Bill No. 521, introduced by Senators Gollihare and Dobrinski, amends Section 6005 of Title 59 of the Oklahoma Statutes, which pertains to employer and employee relationships within franchise agreements. The bill modifies the definitions of "franchisor," "franchisee," and "franchise," clarifying the roles and responsibilities of each party in the franchise relationship. Notably, it removes certain phrases that previously described the nature of the franchise agreement, streamlining the language to focus on the essential elements of the franchise relationship, including the rights and obligations of both franchisors and franchisees.

Additionally, the bill explicitly states that a franchisor shall not be considered the employer of a franchisee or the franchisee's employees, and vice versa, thereby delineating the employment relationship within franchise operations. This clarification aims to protect both parties from potential misclassification and liability issues. The act is set to take effect on November 1, 2025, following its passage in the Senate on March 24, 2025.