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
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2 2nd Session of the 60th Legislature (2026)
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3 SENATE BILL 2073 By: Deevers
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6 AS INTRODUCED
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7 An Act relating to state government; creating the
7 Hire Oklahomans Act; providing short title; providing
8 legislative findings; defining terms; prohibiting
8 state entities from employing certain individuals;
9 clarifying applicability; construing provision;
9 providing for codification; providing an effective
10 date; and declaring an emergency.
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13 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
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14 SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
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15 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 847 of Title 74, unless there is
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16 created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
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17 A. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Hire
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18 Oklahomans Act".
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19 B. The Legislature finds that:
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20 1. Immigration classification and visa issuance are federal
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21 matters; however, Oklahoma public employment funded by Oklahoma
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22 taxpayers is a matter of state sovereignty;
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1 2. No provision of federal law requires this state or its
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2 political subdivisions to participate in discretionary federal visa
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3 labor programs; and
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4 3. This state has a compelling interest in prioritizing public
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5 employment opportunities for its citizens.
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6 C. For the purposes of this act:
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7 1. "H-1B visa program" means employment authorized under
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8 Section 101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act;
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9 2. "Optional practical training" means employment authorization
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10 granted pursuant to federal regulations governing F-1 nonimmigrant
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11 student status; and
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12 3. "State entity" means any agency, board, commission,
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13 department, authority, public trust, political subdivision, or
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14 public institution of higher education of this state.
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15 D. 1. No state entity shall employ any individual pursuant to
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16 either the H-1B visa program or the optional practical training
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17 authorization.
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18 2. No state entity shall sponsor, petition for, renew, or
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19 extend employment under the programs described in paragraph 1 of
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20 this subsection.
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21 E. This act shall apply only to:
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22 1. Employment agreements entered into on or after the effective
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23 date of this act; and
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1 2. Renewals, extensions, or modifications of employment
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2 agreements occurring on or after the effective date of this act.
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3 F. Nothing in this act shall be construed to impair vested
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4 contractual rights prior to the effective date of this act.
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5 SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2026.
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6 SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
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7 of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
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8 declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
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9 be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
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11 60-2-3427 MSBB 1/15/2026 11:52:07 AM
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Req. No. 3427 Page 3Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.