Oklahoma Named “Tort Reform Trailblazer,” Earns Status as National Leader in New Legislative Report

Today, the American Tort Reform Association named Oklahoma a “Tort Reform Trailblazer” in its latest Legislative HeatCheck report, celebrating a landmark year of legal reforms that strengthen the state’s business climate and protect Oklahoma families.

The report highlights three new laws ATRA says will reduce costs, increase courts’ efficiency and stop foreign influence from infiltrating the state’s courts.

“Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R), Senate Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton (R) and legislative leaders showed tremendous vision and determination this year by making the state’s legal system more fair, transparent, and efficient,” said Tiger Joyce, president of ATRA. “These reforms will benefit every Oklahoman — from small business owners to working families — and send a clear message that Oklahoma is open for business and committed to justice.”

Landmark Changes Improve Legal System for Oklahomans

This year’s legislative session saw the passage of several pivotal bills, all of which were signed by Gov. Stitt:

• Speeding Up Justice for Everyday People: A new law makes it much faster and less expensive for Oklahomans to resolve smaller lawsuits. This means families and small businesses can get fair decisions without waiting months or paying high legal fees. Senate Bill 453, sponsored by Republican lawmakers, Sen. Brent Howard and Rep. Erick Harris, also establishes stronger evidence standards to help keep junk science out of the courts.
• Keeping Foreign Funds Out of Oklahoma Courts: Lawmakers acted to stop outside groups — including foreign interests — from secretly funding lawsuits in Oklahoma. The new law will increase transparency and protect the integrity of the state’s courts from outside influence. House Bill 2619 also was sponsored by Rep. Harris and Sen. Howard.
• Special Courts for Business Disputes: Senate Bill 632, sponsored by Sen. Paxton and Rep. Kyle Hilbert (R), creates new, specialized business courts in Oklahoma to handle complex business disputes quickly and expertly. This will reduce the burden on other courts and create a more competitive, business-friendly legal environment, allowing Oklahoma businesses to focus on growing and creating jobs.

“We’re pleased to recognize Oklahoma’s commitment to common-sense legal reform,” Joyce said. “These new laws are a game-changer that will help attract new jobs, support local businesses, and protect courts from outside influence.” 

Economic Impact: Relief for Oklahoma Families and Businesses

A recent report found that excessive tort costs result in a $922 annual “tort tax” per resident — nearly $3,689 for a family of four. Those excessive litigation costs further lead to a loss of more than 32,200 jobs annually in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma’s new “Tort Reform Trailblazer” title is especially noteworthy given that the state was named a “Judicial Hellhole®” in the American Tort Reform Foundation’s 2019-2020 report. 

“We encourage lawmakers to continue building on this momentum to ensure Oklahoma remains a leader in legal reform,” Joyce said.

ATRA’s Legislative HeatCheck report evaluates a select group of states’ progress — or lack thereof — in enacting meaningful tort reform measures during their most recent legislative sessions. 

Oklahoma’s legislature joins Arkansas, Georgia and Montana lawmakers as 2025’s “Tort Reform Trailblazers.” The full Legislative HeatCheck report is available at heatcheck.atra.org.

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About the Legislative HeatCheck: The Legislative HeatCheck is an annual analysis, started in 2024 by the American Tort Reform Association, that assesses which states are making strides to improve their civil justice systems through tort reform and which states remain in dire need of legal reform. The report categorizes a select group of states into three groups:

• Tort Reform Trailblazers: States that have recently enacted key tort reform measures to rein in lawsuit abuse and improve their legal climates.
• Lawsuit Infernos: States whose legislatures are actively expanding liability and worsening their civil justice systems or failed to pass any meaningful legal reforms during their latest legislative sessions, leaving their civil justice systems mired in a litigious status quo.
• Heat Watch: States whose legislatures still are in session and are considering either positive or negative legislation. These states are placed on “Heat Watch” due to inaction on tort reform or the potential for liability-expanding legislation that could worsen their legal climates.

The Legislative HeatCheck provides an overview of tort reform battles waged in statehouses nationwide and serves as a guide for where reform efforts should be focused in the year ahead.