Education

passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 1, 2026

HB 4115: Teachers; professional development hours; effective date; emergency.

HB 4115 amends Oklahoma law to require certified public school teachers to complete a maximum of 200 professional development hours over any five-year period, replacing a previous 150-hour cap. The bill mandates annual training on child abuse recognition, autism awareness for early childhood educators (grades K-3), and dyslexia/dysgraphia awareness for all teachers. It maintains existing requirements for data-driven professional development focused on improving student outcomes like test scores, graduation rates, and closing achievement gaps. The law directly affects all certified teachers in Oklahoma public schools and includes reporting requirements for school districts to the State Department of Education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases teacher PD hours (200 max vs 150), mandates child abuse/autism/dyslexia training, and maintains data-driven student outcome focus.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 1, 2026

HB 2950: Postsecondary education; prohibiting institutions from having differentiated standardized test score requirements for certain students; removing certain differentiated grade point average and test score requirements; effective date; emergency.

HB 2950 requires Oklahoma public universities, colleges, and career technology schools to treat homeschool graduates equally with public and private school graduates regarding standardized test score requirements for admission, scholarships, and program eligibility. It prohibits institutions from setting higher minimum ACT, SAT, or equivalent test score thresholds for homeschoolers than those applied to other students. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and State Board of Career and Technology Education must ensure compliance and develop necessary rules. The law takes effect November 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires equal treatment of homeschool graduates in higher education admissions and scholarships, expanding access to postsecondary opportunities.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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signed · Oklahoma · House Feb 25, 2026

HB 1484: Schools; creating Rain's Law; requiring certain instruction on fentanyl abuse prevention and drug poisoning awareness; effective date; emergency.

HB 1484, known as "Rain's Law," requires Oklahoma public schools to provide annual, research-based instruction on fentanyl abuse prevention and drug poisoning awareness to students in grades 6 through 12. The bill mandates that this instruction cover suicide prevention, fentanyl abuse and addiction prevention, local resource access, and health education about fentanyl use. Schools must incorporate this content into health classes, and the State Department of Education will develop curriculum standards and resources to support implementation. The law also designates a week for "Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Week" to align with National Red Ribbon Week, with age-appropriate instruction determined by each school district.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates fentanyl education in health curriculum for grades 6-12, enhancing student health education programs per bill requirements.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates school-based public health education on fentanyl abuse and suicide prevention, directly advancing public health programs under healthcare topic.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

passed · Oklahoma · House Feb 23, 2026

HB 2197: Higher education; creating the Making College More Affordable Act; prohibitions; research universities; meal plans; effective date; emergency.

HB 2197 prohibits Oklahoma public universities from requiring students to purchase meal plans as a condition for enrollment or on-campus housing. This directly affects all students attending institutions in the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, removing a mandatory cost tied to enrollment or housing. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and eliminates a specific financial requirement for students. It does not change other meal plan policies or costs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill prohibits mandatory meal plans at public universities, reducing student costs and increasing affordability/access to higher education, directly supporting educational access.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 12, 2026

HB 3850: Prisons and reformatories; directing the Department of Corrections to fund program for inmates to obtain high school equivalency diplomas; effective date.

HB 3850 requires Oklahoma's Department of Corrections to fully fund a program enabling all state prison inmates to earn high school equivalency diplomas (like a GED) before release, removing prior financial hardship exemptions. It mandates that the department assess each inmate's educational needs upon intake, prioritize those with basic literacy gaps or nearing release dates, and link program completion to parole eligibility. Inmates refusing recommended education programs lose earned credits and face parole eligibility risks. The law applies broadly to all inmates except those documented as incapable of benefiting from education. It takes effect November 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates DOC funding for inmate GED programs, linking completion to parole to reduce recidivism - direct rehabilitation support aligning with reform indicators.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds GED program for prison inmates, expanding educational access and requiring state funding - directly supports educational opportunity for a vulnerable population.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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signed · Oklahoma · Senate Jun 11, 2025

SB 140: Mathematics instruction; directing expenditure of certain funds; creating the Oklahoma Math Achievement and Proficiency Act. Effective date. Emergency.

This bill, titled "Mathematics instruction..." but actually amending the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program, adjusts financial eligibility rules for students seeking higher education support. It raises income thresholds for program qualification (e.g., $80,000 annually for families with five+ children starting in 2025-2026) and adjusts age limits for participation (extending to age 18 for some applicants). Students must meet updated income requirements and comply with program terms like regular school attendance and avoiding substance abuse to maintain eligibility. The bill directly affects Oklahoma students in grades 5-11 seeking financial aid for post-secondary education through this state program.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesRaises income thresholds for program eligibility, reducing state expenditure on higher education access by limiting qualifying applicants.85% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRaises income thresholds for higher education funding eligibility, restricting access to support programs for qualifying students.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Education

signed · Oklahoma · House May 30, 2025

HB 1287: Schools; authorizing the Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma to create a math tutoring pilot program for certain students; effective date; emergency.

HB 1287 authorizes the University of Oklahoma's Board of Regents to create a high-dosage math tutoring pilot program for ninth-grade students who scored lowest on Oklahoma's eighth-grade math assessment. The program targets public high schools in districts with 30,000+ enrolled students and public charter schools. It requires the University of Oklahoma's College of Education to administer the tutoring, focusing on intensive, frequent support for struggling math students. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, with an emergency clause allowing immediate implementation upon approval.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAuthorizes high-dosage math tutoring pilot for struggling students, strengthening academic support in targeted schools per bill's explicit purpose.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Oklahoma · House May 30, 2025

HB 1282: Scholarships; Oklahoma Rising Scholars Award; renaming; eligibility; awards; waivers; effective date; emergency.

HB 1282 renames Oklahoma's scholarship program to the "Oklahoma State Regents' Academic Rising Scholars Award Program" and updates eligibility criteria to include top Oklahoma students (top 0.5% test scores, National Merit Scholars, and institutional nominees), as well as students demonstrating exceptional promise through academic achievements or overcoming obstacles. The program provides funding covering tuition, fees, room, board, and required textbooks for up to five years at Oklahoma colleges, with public institutions capped at their annual tuition costs and private institutions receiving funding equivalent to the highest public tuition rates. It requires institutions to administer scholarships, mandates full-time enrollment, and establishes separate funding levels based on student eligibility categories. The bill, signed into law on May 30, 2025, directly affects Oklahoma students meeting these academic criteria who attend public or private accredited colleges within the state.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands scholarship eligibility and funds tuition/fees for top students, directly increasing educational access and financial support for higher education.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Oklahoma · House May 29, 2025

HB 2779: Department of Public Safety; requiring certain funds be utilized for certain purpose; School Secure Program; effective date; emergency.

HB 2779 redirects $750,000 in state funds from the Department of Public Safety's budget to the School Secure Program. It transfers management of this program from the State Board of Education to the Department of Public Safety. The change takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies to school security funding previously administered by the State Board. This is a procedural budget reallocation, not a new policy.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRedirects $750k to school security program, supporting school safety (a component of educational access and infrastructure).80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Oklahoma · House May 29, 2025

HB 2259: Schools; transfers; military dependent transfers; requirements; continuous transfers; definitions; effective date; emergency.

HB 2259 removes a requirement that military-dependent students must have Oklahoma as their "home of record" to qualify for continuous school transfers within Oklahoma public schools. The bill directly affects military families with children attending Oklahoma schools, streamlining their ability to transfer between schools without proving Oklahoma is their permanent home state. This change simplifies the process by eliminating the "home of record" language from existing transfer eligibility rules. The law took effect on May 29, 2025, after becoming law without the Governor's signature.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves unnecessary 'home of record' barrier for military-dependent students, streamlining school transfers and improving educational access for K-12 military families.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education