Oklahoma House approves a package of pension COLAs, agency funding and infrastructure measures

The Oklahoma House on April 16 passed a string of measures affecting pensions, agency budgets and infrastructure, approving tiered cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for multiple public retirement systems and funding for several state programs.

Representative Worthen, explaining SB 1148, described a tiered COLA structure for judicial retirees: no COLA until 10 years, 3 percent for 10–20 years and 6 percent over 20 years. The bill was moved for final passage and, after a roll-call vote, the presiding officer declared the bill passed.

The chamber also advanced firefighter-retirement changes in SB 1147. Representative Kelly told members that the bill “provides an increase to the volunteer firefighters to $10 per year of service for future retirees” and implements the same 3 percent/6 percent tiered COLA structure used elsewhere; the bill passed on third reading (recorded vote: 80 aye, 2 nay).

Lawmakers adopted several other retirement-related measures, including a one-time stipend for a small group of retired police and firefighters in SB 1149 (the sponsor said it will affect about 360 people), and teacher- and public-employee COLA bills. Representative LePak, discussing the Teachers Retirement System measure, said “it’s more than just a COLA bill,” leading to extended floor colloquy about how off-the-top dedicated revenues would be treated once a fund hit a 100 percent funding target.

The House also approved agency limit and appropriation bills. Representative Stinson presented limit bills for the Oklahoma Health Care Authority and the State Department of Health (SB 1161 and SB 1162) and said they chiefly clarify responsibilities and correct scrivener’s errors; both bills passed (SB 1161: 78 aye, 7 nay; SB 1162: 68 aye, 17 nay). Representative Dr. Carl Newton said the OWRB bills (SB 1175 and SB 1176) transfer $10 million to the Rural Economic Action Plan and set up competitive loan programs for water and wastewater infrastructure; those bills passed (votes recorded in the transcript as 87–3 and 90–1 respectively) and included emergency declarations.

Members also approved funding tied to public safety and school security in SB 1165. Chairman Caldwell Trey explained that a reported $1.6 million increase reflected an increment for the Rave program and that the larger $2.35 million figure is intended for a revolving school-security fund to maintain mapped floor plans and school-site data for first responders.

Several bills were explicitly taken up with emergency clauses, meaning many measures will take effect immediately if they become law. Representative Caldwell Trey described SB 1174 as “a piece of legislation that rejects judicial salary increases,” and that measure passed with an emergency vote. Other bills carrying emergency votes included SB 1164 (Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services), SB 1156 (Pardon and Parole Board compensation), SB 1158 (Office of Juvenile Affairs), and multiple agency limit bills.

Votes at a glance - SB 1147 (Firefighters pension/COLA): final passage; 80 aye, 2 nay. - SB 1149 (public retirement stipend): final passage; 84 aye, 0 nay. - SB 1161 (Health Care Authority limits): final passage; 78 aye, 7 nay; emergency declared. - SB 1162 (State Department of Health limits): final passage; 68 aye, 17 nay. - SB 1164 (Dept. of Mental Health limits): final passage; 73 aye, 14 nay; emergency declared. - SB 1159 (appropriation to remediation revolving fund): final passage; voice/roll call recorded as passed. - SB 1165 (Dept. of Public Safety limits and school security funding): final passage; recorded as passed; emergency declared. - SB 1174 (reject judicial salary increases): final passage; 70 aye, 14 nay; emergency declared. - SB 1156 (Pardon & Parole Board compensation): final passage; 84 aye, 4 nay; emergency declared. - SB 1158 (Office of Juvenile Affairs medication funding): final passage; 89 aye, 0 nay; emergency declared. - SB 1175–1176 (OWRB transfers/water infrastructure): final passage; 87–3 and 90–1; emergency declared. - SB 1166 (Dept. of Agriculture limits): final passage; 91 aye, 0 nay; emergency declared. - SB 1167 (OMES Pay for Success/contract database): final passage; 87 aye, 4 nay; emergency declared. - SB 1157 (OSBI cybercrimes unit): final passage; 91 aye, 0 nay; emergency declared. - SB 1146 (Police pension COLA): final passage; 86 aye, 3 nay. - SB 14 81 (schools — additional recess minutes): final passage; 86 aye, 1 nay; emergency declared.

What it means Floor debate on pension bills repeatedly returned to the same set of trade-offs: whether to continue “off the top” dedicated revenue streams that have funded COLAs in past years, or to let pension systems reach a funded threshold and then rely on future appropriations for COLAs. Sponsors told colleagues that actuaries and pension boards project long-term health and that future legislatures would be responsible for any further adjustments.

The body closed the day with ceremonial recognitions — including the Canute girls’ basketball team and the 2026 Oklahoma Mother of the Year — and adopted SCR 20 congratulating the YMCA on 175 years. The House adjourned and will reconvene on Monday, April 20, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.