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OKLAHOMA CITY — The Senate Appropriations Committee has unanimously advanced Senate Bill 1859, authored by Senator Aaron Reinhardt, to establish a Cyber Crime and Fraud Unit within the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
Senate Bill 1859 is intended to address the growing prevalence of cyber-related criminal activity, including online fraud, identity theft, ransomware attacks, and other offenses that increasingly cross jurisdictional and geographic boundaries. By centralizing expertise within a dedicated unit, the measure aims to improve investigative efficiency while supporting local law enforcement agencies that may lack specialized cyber resources.
“Cyber and financial crimes aren’t abstract problems anymore — they’re hitting families, small businesses, and local communities across Oklahoma,” Reinhardt said. “This bill makes sure the OSBI has a dedicated team with the tools and expertise to help law enforcement keep up while staying within the clear boundaries already set in law.”
The legislation allows the OSBI to organize the unit internally, deploy specialized personnel, and implement rules necessary to carry out its mission. It also creates a dedicated revolving fund and provides a $3 million appropriation to strengthen digital forensic capabilities and support coordination with local, state, tribal, and federal law enforcement partners, ensuring agencies across Oklahoma have access to the expertise needed to address increasingly sophisticated cyber and financial crimes.
The unanimous vote in Senate Appropriations reflects continued focus on modernizing Oklahoma’s response to cyber crime and financial fraud.
Senate Bill 1859 is now eligible for consideration on the Senate floor.
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Oklahoma Senate
