The Oklahoma Senate passed a bill Wednesday that would create business courts in Tulsa and Oklahoma City.
Senate Bill 473 passed on a 37-6 vote and awaited consideration in the House as lawmakers wrapped up business for the week.
During budget negotiations last week, Gov. Kevin Stitt said the creation of a business court was on his list of demands in exchange for an agreement not to veto the budget.
The bill would create an 11-member task force to study the implementation of a business court system in Oklahoma. Business courts would specialize in resolving complex disputes and lawsuits.
The task force must submit a final report to the governor and legislative leaders by Jan. 1, 2026.
Why Senate Leader says Oklahoma should follow other states' lead and set up a business court
Other states already have business courts, said Senate President pro tempore Greg Treat (R-Oklahoma City), who is also the bill's author in the Senate.
Treat said companies would base themselves in states with commercial courts because they could resolve disputes more quickly.
The study will include Oklahoma’s existing court structure as well as business court structures in other states.
The survey found that more than half of states have courts that specialize in resolving business disputes.
The task force's report is expected to issue recommendations including what matters the Business Court can and cannot hear, and how appeals should be handled.
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Democratic Sen. Mary Boren of Norman said Oklahoma already has specialty courts, such as juvenile courts and drug courts.
Boren said he supports the idea of a task force, but hopes the committee isn't created solely to justify the creation of a business court.
Sen. Julia Carter, D-Oklahoma City, voted against the bill.
She said the idea has not been vetted.
“I haven't learned enough about it yet,” she said.
She said she was concerned it would ease the burden on businesses and give them special treatment.
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