OKLAHOMA CITY (May 5, 2026) - Governor Stitt vetoed House Bill 3278 to protect due process under the Open Meetings Act. The bill would have allowed the Attorney General's Office to unilaterally find that any public body has violated the Open Meetings Act without any formal legal action and without giving that body a meaningful opportunity to defend itself.
The Open Meetings Act already lays out recourse for violations and penalties including a misdemeanor and a $500 fine. Those impacted are also able to file a civil suit to address the violation.
“Open government is a pillar of public trust. That is exactly why one office should not be given unchecked power to adjudicate law violations behind closed doors," said Governor Stitt.
"This bill would have allowed the Attorney General to be judge, jury and enforcer when it comes to Open Meetings Act violations. It would have created a concentrated power our system of checks and balances was designed to prevent. We want any violations of open meetings to be exposed in front of a neutral court of law, not a politician."
###
