Labor; creating the Expanding Public Sector Career Opportunities Act; prohibiting public employers from certain hiring practices. Effective date.

SB 724, the Expanding Public Sector Career Opportunities Act, prohibits Oklahoma public employers (like state agencies and local governments) from rejecting job applicants solely for lacking a college degree. It requires employers to define minimum job requirements using direct work experience instead of degrees, sets specific experience-to-degree equivalencies (e.g., 4 years of experience for a bachelor’s degree), and mandates justification for degree requirements. Applicants rejected based on lacking a degree can appeal to the Office of Management and Enterprise Services, which may order employers to revise job postings or restart hiring. The bill applies to most public sector hiring but excludes certain educational appointments and contractor requirements.