Labor & Employment

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 13, 2026

SB 1944: Administrative Workers' Compensation Act; modifying definition. Effective date.

SB 1944 amends Oklahoma's workers' compensation law by updating key definitions in the Administrative Workers' Compensation Act. It clarifies who qualifies as an "actually dependent" for benefits, specifies requirements for certified "case managers" (including nursing licenses and specific certifications), and refines the definition of "compensable injury" to exclude injuries caused by alcohol/drug use, natural aging, or preexisting conditions without proven aggravation from work. These changes directly affect injured workers seeking benefits, employers, insurance carriers, and healthcare providers involved in workers' compensation claims. The bill aims to standardize eligibility and claim processing without creating new benefits or altering benefit amounts.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentExcludes alcohol/drug-related injuries and preexisting conditions without proven work aggravation, reducing eligible claims under workers' comp.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 13, 2026

SB 1425: Health care; repealing provisions related to the Health Care Workforce Resources Board. Effective date.

SB 1425 repeals three existing Oklahoma statutes related to health care workforce programs: 70 O.S. 2021 §2640 (Oklahoma Health Care Workers and Educators Assistance Program) and 74 O.S. 2021 §§3200.1-3200.2 (Health Care Workforce Resources Act). This bill eliminates the legal framework for these specific programs, which previously provided assistance to health care workers and educators. The repeal takes effect on November 1, 2026, and directly affects the administrative structure and operations of those programs. No new provisions or funding are created; the bill solely removes the existing laws.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRepeals statutes funding health workforce programs, eliminating legal framework for assistance to healthcare workers and educators, effectively defunding these initiatives.95% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentRepeals health care worker assistance programs, eliminating funding and support for workers' benefits and resources.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Oklahoma · House May 12, 2026

HB 3467: Education employees; maternity leave; adoption; purpose; effective date; emergency.

HB 3467 modifies leave policies for education employees in Oklahoma, specifically expanding maternity and adoption leave to cover children under four years old. The bill directly affects public school staff and other education employees who take leave for childbirth or adoption. Its key provision limits eligibility to cases where the child is under four years of age, narrowing the scope of existing leave coverage. The bill was amended to include this age restriction and referred to the Education Oversight committee for further review.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill restricts maternity/adoption leave eligibility to children under four, narrowing coverage and reducing employee benefits compared to broader existing policies.95% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentRestricts maternity/adoption leave eligibility to children under 4, narrowing existing coverage scope per bill summary.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 1277: Employment benefits; modifying conditions for disqualification; specifying work search actions. Effective date.

SB 1277 modifies Oklahoma's unemployment benefits rules by requiring job seekers to complete five specific work search activities each week to maintain eligibility. It lists 15 acceptable actions, such as submitting resumes, attending job fairs, completing online job search workshops, or developing a resume in the state's employment system. The bill replaces vague prior requirements with clear, actionable steps for recipients to prove they are actively seeking work. It does not change benefit amounts but affects individuals receiving unemployment benefits in Oklahoma. The changes take effect November 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentRequires stricter weekly work search activities to maintain unemployment benefits, increasing barriers to eligibility and restricting access to benefits.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

passed · Oklahoma · Senate May 7, 2026

SB 1884: School employees; modifying the access statewide professional educators' associations have to school employees; allowing termination of certain membership at any time. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1884 ensures school districts grant statewide professional educators' associations (like teacher unions) equal access to school employees for activities such as distributing materials, speaking at meetings, and using school facilities. It prohibits schools from conditioning this access on fees, meals, or donations and requires districts to notify the State Board of Education if access is denied within 15 days. The bill also allows school employees to terminate membership in these associations at any time without restrictions or requiring a reason, and invalidates any existing agreements that limit this right. These changes take effect July 1, 2026, applying directly to school employees and educators' associations in Oklahoma.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnsures equal access for teacher unions to school employees, prohibits fees/donations for union activities, strengthening educator association operations and support.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEnsures equal access for educator unions to organize, prohibits fees/conditions on union activities, directly strengthening collective bargaining rights for school employees.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

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signed · Oklahoma · House May 5, 2026

HB 3043: Soldiers and sailors; Department of Veterans Affairs; seasonal employees; codification; effective date.

