Oklahoma SB 1534: Corporations; modifying requirements related to charitable organizations and solicitation of charitable contributions; prohibiting certain actions by charitable nonprofit corporations. Effective date.

Bill Text

An Act
ENROLLED SENATE
BILL NO. 1534 By: Haste of the Senate

and

Moore of the House

An Act relating to corporations; amending 18 O.S.
2021, Sections 552.2, 552.3, 552.4, and 552.14a,
which relate to the Oklahoma Solicitation of
Charitable Contributions Act; modifying definitions;
defining terms; requiring charitable organization to
provide certain information to the Secretary of
State; modifying applicability of act to certain
organizations and institutions; authorizing
charitable organizations to enter into certain
consent judgments; specifying proper court
jurisdiction to enforce certain compliance; providing
exceptions to certain prohibited disclosures;
defining term; specifying certain duties for director
or officer of charitable nonprofit corporation;
amending 18 O.S. 2021, Sections 1004.1 and 1027, as
amended by Sections 9 and 16, Chapter 120, O.S.L.
2024, and 1029 (18 O.S. Supp. 2025, Sections 1004.1
and 1027), which relate to the Oklahoma General
Corporation Act; modifying applicability of certain
provisions; modifying definition; modifying required
number of members of boards of directors of certain
corporations; prohibiting certain actions by
charitable nonprofit corporations; providing for
certain liability; updating statutory language;
updating statutory references; providing for
codification; and providing an effective date.

SUBJECT: Charitable nonprofit entities

ENR. S. B. NO. 1534 Page 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:

SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 18 O.S. 2021, Section 552.2, is
amended to read as follows:

Section 552.2. As used in the Oklahoma Solicitation of
Charitable Contributions Act:

1. “Person” means any individual, organization, group,
association, partnership, corporation, limited liability company,
trust, or other entity, except as otherwise provided in Section
552.1 et seq. of this title;

2. “Charitable organization” means any person soliciting
contributions in this state, other than a natural person, that is
described in Section 501(c) of Title 26 of the United States Code,
that solicits contributions as described in this act and that is
organized and operated primarily for religious, charitable,
scientific, literary, educational, artistic, cultural, economic
development, civic improvement, testing for public safety, research,
humanitarian, animal welfare, recreational, or environmental
protection purposes; to foster national or international amateur
sports competition, but only if no part of its activities involves
the provision of athletic facilities or equipment; to prevent
cruelty to children, the elderly, identified populations, or
animals; to relieve poverty, hunger, or homelessness; to support law
enforcement or citizen protection organizations or agencies; or to
provide emergency relief a charitable purpose. “Charitable
organization” shall also include a natural person representing
himself or herself as a charitable organization or purporting to act
on behalf of a charitable organization or a charitable purpose;

2. “Charitable purpose” means religious, charitable,
scientific, literary, educational, artistic, cultural, economic
development, civic improvement, testing for public safety, research,
humanitarian, animal welfare, recreational, or environmental
protection purposes; to foster national or international amateur
sports competition, but only if no part of its activities involves
the provision of athletic facilities or equipment; to prevent
cruelty to children, the elderly, identified populations, or
animals; to relieve poverty, hunger, or homelessness; to support law

ENR. S. B. NO. 1534 Page 3
enforcement or citizen protection organizations or agencies; or to
provide emergency relief;

3. “Contribution” means the promise, gift, donation, payment,
pledge, or grant of any money or property of any kind or value,
including any contribution for operations, capital, endowment,
reserves, dues, memberships, program support, naming opportunities,
or other uses. Contribution does not include a payment for goods,
services, admission to a museum, performances or programs sold or
provided by a charitable organization, if the payment does not
exceed the bona fide fair market value of the goods or services
provided;

4. “Form 990” means a return of an organization that is exempt
from federal income tax. Form 990 includes, but is not limited to,
Form 990, Form 990-N, Form 990-PF, and other similar returns as
required by federal law;

5. “Person” means any individual, organization, group,
association, partnership, corporation, limited liability company,
trust, or other entity, except as otherwise provided in Section
552.1 et seq. of this title;

6. “Professional fundraiser” means any person who for
compensation or other consideration plans, conducts or manages in
this state the solicitation of contributions for or on behalf of any
charitable organization, or who engages in the business of or holds
himself or herself out to persons in this state as independent