HB 4359 Oklahoma House · 2026 Regular Session

Schools; requiring statewide assessments to be held in the last four weeks of each school year; effective date; emergency.

HB 4359 requires Oklahoma's statewide student assessments to be administered in May each year, rather than at other times of the year. This bill directly affects all Oklahoma public school students in grades 3-12, as it amends existing law governing the timing of required assessments in English Language Arts, math, science, and U.S. History. The key mechanism is a specific amendment to the statute requiring assessments to occur "in May" annually, while maintaining all other assessment content, grade-level requirements, and graduation criteria. This change aims to standardize assessment timing across districts for better planning and reporting. The bill does not alter what is assessed or the graduation requirements themselves.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
May 2026
House Passage
May 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Feb 2, 2026 Signed May 12, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 7 comparisons

What changed between versions

Floor (House) Floor (Senate) · 4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended to shift the statewide testing window from the last three weeks to the last four weeks of the school year, providing a longer period for administration. Additionally, the Senate version added a requirement for a college- and career-readiness assessment at no cost to students and expanded the list of optional assessments to include reading and writing. The text also includes minor formatting updates to the bill's header and authorship credits.
Scope change
The bill's scope regarding testing timing was expanded, and the scope of optional assessments was broadened to include literacy components.
TIMELINE

Changed the mandatory testing window from the last three weeks to the last four weeks of the school year.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement for a nationally recognized college- and career-readiness assessment to be administered at no cost to high school students.

Expanded optional assessments to include reading and writing in certain grades as determined by the Board.

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill header to reflect Senate floor version status and added a Senate sponsor name.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 29, 2026 · House Mar 25, 2026

How they voted

423
Passed · 5 other
Total votes 50
Apr 29, 2026
D Democratic9
6 Yea 3 Nay
66% Yea
R Republican41
36 Yea 5
87% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
31
Key actions
11
Committee
8
Amendments
1
May 12, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor 05/12/2026
lower
May 5, 2026
Committee
Referred for enrollment
lower
May 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
Fourth Reading, Measure and Emergency Passed: Ayes: 70 Nays: 17
lower
May 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
SA's read, adopted
lower
Apr 30, 2026
Upper · Passed
Engrossed to House
upper
Apr 29, 2026
Committee
Referred for engrossment
upper
Apr 29, 2026
Upper · Passed
Measure and Emergency passed: Ayes: 40 Nays: 3
upper
Apr 7, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported Do Pass as amended Education committee; CR filed
upper
Mar 30, 2026
Introduced
First Reading
upper
Mar 30, 2026
Lower · Passed
Engrossed, signed, to Senate
lower
Mar 25, 2026
Committee
Referred for engrossment
lower
Mar 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Third Reading, Measure and Emergency passed: Ayes: 83 Nays: 10
lower
Mar 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Amended
lower
Mar 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
CR; Do Pass, amended by committee substitute Education Oversight Committee
lower
Feb 10, 2026
Lower · Passed
Policy recommendation to the Education Oversight committee; Do Pass Common Education
lower
Feb 4, 2026
Committee
Referred to Common Education
lower
Feb 4, 2026
Committee
Referred to Education Oversight
lower
Feb 2, 2026
Introduced
First Reading
lower
2 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors