Sen. Warren Hamilton, R-McCurtain, secured unanimous approval from the Senate for House Bill 1003, which raises the age of consent from 16 to 18 years of age.
Hamilton has been a leading proponent of legislation intended to enhance protections for children in Oklahoma, and stated he carried this measure to combat child sex trafficking and protect the innocence of children.
“Raising the age of consent will close loopholes in our current consent laws that predators have continued to exploit,” Hamilton said. “I’m grateful for my colleagues’ overwhelming support of this bill that will continue our efforts to protect the most innocent among us, while also ensuring our state stands strong against predators who target vulnerable youth.”
Rep. Jim Olsen, RRoland, is the House Author of the measure.
“This is a victory for Oklahoma families and for our children. By raising the age of consent to 18, we are drawing a clear line that reflects our state’s traditional values and our duty to protect young people. I’m grateful to my colleagues in the Senate for standing up for what is right, and I look forward to seeing this important measure become law,” Olsen said.
House Bill 1003 will take effect immediately after being signed into law.
