HB 3372 creates a state-backed loan program to help charter schools fund capital expenses like building repairs or equipment. It establishes a revolving fund administered by the Statewide Charter School Board, allowing charter schools to access low-interest loans and issue bonds with state credit enhancement. The bill removes previous prohibitions on charter schools issuing bonds and requires participants to pay a one-time fee. This directly affects Oklahoma charter schools seeking financing for physical infrastructure, while the state manages repayment and fund operations through specific legislative appropriations.
HB 3705 increases Oklahoma's Parental Choice Tax Credit Program, allowing taxpayers to claim credits for education expenses of eligible students. The bill raises the maximum annual credit for private school tuition to $7,500 (or actual tuition, whichever is lower) for families earning under $75,000, with tiered reductions up to $5,000 for households earning over $250,000. It also creates special credit tiers for students experiencing homelessness ($7,500) and those at financially disadvantaged private schools (maximum credit based on average school costs). Qualified expenses include tuition, tutoring, textbooks, and standardized test fees, but exclude scholarship-funded amounts. This directly affects Oklahoma families choosing private education or approved alternative learning programs.
HB 3151, the Education Reform Act of 2026, sets minimum requirements for classroom instruction time in Oklahoma public schools. It mandates that districts provide at least 181 days or 1,086 hours of actual classroom instruction annually, prohibiting the counting of more than 30 hours of staff meetings or 12 hours of parent-teacher conferences toward this total. Starting in 2026-2027, schools cannot count virtual instruction days toward the required hours, except for up to two days (12 hours) per year with prior approval of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The bill directly affects all Oklahoma public school districts and charter schools by defining what constitutes valid instructional time.
SB 1133 appropriates $100,000 from Oklahoma's General Revenue Fund to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The funds are intended to support the Regents' existing statutory duties in overseeing the state's public higher education system. This is a procedural funding measure with no new policies or program changes, declared an emergency to take immediate effect. It directly affects the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education by providing budgetary support for their current operations.
HB 1276 requires Oklahoma public school districts to adopt policies banning student cell phones and personal electronic devices (like tablets, smartwatches, or laptops) during the entire school day and on school grounds, effective July 2025. Exceptions are permitted for medical emergencies documented by a licensed professional. School boards may opt out of the ban through annual approval, but must still allow device use for emergencies. The bill defines "personal electronic devices" to exclude school-issued tech used for instruction and clarifies "school day" as the full instructional period from first to last bell. It directly affects all K-12 students and school districts in Oklahoma.
SB 1130 appropriates $100,000 from Oklahoma's General Revenue Fund to the State Board of Education for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to fulfill its legal duties. The bill directly affects the State Board of Education by providing funding for its operations. It declares an emergency to allow immediate implementation upon approval, though it does not change existing education policies or create new requirements.
SB 1131 appropriates $100,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to support their existing duties. The bill declares an emergency to allow immediate implementation upon approval. It does not create new programs or change existing laws, but provides specific funding for the State Regents' ongoing operations. This is a routine budgetary measure affecting only the State Regents' financial allocation.
HB 3711 requires Oklahoma school districts with websites to publicly disclose detailed spending data on their websites, including all state, federal, and local funds used for instruction, administration, and other purposes. It specifically mandates that districts display the percentage of total spending allocated to "instructional expenditures" (defined as funds directly supporting teaching, per the National Center for Education Statistics) on their homepage. This applies to all school districts with websites, requiring them to post this information alongside full expenditure details like budgeted vs. actual costs and superintendent compensation. The bill aims to increase transparency for parents and the public about how school funds are spent.
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to establish the "Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust Fund" for Oklahoma's tobacco settlement funds. It requires that at least 75% of new tobacco settlement payments (after 2001) be deposited into this trust fund, with specific percentages increasing over time. The trust fund's earnings must be used for cancer research, tobacco prevention programs, children's health initiatives, senior care programs, and education-related expenses, with unused funds remaining in the trust. The amendment creates two governing boards to manage investments and allocate funds, and it would require voter approval before taking effect.
SB 1317 updates Oklahoma's definition of a "career teacher" to clarify job security requirements for educators. The bill directly affects public school teachers in Oklahoma, particularly those hired in or after the 2017-2018 school year who seek career status (beyond probationary periods). It establishes three specific pathways to qualify: completing three consecutive years with a "superior" rating for at least two years, four consecutive years with an average "effective" rating and "effective" in the last two years, or four or more consecutive years with a principal's petition approved by the school board. The changes take effect July 1, 2026, and amend Oklahoma Statutes Title 70, Section 6-101.3.
