Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Oklahoma Legislature, fetched 2026-07-23. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2 2nd Session of the 60th Legislature (2026)
3 HOUSE BILL 4111 By: Provenzano
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6 AS INTRODUCED
7 An Act relating to labor; enacting the Oklahoma
Workplace Competitiveness Safety Act of 2026;
8 describing the purpose of the act; creating the
Oklahoma Occupational Safety and Health
9 Administration; defining terms; describing powers and
duties; allowing for voluntary private-sector
10 participation; creating the SoonerSafe program;
transferring powers and duties; appropriating funds;
11 providing for codification; providing an effective
date; and declaring an emergency.
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15 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
16 SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
17 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 440.1 of Title 40, unless there
18 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
19 This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Oklahoma
20 Workplace Competitiveness and Safety Act of 2026".
21 A. The Legislature finds that:
22 1. The federal government has significantly reduced
23 enforcement, rule-making, and funding of the Occupational Safety and
24 Health Administration (OSHA);
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1 2. Oklahoma's oil and gas, agriculture, construction, and
2 manufacturing sectors contribute more than Seventy-two Billion
3 Dollars ($72,000,000,000.00) annually to the state economy and
4 employ hundreds of thousands of Oklahomans;
5 3. States such as Texas and Georgia have successfully
6 implemented state-level safety programs that shield employers from
7 inconsistent federal regulation, reduce workers' compensation
8 premiums, and enhance economic competitiveness;
9 4. Federal OSHA provides no coverage for state and local
10 government employees; and
11 5. A unified, Oklahoma-controlled occupational safety and
12 health program will protect workers, lower costs for employers, and
13 keep Oklahoma competitive.
14 SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
15 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 440.2 of Title 40, unless there
16 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
17 There is hereby created within the Department of Labor the
18 Oklahoma Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OOSHA),
19 which shall have the powers and duties prescribed by this act.
20 SECTION 3. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
21 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 440.3 of Title 40, unless there
22 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
23 As used in this act:
24 1. "Commissioner" means the Oklahoma Commissioner of Labor;
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1 2. "Covered employer" means:
2 a. any state agency, county, municipality, school
3 district, or other political subdivision of the state
4 (mandatory coverage), and
5 b. any private sector employer who voluntarily elects to
6 participate in the OOSHA program pursuant to Section 6
7 of this act;
8 3. "SoonerSafe certification" means a renewable three-year
9 certificate issued by Oklahoma Occupational Safety and Health
10 Administration (OOSHA) confirming substantial compliance with
11 applicable safety standards; and
12 4. "Public employee" means any employee of a state agency,
13 county, municipality, public trust, school district, or other
14 political subdivision.
15 SECTION 4. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
16 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 440.4 of Title 40, unless there
17 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
18 OOSHA shall:
19 1. Enforce occupational safety and health standards for all
20 public employees in a manner at least as effective as federal
21 standards;
22 2. Promulgate rules, after public hearing and stakeholder
23 input, establishing safety and health standards for covered
24 employers;
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1 3. Conduct inspections, investigations, and issue citations and
2 penalties for public employers;
3 4. Provide free on-site consultation, training, and technical
4 assistant to any Oklahoma employer;
5 5. Establish and administer the voluntary "SoonerSafe
6 Certification" program;
7 6. Collect, analyze, and publish occupational injury and
8 illness data for the state; and
9 7. Coordinate with the Workers' Compensation Commission to
10 offer premium credits for certified employers.
11 SECTION 5. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
12 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 440.5 of Title 40, unless there
13 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
14 A. Any private sector employer may apply for SoonerSafe
15 Certification.
16 B. Certification shall be granted upon:
17 1. Completion of an Oklahoma Occupational Safety and Health
18 Administration (OOSHA) consultation with no serious violations
19 outstanding, or
20 2. Demonstration of an effective safety and health program
21 meeting criteria set by rule.
22 C. Certified employers shall receive:
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1 1. A five percent (5%) to ten percent (10%) workers'
2 compensation premium credit for three (3) years to be administered
3 through the Insurance Department and CompSource Mutual;
4 2. Priority consideration in bidding on state contracts; and
5 3. Use of the official "Sooner Safe" seal in advertising and
6 recruitment.
7 SECTION 6. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
8 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 440.6 of Title 40, unless there
9 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
10 Effective July 1, 2026, all powers, duties, and personnel of the
11 Public Employee Occupational Safety and Health (PEOSH) unit shall be
12 transferred to Oklahoma Occupational Safety and Health
13 Administration.
14 SECTION 7. NEW LAW A new section of law not to be
15 codified in the Oklahoma Statutes reads as follows:
16 There is hereby appropriated to the Oklahoma Occupational Safety
17 and Health Administration from any monies not otherwise appropriated
18 from the General Revenue Fund of the State Treasury for the fiscal
19 year ending June 30, 2027, the sum of Ten Million Dollars
20 ($10,000,000.00) or so much thereof as may be necessary to perform
21 the duties imposed upon the Oklahoma Occupational Safety and Health
22 Administration by law.
23 SECTION 8. This act shall become effective July 1, 2026.
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1 SECTION 9. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
2 of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
3 declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
4 be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
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6 60-2-15131 TKR 01/15/26
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Req. No. 15131 Page 6Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.