HB 3043 creates a new category of "seasonal employees" for Oklahoma's Department of Veterans Affairs, defined as unclassified staff working under 1,699 hours annually. These employees will not receive benefits like paid leave, health insurance, retirement, or paid holidays. The bill requires the Department to report annual usage of these positions, including worker counts and total wages, in its budget requests. The law takes effect November 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates cost-saving seasonal employee category without benefits, requiring budget transparency and promoting fiscal responsibility through reduced state spending on non-essential staff.85% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentDenies benefits (health insurance, paid leave, retirement) to seasonal VA employees, restricting employment protections for a defined worker category.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Oklahoma · House May 4, 2026

HB 3086: Prisons and reformatories; Corrections Act of 1967; expanding powers and duties of the State Board of Corrections; effective date.

HB 3086 requires Oklahoma's State Board of Corrections to approve the Director's authority over prisoners' discipline and work programs. It specifically creates a Construction Division within the Department of Corrections for inmate work crews and prohibits inmates in this program from forming unions, striking, or engaging in collective bargaining. The bill also mandates Board approval for the Director to appoint staff, accept funding, or establish policies governing prison operations. These changes primarily affect prisoners working in the Construction Division and correctional staff managing prison programs.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeProhibits inmate union formation and collective bargaining, restricting prisoner rights within corrections95% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentProhibits prison inmates from unionizing or collective bargaining, directly restricting labor organizing rights within correctional work programs.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Oklahoma · House May 4, 2026

HB 2288: Teachers' Retirement System; postretirement employment; earning limitations; retired member; earnings without reduction in retirement benefits; effective date; emergency.

HB 2288 modifies rules for retired Oklahoma teachers who return to public school employment. It establishes a 60-day cooling-off period after retirement before reemployment and sets annual earnings limits: retired teachers under 62 may earn up to half their final salary (or Social Security's limit, whichever is lower), while those 62+ may earn up to $30,000 or half their final salary. The bill also creates a three-year exception (ending July 2027) allowing certain retired teachers who haven't worked for a public school in the past year to return without earnings limits. It clarifies that part-time work for state government (like the Legislature) doesn't count as public school employment under these rules.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentImposes earnings limits on retired teachers returning to public employment, restricting income potential post-retirement and weakening retirement benefit protections.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Oklahoma · House Apr 20, 2026

HB 3127: Medical marijuana; policy for applicants and employees; exceptions; effective date.

HB 3127 protects Oklahoma medical marijuana patients and caregivers from discrimination in employment, public assistance, and firearm ownership. It prohibits employers from refusing to hire, firing, or penalizing individuals solely for being a licensed medical marijuana user, and bars denial of Medicaid, SNAP, or firearm rights based on that status. However, the bill mandates a "zero-tolerance" policy for safety-sensitive jobs (like operating vehicles, handling hazardous materials, or direct patient care), allowing employers to enforce drug testing and discipline for marijuana use at work. Employers may still maintain written drug testing policies under state standards, but cannot deny employment based solely on medical marijuana license status or a positive test if the user is licensed and not impaired at work.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProtects medical marijuana users from employment discrimination and firearm rights denial, advancing civil rights in criminal justice reform.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects medical marijuana patients from Medicaid denial, advancing healthcare access and patient rights under public health programs.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProtects medical marijuana patients from employment discrimination, preventing refusal to hire/firing based on status, aligning with workers' rights protection in Labor & Employment.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 1, 2026

HB 3024: Public finance; agencies; salary increases; bonus amounts; metrics; job performance; advanced degrees; licensed persons; effective date; emergency.

HB 3024 establishes a 10% annual cap on salary increases and bonuses for most state employees in executive branch agencies, requiring cabinet secretary approval for any increase exceeding this limit. It mandates that agencies set performance metrics for bonus eligibility and document salary adjustments above 10% due to role changes or performance reviews. The bill excludes executive directors, positions requiring advanced degrees or state licenses (like doctors and engineers), and employees of higher education systems or school districts from these limits. These provisions take effect July 1, 2026, with the Office of Management and Enterprise Services overseeing implementation.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill imposes 10% cap on state employee salary increases/bonuses, restricting government spending on personnel costs per budget management focus.92% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentCaps annual salary increases and bonuses for most state employees at 10%, restricting wage growth and requiring approval for higher increases.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

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