SB 277 Oklahoma Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Paid leave; creating the Oklahoma State Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Act; providing for eligibility and duration of benefits; specifying qualifications. Effective date.

This bill proposes creating Oklahoma's first state-run paid family and medical leave insurance program. It would provide eligible workers (including employees and self-employed individuals who opt in) with up to 12 weeks of paid leave annually for childbirth, caring for a seriously ill family member, or personal medical needs. Benefits would be calculated based on the worker's average weekly earnings during their base period, with employers required to provide notice about the program and protect workers from retaliation for using benefits. The Oklahoma Department of Labor would administer the program, establish claim procedures, and require employers to maintain existing leave obligations.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 3, 2025 Last action Feb 24, 2026

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What changed between versions

Introduced → Committee Substitute · 7 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended from an introduced version to a committee substitute version, changing the legislative session from the 1st to the 2nd session of the 60th Legislature (2025 to 2026). The Department of Labor was replaced with the Oklahoma Workforce Commission as the administering agency throughout the bill. Several definitions were modified, including the addition of a 'CEO' definition and reorganization of the 'Covered individual' and 'Family member' definitions. The bill's effective date and codification section were also updated.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains the same (paid family and medical leave insurance), but the administering agency changed from the Department of Labor to the Oklahoma Workforce Commission, which may affect how the program is implemented and enforced.

TIMELINE

Changed legislative session from 1st Session of 60th Legislature (2025) to 2nd Session of 60th Legislature (2026)

REQUIREMENT

Replaced all references to 'Department of Labor' with 'Oklahoma Workforce Commission' as the administering agency

DEFINITION

Added new definition for 'CEO' as Chief Executive Officer of the Oklahoma Workforce Commission

Reorganized and expanded the 'Covered individual' definition to include clearer formatting and structure

Expanded the 'Family member' definition to explicitly include grandparents, grandchildren, and siblings

Changed 'Commissioner' definition from Commissioner of Labor to Commission meaning Oklahoma Workforce Commission

TECHNICAL

Updated page numbering and request numbers from Req. No. 718 to Req. No. 3699

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 24, 2026

Committee

Referred to Appropriations

upper

Feb 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported Do Pass, amended by committee substitute Economic Development, Workforce and Tourism committee; CR filed

upper

Feb 3, 2025

Introduced

First Reading

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors