Labor & Employment

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.

SB 1106 amends Oklahoma's Fair Pay for Construction Act to clarify which construction projects are exempt from its requirements. It specifically excludes highway, railroad, turnpike, municipal road, bridge, utility, traffic control, drainage, sewer, waterline, and single- to four-family dwelling construction contracts from the act's coverage. The bill also voids contract clauses that require dispute resolution in another state or limit contractors' rights under the act. The changes take effect on November 1, 2025.