HB 3033 establishes new minimum salary requirements for certified school staff in Oklahoma public schools, effective for the 2025-2026 school year. The bill sets a detailed pay schedule based on years of experience and education level (e.g., bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degrees), specifying minimum annual amounts for both salary and fringe benefits like retirement. It requires school districts to meet these minimums, with specific rules for crediting out-of-state teaching experience and military service. The law directly affects all certified teachers and support staff in Oklahoma’s public school districts.
HB 4199 establishes a three-year Tri-Share Workforce Pilot Program to help working parents afford child care for children aged birth to 8. It requires participating employers, the state, and parents to share costs equally - state matching employer contributions up to one-third of total costs, with parents covering the remainder - targeting employees earning 150-250% of the federal poverty level who don’t qualify for existing child care subsidies. The program will test in six Oklahoma counties (two urban, four rural) starting July 2026, with the Department of Human Services developing guidelines, providing technical assistance, and reporting annually on participation and impacts. If successful, it could lead to a statewide program, but the pilot itself is limited to the specified counties and eligibility criteria.
HB 3657 amends Oklahoma's definition of "employment" in the Labor Act, primarily affecting agricultural workers, crew leaders, and domestic workers. It clarifies that agricultural workers become covered employees if their employer paid $20,000+ in cash wages during a calendar year or employed 10+ workers for 20 weeks. The bill also defines "crew leaders" (who supply farm laborers) and specifies when they or the farm operator are treated as employers. Additionally, it updates domestic service coverage to require $1,000+ in quarterly cash wages for workers to be considered employees. The bill is proposed for the 2026 legislative session.
HB 4463 creates the "Oklahoma Health Care Workplace Incentive Safety Act," requiring hospitals and health care systems receiving state reimbursement to adopt formal workplace violence policies. It establishes a committee to develop safety metrics, assess hospital compliance annually, and administer incentives paid by the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission. The bill directly affects participating healthcare facilities by linking state funding to workplace safety standards, with the committee also identifying federal funding opportunities and submitting legislative recommendations.
SB 1937 prohibits employers who engage in specific labor practices from receiving Oklahoma's economic development incentives (such as grants, loans, or tax credits). It directly affects employers seeking these incentives by banning: (1) granting union recognition based solely on signed cards instead of secret ballot elections, (2) sharing employee contact information without consent, (3) signing neutrality agreements with unions, and (4) requiring subcontractors to violate these rules. Employers found violating these provisions must repay all incentives received for the project. The bill exempts existing agreements before its November 1, 2026, effective date and employers with current collective bargaining agreements.
HB 4481 establishes a statutory right for all Oklahoma public employees (including state, county, and municipal workers) to form unions, negotiate collectively over wages and working conditions, and engage in protected concerted activities. The bill explicitly guarantees employees the right to join or assist labor organizations without employer interference, while also affirming their right to decline participation in such activities. Key provisions require employers to recognize and bargain with elected employee representatives on terms of employment, mirroring federal labor protections. The law takes effect on November 1, 2026.
HB 3383 limits most Oklahoma state employees to working no more than 14 hours in any 24-hour period, including overtime. This rule may be temporarily suspended during officially declared emergencies to protect life, public safety, or critical infrastructure. The Office of Management and Enterprise Services must define what qualifies as an emergency, and all state agencies must create new scheduling rules to comply. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB 3037 amends Oklahoma's Governmental Tort Claims Act to clarify that students actively participating in institution-sponsored activities or events are considered "employees" under the law. This change directly affects students who sustain injuries during school-organized events like sports, clubs, or campus activities. The bill adds students to the existing definition of "employee" in Section 152, allowing them to file tort claims against the state or political subdivisions for injuries occurring during such activities. This adjustment aligns student participants with the same legal protections previously extended to other defined employee groups under the act.
HB 3823 requires private employers in Oklahoma to provide employees with up to 90 days of unpaid leave for organ or bone marrow donation, upon written request. It directly affects private employers (excluding government entities, schools, and public agencies) and their employees who are organ or bone marrow donors. The bill also allows employers who pay employees during this leave to claim a 25% credit against their Oklahoma income tax liability, limited to the first 90 days. This law does not apply to employees already covered by federal Family Medical Leave Act protections and takes effect November 1, 2026.
HB 3748 amends Oklahoma county commissioners' powers to include new provisions for county employee education and highway management. It establishes a tuition reimbursement program for county employees who maintain A/B grades in approved courses, requiring a one-year service commitment after participation. The bill also modifies highway relocation procedures, requiring institutions (like four-year universities) to notify county commissioners in writing and hold public hearings before altering highways adjacent to their property. These changes directly affect county employees seeking professional development and institutions managing land adjacent to public roads. The bill does not alter existing funding or create new taxes.
