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STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2nd Session of the 60th Legislature (2026)
HOUSE JOINT
RESOLUTION 1056 By: Osburn
AS INTRODUCED
A Joint Resolution directing the Secretary of State
to refer to the people for their approval or
rejection a proposed amendment to Section 4 of
Article VI of the Constitution of the State of
Oklahoma and adding a new Section 36; making the
Commissioner of Labor an appointed position;
providing process for appointment; providing process
for removal; providing ballot title; and directing
filing.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE SENATE OF THE
2ND SESSION OF THE 60TH OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:
SECTION 1. The Secretary of State shall refer to the people for
their approval or rejection, as and in the manner provided by law,
the following proposed amendment to Section 4 of Article VI of the
Constitution of the State of Oklahoma to read as follows:
Section 4. A. The term of office of the Governor, Lieutenant
Governor, State Auditor and Inspector, Attorney General, State
Treasurer, Commissioner of Labor and Superintendent of Public
Instruction shall be four (4) years from the second Monday of
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January next after their election. The said officers shall be
eligible to immediately succeed themselves except as otherwise
provided in this section.
B. 1. No person shall be eligible to serve as Governor for a
period of time in excess of eight (8) years. Such years need not be
consecutive. Any years served by a person serving as Governor for
less than a full term to fill a vacancy in such office shall not be
included in the eight-year limitation set forth herein.
2. Notwithstanding the provisions of this amendment, any person
serving as Governor at the time of passage of this amendment shall
be eligible to complete the term of office to which he or she was
elected but shall not be eligible to serve as Governor for a period
of time in excess of eight (8) years, excluding years served for
less than a full term to fill a vacancy in such office. The
provisions of this paragraph shall apply regardless of whether such
years were served prior to or after passage of this amendment.
C. No person shall be eligible to serve as Lieutenant Governor,
State Auditor and Inspector, Attorney General, State Treasurer,
Commissioner of Labor or Superintendent of Public Instruction for a
period of time in excess of eight (8) years. Such years need not be
consecutive. Any years served by a person elected or appointed to
serve less than a full term to fill a vacancy in any such office
shall not be included in the limitations set forth herein. Any
person serving in such position at the time of passage of this
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amendment shall be eligible to complete the term for which he or she
has been elected and shall be eligible to serve an additional eight
(8) years thereafter, notwithstanding the provisions of this
amendment.
D. The Legislature is hereby authorized to enact laws to
implement the provisions of subsections B and C of this section.
E. Beginning November 1, 2034, the position of Commissioner of
Labor shall be appointed in accordance with Section 36 of Article VI
of the Oklahoma Constitution.
SECTION 2. The Secretary of State shall refer to the people for
their approval or rejection, as and in the manner provided by law,
the following proposed amendment to the Constitution of the State of
Oklahoma by adding a new Section 36 to Article VI thereof, to read
as follows:
A. Beginning November 1, 2034, the Commissioner of Labor shall
be appointed using the following process:
1. The Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives shall
provide a list of six nominees for the position to the Governor.
The Governor shall appoint one of the six nominees from the list to
serve as the Commissioner of Labor;
2. The Oklahoma State Senate shall vote whether to confirm the
Governor's appointee; and
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3. Should the Senate fail to confirm the Governor's appointee
by a two-thirds (2/3) vote, then the Governor shall select a new
appointee from the original lists of nominees.
B. The Commissioner of Labor may be removed from office by
either:
1. A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members elected to and
constituting each chamber of the Legislature to remove the
Commissioner of Labor; or
2. By order of the Governor and two-thirds (2/3) vote of one
chamber of the Legislature to remove the Commissioner of Labor.
SECTION 3. The Ballot Title for the proposed Constitutional
amendment as set forth in SECTIONS 1 and 2 of this resolution shall
be in the following form:
BALLOT TITLE
Legislative Referendum No. ____ State Question No. ____
THE GIST OF THE PROPOSITION IS AS FOLLOWS:
This measure amends the Oklahoma Constitution in Section 4 of
Article 6 and adds a new Section 36. The measure creates an
appointment and removal process for the Commissioner of Labor.
The process shall consist of the Oklahoma House of
Representatives preparing a list of eligible nominees, the
Governor selecting a nominee from the list, and the Senate
voting whether to confirm the Governor's selection. Should the
Senate fail to confirm the Governor's selection by a two-thirds
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(2/3) vote, then the Governor shall make a new selection from
the original provided list. The Commissioner of Labor may be
removed from office by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of each chamber
of the Legislature, or by order of the Governor and a two-thirds
(2/3) vote of one chamber of the Legislature. This process
shall not take effect November 1, 2034.
SHALL THE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED?
FOR THE PROPOSAL — YES _____________
AGAINST THE PROPOSAL — NO _____________
SECTION 4. The Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives,
immediately after the passage of this resolution, shall prepare and
file one copy thereof, including the Ballot Title set forth in
SECTION 3 hereof, with the Secretary of State and one copy with the
Attorney General.
60-2-14009 MJ 01/13/26