HB 1087 establishes a new minimum salary schedule for Oklahoma public school teachers based on years of experience and education level, directly affecting all certified teachers in the state's public schools. The bill sets specific annual salary amounts ranging from $39,601 for entry-level teachers with a Bachelor's degree to $65,319 for those with 35+ years of experience and a Doctorate. It clarifies that "fringe benefits" exclude certain retirement contributions and requires school districts to notify teachers if salary adjustments would fall below the minimum schedule. The law takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year after being approved by the governor on May 30, 2025.
SB 924 amends Oklahoma's Employment Security Act of 1980 to update procedures for unemployment claims. It modifies definitions (including clarifying "digital portal filing" and "electronic e-filing"), allows the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission to adjust appeal filing requirements, and updates rules for dismissing cases due to missing information or confidentiality. These changes directly affect claimants applying for unemployment benefits, employers, and the Commission. The bill was vetoed by the Governor on May 10, 2025, and did not become law.
SB 609 allows Oklahoma police officers to count up to five years of prior service from certain out-of-state public retirement systems toward their Oklahoma Police Pension and Retirement System benefits. It applies to officers who previously worked in another state’s, county, or municipal retirement system but are not currently receiving benefits from that system. The bill permits this service to be transferred via trustee-to-trustee transfers or member payments, without changing retirement age or vesting requirements. The transferred service is added to an officer’s record after they reach normal retirement age or vesting date.
SB 816 creates two tax credits for Oklahoma taxpayers: (1) an employer credit covering 30-50% of costs for child care services, facilities, or on-site construction for employees' children, capped at $30,000 per business annually; and (2) a $1,000 refundable credit for qualified child care workers who meet specific employment and education requirements (e.g., 8+ months at a licensed facility, enrolled in Oklahoma's quality system, 12+ credit hours). The bill directly affects employers offering child care benefits and licensed child care workers in Oklahoma. Key provisions include annual credit limits of $5 million (for employer credits) and $14 million (for all credits) starting in 2028, with unused credits carryable forward for up to five years. The credit for workers is refundable, meaning it can reduce tax liability below zero, while employer credits cannot.
SB 1203 adds adoption leave to Oklahoma's existing paid leave policies for education employees, including teachers and school district staff. The bill allows eligible employees to take up to 90 days of paid leave for adoption, with continued credit toward salary and retirement benefits. It also establishes a leave sharing program where colleagues can donate sick leave to support adoption-related absences. The law updates multiple statutes to replace "maternity leave" with "maternity or adoption leave" and modifies revolving fund names and purposes to reflect this change. This applies directly to full-time education employees in Oklahoma public schools.
HB 1237 increases death benefit payments for families of deceased members in several Oklahoma public retirement systems. For members who died before July 1, 1999, the benefit remains $4,000; for those dying on or after that date, it rises to $5,000 or $10,000. The bill also streamlines probate by allowing direct payments to heirs if they submit required documents (like heirship affidavits and written agreements), bypassing court procedures. This affects families of firefighters, police officers, judges, teachers, and other public employees covered by the specified retirement systems. The changes apply to death benefits paid under the Oklahoma Firefighters, Police, Judges, Teachers', and Public Employees Retirement Systems.
SB 928 creates new misdemeanor and felony charges for assaulting or battering county employees while they are performing their duties. It defines "county employee" broadly to include workers for counties and contracted firms. Simple assault/battery becomes a misdemeanor (up to 1 year in jail or $1,000 fine), while aggravated attacks become felonies (up to 2 years in prison or $5,000 fine). The bill also requires counties to post clear signage stating that felony charges may apply for such attacks. This law directly affects county employees and aims to strengthen protections for them during work.
HB 1335 sets conditions for retirement benefit increases for retirees in seven Oklahoma public pension systems (including Firefighters, Police, Judges, Law Enforcement, Teachers, and Public Employees). It requires a 4% benefit increase for eligible retirees if the retirement system's funded ratio (assets relative to liabilities) remains at least 80% after the increase; otherwise, a 2% increase applies. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025, and applies to retirees not receiving benefits under specific prior provisions. It does not create new benefits but ties increases to the financial health of each retirement fund.
SB 14 requires Oklahoma employers (both public and private) to provide employees and contractors with a "certification of disclosure exemption" form if they refuse to disclose their COVID-19 vaccination status. Employers must accept the completed form within 30 days, cannot retaliate against employees who use it (e.g., through discipline, pay cuts, or denial of benefits), and cannot require them to wear visible markers of their exemption. The bill also mandates that employers offer reasonable accommodations like mask-wearing or weekly testing (at employer cost) instead of requiring vaccination disclosure. It explicitly prohibits employers from disclosing exemption status, offering rewards for disclosure, or segregating employees based on vaccination status.
HB 2245 requires most non-short-line railroad operators in Oklahoma to maintain at least two crew members in the front train car's cab when they adopt a one-person crew policy, effective November 1, 2025. The law excludes short-line railroads and allows exceptions during switching, brake testing, safety inspections, or setouts. It directly affects railroad companies operating within Oklahoma that implement single-crew policies for mainline trains. The bill mandates this change without specifying safety outcomes, focusing solely on operational crew requirements.
