Lawmakers estimated that 500 to 800 people could be released on simple possession charges and up to 60,000 people could have their records expunged under the bill.

The retroactivity legislation, which takes effect Nov. 1, establishes an expedited commutation process for people who are serving felony prison sentences for offenses that are now misdemeanors. It also provides a simplified path to expungement for people with old drug possession and low-level property convictions.

Voters passed the state question in 2016 to reclassify some drug possession and property crimes as misdemeanors instead of felonies.

The legislation will allow families to be reunited and will contribute to workforce development, said Kris Steele, executive director of Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform, a nonpartisan coalition that pushed for the retroactivity measure and other legislative reforms.

"Tens of thousands of Oklahomans will be eligible to apply to have their felony taken off their record, which will open up new and hopefully more fruitful employment opportunities for them," Steele said.

A felony changes the trajectory of a person’s ability to provide for their family, Steele said.

"Making the reforms in State Question 780 retroactive not only upholds the will of the people, the voters of our state, but it also opens up a lot of opportunities for individuals who have that scarlet letter hanging around their neck to have that removed and it affords those individuals the opportunity to move forward in life in a very healthy and positive way," he said.