Oklahoma State Chamber Pushes Workers’ Comp Changes

The Oklahoma State Chamber says shifting the state’s court-based workers’ compensation system to an administrative model will be one of its top priorities for the upcoming legislative session.

The powerful lobbying group that represents hundreds of businesses and industries across the state released its 2013 legislative agenda on Wednesday.

State Chamber President Fred Morgan says workers’ compensation costs have long been a top concern of its members and urged lawmakers to “start over with an administrative approach.”

The chamber did not endorse a cut to the state’s personal income tax rate that was a priority last year of Gov. Mary Fallin. But among the chamber’s taxation priorities was the elimination of the franchise tax for small businesses and a reduction in the corporate income tax.