School district boards of education; modifying exception to certain prohibition on certain relationships between board members and school district employees. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 843 modifies Oklahoma law to adjust exceptions allowing school board members to have close family members (within second degree of consanguinity or affinity) working as employees in their school district. It updates the size thresholds for small districts: the exception now applies to districts with fewer than 550 average daily students (instead of the prior 400) if the board adopts a policy permitting such employment. The bill also clarifies that board members related to employees must recuse themselves from decisions about those employees' personnel matters. This change takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies to all Oklahoma school districts.