HB 3708 modifies Oklahoma's tax credit system to expand education-related incentives. It creates three tax credit options: 50% of contributions (up to $1,000 for individuals, $2,000 for joint filers, or $100,000 for businesses) to scholarship-granting organizations, educational improvement grant organizations, or public school foundations/districts. A 75% credit is available for donors who commit to contributing the same amount for two consecutive years. Organizations receiving funds must annually submit audited financial reports to the Oklahoma Tax Commission and publicly share program outcomes. The bill directly affects individual taxpayers, businesses, and eligible education-focused nonprofits.
HB 3026 requires Oklahoma school districts to create a specific policy allowing children of U.S. allied military members stationed at Oklahoma bases (like Fort Sill or Tinker AFB) to enroll in kindergarten if they will turn age 5 during the school year, rather than needing to turn 5 by September 1. This changes the standard age cutoff for kindergarten eligibility for these military dependents. School districts must adopt this policy to accommodate families who may have moved to Oklahoma mid-year due to military assignments. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and is designated as an emergency measure.
HB 2696 requires Oklahoma public schools to provide parents, guardians, or students aged 18+ with full access to individual student records - such as assessments, progress reports, and internal communications - without redaction or omission, except when legally prohibited. Schools must release these records promptly, free of charge, and in a timely manner per the Oklahoma Open Records Act. The bill clarifies that directory information (e.g., name, address, sports participation) may still be released only with parental consent for minors, but schools cannot withhold it without following federal privacy rules. This law, effective November 1, 2025, aims to increase transparency in educational record access while maintaining compliance with federal student privacy laws.
HB 3129 prohibits Oklahoma public colleges and universities from charging security fees to students or student organizations based on the content of their speech, a guest speaker's content, or anticipated reactions to that speech. It designates outdoor campus areas as public forums where students can peacefully assemble, protest, distribute literature, or express views without "free speech zones," while allowing reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions. The bill requires institutions to publicly post annual compliance reports detailing free expression policies and any disruptions to speech on their websites. These changes directly affect all students, student organizations, and campus administrators at Oklahoma's public higher education institutions.
HB 3706 requires all Oklahoma public elementary schools to provide at least 60 minutes of daily mathematics instruction for full-day kindergarten through fifth-grade students starting in the 2026-2027 school year. The instruction must align with the Oklahoma Academic Standards for Mathematics (OAS-M) approved by the State Board of Education. This law directly affects K-5 students and public elementary schools across Oklahoma, mandating a specific daily math time requirement. It becomes effective July 1, 2026, with an emergency declaration allowing immediate implementation upon approval. The bill does not change existing math standards but enforces a minimum daily instructional time.
HB 4420, the Strong Readers Act, requires annual reading screenings for all kindergarten through third-grade students in Oklahoma public schools to identify reading deficiencies. It mandates scientifically based reading instruction (banning the "three-cueing system" model), requires intensive intervention for students who don’t meet grade-level standards, and allows third-grade retention unless a "good cause" exemption applies. The bill also establishes summer reading academies, teacher training requirements, and parent notification protocols for reading progress. These provisions directly affect K-3 students, their schools, and educators, with implementation beginning in the 2025-2026 school year.
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.
HB 2021 creates the Oklahoma Kids After-School Grant Program (OKAGP) under the Department of Human Services to fund community-based organizations running after-school programs for K-12 students. Eligible organizations must operate at least five locations across Oklahoma (either directly or through partnerships) and qualify for exemptions from child care licensing under Title 10. The bill establishes a revolving fund in the State Treasury for these grants, funded by state appropriations and donations, with no annual budget restrictions. The program becomes effective November 1, 2025, and will provide grants to support after-school programming for children.
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.
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.
