An effort to raise Oklahoma's minimum wage to $15 an hour is moving closer to the November ballot.
Organizers claim they have collected twice the necessary signatures for State Question 832, which proposes the first increase in the minimum wage in nearly 15 years.
The initiative aims to gradually raise pay in response to increasing living costs.
Amber England, an organizer, acknowledges the campaign's success but criticizes lawmakers for complicating the initiative process.
“They’re making it increasingly difficult, and Oklahomans should be concerned about the legislature’s actions regarding the ballot measure process. It has become significantly more challenging.”
This year, the legislature passed HB 1105, imposing new deadlines and mandatory costs that complicate launching ballot measures.
The minimum wage campaign must submit signatures from Oklahomans by Monday. A total of 92,000 signatures are needed for this ballot initiative.
If the question is successfully approved, it will gradually increase the state's minimum wage from $7.25 cents an hour to $15 an hour in 2029.
