SB 1782 Oklahoma Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Higher education; prohibiting the governing boards of certain institutions of higher education from establishing and maintaining tenure plans after certain date. Effective date.

SB 1782 prohibits the governing boards of eight specific Oklahoma public higher education institutions (including the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, and community colleges) from creating new tenure systems for faculty hired after a certain date. The bill requires these institutions to electronically submit annual data on faculty numbers, tenure status, and graduate assistants to the Oklahoma State Regents by July 31 each year. The State Regents must then forward this data to state officials by September 1. This policy change directly affects faculty employment contracts and tenure eligibility at these institutions, with no new tenure plans permitted for hires after the effective date.

Issues: ✗ Education

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 2, 2026 Last action Mar 5, 2026

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What changed between versions

Introduced → SB1782 (3-25-26) (GRELLNER) FS FA1.PDF · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to add a floor substitute version that significantly expands the University Center at Ponca City's authority and governance structure, while also adding detailed provisions for board of trustees tenure restrictions and contract limitations. The original version focused primarily on information reporting requirements for higher education institutions.

Scope change

The bill now includes comprehensive governance provisions for the University Center at Ponca City, including creation of a nine-member board of trustees with specific appointment terms, budget authority, and operational responsibilities that were not present in the original version.

REQUIREMENT

Added detailed provisions for a nine-member board of trustees to govern the University Center at Ponca City, including specific appointment terms, staggered expiration dates, and operational responsibilities.

Added tenure restrictions prohibiting the board of trustees from establishing tenure plans for employees hired on or after January 1, 2027.

Added contract limitations restricting employment contracts for employees hired on or after January 1, 2027 to a maximum of five years with renewable terms.

ENFORCEMENT

Added mandatory review requirements for contract renewals including evaluation of instructional effectiveness and performance.

SCOPE

Expanded the bill from primarily information reporting requirements to include comprehensive governance and employment policy provisions for the University Center at Ponca City.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported Do Pass as amended Education committee; CR filed

upper

Feb 2, 2026

Introduced

First Reading

upper

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors