House passes bill to bar certain sex offenders from adopting children

The Oklahoma House on March 18 passed House Bill 2,936, a measure the sponsor said clarifies that people convicted of sexual offenses against children may not adopt.

Representative Milton, explaining the bill on the House floor, said the measure “simply, clarifies and assures that pedophiles may not adopt children.” The bill was advanced and brought to a final vote after brief questions from colleagues.

Representative Fugate asked whether the problem is occurring in Oklahoma or represents a preventive response to incidents in other states. “Is this something that's happening today, or is this something speculative we're just trying to prevent?” she asked. Milton acknowledged the bill “is trying to prevent it,” and said the situation “has happened in another state,” and that he was not aware of specific incidents occurring in Oklahoma.

The bill drew no recorded opposition on the final vote. The clerk announced the tally as 71 ayes, 0 nays, and the presiding officer declared the bill passed on third reading.

The measure as presented focuses on adoption eligibility and does not change other guardianship or custody statutes; sponsors framed it as a clarity and public-protection measure. The House took no further action on amendments during the third-reading sequence.

The bill now moves to the next statutorily required steps for enrollment and transmission.