SB 95 updates key definitions in Oklahoma's workers' compensation law to clarify eligibility and claims processing. It directly affects injured workers (claimants), employers, insurance carriers, and medical providers by defining terms like "case manager" (requiring specific nursing licenses or certifications) and "carrier" (explicitly including self-insured employers). The bill also clarifies what constitutes a "compensable injury," excluding age-related conditions like arthritis and adding drug testing rules for claims involving intoxication. These changes aim to standardize claims administration and reduce disputes over coverage. The bill became effective after the governor signed it on May 6, 2025.
SB 389 allows Oklahoma's Attorney General to investigate and enforce workers' compensation insurance requirements alongside the Oklahoma Workers' Compensation Commission. It directly affects employers who fail to secure required workers' compensation coverage, potentially facing misdemeanor charges and fines up to $10,000. The bill amends existing law to establish this concurrent enforcement authority, updating procedures for investigations and penalties. The law takes effect immediately due to an emergency declaration.
HB 3024 establishes a 10% annual cap on salary increases and bonuses for most state employees in executive branch agencies, requiring cabinet secretary approval for any increase exceeding this limit. It mandates that agencies set performance metrics for bonus eligibility and document salary adjustments above 10% due to role changes or performance reviews. The bill excludes executive directors, positions requiring advanced degrees or state licenses (like doctors and engineers), and employees of higher education systems or school districts from these limits. These provisions take effect July 1, 2026, with the Office of Management and Enterprise Services overseeing implementation.
HB 4156 requires Oklahoma public school districts to include specific, clear categories in teacher employment contracts, such as detailed job descriptions, guaranteed 30-minute duty-free lunch breaks, and itemized salary and benefit breakdowns. It prohibits contracts from containing vague phrases like "all other duties as assigned" or requiring uncompensated work outside scheduled hours, while allowing compensated additional duties outside contract time. The law directly affects K-12 teachers in Oklahoma public school districts by mandating transparency in their contracts and compensation. It takes effect July 1, 2026, and applies to all new and renewed contracts starting with the 2026-2027 school year.
HB 3550 establishes a minimum salary schedule for Oklahoma public school teachers based on experience and education levels, starting with the 2025-2026 school year. Beginning in 2026-2027, the minimum salaries will automatically increase each year based on the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) compared to 2025, but no adjustment will occur if the CPI declines. The State Board of Education must calculate and announce the annual adjustment by April 1 each year, posting it on their website. This bill directly affects all Oklahoma public school teachers covered by the minimum salary schedule, ensuring their base pay adjusts annually for inflation.
This bill standardizes Oklahoma's holiday schedule by listing specific dates for holidays like New Year's Day, Independence Day, and Election Day, with automatic adjustments for weekends (e.g., if a holiday falls on a Saturday, the prior Friday becomes the holiday). It requires the Governor to issue annual executive orders specifying which holidays apply each year, including Election Day as a state holiday. State employees (excluding temporary staff) receive paid time off for designated holidays, with options for compensatory time or payment if working. The bill clarifies that government offices must close on these holidays, except for essential services, and defines "holiday" for state operations.
SB 1237 creates Oklahoma's "Teachers' Bill of Rights," granting specific protections to public school teachers, administrators, and support staff. It directly affords rights including free expression (like keeping religious materials in classrooms, wearing faith-based jewelry, and praying with students), protection from harassment or threats, classroom discipline authority (removing disruptive students), medical privacy (refusing vaccines/masks as employment condition), and guaranteed planning time (1 hour) and lunch (20 minutes). The bill also requires school districts to establish a due process plan for reporting rights violations, including anonymous reporting and timely investigations. It takes effect July 1, 2026, and declares an emergency.
SB 1610 creates the Oklahoma Work Zone Safety and Contractor Protection Act to enhance safety for road workers and contractors. It grants immunity from liability to contractors who follow federal traffic control standards (MUTCD) during work zones, protecting them from lawsuits when crashes are caused by third-party drivers. The bill also establishes a Work Zone Safety Revolving Fund to support safety initiatives and updates definitions in Oklahoma law to clarify which workers qualify for protection. These changes directly affect road construction contractors, state transportation workers, and drivers operating in work zones. The law aims to balance worker safety, automated enforcement use, and fair liability standards without advocating for specific outcomes.
SB 1646 requires Oklahoma health insurance plans to cover medically necessary mental health and substance use disorder treatment without arbitrary limits, affecting all residents with such coverage. It mandates coverage for "core treatments" aligned with clinical standards (like those from psychiatric associations), prohibits limiting care to short-term/acute settings, and bans insurers from rescinding authorizations after services are provided. The bill also requires insurers to follow specific rules for reviewing treatment requests and ensures out-of-network care access when in-network options aren't available. This applies to all health benefit plans covering hospital or medical services in Oklahoma, aiming to align mental health coverage with physical health benefits. The bill is pending in committee as of February 2026.
SB 1560, the Oklahoma Medical Freedom Act, prohibits businesses, schools, and ticket issuers from denying service, admission, or employment based on whether a person has received medical interventions like vaccines. It bans schools from requiring medical interventions for attendance, businesses from mandating them for services (except for specific foreign travel needs with written notice), and governments from requiring them for benefits, licenses, or public access. The law exempts Medicare/Medicaid providers and existing safety standards (like masks during the pandemic), but explicitly excludes vaccines and pandemic-related requirements from this exemption. It applies directly to all Oklahoma businesses, schools, and government entities, with enforcement through the Attorney General or local prosecutors.
