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) · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to shift from a House version that declared a moratorium on certain course restrictions to a Senate version that creates a new board of trustees to manage the University Center at Ponca City, while also updating the legislative intent and codification status. The Senate version removes the moratorium language and replaces it with detailed provisions for establishing a nine-member board to oversee the University Center, including specific term limits for board members and authority to manage funds and facilities.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from maintaining existing course restrictions with a moratorium to creating a new administrative board structure for the University Center at Ponca City, with expanded authority for the State Regents to approve functional exceptions.

REQUIREMENT

Added creation of a nine-member board of trustees to serve as the administrative agency for the University Center at Ponca City, with specific appointment terms and expiration dates for each position.

Added requirements for the board to organize annually, elect a chair, vice-chair, and secretary, and establish plans for tenure, retirement, and employee benefits.

TIMELINE

Removed the moratorium on course and program restrictions that was set to last five academic years, replacing it with provisions for establishing the new board.

SCOPE

Changed the legislative intent from declaring a moratorium on restrictions to encouraging the State Regents to exercise powers to accomplish purposes of Article XIII-A of the Oklahoma Constitution.

FISCAL

Added authority for the State Regents to establish appropriate funds and accounts, including a revolving fund, in the Office of State Finance for servicing fiscal operations of the University Center at Ponca City.

DEFINITION

Removed the definition of 'functional exception' and replaced it with specific operational provisions for the new board of trustees.

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

MODERATE

The bill was renumbered and reorganized from a Committee Substitute version to a Floor version, with significant substantive changes to the legislative intent and scope. The original bill focused on allowing course offerings and functional exceptions for higher education institutions, while the new version declares a moratorium on certain course and program restrictions to address unmet workforce needs. The bill now includes codification provisions and updated effective dates.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from primarily enabling course offerings and functional exceptions to establishing a moratorium on existing restrictions that prevent institutions from offering certain courses or programs. This change expands institutional flexibility to respond to workforce needs.

TIMELINE

The effective date was changed from unspecified to July 1, 2025

SCOPE

Added a moratorium on course and program restrictions that previously limited what institutions could offer

Changed from 'not to be codified' to 'to be codified' in the Oklahoma Statutes

DEFINITION

Added a definition for 'functional exception' to clarify when institutions can offer courses outside their assigned mission

TECHNICAL

Reorganized the bill structure and renumbered sections from the original Committee Substitute format to the Floor version format

ENFORCEMENT

Changed the language regarding State Regents authority from 'exercise all powers necessary' to 'may approve functional exceptions'

Engrossed → Proposed Policy Committee Substitute 1 · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended from its Engrossed version to a Proposed Policy Committee Substitute version, which replaced the entire text of the measure with a new draft. This version updates the title to reflect it is a committee substitute, adjusts line numbering and formatting, and changes the page reference at the end from the original bill number to a request number. The core policy content regarding higher education moratoriums appears to remain substantively similar, though the exact text was replaced in this version.

TECHNICAL

The entire bill text was replaced with a new draft version, updating the title to 'Proposed Policy Committee Substitute' and changing page references from 'ENGR. H. B. NO. 2854' to 'Req. No. 12579'.

Line numbering and formatting were adjusted throughout the document to reflect the committee substitute version.

A new request number (Req. No. 12579) was added to the page references, replacing the original bill number.

Introduced → Engrossed · 5 edits · Mar 13, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was substantially rewritten to shift from a general education reform act to a specific moratorium on higher education course and program restrictions. The new version adds detailed provisions preventing certain institutions from being limited in their ability to offer courses, while allowing for functional exceptions to meet workforce needs. The effective date was moved from November 1, 2025 to July 1, 2025.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from a broad education reform act to a targeted moratorium on specific institutional restrictions within the State System of Higher Education.

SCOPE

Changed from a general education reform act to a specific moratorium on course and program restrictions at state higher education institutions.

REQUIREMENT

Added specific list of 11 restrictions that are now moratorium, including Northern Oklahoma College, Connors State College, Northeastern State University branches, and Oklahoma State University restrictions.

DEFINITION

Added new definition for 'functional exception' allowing State Regents to approve expansions to meet unmet workforce needs.

TIMELINE

Changed effective date from November 1, 2025 to July 1, 2025.

TECHNICAL

Changed codification status from 'not to be codified' to 'to be codified' in Oklahoma Statutes as Section 4675 of Title 70.

House Committee Substitute → Senate Committee Substitute for House Bill · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended from a House Committee Substitute to a Senate Committee Substitute, changing the legislative intent from declaring a moratorium on course restrictions to encouraging the State Regents to allow functional exceptions for higher education institutions. The Senate version removes the moratorium language and instead focuses on empowering the State Regents to approve functional exceptions to meet unmet workforce needs, while also establishing a new board of trustees for the University Center at Ponca City.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from restricting certain institutions from offering specific courses to allowing more flexibility for institutions to expand their offerings based on workforce needs and unique purposes.

SCOPE

Removed moratorium on course and program restrictions that previously limited Northern Oklahoma College, Connors State College, Northeastern State University, Oklahoma State University-Tulsa, and Langston University Branch from offering certain courses.

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

REQUIREMENT

Added language encouraging the State Regents to exercise all powers necessary to accomplish the purposes of Article XIII-A of the Oklahoma Constitution and to allow up to one change of function for each institution within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education.

Added provisions for functional exceptions to allow institutions to offer courses outside their assigned function or mission to meet unmet workforce needs, subject to approval by the institution's governing board and State Regents' policies.

Established a new board of nine trustees to serve as the administrative agency for the University Center at Ponca City, with authority to submit budgets, administer monies, provide educational facilities, and select a chief executive officer.

TIMELINE

Removed the effective date of July 1, 2025, and emergency declaration language from the original House version.

Proposed Policy Committee Substitute 1 → House Committee Substitute · 4 edits

MODERATE

This amendment replaces the entire text of HB 2854 with a revised version that maintains the same moratorium on higher education course restrictions but updates administrative details. The substantive policy content regarding university restrictions remains largely unchanged, with only technical formatting and reference number updates.

TECHNICAL

Updated bill title from 'PROPOSED POLICY COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE' to 'COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE' to reflect current legislative status

Changed bill reference number from 12579 to 13102 in the tracking information

Updated committee amendment date from 02/13/25 to 03/04/25

Adjusted line spacing and formatting throughout the document for consistency

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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