of this
20 section, upon the refusal, failure, or neglect of a proper officer
21 of the state, county, city, district, or political subdivision
22 thereof to institute or diligently prosecute proper proceedings for
23 the enforcement of state election laws, may in the name of the State
24 of Oklahoma as plaintiff, after serving a written demand as
Req. No. 15301 Page 1
1 described in subsection B of this section to the proper officer,
2 institute and maintain any proper action that the proper officer
3 might institute and maintain for the enforcement of civil fines or
4 punishments or other declaratory, equitable, or injunctive relief.
5 B. Civil actions filed by a registered candidate for
6 enforcement of state election laws can only be brought if the
7 written demand upon a proper officer is made by the registered
8 candidate within one (1) year of the discovery of evidence that a
9 violation of state election laws has been committed, and the civil
10 suit is filed within six (6) months following the refusal, failure,
11 or neglect of the proper officer to act upon the written demand.
12 C. If a court of competent jurisdiction determines the claims
13 to be meritorious, any fines or other compensation awarded shall be
14 paid to the State of Oklahoma with thirty percent (30%) of any such
15 award paid in compensation to the registered candidate instituting
16 the action. Upon entry of a judgment in favor of the plaintiff, the
17 registered candidate shall be entitled to recover reasonable
18 attorney fees and court costs incurred in the prosecution of the
19 action, so long as the combined amount of attorney fees, court
20 costs, and compensation awarded does not exceed the amount of
21 revenue the state receives in fines.
22 D. The term "registered candidate" shall mean a registered
23 candidate of the State of Oklahoma or such county, city, district,
24
Req. No. 15301 Page 2
1 or political subdivision thereof who is affected by a violation of
2 state election laws.
3 SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2026.
4
5 60-2-15301 MJ 01/09/26
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
Req. No. 15301 Page 3Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.