The decision, issued Nov. 10, came in a challenge brought by a group of Oklahoma voters who argued that the Legislature overstepped its authority when it capped the number of signatures citizens could collect to place proposed laws and constitutional amendments on the ballot.

The law, which took effect in 2025, was part of a broader push by lawmakers to tighten rules around the citizen-led initiative process. Supporters framed the measure as a way to prevent fraud and ensure that petition drives reflected genuine public support. But opponents argued it erected new barriers to direct democracy, making it harder for grassroots groups to gather the signatures needed to qualify measures for a vote.

The voters who sued contended that the signature limits conflicted with the state constitution's guarantee of the people's right to propose laws and amendments. The Supreme Court agreed, overturning the statute.

The ruling is a significant victory for civic groups and organizers who rely on the initiative process to advance policies that the Legislature has declined to take up. Oklahoma voters have used initiative petitions in recent years to expand Medicaid coverage, legalize medical marijuana, and reshape criminal justice policies, among other measures.

"This decision reaffirms that the power to propose laws belongs to the people, not to the Legislature," said one of the plaintiffs' attorneys involved in the case, adding that the ruling removes an obstacle that would have made it harder for ordinary Oklahomans to have their voices heard.

Legislative leaders who backed the 2025 law did not immediately comment on the ruling. It was not clear whether they would pursue alternative restrictions in the upcoming session.

The case is one of several recent disputes over the balance between legislative authority and the citizen initiative process in Oklahoma. Lawmakers have repeatedly introduced bills to add requirements for petition circulators, shorten the window for signature gathering, or raise the threshold for approval. Courts have scrutinized many of those efforts, and Tuesday's ruling signals that the judiciary will continue to guard the constitutional right of initiative.

For community organizers, the decision means petition drives already underway can proceed under the rules that existed before the 2025 law took effect. Groups working on issues ranging from local control over energy development to school funding said they were reviewing the ruling to understand how it affects their timelines.

The Oklahoma Supreme Court's full opinion was not immediately available, but the court's order Tuesday made clear that the signature limits cannot be enforced. The ruling is final unless a party seeks a rehearing.