In recent articles and videos here, here, and here, we’ve provided updates on the pending Oklahoma Computer Data Privacy Act, House Bill 1602 (HB 1602), which – if passed – would require that businesses receive a consumer “opt-in” for the collection, use, and sale of the information of Oklahoma residents online. This bipartisan legislation had received national press as one of the first such “opt-in” laws in the country, and recently passed the Oklahoma House by a vote of 85 to 11 in early March.

Within the last week, however, the legislation has hit a potentially fatal roadblock in the Oklahoma Senate, as the Senate Judiciary Committee has not scheduled a committee hearing before a critical deadline next week due to opposition from Oklahoma senators. Failure to receive a committee hearing before next week’s legislative deadline means that the bill will not pass this legislative session.

Reps. Josh West and Collin Walke, the original authors of HB 1602, have continued to seek a hearing despite the delay, indicating in a recent podcast that they are “disappointed” in the situation. We will continue to keep you updated on this and other privacy legislation pending in the Oklahoma Legislature as this year’s legislative session continues.