Bill No. 1076, introduced by Senator Murdock and Representative Newton, amends the Administrative Workers Compensation Act by updating definitions and statutory language within Section 2 of 85A O.S. 2021. Key modifications include clarifying terms such as "actually dependent," "carrier," and "child," while introducing new definitions for "continuing medical maintenance" and "certified workplace medical plan." The bill expands the definition of "employee" to include members of the Oklahoma National Guard during state orders and broadens the definition of "child" to encompass posthumous children and those legally adopted or pending adoption. Additionally, it revises the criteria for compensable injuries, stating that benefits will not be payable for conditions arising from non-work-related independent intervening causes, and raises the threshold for agricultural workers' exemption from $100,000 to $150,000 in gross annual payroll.

The bill also emphasizes the specific framework governing workers' compensation by replacing "this act" with "the Administrative Workers Compensation Act" throughout the text. It refines definitions related to employment, disability, and insurance, including "employee," "incapacity," "permanent disability," and "temporary partial disability," to provide clearer guidance on eligibility and benefits. The introduction of "evidence-based" medical decision-making ensures that medical assessments are grounded in reliable evidence. Furthermore, the bill outlines employer and self-insurer responsibilities, including the implications of being classified as an "impaired self-insurer," and details the criteria for determining permanent disability and the evaluation process for occupational injury claims. The amendments aim to enhance the clarity and effectiveness of the workers' compensation system in the state, with an effective date of November 1, 2025.