By Constitution Staff

Oklahoman’s have voted on over 400 State Questions since statehood. Proposals can be placed on the ballot through the initiative petition process by collecting the signatures of a sufficient number of voters. One such initiative is scheduled for a vote on June 16, several others were approved to collect signatures or are in the early stages of the initiative process. State Questions can also be initiated by the Legislature with passage of a resolution in both chambers, and does not require approval of the governor. Several Legislative measures are under consideration during the current legislative session.

Last year, the Oklahoma Legislature passed legislation which was signed into law on May 23, 2025, by Governor Stitt that is intended to impact the future collection of signatures on initiative petitions. Senate Bill 1027, by Sen. David Bullard (R-Durant) and House Speaker Kyle Hilbert (R-Bristow) makes reforms to the initiative petition process.

The legislation requires the proponents of initiative petitions to collect signatures from a larger geographic swath of Oklahoma, although successful petitions could still visit far less than half the state. The number of signatures from any given county is capped at a set percentage of the number of votes cast in that county in the last General Election for Governor. The effect of this reform is that signatures must come from at least 18 of Oklahoma’s 77 counties.

It also requires paid signature collectors to disclose their financial backers and mandates that only registered Oklahoma voters are eligible to gather signatures. It also will simplify the language of petition summaries, or gists, and requires that these summaries explicitly state whether a petition will have a fiscal impact. And it requires that those who sign a petition must first read the full ballot title for the proposed measure.

Because of a legal challenge, the legislation was blocked by the Oklahoma Supreme Court from going into effect until the court rules on the challenge. State Question 836 was the first initiative petition that would have been impacted by the changes. But, since the court has not yet settled the issue, the collection of signatures on new initiative petitions will be governed by the laws in effect as of November 2024. The Oklahoma Supreme Court held oral arguments on the challenge on November 18, 2025. As we went to press, the state high court still had not issued a ruling in the case. Senate Bill 1027 was one of the ten bills we included on the 2025 Oklahoma Conservative Index rating state legislators.

State Question 832

One measure has made it through the initiative petition process and is scheduled for a statewide vote this year. In 2024, supporters of an initiative petition to place State Question 832 on the ballot submitted nearly 180,000 signatures and the Secretary of State verified 157,287 signatures to be valid. Since it is only a state statute change, and not a constitutional change, it can be amended in the future by the Legislature with approval of the Governor and only required 92,263 signatures. The proposal would gradually raise the minimum wage in Oklahoma from the current $7.25 per hour to $15 in 2029 and require future increases based on the U.S. Department of Labor’s Consumer Price Index.

By the time the Minimum Wage initiative passed the final legal hurdles, the deadline for the General Election on November 5, of 2024, had already passed. So, Governor Stitt scheduled the election for the next statewide vote which will be the June 16, 2026 Primary Elections. In a statement, Governor Stitt said setting the question for the next eligible statewide election would save the state $1.8 million compared to holding a Special Election for the measure.

Chad Wormington, the president and CEO of the Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce, said the proposal was a “major concern.” These “automatic, open-ended increases being linked to a federal government produced index that is based upon cost-of-living rates in cities like New York or San Francisco,” and areas like them, “are not reflective of the actual cost of living in Oklahoma.” Yet, this unrealistic standard would be imposed upon businesses in Oklahoma, which has a much lower cost-of-living.

Here is how the measure will appear on the ballot:

BALLOT TITLE FOR STATE QUESTION 832

This measure amends the Oklahoma Minimum Wage Act (“OMWA”) under the Oklahoma Statutes to increase the state minimum wage. Employers must pay employees at least $9 per hour beginning in 2025, increasing $1.50 annually for a final rate of $15 per hour in 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; the minimum wage increase would continue with any successor agency or index. Such increase would also not require approval from Congress or the Oklahoma Legislature. This measure eliminates several exemptions in the current OMWA, 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. The measure also repeals title 40, section 197.5. Federal and state employees will not be covered under the OMWA. Volunteers; employers with ten or fewer employees and grossing $100,000 or less; some employees of carriers engaged in interstate commerce; employees working in a bona fide executive, administrative, or professional capacity; outside salesmen; and reserve deputy sheriffs will remain excluded from the OMWA’s coverage. Because counties, municipalities, and school districts are not excluded, a fiscal impact on the State will result, possibly necessitating in a revenue increase by new taxes or elimination of existing services. The measure will be effective the January 1 following approval and will not apply retroactively.

SHALL THE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED?

FOR THE PROPOSAL Yes: __________

AGAINST THE PROPOSAL No: __________

State Question 836

State Question 836 would have dramatically changed the way Oklahoma elections are conducted, going from the present “closed primary” system to an “open primary” method. It would replace the current partisan election primary system with a single “top-two” primary. All candidates, regardless of party, would appear on the same ballot. The two candidates receiving the most votes, regardless of their party registration, would advance to the General Election Oklahomans United for Progress originally filed the proposal as State Question 835, but later withdrew that petition and refiled the issue as State Question 836. Officials with the group said they took this action to clarify concerns and strengthen the petition language.

Proponents had 90 days to collect signatures starting on October 29, 2025 to place the initiative on the ballot. On January 26, 2026, Oklahomans United for Progress submitted 42 boxes of signed petition pamphlets with 209,616 signatures. The Secretary of State (SOS) completed the signature verification process on March 3, 2026 and announced that only 142,567 signatures were verified – over 30,000 less than the number required. Currently in Oklahoma, 172,993 valid signatures are required for initiatives such as SQ 836 that would make a constitutional change. The SOS filed the required signature verification report with the Oklahoma Supreme Court on March 5, 2026 and any challenges relating to the validity of the signatures verified must be submitted by June 15, 2026. The proponents indicated they would evaluate if all lawful signatures were included in the count.

State Question 837

The proposed Oklahoma Responsible Cannabis Act, sought to legalize marijuana for adults 21 years of age and older. On July 18, 2025, the Oklahoma Secretary of State notified proponents of the recreational marijuana initiative that since no challenges had been filed, the 90-day signature collection period could start on August 6, 2025. Since it proposed to make a constitutional change, it required 172,993 valid signatures. No signatures were submitted by the November 3, 2025 deadline for State Question 837 and the measure is dead.

State Question 838

On September 4, 2025, Francetta Mays – the Associate Pastor at Vernon AME Church in Tulsa – filed a proposal to establish June 1 as “Greenwood Remembrance and Reconciliation Day.” The day would become an official state holiday (but not a day that government offices would be required to be closed) focused on honoring the lives lost and remembering the destruction of Black Wall Street during the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, also called the Tulsa Race Riot. Because it is not a constitutional amendment, but only a new statute or law which can be changed by the Oklahoma Legislature, it only required 92,263 valid signatures to get State Question 838 on the ballot. The 90-day signature collection period was set and supporters had until January 30, 2026 to submit signature pamphlets. No petition pamphlets were filed and the measure is no longer active.

State Question 840

A coalition of civic leaders and concerned citizens has launched an effort to take back control of Oklahoma’s government from special interests and force more transparency into the legislative process. On September 12, 2025, Open Government Initiative, Incorporated (OGII) filed Initiative 451, designated as State Question 839. However, the initiative was withdrawn and refiled as Initiative 452, designated as State Question 840. The revised proposal would amend the state constitution by adding requirements for Legislative Bill Hearing Rights and Accountability Enforcement.

OGII stands against legislative leaders that unilaterally block bills from even being heard, regardless of public support or merit. The leader of the group is former state Rep. Charles Key (R-Oklahoma City) who tried to reform the legislative process by changing legislative rules during his time in the Legislature. Key criticized the Legislature’s lack of transparency, where major decisions and leadership deals are often made behind closed doors, influenced by special interests. “This isn’t about partisanship,” said Key. “It’s about open government, public accountability, and giving Oklahomans the voice they deserve in their own Legislature.”

The proposed constitutional amendment guarantees each Oklahoma Legislator the right to have at least three bills heard in committee each year. If passed by a legislative committee, bills must be scheduled for a floor vote upon the request of the bill’s author. Violations would result in a $10,000 fine for the first offense and automatic expulsion after a second. The amendment would override conflicting constitutional provisions on expulsion, but preserves other Legislative rules and procedures.

The SOS affirmed that the proposed gist of Initiative Petition 452 conformed with state requirements and published notice that the 90-day appeal and protest period (as to Constitutionality) would begin on December 23, 2025, and end on March 23, 2026.

State Question 843

Initiative Petitions 453 and 454, assigned as State Question 841 and 842 respectively, were filed and later withdrawn. Initiative Petition 455 was filed on January 12, 2026 with revisions from the previous two versions and was assigned as State Question 843. Labeled as “Homestead Exemption,” the proposal would eliminate ad valorem taxes on owner-occupied homesteads in three equal steps: 33% of assessed value exempt in 2027, 66%% in 2028, and 100% in 2029 and thereafter. However, since it would not apply to bonded indebtedness incurred by schools, counties, municipalities or other political subdivisions in effect prior to December 31, 2026, it would not completely end property taxes until those bonds are paid off. The measure would not cut off property taxes for businesses, including home rental properties. Proponents estimate that once fully in effect it would exempt home owners from $1.2 billion in property taxes annually beginning 2029. Because it is not a constitutional amendment, but only amends an existing statute or law which can be changed by the Oklahoma Legislature, it only requires 92,263 valid signatures to place the measure on the ballot.

It was filed by two current and one former state legislator. State Sen. Shane Jett (R-Shawnee) and Rep. Jay Steagall (R-Yukon), joined former Rep. Mike Reynolds (R-Oklahoma City), to create the proposal. The three lawmakers are conservatives, and named “Top Conservatives” based on their scores on the Oklahoma Conservative Index rating state legislators, published by the Oklahoma Constitution newspaper.

The SOS affirmed that the proposed gist of Initiative Petition 455 conforms with state requirements. The 90-day appeal and protest period (as to Constitutionality) began on January 20, 2026 and the 90th day and last day of the 1st appeal & protest period was April 20, 2026. A protest was filed and submitted to the Oklahoma Supreme Court on April 15, 2026, and the measure is on hold with the SOS office until the protest is resolved with the court.

Legislature Sends Proposals to 2026 Ballot

As previously stated, State Questions can also be initiated by the Oklahoma Legislature with passage of a resolution in both chambers, and does not require approval of the Governor. Once the legislation is passed, it is sent to the SOS to set the number for the State Question. As we went to press, here are the propositions that had made it through the Oklahoma Legislature during the current session and were submitted to the Secretary of State.

State Question 844

House Joint Resolution 1087 by Rep. Kile Hilbert (R-Bristow) and Sen. Lonnie Paxton (R-Tuttle) proposes a constitutional amendment to Section 6B of Article X of the Oklahoma Constitution relating to the five-year ad valorem tax exemption for qualifying manufacturing concerns. The proposal requires the Legislature to enact laws establishing the levels and methodologies of reimbursement to local taxing jurisdictions for revenue lost due to the exemption.

Currently, the Constitution requires the Legislature to provide reimbursement to local tax jurisdictions for ad valorem revenue lost as a result of the manufacturing exemption. The proposal would instead require the Legislature to establish in statute the levels and methodologies used to determine reimbursement amounts. The proposal also specifies that the assessed valuation of property exempt pursuant to this section shall be added to the assessed valuation of taxable property for purposes of computing the limit on indebtedness of political subdivisions in an amount equal to the level of reimbursement applicable to the property. State Question 844 will be on the August 25, 2026 election ballot.

