Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session Status: In Committee 2 R cosponsors

HB 3725 — Labor; e-verification; Department of Labor; requirements; penalties; codification; effective date.

Last action — Referred to Business

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced February 02, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the House.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Stalled 18% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 2 sponsors

    2 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (2 R).

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

153 added · 178 removed

Plain-language change summary

The proposed amendment to House Bill 3725 completely rewrites the original bill. Instead of the initial focus on labor requirements and penalties, the new version emphasizes the use of a status verification system for employers to check the citizenship or immigration status of individuals. This change matters because it shifts the bill's purpose towards immigration verification, which can impact hiring practices and the enforcement of immigration laws in Oklahoma.

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Latest
HB3725 POLPCS2 Jim Shaw-TKR 2/17/2026 9:01:15 am COMMITTEE AMENDMENT HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES State of Oklahoma SPEAKER:
HB3725 POLPCS1 Jim Shaw-TKR 2/2/2026 2:25:06 pm COMMITTEE AMENDMENT HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES State of Oklahoma SPEAKER:
enacting the Oklahoma Workforce Protection Act;
defining requirements;
defining 0 requirements;
directing Department to publish annual reports;
directing Department 1 to publish annual reports;
providing for exceptions;
requiring automatic repeal under certain circumstances;
and providing an effective date.
and providing an 2 effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
3 4 5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1.
6 SECTION 1.
NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 201 of Title 40, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified 7 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 201 of Title 40, unless there is 8 created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Oklahoma Workforce Protection Act".
9 Section 201 through Section 201.4 of this title shall be known 0 and may be cited as the "Oklahoma Workforce Protection Act".
SECTION 2.
1 SECTION 2.
NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 201.1 of Title 40, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified 2 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 201.1 of Title 40, unless there 3 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
Req.
4 Req.
16381 Page 1 A.
16036 Page 1 A.
As used in this act, "status verification system" or "e- verification" means an electronic system operated by the federal government, through which an authorized official of an agency of the State of Oklahoma or of a political subdivision therein may make an inquiry, by exercise of authority delegated pursuant to 8 U.S.C., Section 1373, to verify or ascertain the citizenship or immigration status of any individual within the jurisdiction of the agency for any purpose authorized by subsection B of this section.
As used in this section, "status verification system" or "e- verification" means an electronic system operated by the federal government, through which an authorized official of an agency of the State of Oklahoma or of a political subdivision therein may make an inquiry, by exercise of authority delegated pursuant to 8 U.S.C., Section 1373, to verify or ascertain the citizenship or immigration status of any individual within the jurisdiction of the agency for any purpose authorized by subsection B of this section.
1.
0 1.
The E-Verify program of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, P.L.
The E-Verify Program of the Illegal Immigration Reform and 1 Immigration Responsibility Act of 1996, P.L.
104-208, Division C, Section 403(a), 8 U.S.C., Section 1324a, and operated by the United States Department of Homeland Security, known as the E-Verify program;
104-208, Division C, 2 Section 403(a), 8 U.S.C., Section 1324a, and operated by the United 3 States Department of Homeland Security, known as the E-Verify 4 Program;
2.
5 2.
Any equivalent federal program designated by the United States Department of Homeland Security or any other federal agency authorized to verify the work eligibility status of newly hired employees, pursuant to the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, P.L.
Any equivalent federal program designated by the United 6 States Department of Homeland Security or any other federal agency 7 authorized to verify the work eligibility status of newly hired 8 employees, pursuant to the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 9 1986 (IRCA), D.L.
or 3.
or 0 3.
Any other independent, third-party system with an equal or higher degree of reliability as the programs, systems, or processes described in this subsection.
Any other independent, third-party system with an equal or 1 higher degree of reliability as the programs, systems, or processes 2 described in this subsection.
Req.
3 4 Req.
16381 Page 2 B.
16036 Page 2 B.
This provision is void if the employer falsely classifies an employee as a seasonal employee for purposes of this section or fails to complete the original certification;
This provision is void if the employer falsely classifies an employee as a seasonal employee for purposes of this 0 act or fails to complete the original certification;
and 3.
and 1 3.
D.
2 D.
Agricultural employers may designate qualified third parties, including cooperatives, farm bureaus, payroll service providers, or licensed employer agents to submit status verification system checks on their behalf.
Agricultural employers may designate qualified third 3 parties, including cooperatives, farm bureaus, payroll service 4 providers, or licensed employer agents to submit e-verification 5 checks on their behalf.
E.
6 E.
An employer that utilizes the E-Verify program, or utilizes a qualified third party as described in subsection D of this section, operated by the United States Department of Homeland Security, or any successor program formally designated by the federal government for employment eligibility verification under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, shall be presumed to be in compliance with the requirements of this section, absent evidence of intentional or knowing violation.
An employer that utilizes the E-Verify Program, or utilizes 7 a qualified third party as described in paragraph D of this 8 subsection, operated by the United States Department of Homeland 9 Security, or any successor program formally designated by the 0 federal government for employment eligibility verification under the 1 Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, shall be presumed to be 2 in compliance with the requirements of this section, absent evidence 3 of intentional or knowing violation.
Use of any alternative status verification system, or a qualified third party as described in Req.
Use of any alternative 4 verification system, or a qualified third party as described in Req.
16381 Page 3 subsection D of this section, shall not diminish an employer's obligations under federal law nor negate the procedural protections afforded under federal employment eligibility verification requirements.
16036 Page 3 paragraph D of this subsection, shall not diminish an employer’s obligations under federal law nor negate the procedural protections afforded under federal employment eligibility verification requirements.
The Oklahoma Commissioner and Department of Labor shall create a centralized online portal maintaining all forms, instructions, multilingual guidance, and training modules relevant to status verification systems and requirements.
The Department of Labor shall create a centralized online portal maintaining all forms, instructions, multilingual guidance, 0 and training modules relevant to the status verification system and 1 requirements.
Employers with fifty or more employees shall begin using a status verification system within ninety (90) days, and all other employers shall begin using a status verification system within one hundred eighty (180) days after the Department finalizes and provides access to the online portal.
Employers with fifty or more employees shall begin 2 using the status verification system within ninety (90) days and all 3 other employers shall begin using the status verification system 4 within one hundred eighty (180) days after the Department finalizes 5 and providing access to the online portal.
All new businesses organized in this state after the effective date of this act shall utilize a status verification system at the time of organization.
All new businesses 6 organized in this state after the effective date of this act shall 7 utilize the status verification system at the time of organization.
B.
8 B.
The Commissioner and Department of Labor shall work with the Office of the Attorney General to create and publish an annual statewide report identifying compliance rates, enforcement actions, high-risk industries, and recommended amendments.
The Department shall create and publish an annual statewide 9 report identifying compliance rates, enforcement actions, high-risk 0 industries, and recommended refinements.
C.
1 C.
Any report published pursuant to this section shall present data in aggregate form and shall not disclose the identity of any Req.
Any report published pursuant to this section shall present 2 data in aggregate form and shall not disclose the identity of any 3 specific employer unless an enforcement action has become final at 4 the Department level.
Show all 94 changed rows (54 more)
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Req.
16381 Page 4 specific employer unless an enforcement action has become final at the Department level.
16036 Page 4 SECTION 4.
SECTION 4.
The Office of the Attorney General shall oversee the enforcement of the provisions of the Oklahoma Workforce Protection Act.
A fine of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for each offense shall be incurred for any employer who knowingly violates the requirements under the Oklahoma Workforce Protection Act.
B.
Clerical errors, isolated data-entry mistakes, and system-caused inconsistency shall not be considered violations.
A fine of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for each offense shall be incurred for any employer who knowingly violates the requirements of the Oklahoma Workforce Protection Act.
0 1.
Clerical errors, isolated data entry mistakes, and system-caused inconsistency shall not be considered violations.
An employer with fifty (50) or more employees shall begin 1 incurring fines under this subsection beginning after the ninety-day 2 grace period described in subsection A of Section 3 of this act.
1.
If 3 the employer implements the status verification system within ninety 4 (90) days after the first ninety (90) days expires, then fees shall 5 be waived.
An employer with fifty or more employees shall begin incurring fines under this subsection beginning after the ninety-day grace period described in subsection A of Section 3 of this act to implement a status verification system.
6 2.
If the employer implements a status verification system within ninety (90) days after the first ninety (90) days expires, then fines shall be waived.
An employer with fewer than fifty (50) employees shall begin 7 incurring fines under this subsection beginning after the one- 8 hundred-eighty-day grace period described in subsection A of Section 9 3 of this act to implement the status verification system.
2.
If the 0 employer implements the status verification system within one 1 hundred eighty (180) days after the first one hundred eighty (180) 2 days expire, then fees shall be waived.
An employer with fewer than fifty employees shall begin incurring fines under this subsection beginning after the one- hundred-eighty-day grace period described in subsection A of Section 3 of this act to implement a status verification system.
3 B.
If the Req.
An employer who repeatedly violates Section 2 of this act 4 shall be fined based on the following occurrences:
No.
16381 Page 5 employer implements a status verification system within one hundred eighty (180) days after the first one hundred eighty (180) days expires, then fines shall be waived.
