All, The Oklahoma Municipal League worked to help pass SB 535<https://www.oklegislature.gov/cf_pdf/2025-26%20ENR/SB/SB535%20ENR.PDF> <https://www.oklegislature.gov/cf_pdf/2025-26%20ENR/SB/SB535%20ENR.PDF> which is effective tomorrow, November 1, 2025, and we have put together the attached sample Open Records Request Form with OMAG, to help you implement the changes in this bill and in HB 2163<https://www.sos.ok.gov/documents/legislation/60th/2025/1R/HB/2163.pdf>. This Sample Request Form has been approved by the OAMA Board and the Oklahoma Municipal Clerks Treasurers and Finance Officials Association Board (OMCTFOA). SB 535 helps municipalities in working with records requests that do not describe the requested records with reasonable specificity. To have reasonable specificity, a request shall: “a) specify a general time frame within which the requested records would have been created or transmitted, b) seek identifiable records, rather than general information without any qualifiers or other specifications, and c) include search terms that are sufficiently specific to assist the public body in identifying the requested records. If a public body has engaged with the requestor to seek the information needed to fulfill the request and to identify the records sought by the requestor, including providing the requestor with general topics or a specific list of records related to the request, the request may be denied if it is still not reasonably specific." 51 O.S. § 24A.5(7)<https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=80292> Additionally, SB 535 allows a municipality to require advance payment of the estimated authorized fees when the estimated cost exceeds Seventy-five Dollars ($75.00) or if the requestor has outstanding fees from previous requests. Any portion of an advance payment that exceeds the costs of responding to the request must be returned to the requestor. 51 O.S. § 24A.5(4)<https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=80292> For basic information on the Open Records Act and Open Meetings Act, the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office has put together one page summaries which can be accessed below: * Open Records One Pager<https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/oag/open-records/oma-and-ora-resources/Open%20Records%20One%20Pager.pdf> <https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/oag/open-records/oma-and-ora-resources/Open%20Records%20One%20Pager.pdf> * Open Records for Law Enforcement One Pager<https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/oag/open-records/oma-and-ora-resources/Open%20Records%20One%20Pager%20Law%20Enforcement.pdf> * Open Meeting Act One Pager<https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/oag/open-records/oma-and-ora-resources/Open%20Meeting%20Act%20One%20Pager.pdf> <https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/oag/open-records/oma-and-ora-resources/Open%20Meeting%20Act%20One%20Pager.pdf> Feel free to email me separately if you have any questions. Thanks, Christian Rinehart GENERAL COUNSEL OKLAHOMA MUNICIPAL LEAGUE 201 Northeast 23rd Street Oklahoma City, OK 73105 (405) 528-7515 [cid:0adb5e1f-585e-4a49-b024-8f87ff8bdaf6] The Municipal Inquiry Service provides information based on Oklahoma Statutes and sample policies from other member cities and towns to members of the Oklahoma Municipal League. There may be other facts and details that were unknown to OML or not relayed that may alter the information provided. OML does not provide legal advice or act as a legal advisor. The advice of your municipal attorney, as your legal advisor, should be followed before implementing any policy or making any decisions regarding your legal matters. The OML American Recovery Plan Act Inquiry service provides information based on the guidance provided by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the state of Oklahoma. Each Oklahoma municipality is responsible for submitting and verifying the correct budget information, using ARPA funds correctly, obligating the ARPA funds by December 31, 2024, spending the ARPA funds by December 31, 2026, and submitting the yearly project and expenditure report by April 30th, 2026. The advice of a municipal attorney, as a legal advisor, should be followed before making any decisions regarding accepting, spending, or reporting on ARPA funds.