Journalist: Lucy Wentz (ORU)
House Bill SE‑502, titled the “Jessica’s Law” Act of 2026, would create Oklahoma’s first public registry of domestic‑violence reoffenders. Rep. DeVore says his proposal is rooted not only in policy concerns but in personal experience. He shared in an interview that he once befriended individuals who lost their mother, named Jessica, to a domestic violence tragedy. That loss, he said, shaped his understanding of how hidden histories can endanger victims. Of the three bills Rep. DeVore introduced this session, he believes this one has the strongest chance of passing.
The bill would require the Oklahoma Department of Corrections to maintain a publicly accessible registry of individuals with multiple domestic‑violence convictions or protective‑order violations. Courts would be required to order registration after a subsequent offense, and clerks would transfer identifying information, including a photograph, to the department.
In the interview, the author emphasized that other states have already adopted similar legislation. He argued that Oklahoma risks falling behind on preventative measures that allow potential victims to make informed decisions. “People have been seriously injured because they never knew the history of the person they were with,” he said, adding that the bill aims to prevent tragedies “before they come about.”
Upon examination of Rep. DeVore’s work, delegates may note that the bill’s fee structure, requiring reoffenders to pay a $250 registration fee, would fund the system’s operation without drawing from general appropriations. This ensures the registry remains financially sustainable while increasing transparency around repeat domestic‑violence offenders.
Ultimately, Rep. DeVore hopes Jessica’s Law will give Oklahomans access to information that could save lives. He also highlights that a similar bill is already being prepared for the House in the Capitol, for which he strongly advocates.