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Read. Follow. Verify.Oklahoma permits retirement system beneficiaries to disclaim death benefits to funeral providers and waives probate for small benefits
Last action · May 12, 2025: Approved by Governor 05/09/2025
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What This Bill Does
Oklahoma allows retirement system beneficiaries to disclaim death benefits and transfer them directly to a licensed funeral director or service business starting November 1, 2025. The legislation also establishes a process to waive court requirements for distributing death benefits or unpaid contributions of $25,000 or less to legal heirs.
Beneficiaries can now redirect retirement death benefits toward funeral expenses without court involvement, while the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System is legally released from liability upon making such payments.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Beneficiaries
Beneficiaries gain the option to disclaim death benefits in writing to transfer them to licensed funeral service providers.
Legal heirs
Legal heirs can claim retirement death benefits or unpaid contributions of $25,000 or less without probate court intervention by submitting specific affidavits and agreements.
Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System
The System is granted discretion over probate waivers and is released from liability, obligations, and costs upon making payments to claiming heirs or disclaiming beneficiaries.
Licensed funeral directors and service businesses
Funeral providers can receive transferred death benefits directly when a beneficiary executes a qualified disclaimer.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer my retirement death benefit directly to a funeral home?
What is the maximum amount eligible for a waiver of probate procedures?
What is the standard death benefit amount for retired members?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
23 actions- May 12, 2025HouseEnrolledApproved by Governor 05/09/2025
- May 5, 2025HouseSent to Governor
- May 5, 2025SenateEnrolled measure signed, returned to House
- May 5, 2025HouseEnrolled, signed, to Senate
- May 1, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred for enrollment
- May 1, 2025SenateEngrossed measure signed, returned to House
Show 17 earlier actions
- May 1, 2025SenateFloorMeasure passed: Ayes: 46 Nays: 0
- May 1, 2025SenateGeneral Order, Considered
- Apr 17, 2025SenatePlaced on General Order
- Apr 15, 2025SenateFloorReported Do Pass Retirement and Government Resources committee; CR filed
- Apr 1, 2025SenateCommitteeSecond Reading referred to Retirement and Government Resources
- Mar 12, 2025SenateIntroducedFirst Reading
- Mar 12, 2025HouseEngrossed, signed, to Senate
- Mar 11, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred for engrossment
- Mar 11, 2025HouseFloorThird Reading, Measure passed: Ayes: 93 Nays: 0
- Mar 11, 2025HouseGeneral Order
- Mar 4, 2025HouseFloorCR; Do Pass Government Oversight Committee
- Feb 12, 2025HouseAuthored by Senator Daniels (principal Senate author)
- Feb 12, 2025HouseFloorPolicy recommendation to the Government Oversight committee; Do Pass Banking, Financial Services and Pensions
- Feb 4, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to Banking, Financial Services and Pensions
- Feb 4, 2025HouseCommitteeSecond Reading referred to Government Oversight
- Feb 3, 2025HouseAuthored by Representative Kane
- Feb 3, 2025HouseIntroducedFirst Reading
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.oklegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance60How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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