In a rare show of unity, the Oklahoma Senate has passed Senate Bill 445, which aims to increase the age of consent in the state from 16 to 18 years old. Tuesday's vote ended with a sweeping approval from all 46 senators in attendance, pushing the bill forward in the legislative process. According to an announcement on the Oklahoma State Senate's website, Senator Warren Hamilton, R-McCurtain authored the bill, citing its critical role in the fight against child sex trafficking.
Senator Hamilton explained, “This bill is a tremendous step in combating child sex trafficking and protecting the innocence of children,”, during discussions on the Senate floor. He pointed to the numerous disturbing incidents of predators targeting teenagers under the current legal framework. The bill comes as a corrective measure, intended to plug these gaps and provide more robust safeguards for minors. “We’ve seen far too many disturbing cases where predators have targeted teenagers, evading legal consequences due to gaps in the current age of consent laws. This bill closes those loopholes by raising the age of consent, ultimately ensuring stronger protections for our children and, holding predators accountable,” Senator Hamilton said in the statement, as reported by the Oklahoma State Senate.
With its unanimous support from the Senate, Senate Bill 445 will now proceed to the House of Representatives. The moving force behind the bill in the House is Rep. Tim Turner, R-Kinta. Turner's role will be pivotal in the next phase as the bill moves through the legislative process, as per the Oklahoma State Senate.
Hamilton offered gratitude to his Senate colleagues for their backing and highlighted the collective recognition of the bill's urgency. “I am grateful to my colleagues for their support of this measure and for recognizing the urgency and importance of providing this vital protection for Oklahoma’s youth. I’m eager to continue working with my fellow lawmakers to ensure this bill becomes law, further strengthening the safeguards for minors across our state,” Hamilton added, expressing eagerness to see the measure enacted into law. The determined stride of the Oklahoma Senate sends a clear message about its stance on protecting the state's youth, and serves as both a beacon and a challenge to the House as it takes up the mantle of decision.