State Question 845

House Joint Resolution 1024 by Rep. Anthony Moore (R-Clinton) and Sen. Todd Gollihare (R-Bristow) proposes a constitutional amendment to Section 3 of Article VII-B of the Oklahoma Constitution modifying the appointment process for the Judicial Nominating Commission. If approved by the voters, the measure requires the six members appointed by the Governor to serve a term of six years and that at least one be from each congressional district as they exist as of the date of appointment. The three at large members are to serve 2 year terms. The six members of the Oklahoma Bar Association are to serve six year terms. The measure would remove restrictions related to the three at-large members concerning being a lawyer or having an immediate family member who is a lawyer. It would remove restrictions relating to the number of selections belonging to one political party. The measure limits commissioners from serving more than 12 years. The modifications, if approved are to apply to any position of the Judicial nominating Commission that ends by expiration of the term of office or by vacancy. State Question 844 will be on the November 3, 2026 election ballot.

State Question 846

Senate Joint Resolution 47 by Rep. Kile Hilbert (R-Bristow) and Sen. Lonnie Paxton (R-Tuttle) proposes to add Section 6 to Article 3 of the Oklahoma Constitution to require Proof of Identity in Voting for any election authorized by law and conducted by a county election board or the State Election Board. The measure requires the Legislature to enact laws to specify requirements for proof of identity for voting. While proof of identity for voting is currently required by Oklahoma statutes, it could be repealed by the Oklahoma Legislature. By placing the requirement in the state Constitution, it can only be repealed by another statewide vote of the people, not by a majority vote of legislators. State Question 844 will be placed on the August 25, 2026 election ballot.

Other Legislative Proposals In Progress

As we went to press, several other proposals were still in progress in the Oklahoma Legislature. The measures have been moving back and forth between the two legislative chambers and it was not clear when they might be submitted to the SOS.

Managing Medicaid Expansion

In 2020, Oklahomans narrowly approved State Question 802, a constitutional amendment that placed a requirement in the state Constitution to expand SoonerCare (the Oklahoma Medicaid program) to include low income able-bodied adults of working age in the medical welfare program. Proponents promised that in addition to providing free healthcare to more people, it would provide a financial benefit to the state. Rural hospitals would have more funding because more Oklahomans would be covered by the government medical program. State government would receive more cash from federal coffers, since the federal government covers 90% of the cost. But, the added cost to cover the state match for the program is causing a strain on the state budget. Officials with the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA), which administers Medicaid, requested an additional state appropriation of nearly $500 million this year, much of it due to the surging costs related to the expanded program. And, it is projected that the added cost could reach $1 billion per year in the near future. With the medical coverage being a constitutional requirement, the strain on the state budget could force massive cuts across the rest of state government.

House Bill 4440 proposes a State Question to allow Oklahoma voters to remove Medicaid expansion from the state Constitution and instead place the expansion in state law, allowing lawmakers to amend the law as financial conditions require in future years. The measure would make no changes to Oklahoma’s existing laws, but would enable the Oklahoma Legislature to adjust the program just as they were able to do before the passage of State Question 802.

A second proposal to address the problems resulting from the expansion is House Joint Resolution 1067. It proposes a State Question to allow Oklahoma voters to repeal the constitutional requirement if the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for Medicaid drops below the current 90 percent. If the federal percentage drops below 90%, Oklahoma’s share would therefore increase to make up the difference. A provision is included, that it would not go into effect if the State Question resulting from HB 4440 is approved by the people, since the constitutional requirement would have already been repealed.

Homestead Property Tax Cap

Senate Joint Resolution 39, proposes amendments to the state Constitution that would lower the caps on annual increases in the fair cash value of property and create a tiered system to better protect seniors from rising property taxes. Under the proposal, the current cap on annual increases in a property’s fair cash value, which is used to calculate taxes. For homestead and agricultural property, the cap would drop from 3 percent to 1.75 percent starting in tax year 2027. For other property, the cap would decrease from 5 percent to 4 percent. The resolution also updates Oklahoma’s existing “senior freeze” by establishing a tiered cap structure for homestead property owned by seniors age 65 and older, based on household income relative to the median income in their county.