Immigration (Work Authorization)

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 5, 2026

SB 1287: Oklahoma Abstractors Act; allowing denial of certain applicant. Effective date.

SB 1287 amends Oklahoma's Abstractors Act to update license qualification standards for abstractors. It directly affects individuals applying for abstractor licenses by requiring applicants to have legal U.S. work authorization, reside in or be physically present in the United States, and not have certain criminal convictions that pose a threat to public safety or relate to abstracting duties. The bill clarifies that the Oklahoma Abstractors Board may deny licenses based on these criteria, defining "poses a reasonable threat" as criminal conduct involving harm to others and "substantially relates" as direct bearing on abstracting duties. Licenses remain valid for one year with a maximum $150 renewal fee. The bill takes effect November 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationRequires legal U.S. work authorization for abstractor licenses, restricting immigrant access to profession.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Work Authorization

in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 3, 2026

HB 3725: Labor; e-verification; Department of Labor; requirements; penalties; codification; effective date.

HB 3725, the Oklahoma Workforce Protection Act, requires most Oklahoma employers to verify the immigration status of new hires using an electronic system like federal E-Verify. It applies to businesses with employees (excluding independent contractors, returning seasonal workers within 12 months of original verification, and non-employees) and mandates compliance within 90 days for large employers (50+ staff) or 180 days for smaller businesses after a state online portal is launched. Employers who fail to comply face fines of $100-$500 per violation, with higher penalties for repeated offenses, though fines are waived if systems are implemented within the grace periods. The Oklahoma Department of Labor must create an online portal for employer resources and publish annual reports on compliance rates and enforcement actions.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationMandates employer verification of immigration status via E-Verify, increasing state enforcement against undocumented workers per federal system requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Work Authorization

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 3, 2026

HB 3563: Commercial motor vehicles; unauthorized migrants; law enforcement; custody; federal transfer; punitive fines; required costs; effective date; emergency.

HB 3563 requires Oklahoma law enforcement to take commercial drivers identified as unauthorized migrants into custody and transfer them to federal immigration authorities. It mandates impounding the commercial vehicle and imposing a $50,000 fine on the vehicle owner, plus all impoundment costs, before release. Motor carriers operating vehicles driven by such individuals face a state-wide operating ban. The bill directly affects commercial drivers without legal status, vehicle owners, and motor carriers operating in Oklahoma, effective July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationMandates Oklahoma law enforcement to detain unauthorized migrants, transfer to federal authorities, impose $50k fines, and ban motor carriers - directly increasing state enforcement against immigrants.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licenses & IDs Enforcement Work Authorization

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 3, 2026

HB 3597: State welfare benefits; eligibility; immigrants; food stamps; Medicaid; effective date.

HB 3597 prohibits unauthorized immigrants (defined as individuals without proper legal documentation, including those who entered without inspection or overstayed visas) from receiving food stamp benefits or Medicaid/SooonerCare coverage in Oklahoma. The bill amends state statutes to explicitly ban these benefits for such individuals under all circumstances, with penalties for knowingly assisting them. It aligns Medicaid eligibility requirements with federal SNAP work rules but excludes Insure Oklahoma and specific exempt populations. The law takes effect November 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRestricts Medicaid access for unauthorized immigrants, directly limiting healthcare coverage under public health programs.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationProhibits unauthorized immigrants from state welfare benefits (food stamps/Medicaid), restricting access to essential services per bill's explicit ban and penalties.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Work Authorization

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passed · Oklahoma · House May 14, 2026

HB 4423: Oklahoma Health Care Authority; federal immigration reporting systems; requiring Authority to report certain applicants to the Attorney General; notification to Immigration and Customs Enforcement; effective date.