C.
An employer who repeatedly violates Section 2 of this act shall receive the following fines on the following occurrences:
1.
A fine of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) for every month an employer continues employing an individual after receiving nonconfirmation through a status verification system, provided the employer complies with all federal notice and procedural requirements;
and 2.
A fine of not less than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) for every repeat offense of subsection A of this section.
D.
An employer shall not be considered in violation of the Oklahoma Workforce Protection Act for continuing to employ an individual during the period in which the individual is lawfully contesting or resolving a tentative nonconfirmation through a status verification system, provided the employer complies with all federal notice and procedural requirements.
Enforcement actions and penalties under this section shall apply only after a final nonconfirmation has been issued and all applicable appeal or correction procedures have been exhausted.
SECTION 5.
NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 201.4 of Title 40, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
16381 Page 6 A.
16036 Page 5 1.
If the data points being verified within a status verification system extend beyond their scope on the effective date of this act or the purpose of the system extends beyond the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and workforce authorization, then the following shall occur:
A fine of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) for every month an employer continues employing an individual after receiving nonconfirmation;
1.
and 2.
The Office of the Attorney General shall suspend enforcement for no less than six (6) months and up to twelve (12) months from the date the status verification system is updated to reevaluate the impact;
A fine of not less than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000) for every repeat offense of subsection A of this section.
2.
The Office of the Attorney General shall inform all members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, Oklahoma State Senate, and the Office of the Governor that the program is suspended;
and 3.
The Legislature shall consider and pass statutory amendments required to update the scope of requirements before sine die adjournment of the first regular session occurring after the triggering event described in this section.
B.
The Oklahoma Workforce Protection Act shall cease to have the force and effect of law if the Legislature does not take action pursuant to paragraph 3 of subsection A of this section.
If the E-Verify, or federal equivalent program as allowed in this act, is inaccessible due to a system failure or federal government shutdown, this act will cease to be enforced during such time period and employers will not be restricted in hiring new employees.
An employer shall not be considered in violation of the Oklahoma Workforce Protection Act for continuing to employ an individual during the period in which the individual is lawfully contesting or resolving a tentative nonconfirmation through the 0 status verification system, provided the employer complies with all 1 federal notice and procedural requirements.
Once the system is available again, all new employees Req.
Enforcement actions and 2 penalties under this section shall apply only after a final 3 nonconfirmation has been issued and all applicable appeal or 4 correction procedures have been exhausted.
5 SECTION 5.
NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified 6 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 201.4 of Title 40, unless there 7 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
8 A.
If the data points being verified within the verification 9 system extend beyond their scope on the effective date of this act 0 or the purpose of the system extends beyond the United States 1 Customs and Immigrations Enforcement and workforce authorization, 2 then the following shall occur:
3 4 Req.
16381 Page 7 hired during this time period shall be processed as required by this act and the enforcement of this act shall resume.
16036 Page 6 1.
SECTION 6.
The Department of Labor shall suspend enforcement for no less than six (6) months and up to twelve (12) months from the date the verification system is updated to reevaluate the impact;
2.
The Department of Labor shall inform all members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, Oklahoma State Senate, and the Office of the Governor that the program is suspended;
3.
The Legislature shall consider and pass statutory amendments required to update the scope of requirements before sine die adjournment of the first regular session occurring after the 0 triggering event of this section.
1 B.
The Oklahoma Workforce Protection Act shall cease to have 2 the force and effect of law if the Legislature does not take actions 3 pursuant to paragraph 3 of subsection A of this section.
4 SECTION 6.
5 60-2-16381 TKR 02/16/26 7 9 Req.
5 6 60-2-16036 TKR 02/02/26 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 Req.
16381 Page 8
16036 Page 7
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Action History

  1. Referred to Business

  2. Second Reading referred to Commerce and Economic Development Oversight

  3. Authored by Representative Shaw

  4. First Reading

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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2 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 149 not signed on

Sponsors (2)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (149)

149 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 149 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

labor
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 3725?
HB 3725 is sponsored by Jim Shaw (Republican) and Dusty Deevers (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 3725?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced February 02, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HB 3725?
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