HB 1138 Oklahoma House · 2025 Regular Session

Law enforcement; modifying duties of the Human Capital Management Division and the Civil Service Division of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services; effective date.

HB 1138, the Civil Service and Human Capital Modernization Act, modifies the duties of Oklahoma's Human Capital Management and Civil Service Divisions to create new programs for most state employees. It establishes a State Employee Dispute Resolution Program (including mandatory mediation for disciplinary actions like punitive transfers before hearings), a confidential whistleblower program for reporting mismanagement or misuse of state funds, and an Office of Veterans Placement to assist veterans seeking state jobs. The bill requires quarterly reports on case volumes to the Governor and legislature, sets strict timelines for filing and resolving complaints (10 business days to file, 30 days for hearings), and excludes certain groups like elected officials, judges, temporary workers, and executive management from these provisions. These changes aim to standardize how state employment disputes and grievances are handled across Oklahoma's executive branch agencies.
Bill status vetoed 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
Vetoed
May 2025
Introduced Feb 3, 2025 Vetoed May 27, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 5 comparisons

What changed between versions

Floor (House) Floor (Senate) · 5 edits
MODERATE
This bill was amended during Senate review to expand protections for state employees by adding a confidential whistleblower program, clarifying complaint filing deadlines, and establishing specific rules for handling disciplinary actions. The Senate version also added provisions allowing the Office of the Attorney General to investigate whistleblower claims and introduced attorney fee provisions for prevailing parties in disputes.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded to include a new whistleblower protection program and clarified the procedures for handling disciplinary complaints, while also adding specific exemptions for certain high-level government officials.
REQUIREMENT

Added a confidential whistleblower program that allows state employees to report mismanagement or misuse of state funds, with the Attorney General authorized to investigate and prosecute claims.

ENFORCEMENT

Added provisions allowing the presiding officer of Civil Service Division proceedings to require payment of attorney fees and costs to the prevailing party in disputes.

TIMELINE

Modified complaint filing deadlines to require complaints to be filed within 10 business days of disciplinary action, with hearings to occur within 30 business days.

EXEMPTIONS

Added exemptions from the bill's requirements for certain high-level officials including the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, legislative leaders, and political appointees.

DEFINITION

Added a definition of 'disciplinary actions' to include termination, suspension, demotion, punitive transfers, and written reprimands.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
37
Key actions
11
Committee
8
May 29, 2025
Introduced
Filed with Secretary of State
lower
May 29, 2025
Vetoed
Veto overridden: Ayes: 42 Nays: 2
upper
May 29, 2025
Vetoed
Veto overridden: Ayes: 93 Nays: 0
lower
May 27, 2025
Vetoed
Vetoed 05/22/2025
lower
May 15, 2025
Committee
Referred for enrollment
lower
May 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Fourth Reading, Measure passed: Ayes: 79 Nays: 0
lower
May 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
SA's read, adopted
lower
May 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
Engrossed to House
upper
May 8, 2025
Committee
Referred for engrossment
upper
May 8, 2025
Upper · Passed
Measure passed: Ayes: 45 Nays: 0
upper
Apr 8, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported Do Pass as amended Retirement and Government Resources committee; CR filed
upper
Mar 25, 2025
Introduced
First Reading
upper
Mar 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Engrossed, signed, to Senate
lower
Mar 24, 2025
Committee
Referred for engrossment
lower
Mar 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third Reading, Measure passed: Ayes: 85 Nays: 0
lower
Mar 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
CR; Do Pass Appropriations and Budget Committee
lower
Feb 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Recommendation to the full committee; Do Pass Appropriations and Budget General Government Subcommittee
lower
Feb 7, 2025
Committee
Referred to Appropriations and Budget General Government Subcommittee
lower
Feb 5, 2025
Committee
Referred to Appropriations and Budget
lower
Feb 3, 2025
Introduced
First Reading
lower
2 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors