A. In a criminal case in which the defendant is accused of an offense involving domestic violence or abuse, evidence of the commission of another act of domestic violence or abuse by the defendant is admissible and may be considered for its bearing on any matter to which it is relevant.
§ 2415.Domestic Violence Or Abuse - Admissibility of Prior Acts In Criminal Cases - Disclosure Requirements - Definitions
Chapter 40: Oklahoma Evidence Code · Last amended November 1, 2026 · Last verified August 3, 2026
In one sentenceWill make, effective November 1, 2026, a defendant's commission of another act of domestic violence or abuse admissible in a domestic-violence prosecution for its bearing on any relevant matter, following the same fifteen-day disclosure structure as Oklahoma's sexual-assault and child-molestation propensity rules.
Full Text of § 2415
B. In a criminal case in which the state intends to offer evidence under this section, the attorney for the state shall disclose the evidence to the defendant, including statements of witnesses or a summary of the substance of any testimony that is expected to be offered, at least fifteen (15) days before the commencement of trial or at such later time as the court may allow for good cause.
C. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to limit the admission or consideration of evidence under any other rule or provision of law.
D. For purposes of this section, "domestic violence or abuse" means any incident of controlling, coercive, or threatening behavior, violence, or other act of abuse against a person in a relationship as specified in subsection C of Section 644 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes. The violence or abuse may be psychological, physical, sexual, economic, or emotional.
Amendment History
Added by Laws 2026, c. 365,s. 1, eff. 11/1/2026.
Plain-English Summary
This section is not yet law. Added by the Legislature in 2026, it takes effect November 1, 2026, a date that as of this writing is still in the future. When it takes effect, it will extend to domestic-violence prosecutions the same approach Sections 2413 and 2414 already take for sexual-assault and child-molestation cases: evidence that the defendant committed another act of domestic violence or abuse will be admissible and considered for its bearing on any relevant matter, not just for a narrow purpose.
The new section will require the state to disclose the evidence, including witness statements or a summary of expected testimony, at least fifteen days before trial or later for good cause, and it won't limit the admission of evidence under any other rule. It defines "domestic violence or abuse" broadly -- any incident of controlling, coercive, or threatening behavior, violence, or other abuse against a person in a relationship specified in 21 O.S. § 644(C), whether the abuse is psychological, physical, sexual, economic, or emotional.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Oklahoma's new domestic-violence evidence rule in effect now?
No. Section 2415 was added in 2026 and doesn't take effect until November 1, 2026 -- it isn't operative law as of this writing.
What will this section allow once it takes effect?
It will make evidence that a defendant committed another act of domestic violence or abuse admissible in a domestic-violence prosecution, for its bearing on any matter to which it's relevant.
How does this compare to Oklahoma's rules for sexual assault and child molestation?
It follows the same structure as Sections 2413 and 2414 -- admissibility for any relevant purpose, plus a fifteen-day pretrial disclosure requirement -- applied to domestic violence or abuse instead.
How broadly does the new section define "domestic violence or abuse"?
Broadly. It covers any incident of controlling, coercive, or threatening behavior, violence, or other abuse, whether psychological, physical, sexual, economic, or emotional, against a person in a relationship specified in Section 644(C) of Title 21.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
Title 12 of the Oklahoma Statutes, enacted by the Oklahoma Legislature.
Last verified August 3, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: oklahoma domestic violence prior acts evidence 202612 O.S. § 2415new domestic violence evidence rule oklahomadomestic abuse propensity evidence oklahoma