Two new Oklahoma laws taking effect Nov. 1 strengthen penalties for organized retail crime and identity theft while expanding how first responders respond to drug overdoses.
House Bill 3244 expands the definition of retail and identity theft crimes and closes loopholes where criminals target vulnerable populations including the elderly and minors. It expands the list of protected personal information to include fingerprints, PIN numbers, DNA, usernames, and passwords. Penalties range from 10 to 20 years in prison, fines between $20,000 and $100,000, or both. The law also strengthens coordination between law enforcement and financial institutions investigating suspected fraud.
Federal Trade Commission data cited in the bill shows fraud cases have risen sharply, with reports jumping from 3.5 million in 2019 to 6.5 million by 2025, resulting in an estimated $12.5 billion in losses.
House Bill 2941 requires first responders to notify law enforcement as soon as practicable after attending to a suspected drug overdose, with legal immunity granted for good-faith notifications. The measure also establishes that in cases of fatal overdoses involving fentanyl, that will be the presumed cause of death.
The Oklahoma State Department of Health reported that fentanyl was involved in 86% of opioid-related overdose deaths in 2024, compared to approximately 10% to 20% annually prior to 2020.