OklahomaOklahoma law will cap public college faculty wrongful termination payouts
Starting November 1, 2026, Oklahoma public colleges and universities may pay faculty members up to two years of pay or contract benefits to resolve state-law wrongful termination claims.
What it does
Starting November 1, 2026, Oklahoma public higher education institutions may pay faculty members no more than two years of their pay or contract benefits to resolve state-law wrongful termination claims. Earned retirement contributions and accrued unpaid wages or leave are outside the cap.
Argument forA fixed limit could help public colleges and universities predict the most they may pay to resolve these claims.
Argument againstThe cap could leave faculty with less money after a successful wrongful termination claim, even when their losses exceed two years of pay or benefits.
More detail
The law limits the total amount an institution may pay a faculty member to resolve a wrongful termination claim under state law. The limit covers faculty members at institutions in Oklahoma’s public higher education system and claims under state law alleging wrongful termination. The limit applies whether the claim is resolved by settlement, arbitration award, or court judgment. It does not include retirement contributions already earned or accrued unpaid wages or leave. The section does not apply to a written contract between an institution and a nonfaculty employee, regardless of when the contract was signed. The law takes effect November 1, 2026. The cap is based on the faculty member’s base salary, compensation, or contractual benefit as of the termination date.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
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: 70 Nays: 21Major
- May 6General Order
- Apr 14CR; Do Pass Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded Judiciary And Public Safety Oversight Committee: Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- 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 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: 35 Nays: 7Passed Senate
- Mar 26General Order, Amended by Floor Substitute
- Feb 23Coauthored by Representative Hilbert (principal House author)
- Feb 19Placed on General Order
- Feb 17Reported Do Pass Judiciary committee; CR filedMinor
- Vote recorded Judiciary. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 17Coauthored by Senator Jett
- Feb 3Second Reading referred to JudiciaryMinor
- Feb 2Authored by Senator Paxton
- Feb 2First ReadingIntroduced
EducationEconomy & Jobs