Business Courts Proposed for Oklahoma: Will they be a Game Changer?

In a recent development, the Oklahoma Senate has passed Senate Bill 473, which aims to establish business courts in Tulsa and Oklahoma City. The bill received a vote of 37-6 in favor and is now awaiting consideration in the House of Representatives. The creation of business courts was part of Governor Kevin Stitt’s requests during budget negotiations last week, and it was agreed upon to avoid a veto of the budget.

The bill proposes the formation of an 11-member task force that will study the implementation of a business court system in Oklahoma. Business courts are specialized in handling complex disputes and litigation matters. The task force is required to submit a final report to the governor and legislative leaders by January 1, 2026.

Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, who authored the bill, highlighted that many other states have already introduced business courts. He emphasized that having business courts can attract corporations to the state because they offer a way to efficiently resolve legal conflicts. However, some senators like Julia Kirt of Oklahoma City had concerns about the establishment of such courts. She voted against the bill, stating that she felt the idea had not been thoroughly vetted and could potentially provide preferential treatment to businesses.

The study conducted by the task force will compare the existing court structure in Oklahoma with business court models from other states. Recommendations from the report are expected to cover