TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — A new bill, Senate Bill 1386, has been introduced in Oklahoma, proposing the mandatory use of cameras in all public courtrooms across the state.
The legislation aims to enhance transparency and accountability in the justice system by requiring audio and video recording of court proceedings, with livestreaming whenever technically feasible. The footage would be archived and accessible through a statewide public access portal.
State Sen. Christi Gillespie of District 33 emphasized the importance of transparency, drawing parallels to the use of body cameras by law enforcement.
“I don’t see any reason why if our public safety officers are wearing cameras, why in the world we wouldn’t want cameras to be in the courtroom to oversee how the legal proceeding go from there,” she said.
The bill also seeks to improve accuracy in court records. While court reporters would continue to produce official transcripts, video recordings could help resolve disputes if something is missed during testimony or arguments.
“We want to make sure that we’re as transparent as possible and that court reporters they aren’t infallible and sometimes they don’t get everything in the record and a camera and the footage from a camera can answer some questions we might have,” Gillespie added.
The legislation includes protections for minors, jurors, and victims, allowing cameras to be positioned to avoid showing protected individuals or to restrict footage when required by law.
“But the other thing is we want to make sure that the preparator is on camera, but as well as the judges, district attorneys, the attorneys, we want to make sure they are accountable for the things they say and don’t say,” Gillespie said.
Funding for the equipment would come from the state, not local courts, which lawmakers acknowledge as a challenge. If passed, the bill would take effect Nov. 1, 2026, with funding being the current major hurdle.