HB 4423 requires the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to verify the immigration status of all Medicaid applicants using the federal SAVE system (or its successor) before approving benefits. It specifically mandates that the Authority notify U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) if an applicant's status cannot be verified as lawful. This applies to all applicants, including adults applying for child-only Medicaid benefits on behalf of a child. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026, and does not change Medicaid eligibility criteria but adds a verification step for immigration status.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRestricts Medicaid access by requiring immigration verification and ICE notification for applicants, limiting healthcare coverage for immigrants.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationMandates Medicaid status verification via federal system and requires ICE notification for unverified applicants, restricting access to healthcare services based on immigration status.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Enforcement Work Authorization

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 2073: State government; creating the Hire Oklahomans Act. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 2073, the "Hire Oklahomans Act," prohibits all Oklahoma state entities (including agencies, universities, and local governments) from hiring or renewing employment for individuals under H-1B visas or Optional Practical Training (OPT) programs. The law applies only to new hires or contract renewals starting July 1, 2026, and does not affect existing employment agreements. It aims to prioritize public employment opportunities for Oklahoma residents by restricting state-funded positions to individuals not relying on these specific federal visa programs. The bill explicitly states that state employment funded by Oklahoma taxpayers is a matter of state sovereignty, separate from federal immigration authority.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationProhibits state hiring of H-1B/OPT visa holders, restricting immigrant access to public employment opportunities as stated in bill summary.95% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBill restricts state hiring of H-1B/OPT workers, limiting employment opportunities for foreign workers in public sector roles, opposing labor policies by restricting access to state jobs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Work Authorization

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 1850: Labor; creating the Oklahoma Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act: requiring employers to verify employees upon hiring. Effective date.

SB 1850 requires most Oklahoma employers to verify new employees' work authorization using the federal E-Verify system within three business days of hiring. Employers must provisionally hire workers until verification is confirmed and maintain records for at least three years. The law exempts employers already compliant with federal verification rules and those who hired staff before the law's effective date. It does not replace federal immigration law requirements, and violations could result in fines up to $5,000 per incident.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationMandates E-Verify for work authorization verification, increasing state-level enforcement compliance with federal immigration requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Work Authorization

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 2076: State government; prohibiting state contracts with certain companies; allowing for waiver of certain applicability. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 2076 prohibits Oklahoma state contracts and tax incentives for companies using H-1B visas or optional practical training for jobs physically performed within Oklahoma. It applies only to Oklahoma-based work, not companies' out-of-state operations. Companies must certify compliance under penalty of perjury, and exceptions require a legislative waiver approved by both chambers. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and does not affect existing contracts or out-of-state activities.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesProhibits tax incentives for H-1B-using companies, restricting a specific tax break under fiscal policy.90% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationProhibits state contracts with companies using H-1B/OPT for Oklahoma jobs, restricting immigrant employment access and limiting visa program utilization in state contracting.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRestricts H-1B/OPT use for Oklahoma jobs to protect local workers' employment opportunities, aligning with labor protection goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Work Authorization

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 2, 2026

HB 1962: Labor; status verification system; hiring; penalties; effective date.

HB 1962 requires all Oklahoma employers registered to do business in the state to verify the work eligibility of new hires using a federal immigration verification system (such as E-Verify) starting November 1, 2025. It directly affects every business hiring new employees in Oklahoma, including small businesses and large employers. Employers must use a system meeting federal standards, and violations incur three warnings before fines of $100-$500 per offense. The law codifies this requirement in Oklahoma Statutes and aligns with federal programs like E-Verify.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationMandates E-Verify for all employers, requiring federal immigration checks on new hires, increasing enforcement against undocumented workers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Work Authorization

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 1230: Driver licenses; requiring Service Oklahoma to verify lawful presence of certain applicants. Effective date.

SB 1230 requires Oklahoma's Service Oklahoma to verify the lawful presence of certain driver license applicants before issuing licenses. This applies to individuals seeking licenses who would not qualify under current rules without this verification. The bill mandates that Service Oklahoma confirm applicants' legal status through specific checks, with penalties for non-compliance. It amends Oklahoma's driver license statutes (47 O.S. § 6-101) to include this requirement, effective upon passage.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationMandates verification of lawful presence for driver's licenses, restricting access to a state service based on immigration status per bill's verification requirement.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licenses & IDs Work Authorization

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