SB 521 Oklahoma Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Franchises; modifying definition; updating statutory reference. Effective date.

SB 521 updates Oklahoma's franchise law by clarifying key definitions in Section 6005 of Title 59. It defines "franchisor" to include subfranchisors who handle both pre-sale and post-sale activities, and specifies that a "franchise" requires trademark use, franchisor control or assistance, and a payment. Crucially, the bill explicitly states that franchisors are not employers of franchisee employees, and franchisee employees are not considered employees of the franchisor. This directly affects franchise businesses and their workers in Oklahoma by clarifying legal employer-employee relationships. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025.

Issues: ✗ Labor & Employment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 3, 2025 Last action Apr 24, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Floor (House) → Floor (Senate) · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill text was updated from the House version to the Senate version, primarily changing the header information to reflect Senate floor approval. The substantive legal content regarding franchise definitions and effective dates remains unchanged.

TECHNICAL

Header changed from 'HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES' to 'SENATE FLOOR VERSION' with updated date of March 6, 2025, indicating the bill has moved from House consideration to Senate consideration.

Committee report attribution changed from 'COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT' to 'COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS AND INSURANCE', reflecting Senate committee jurisdiction.

Page footer changed from 'SB521 HFLR' to 'SB521 SFLR' to indicate Senate Floor Legislative Report version.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 24, 2025

How they voted

48–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 49

Mar 24, 2025

D Democratic9

8 Yea 1

88% Yea

R Republican40

40 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 24, 2025

Lower · Passed

CR; Do Pass Commerce and Economic Development Oversight Committee

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Policy recommendation to the Commerce and Economic Development Oversight committee; Do Pass Business

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Committee

Referred to Business

lower

Mar 25, 2025

Introduced

First Reading

lower

Mar 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

Engrossed to House

upper

Mar 24, 2025

Committee

Referred for engrossment

upper

Mar 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

Measure passed: Ayes: 46 Nays: 0

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported Do Pass Business and Insurance committee; CR filed

upper

Feb 3, 2025

Introduced

First Reading

upper

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors