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OklahomaSB 2084Oklahoma 2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Governmental Tort Claims Act; limiting settlement awards for wrongful termination claims; providing for inclusion of certain damages. Effective date.

Sponsored By: Lonnie Paxton (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Senate Committee

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Payout cap for college faculty firings

If you are a faculty member at an Oklahoma public college or university, wrongful-termination payouts are capped. The institution can pay no more than two years of your base salary as of your termination date. This applies to settlements, arbitration awards, and court judgments. It covers back pay, compensatory and liquidated damages, and other money awards. It does not include retirement contributions you already earned or your accrued unpaid wages or leave. The law takes effect November 1, 2026.

Non-faculty contracts not subject to cap

If you are not faculty and have a written contract with an Oklahoma public college, the two-year cap does not apply. Your contract terms control. This covers contracts dated before, on, or after November 1, 2026.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Lonnie Paxton

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Kyle Hilbert

    Republican • House

  • Shane Jett

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 141 • No: 44

House vote • 5/6/2026

THIRD READING

Yes: 70 • No: 21

House vote • 4/14/2026

DO PASS

Yes: 8 • No: 5

House vote • 4/14/2026

DO PASS

Yes: 8 • No: 5

House vote • 4/2/2026

DO PASS

Yes: 7 • No: 2

House vote • 4/2/2026

DO PASS

Yes: 7 • No: 2

Senate vote • 3/26/2026

THIRD READING

Yes: 35 • No: 7

Senate vote • 2/17/2026

Committee vote: Judiciary

Yes: 6 • No: 2

Actions Timeline

  1. Approved by Governor 05/12/2026

    5/13/2026Senate

  2. Sent to Governor

    5/6/2026Senate

  3. Signed, returned to Senate

    5/6/2026House

  4. Enrolled, to House

    5/6/2026Senate

  5. Referred for enrollment

    5/6/2026Senate

  6. Signed, returned to Senate

    5/6/2026House

  7. Third Reading, Measure passed: Ayes: 70 Nays: 21

    5/6/2026House

  8. General Order

    5/6/2026House

  9. CR; Do Pass Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight Committee

    4/14/2026House

  10. Policy recommendation to the Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight committee; Do Pass Civil Judiciary

    4/6/2026House

  11. Referred to Civil Judiciary

    3/31/2026House

  12. Second Reading referred to Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight

    3/31/2026House

  13. First Reading

    3/30/2026House

  14. Engrossed to House

    3/30/2026Senate

  15. Referred for engrossment

    3/26/2026Senate

  16. Measure passed: Ayes: 35 Nays: 7

    3/26/2026Senate

  17. General Order, Amended by Floor Substitute

    3/26/2026Senate

  18. Coauthored by Representative Hilbert (principal House author)

    2/23/2026Senate

  19. Placed on General Order

    2/19/2026Senate

  20. Reported Do Pass Judiciary committee; CR filed

    2/17/2026Senate

  21. Coauthored by Senator Jett

    2/17/2026Senate

  22. Second Reading referred to Judiciary

    2/3/2026Senate

  23. Authored by Senator Paxton

    2/2/2026Senate

  24. First Reading

    2/2/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • Enrolled (final version)

    5/6/2026

    PDF

  • Floor (House)

    4/18/2026

    PDF

  • House Committee Report

    4/14/2026

    PDF

  • House Policy Committee Report

    4/6/2026

    PDF

  • Engrossed

    3/30/2026

    PDF

  • Floor (Senate)

    2/18/2026

    PDF

  • Senate Committee Report

    2/17/2026

    PDF

  • Introduced

    1/15/2026

    PDF

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