Recent legislation in Oklahoma aims to bar the use of Sharia law (Islamic religious law) in state courts.
In early 2026, Republican State Representative Gabe Woolley (R-Broken Arrow) introduced House Joint Resolution 1040 (HJR 1040). This resolution proposes a constitutional amendment—called the “Save Our State Amendment”—that would prohibit Oklahoma courts from applying or considering Sharia law or any similar foreign legal code in judicial decisions. Instead, courts would be required to rely exclusively on the U.S. Constitution, Oklahoma Constitution, federal and state laws, regulations, and common law.
- The measure was filed in January 2026 and has gained co-sponsors (reports indicate around 27 legislators supporting it as of early February).
- If passed by the legislature, it would go to Oklahoma voters as a ballot question for approval.
- Woolley has described it as a proactive step to reaffirm constitutional authority and protect American legal principles, amid concerns he links to potential foreign influences (including in the context of a proposed mosque in his district that faced opposition and was ultimately rejected).
This echoes a similar effort in 2010, when Oklahoma voters approved State Question 755 (also called the Save Our State Amendment) with about 70 percent support. That measure banned courts from using Sharia law or international law but was struck down by federal courts as unconstitutional (violating the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause and free exercise protections, among other issues). It never took effect, and the state paid legal fees as a result.
A separate but related resolution, HJR 1049 from Rep. Justin “JJ” Humphrey, also seeks a similar ban on Sharia in courts.
For more, see Breitbart News.