All Roll Calls
Yes: 158 • No: 2
OklahomaSB 95Oklahoma 2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET
Workers' compensation; amending definitions. Effective date.
Sponsored By: Ally Seifried (Republican)
Signed by Governor
Senate Committee
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.
Tips now count toward your wages
Beginning November 1, 2025, tips count toward your workers' comp wages. The amount counted is the greater of what tax rules require you to report or the tips you actually report to your employer. Wages also include the value of board, rent, housing, lodging, or similar advantages. This can raise your average weekly wage and your benefit amount.
New rules for workers' comp care
Beginning November 1, 2025, care rules change after you reach maximum medical improvement. Ongoing maintenance no longer includes tests, surgery, injections, counseling, physical therapy, or pain devices. Your case manager must be a registered nurse or hold listed national certifications. Workplace medical plans must be certified by the State Commissioner of Health and pay doctors fee-for-service. These plans can contract with employers, carriers, group self-insureds, third-party administrators, or insured employers.
Who is covered under workers' comp
Beginning November 1, 2025, the law clarifies who is covered and what counts as work. It covers Oklahoma National Guard members on state orders and authorized volunteer firefighters, law officers, and emergency workers; trips to and from emergencies count as work. Temporary unpaid observers are not employees. Commuting, personal travel, most parking-lot injuries before clock-in or after clock-out, and most break-time injuries are not covered unless the employer exclusively controls the area and a supervisor approves the break. If a new non-work event later causes or worsens your condition, those costs are not covered, and an employer's insurance carrier can be treated as the employer for claims.
Common-law spouses get survivor benefits
Beginning November 1, 2025, common-law spouses can qualify as surviving spouses for workers' comp death benefits. The Workers' Compensation Commission decides common-law status. Legal marriages recognized by Oklahoma also qualify.
More help for injured workers' hearing
Beginning November 1, 2025, hearing impairment is treated as a scheduled condition for the state's Multiple Injury Trust Fund. This can change who qualifies and how payments are calculated from the Fund for injured workers with hearing loss.
When these workers' comp rules start
All changes in this act take effect November 1, 2025, unless a part lists a different date. Plan for the new eligibility, care, and wage rules to apply starting then.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Ally Seifried
Republican • Senate
Cosponsors
Nick Archer
Republican • House
Bill Coleman
Republican • Senate
Christi Gillespie
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/30/2025
THIRD READING
Yes: 88 • No: 0
House vote • 4/22/2025
DO PASS
Yes: 8 • No: 0
House vote • 4/3/2025
DO PASS
Yes: 8 • No: 2
Senate vote • 3/26/2025
THIRD READING
Yes: 44 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/6/2025
Committee vote: Business & Insurance
Yes: 10 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Approved by Governor 05/06/2025
5/7/2025SenateSent to Governor
5/1/2025SenateSigned, returned to Senate
5/1/2025HouseEnrolled, to House
5/1/2025SenateReferred for enrollment
4/30/2025SenateSigned, returned to Senate
4/30/2025HouseThird Reading, Measure passed: Ayes: 88 Nays: 0
4/30/2025HouseGeneral Order
4/30/2025HouseCR; Do Pass Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight Committee
4/22/2025HouseCoauthored by Senator(s) Gillespie
4/7/2025HousePolicy recommendation to the Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight committee; Do Pass Civil Judiciary
4/7/2025HouseReferred to Civil Judiciary
4/1/2025HouseSecond Reading referred to Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight
4/1/2025HouseFirst Reading
3/27/2025HouseEngrossed to House
3/27/2025SenateReferred for engrossment
3/26/2025SenateMeasure passed: Ayes: 44 Nays: 0
3/26/2025SenateGeneral Order, Considered
3/26/2025SenatePlaced on General Order
3/11/2025SenateCoauthored by Senator Coleman
3/10/2025SenateReported Do Pass Business and Insurance committee; CR filed
3/6/2025SenateCoauthored by Representative Archer (principal House author)
2/17/2025SenateSecond Reading referred to Business and Insurance
2/4/2025SenateAuthored by Senator Seifried
2/3/2025SenateFirst Reading
2/3/2025Senate
Bill Text
Enrolled (final version)
5/1/2025
Floor (House)
4/23/2025
House Committee Report
4/22/2025
House Policy Committee Report
4/7/2025
Engrossed
3/27/2025
Floor (Senate)
3/10/2025
Senate Committee Report
3/6/2025
Introduced
12/20/2024
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