HB 2854: Higher education; authorizing certain course offerings at certain institutions beginning in certain academic year; allowing duplication of certain courses; effective date. - Oklahoma

Floor (House) → Floor (Senate) · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to shift from a House floor version to a Senate floor version, which significantly expanded the scope of the legislation. The Senate version removes moratoriums on course restrictions and instead authorizes the Oklahoma State Regents to allow up to one change of function per institution. It also establishes a new board of nine trustees to manage the University Center at Ponca City, including provisions for funding, staffing, and term limits.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from imposing moratoriums on specific course restrictions to granting broader flexibility for institutions to change functions and create a new administrative board for the University Center at Ponca City.

REQUIREMENT

Removed moratoriums on course restrictions for Northern Oklahoma College, Connors State College, Northeastern State University Muskogee, Oklahoma State University-Tulsa, Oklahoma State University, Langston University Branch in Tulsa, and Northeastern State University in Tulsa.

Added authority for the State Regents to allow up to one change of function per institution within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education to address unmet workforce needs.

FISCAL

Created a new board of nine trustees to manage the University Center at Ponca City, with authority to establish funds and accounts including a revolving fund in the Office of State Finance.

TIMELINE

Established specific term limits for the nine board members, with expiration dates ranging from June 30, 2013 to June 30, 2021, and each term lasting nine years thereafter.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed Northern Oklahoma College's authority from exclusive to non-exclusive for offering lower division courses and programs at the University Center at Ponca City, effective 2026-2027.

Senate Committee Substitute for House Bill → Floor (House) · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was revised from a Senate Committee Substitute to the House Floor version, updating the legislative intent to declare a moratorium on course restrictions and adding codification provisions. The House version reorganized the bill structure, changed the effective date to July 1, 2025, and updated the committee report date to 03/04/2025. The substantive policy content regarding institutional restrictions and functional exceptions remains largely the same, with minor formatting and numbering adjustments.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on higher education course and program restrictions within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, but the legislative intent was updated to explicitly declare a moratorium on certain restrictions rather than just relating to course offerings.

TIMELINE

Effective date changed to July 1, 2025, and committee report date updated to 03/04/2025

SCOPE

Legislative intent updated to explicitly declare a moratorium on higher education course and program restrictions

TECHNICAL

Bill title changed from 'An Act relating to higher education' to include 'declaring a moratorium on certain higher education course and program restrictions'

Section numbering and formatting reorganized with House Floor version structure

DEFINITION

Added definition of 'functional exception' to permit institutions to offer courses outside their assigned function to meet unmet workforce needs

REQUIREMENT

Added provision stating that any restrictions preventing two-year colleges from offering upper division courses are included in the moratorium

House Committee Substitute → Senate Committee Substitute for House Bill · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to remove a moratorium on course restrictions and replace it with a framework allowing the State Regents to approve functional exceptions for unmet workforce needs. The bill now authorizes Northern Oklahoma College to offer courses at the University Center at Ponca City starting in the 2026-2027 academic year, while creating a new nine-member board of trustees to oversee operations and manage funds for the center.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from maintaining existing course restrictions to enabling new course offerings and establishing a governance structure for the University Center at Ponca City.

SCOPE

Replaced moratorium on course restrictions with authority for State Regents to approve functional exceptions for unmet workforce needs.

REQUIREMENT

Created a new nine-member board of trustees to administer the University Center at Ponca City, including authority to hire staff and manage funds.

Removed specific moratorium provisions that restricted course offerings at Northern Oklahoma College, Connors State College, Northeastern State University, Oklahoma State University, and Langston University.

TIMELINE

Changed Northern Oklahoma College's authority from exclusive to non-exclusive for lower division courses at Ponca City, effective 2026-2027 academic year.

FISCAL

Authorized State Regents to establish funds and accounts, including a revolving fund, for servicing fiscal operations of the University Center at Ponca City.

Proposed Policy Committee Substitute 1 → House Committee Substitute · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to replace the entire text with a new version that updates the committee designation from 'Proposed Policy' to 'Committee Substitute' and changes the bill's tracking number from 12579 to 13102. The substantive policy content regarding higher education course restrictions remains unchanged.

Scope change

No substantive change to the bill's scope or applicability; only formatting and tracking information were updated.

TECHNICAL

Title changed from 'Proposed Policy Committee Substitute' to 'Committee Substitute'

Bill tracking number updated from 12579 to 13102

Date updated from 02/13/25 to 03/04/25

Engrossed → Proposed Policy Committee Substitute 1 · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended from its Engrossed version to a Proposed Policy Committee Substitute version. The primary change is the replacement of the entire bill text with a new version, which includes updated formatting, page numbers, and a request number. The substantive policy language regarding higher education restrictions appears to remain largely the same, though some line numbers and section formatting were adjusted.

TECHNICAL

The bill header was changed from 'ENGROSSED HOUSE BILL NO. 2854' to 'PROPOSED POLICY COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL 2854', indicating it is now a substitute version after committee review.

Page numbers and request numbers were updated throughout the document (e.g., 'ENGR. H. B. NO. 2854' changed to 'Req. No. 12579').

The title of the act was slightly adjusted to include 'PROPOSED POLICY COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE' in the header.

Introduced → Engrossed · 5 edits · Mar 13, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was substantially rewritten from a general education reform act into a specific higher education moratorium that temporarily lifts geographic restrictions on course offerings across Oklahoma's state universities and colleges. The new version clarifies which institutions can offer courses outside their traditional boundaries to address workforce needs, while establishing a five-year moratorium on existing restrictions.

Scope change

Changed from a broad education reform bill to a targeted higher education policy affecting specific institutions including Northern Oklahoma College, Connors State College, Northeastern State University, Oklahoma State University, and Langston University

SCOPE

Bill title and purpose changed from 'Higher Education Reform Act of 2025' to a moratorium on course and program restrictions

REQUIREMENT

Added five-year moratorium (effective July 1, 2025) lifting geographic restrictions on course offerings at 11 specific institutions

Removed language establishing the bill as the 'Higher Education Reform Act of 2025' and removed noncodification provision

DEFINITION

Created new definition for 'functional exception' allowing State Regents to approve course offerings outside institutional missions to meet workforce needs

TIMELINE

Effective date changed from November 1, 2025 to July 1, 2025

Higher education; authorizing certain course offerings at certain institutions beginning in certain academic year; allowing duplication of certain courses; effective date.

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