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 2084: Governmental Tort Claims Act; limiting settlement awards for wrongful termination claims; providing for inclusion of certain damages. Effective date.

SB 2084 caps settlement amounts for wrongful termination claims by employees of Oklahoma public institutions of higher education (like state universities) at two years of their base salary at termination. It limits total settlements to include back pay and damages but excludes accrued unpaid wages, leave, and retirement contributions already earned. The bill specifically applies to state law claims, not federal ones, and takes effect November 1, 2026. This directly affects public university employees filing termination disputes under Oklahoma law.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesCaps government spending on wrongful termination settlements, reducing state expenditures for public university employee claims by limiting settlement amounts.95% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill limits settlement amounts for wrongful termination claims by public university employees, reducing potential compensation (a benefit) for teachers/staff, opposing enhanced educator protections.90% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentCaps wrongful termination settlements at 2 years' base salary for public university employees, excluding earned wages/retirement benefits, restricting worker compensation rights.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

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

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 4, 2026

SB 481: Public employees; prohibiting certain public employees from engaging in certain actions and using certain resources for certain purposes. Effective date. Emergency,

SB 481 bans public employees (including state, local, and school district workers) from participating in group strikes or work stoppages. It automatically terminates employment, revokes pensions and civil service rights, and revokes teaching certificates for educators who violate the ban. The law explicitly allows individual employees to stop working without group action. This bill takes effect November 1, 2025, and applies broadly across Oklahoma's public workforce.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRestricts teachers' group strikes and revokes teaching certificates for violations. Directly limits educators' collective action in the education sector.90% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBans public employee group strikes and imposes severe penalties, directly restricting collective bargaining and worker organizing rights.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

Track

signed · Oklahoma · House May 30, 2025

HB 1087: Education; length of school year; extending amount of classroom instruction time; minimum salary schedule; adding years of experience to minimum salary amounts; effective date; emergency.

HB 1087 establishes a new minimum salary schedule for Oklahoma public school teachers based on years of experience and education level, directly affecting all certified teachers in the state's public schools. The bill sets specific annual salary amounts ranging from $39,601 for entry-level teachers with a Bachelor's degree to $65,319 for those with 35+ years of experience and a Doctorate. It clarifies that "fringe benefits" exclude certain retirement contributions and requires school districts to notify teachers if salary adjustments would fall below the minimum schedule. The law takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year after being approved by the governor on May 30, 2025.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes minimum teacher salaries increasing pay based on experience/education, directly supporting educator compensation and funding.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncreases minimum teacher salaries from $39,601 to $65,319 based on experience/education, directly advancing compensation standards for public school educators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 27, 2025

SB 250: Oklahoma Minimum Wage Act; allowing for alternative computation for wage under certain circumstances. Effective date.

This bill modifies Oklahoma's minimum wage calculation by allowing employers to count up to 50% of tips, meals, or lodging toward meeting the state's minimum wage requirement, provided the base cash wage meets federal standards (29 C.F.R. § 531.50(a)(1)). It directly affects tipped workers (like restaurant staff) and their employers when Oklahoma's minimum wage exceeds the federal rate. The key provision updates how wages are computed, ensuring employers cannot reduce cash wages below federal thresholds while crediting qualifying non-cash compensation. The law takes effect November 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentAllows employers to count tips toward minimum wage, reducing required cash wages for tipped workers and weakening wage protections per Oklahoma's higher minimum wage standard.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 27, 2025

SB 662: Workforce development; authorizing the Oklahoma Workforce Commission to implement certain programs. Effective date.

SB 662 expands the Oklahoma Workforce Commission's authority to implement workforce development programs. It requires the Commission to collect specific data (like participant wages, job openings, and program outcomes) and create a public dashboard to track workforce efforts, directly affecting educational institutions, state agencies, and workforce programs. The bill establishes a revolving fund for program funding and mandates implementation of initiatives targeting high-demand occupations through partnerships with schools, scholarship matching, and work-based learning opportunities like apprenticeships. These changes became effective July 1, 2025, after the bill was signed into law without the Governor's signature on May 27, 2025.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands workforce programs with funding, data tracking on wages/job outcomes, and targets high-demand occupations, directly advancing employment opportunities and program transparency.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 7, 2025

SB 95: Workers' compensation; amending definitions. Effective date.

SB 95 updates key definitions in Oklahoma's workers' compensation law to clarify eligibility and claims processing. It directly affects injured workers (claimants), employers, insurance carriers, and medical providers by defining terms like "case manager" (requiring specific nursing licenses or certifications) and "carrier" (explicitly including self-insured employers). The bill also clarifies what constitutes a "compensable injury," excluding age-related conditions like arthritis and adding drug testing rules for claims involving intoxication. These changes aim to standardize claims administration and reduce disputes over coverage. The bill became effective after the governor signed it on May 6, 2025.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareExcludes age-related conditions (e.g., arthritis) from compensable injuries, restricting healthcare coverage under workers' compensation for specific medical conditions.85% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentExcludes age-related conditions (e.g., arthritis) from compensable injuries, restricting worker benefits under workers' comp.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Oklahoma · House May 5, 2025

HB 1187: Oklahoma Employees Insurance and Benefits Act; opt-out option; removing group insurance; effective date.

HB 1187 allows Oklahoma state employees to opt out of the state's basic health and dental insurance plans if they have separate group coverage, while retaining life and disability benefits. To opt out, employees must provide proof of their separate coverage and sign an annual affidavit, and they receive $150 instead of the flexible benefit amount they would otherwise receive. The state retains any savings from employees opting out of health coverage. This bill directly affects eligible state employees who qualify for separate group insurance and takes effect November 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentReduces employee health benefits by replacing flexible coverage with $150 annual payment instead of full benefits, weakening workplace compensation standards.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment