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
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2 1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)
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3 SENATE BILL 499 By: Bergstrom
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6 AS INTRODUCED
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7 An Act relating to the Oklahoma Religious Freedom
7 Act; amending 51 O.S. 2021, Section 253, as last
8 amended by Section 113, Chapter 452, O.S.L. 2024 (51
8 O.S. Supp. 2024, Section 253), which relates to
9 government burden on religious freedom; providing
9 certain closures be deemed substantial burden;
10 prohibiting certain restriction of access; and
10 providing an effective date.
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13 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
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14 SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 51 O.S. 2021, Section 253, as last
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15 amended by Section 113, Chapter 452, O.S.L. 2024 (51 O.S. Supp.
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16 2024, Section 253), is amended to read as follows:
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17 Section 253. A. Except as provided in subsection B of this
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18 section, no governmental entity shall substantially burden a
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19 person's free exercise of religion even if the burden results from a
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20 rule of general applicability.
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21 B. No governmental entity shall substantially burden a person's
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22 free exercise of religion unless it demonstrates that application of
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23 the burden to the person is:
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24 1. Essential to further a compelling governmental interest; and
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1 2. The least restrictive means of furthering that compelling
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2 governmental interest.
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3 C. Any order or rule issued by any governmental entity pursuant
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4 to an emergency that requires The closure of any place of worship
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5 entitled to the religious exemption found in Section 501(c)(3) of
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6 Title 26 of the United States Code shall be considered a substantial
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7 burden even if the order or rule is one of general applicability.
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8 D. No governmental entity as defined pursuant to Section 252 of
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9 this title shall declare or deem a religious institution and any
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10 activity directly related to the institution's discharge of its
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11 mission and purpose to be nonessential. No or the designation of a
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12 religious institution shall be subject to a closure or restriction
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13 for the purposes of health or security that is greater than that
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14 imposed upon any private entity facing the same or similar health or
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15 security conditions as nonessential by a governmental entity as
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16 defined pursuant to Section 252 of this title shall be deemed a
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17 substantial burden on the free exercise of religion that is not the
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18 least restrictive means of furthering a compelling governmental
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19 interest. A government entity shall not restrict access to a
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20 religious facility or gathering if such facility or gathering is not
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21 engaged in illegal activities.
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22 E. D. It shall be deemed a substantial burden to exclude any
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23 person or entity from participation in or receipt of governmental
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1 funds, benefits, programs, or exemptions based solely on the
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2 religious character or affiliation of the person or entity.
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3 SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2025.
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5 60-1-1411 TEK 1/19/2025 5:37:34 AM
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Req. No. 1411 Page 3Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.