No testimony given by a witness before the House of Representatives or the Senate, or before any committee established by a Resolution of the House, or Senate, or Concurrent Resolution of the two Houses of the Legislature, shall be used as evidence in any criminal proceeding against him in any court, except in a prosecution for perjury committed in giving such testimony. But an official paper or record produced by him is not within the privilege.
§ 411.Privilege
Chapter 9: Witnesses · Last amended June 1, 1957 · Last verified August 3, 2026
In one sentenceSection 411 bars using testimony a witness gives before the House, Senate, or a legislative committee as evidence against that witness in a criminal proceeding, except in a prosecution for perjury committed while giving that testimony, and excludes official papers or records from this protection.
Full Text of § 411
Amendment History
Laws 1957, HB 831, p. 167, § 1, emerg. eff. 6/1/1957.
Plain-English Summary
Testifying before the Legislature or one of its committees comes with a use-immunity guarantee. Whatever the witness says can't be used as evidence against them in a criminal proceeding, with one exception: a prosecution for perjury committed while giving that testimony. The privilege covers testimony itself, not everything the witness hands over; an official paper or record the witness produces isn't protected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can testimony given before an Oklahoma legislative committee be used against the witness in a criminal case?
No, except in a prosecution for perjury committed while giving that testimony.
Does this privilege protect documents a witness produces to the committee?
No. The statute excludes an official paper or record the witness produces from the privilege.
What bodies does this privilege cover testimony before?
The House of Representatives, the Senate, any committee established by a House or Senate resolution, or any committee created by a concurrent resolution of both houses.
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: legislative committee witness immunity oklahomatestimony before the legislature use immunityprivilege against self incrimination legislature