State Representative Rick West (R-Heavener)
By Rep. Rick West
State Question 832 will be on the June 16 statewide primary ballot.
It will ask state voters whether or not to increase the state minimum wage. It was brought to the ballot by the initiative petition process and not through the Legislature.
A yes vote would raise Oklahoma’s minimum wage from $7.25 to $12 per hour beginning in 2027 and to $15 per hour by 2029.
Beginning in 2030 and continuing indefinitely, the minimum wage would automatically increase annually based on the increase in the cost of living, if any, as measured by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers.
Such increase would not require approval from Congress or the Oklahoma Legislature.
Several exemptions in the current Oklahoma Minimum Wage Act would be removed including the exemptions for employers subject to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act; part-time employees; certain students and individuals under age 18; farm and agricultural workers; domestic service workers; newspaper vendors or carriers; and feedstore employees. Effectively, eliminating these exemptions results in current employees not covered by the OMWA now being entitled to the minimum wage. Federal and state employees would not be covered by the act, and employers with ten or fewer employers would be exempt.
Opponents of raising the minimum wage argue that mandated increases hurt small business and bring higher prices for all consumer goods, ultimately hurting workers. Proponents argue this is a means to reduce poverty and boost spending.
On the legislative front, Here’s a look at some of the legislation sent to the governor last week.
Senate Bill 904 would prohibit state Medicaid reimbursement for gender transition procedures and bar the use of public funds or state property for those procedures.
Senate Bill 372 would allow a person to carry a concealed or unconcealed firearm at any state-owned hotel, cabin or lodge.
Senate Bill 504 would prohibit marriage of anyone under the age of 18 in Oklahoma. This measure removes all the guardrails that are in place in existing law and would give parents no right to approve of a marriage for a child 16 or older even if that child were to become pregnant and face giving birth to an illegitimate child. Instead of a parent having rights, all rights would be ceded to the government.
House Bill 1225 would require every Oklahoma birth certificate to contain an accurate biological sex designation of either male or female as identified at the time of birth. This clarifies this is not to be amended to display gender identity or a nonbinary designation.
Remember to listen to my Capitol update on the radio at 7:35 a.m. every Thursday on KPRV.
As always, if I can help you with anything, please call my Capitol office at (405) 557-7413 or email me at rick.west@okhouse.gov.
Rick West serves District 3 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes part of LeFlore County.
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