Labor & Employment

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.

SB 508 expands existing whistleblower protections for Oklahoma teachers to include school support staff (like cafeteria workers, custodians, and administrative aides). It prohibits school districts from disciplining these employees for reporting violations of law, the Oklahoma Constitution, or safety concerns - whether disclosed directly to supervisors, school boards, or state education officials. Schools must prominently post this protection policy, while still respecting student privacy under FERPA. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and is designated an emergency measure.

SB 62 prohibits Oklahoma school districts from making payroll deductions for professional organization dues or political contributions from school employees' paychecks. This directly affects teachers and school staff who previously could authorize such deductions through their employers. The bill amends Oklahoma law to remove the requirement that districts automatically process these deductions upon employee request, instead making such deductions prohibited. Key provisions include requiring districts to stop these deductions immediately upon written employee request and preventing advance payments for future dues. The bill does not change how employees pay dues directly or impact other payroll deductions.

SB 689 modifies Oklahoma's property tax exemption for qualifying manufacturing facilities by adjusting the minimum investment threshold for eligibility to $500,000 (adjusted annually for inflation via the Consumer Price Index) and adding a new wage requirement. Facilities seeking exemption must now pay new employees an average annual wage meeting Oklahoma Quality Jobs Program standards for the year the property was placed in service. This bill directly affects manufacturing facilities, including those in aircraft repair, computer services, distribution centers, and custom order manufacturing, by changing how they qualify for a five-year property tax exemption. It updates definitions, clarifies payroll requirements, and requires annual publication of the adjusted investment threshold by the Oklahoma Tax Commission.