OklahomaOklahoma law revises which farm workers count as employees
Starting November 1, 2026, Oklahoma’s workers’ compensation law changes its employee definition, including an agricultural payroll exemption with an unclear cutoff.
What it does
The law revises the definition of an employee, including an agricultural work exemption tied to employer payroll. The printed text shows conflicting payroll amounts, so the cutoff is unclear.
Argument forRaising the payroll cutoff could spare some smaller farm employers from workers’ compensation requirements, if the higher amount is intended.
Argument againstThe higher printed payroll amount could leave more farm workers outside workers’ compensation coverage, limiting help after a work injury.
More detail
The law amends the definition of who counts as an employee. The definition includes exemptions for certain agricultural, ranching, and horticultural workers and qualifying independent contractors. The printed agricultural payroll exemption shows both $100,000 and $250,000, so the applicable threshold is unclear. The act takes effect November 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 13Approved by Governor Kevin Stitt 05/12/2026Became Law
- May 6Sent to GovernorTo Governor
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 6Signed, returned to Senate
- May 6Enrolled, to House
- May 6Referred for enrollment
- May 6Signed, returned to Senate
- May 6Third Reading, Measure passed: Ayes: 87 Nays: 1Major
- May 6General Order
- Apr 16CR; Do Pass Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded Judiciary And Public Safety Oversight Committee: Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 6Coauthored by Representative(s) Newton
- Apr 6Policy recommendation to the Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight committee; Do Pass Civil JudiciaryMinor
- Apr 2
- Vote recorded Civil Judiciary Committee: Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 31Remove Representative Newton as principal House author and substitute with Representative Travis
- Mar 31Referred to Civil JudiciaryMinor
- Mar 31Second Reading referred to Judiciary and Public Safety OversightMinor
- Mar 30First ReadingMinor
- Mar 30Engrossed to HousePassed House
- Mar 26Referred for engrossment
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 26Measure passed: Ayes: 39 Nays: 2Passed Senate
- Mar 26Title restored
- Mar 26General Order, Amended by Floor Substitute
- Feb 17Placed on General Order
- Feb 12Title stricken
- Vote recorded Do Pass Amended. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 12Reported Do Pass as amended Business and Insurance committee; CR filedMinor
- Feb 10Coauthored by Representative Newton (principal House author)
- Feb 3Second Reading referred to Business and InsuranceMinor
- Feb 2Authored by Senator Murdock
- Feb 2First ReadingIntroduced
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