State Question 832, $15 Minimum Wage Initiative
Oklahoma Ballot Measure - State Question 832
Election: June 16, 2026 (General)
Outcome: Failed
Categories:
Unemployed and Low-IncomeEmployment and Affirmative Action
Summary
The ballot measure was designed to increase the state minimum wage to $9 per hour in 2025, $10.50 per hour in 2026, $12 per hour in 2027, $13.50 per hour in 2028, and $15 per hour in 2029. Beginning in 2030, the wage would be adjusted based on changes to inflation.
Governor Stitt's executive order placing the measure on the June 2026 ballot included a provision stating that, if the initiative is approved, it would take effect on January 1, 2027, and would not apply retroactively, meaning if the measure is approved, the state's minimum wage would not increase in 2025 or 2026 but would increase to $12 per hour on January 1, 2027.
The initiative would remove the exceptions from the Oklahoma Minimum Wage Act that did not include the following workers in the definition of 'employee' (meaning the following types of workers would be considered employees under the initiative):
- part-time employees;
- certain students and individuals under 18;
- farm and agricultural workers;
- domestic service workers;
- newspaper vendors and carriers; and
- feedstore employees.
Measure Text
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAНОМА:
Section 1. AMENDATORY. 40 O.S. 2021, Section 197.2, is amended to read as follows:
A. It shall be unlawful to employ workers in any industry or occupation within the State of Oklahoma under conditions of labor detrimental to their health or morals and it shall be unlawful to employ workers in any industry within the State of Oklahoma at wages which are not adequate
for their maintenance.
B. Except as otherwise provided in the Oklahoma Minimum Wage Act, no employer within the State of Oklahoma shall pay any employee a wage of less than;
(1) beginning January 1, 2025, $9 per hour for all hours worked;
(2) beginning January 1, 2026, $10.50 per hour for all hours worked;
(3) beginning January 1, 2027, $12 per hour for all hours worked;
(4) beginning January 1, 2028, $13.50 per hour for all hours worked; and
(5) beginning January 1, 2029, $15 per hour for all hours worked.
C. Beginning January 1, 2030, and on January 1 of successive years, the minimum wage
for all hours worked shall be increased by the increase in the cost of living, if any. The increase
in the cost of living shall be measured by the annual percentage increase, as of August of the
preceding year, in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CРІ-W) or its successor index, as published by the U.S. Department of Labor or its successor agency, with the amount of minimum wage increase rounded to the nearest cent.
D. This act shall be liberally construed in favor of its purposes and shall not limit any law, policy, standard, or regulation that requires payment of higher or supplemental wages or benefits to any employees or other working individuals. This act shall not be construed to apply retroactively.
E. The provisions of this Act are severable and, if any part or provision hereof is void. invalid, or unconstitutional, the decision of the court so holding shall not affect or impair any of the remaining parts or provisions hereof, and the remaining provisions hereof shall continue in full force and effect.
Section 2. AMENDATORY. 40 O.S. 2021, Section 197.4, is amended to read as follows:
As used in this act:
(a) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Labor:
(b) "Wage" means compensation due to an employee by reason of his employment, payable in legal tender of the United States or checks on banks convertible into cash on demand at full face value, subject to such deductions, charges or allowances as may be permitted by law;
(c) "Employ" includes to suffer or to permit to work;
(d) "Employer" means any individual, partnership, association, corporation, business trust, or any person or group of persons, hiring more than ten full-time employees or equivalent at any one location or place of business; provided, however, if an employer has less than ten full-time employees or equivalent at any one location or place of business but does a gross business of more than One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) annually, said employer shall not be exempt under the provisions of this act.
(e) "Employee" includes any individual employed by an employer but shall not include:
(1) Any individual employed by the United States government;
(2) Any individual employed by the State of Oklahoma;
(3) Any individual working as a volunteer in a charitable, religious or other nonprofit organization;
4) Any employee of any carrier subject to regulation by Part I of the Interstate Commerce Act;
(5) Any employee employed in a bona fide executive, administrative or professional capacity, or in the capacity of outside salesman;
6) Any individual working as a reserve force deputy sheriff.
Section 3. REPEALER. 40 O.S. 2021, Section 197.5, is hereby repealed.
Section 4. This Act shall become effective on the January 1 following its approval by the People
of Oklahoma.
Resources
Official Summary
Full Text
Source