OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Toni Hasenbeck (R-Elgin) pre-filed House Bill 1364 in an effort to prohibit the sharing of revenge pornography created through the use of a rtificial intelligence.
The measure would add sexual content created through AI to the statute prohibiting the sharing of revenge pornography. The nonconsensual distribution of pornography with the intent to harass or humiliate another person became a misdemeanor in 2016.
“The rapid development of AI has brought an equally rapid development of threats,” Hasenbeck said in a recent press release. “Anybody with a smartphone could create a deepfake pornography video or photo using a screenshot from someone’s social media or dating profile. It’s critical that our existing laws keep pace with the risks posed by new technology in order to protect Oklahomans from exploitation and harassment.”
Deepfake is defined by the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) as audio or video f iles manipulated by AI. The technology creates a false but realistic video of in dividuals doing or saying things they did not actually do or say. Machine learning and sophisticated technical tools have made deepfakes relatively easy to create and increasingly commonplace in recent years, which has created a need for new legislation, according to the NCSL website.
Last year, Hasenbeck passed HB 3642 which helped to strengthen prosecution penalties for individuals who possess or create child pornography through AI. Gov. Kevin Stitt signed the measure into law and it took effect on Nov. 1, 2024. People using AI to create or view child porn may now be prosecuted.
“AI has its uses, but it also poses very serious threats,” Hasenbeck said.
“The sharing of revenge pornography, whether real or created by AI, destroys a person’s sense of privacy and dignity, wrecks their mental health and ruins lives.”
Other pre-filed legislation from southwest Oklahoma representatives include: Rep. Stacy Jo Adams (R-Duncan) pre-filed a measure pertaining to firearms and amending the current statute, which outlines certain locations and places where carrying a firearm is permitted.
HB 1476 proposes that it will be unlawful for any person, including a person in possession of a v alid handgun license issued pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act, to carry any concealed or unconcealed firearm into any of the following places:
• Any structure, building or office space which is owned or leased by a city, town, county, state or federal governmental authority for the purpose of conducting business with the public.
• Any courthouse, courtroom, prison, jail, deten tion facility or any facility used to process, hold or house arrested persons, prisoners or persons alleged delinquent or adjudicated delinquent, except as provided in Section 21 of Title 57 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
• Any public or private elementary or public or private secondary school, except as provided in subsections C and D of this section; any publicly owned or operated sports arena or venue during a professional sporting event, unless allowed by the event holder.
• Any place where gambling is authorized by law, unless allowed by the property owner; any other place specifically prohibited by law; and any property set aside by a county, city, town, public trust with a county, city or town as a beneficiary, or state governmental authority for an event that is secured with minimum-security provisions.
Rep. Brad Boles (R-Marlow) is proposing HB 2034 to create a Regional Rural Transportation Task Force to address critical transportation needs and challenges across western Oklahoma, encompassing areas of responsibility for the Northern Oklahoma Regional Transportation Planning Organization and the Southwest Oklahoma Regional Transportation Planning Organization.
The pre-filed measure designates who is eligible to be appointed to the task force. Goals of the boa rd will include gathering and analyzing transportation- related data to identify gaps, needs, duplications, inefficiencies and provide recommendations and strategies for improving transit services and to facilitate coordination among regional stakeholders.
In addition to other priorities, the task force will identify and pursue state, federal and other funding opportunities to support infrastructure and capital improvements.
Rep. Trey Caldwell (R-Lawton) pre-filed HB 2759 to create the Oklahoma Volunteer Firefighter Support Program. The measure’s intent is to create a grant program to support the training needs of volunteer firefighters in Oklahoma.
The program, if passed, will assist volunteer firefighters to receive up to 10 hours in training a year from programs approved by the State Fire Marshall or by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry’s Forestry Division.
The State Fire Marshal will be tasked to create an application system for volunteer firefighters to apply for the grant assistance and determine the rules for the grant program. A revolving fund designated as the Oklahoma Volunteer Firefighter Support Revolving Fund would be created in the State Treasury and funded from appropriations, donations, grants or other sources of funding specifically designated for deposit into the account.
Rep. Dick Lowe (R-Amber) pre-filed HB 1523 to create a school-based telehealth pilot program through the State Department of Education. The measure calls for the department to contract with a single telehealth provider to provide mental health care to students enrolled in participating school districts.
The proposed service will be provided free of charge to students who are uninsured. A provision is included to waive or reimburse students or their families for all cost sharing incurred for mental health care services received through the program.
Rep. Daniel Pae (R-Lawton) pre-filed a 17-page proposed bill, HB 2017, to address bullying and its consequences in schools. Bullying is defined in the measure as any pattern of harassment, intimidation, threatening behavior, physical acts or verbal or electronic communication directed toward a student or group of students that results in or is reasonably perceived as being done with the intent to cause negative educational or physical results for the targeted individual or group and is communicated in such a way as to disrupt or interfere with the school’s educational mission or the education of any student.