The bill amends the Oklahoma Workers' Compensation Act to improve vocational rehabilitation training and benefits for injured employees. It introduces a new benefit period allowing employees engaged in retraining or job placement programs to receive temporary total disability benefits for an additional fifty-two weeks, contingent upon compliance with the program and monitored by a vocational expert. The bill also ensures that benefits cannot be terminated without a Commission order following a hearing and allows for the extension of vocational rehabilitation services for another fifty-two weeks if necessary. Additionally, it clarifies the Workers' Compensation Commission's responsibilities in overseeing these programs and mandates that all tuition for vocational rehabilitation be paid directly to the training facility by the employer or their insurer.

Moreover, the bill modifies regulations regarding attorney fees in workers' compensation claims. It specifies that if an employer's written settlement offer for permanent partial or total disability, or death compensation is rejected, the attorney fees recoverable by the employee's attorney cannot exceed thirty percent of the difference between the awarded amount and the settlement offer. It also clarifies that attorney fees cannot be collected for noncontroverted claims or medical benefits and services, while establishing a fixed fee of $200 for legal services related to contested changes of physician. The previous cap on attorney fees for vocational rehabilitation is removed, allowing fees based on the total cost of services, payable upon the employee's completion of rehabilitation. The act is set to take effect on November 1, 2025.