HB 3467 modifies leave policies for education employees in Oklahoma, specifically expanding maternity and adoption leave to cover children under four years old. The bill directly affects public school staff and other education employees who take leave for childbirth or adoption. Its key provision limits eligibility to cases where the child is under four years of age, narrowing the scope of existing leave coverage. The bill was amended to include this age restriction and referred to the Education Oversight committee for further review.
SB 1884 ensures school districts grant statewide professional educators' associations (like teacher unions) equal access to school employees for activities such as distributing materials, speaking at meetings, and using school facilities. It prohibits schools from conditioning this access on fees, meals, or donations and requires districts to notify the State Board of Education if access is denied within 15 days. The bill also allows school employees to terminate membership in these associations at any time without restrictions or requiring a reason, and invalidates any existing agreements that limit this right. These changes take effect July 1, 2026, applying directly to school employees and educators' associations in Oklahoma.
HB 3240 requires Oklahoma public school districts and charter schools to adopt a policy allowing daily prayer or reading of the Bible or other religious texts during school hours, effective for the 2026-2027 school year. The policy must include a consent form for students and employees, acknowledging their choice to participate, specifying opportunities for individual or group activities, and waiving legal claims under the First Amendment. Schools must prohibit participation without consent, ban public address system use for religious content, and ensure the activity does not replace instructional time. Parents or students may revoke consent at any time, and schools must provide a model consent form. This bill directly affects all Oklahoma public schools, students, and employees.
SB 1477 limits concurrent enrollment in college courses to high school students under 21 years of age, prohibiting those 21 or older from participating. The bill amends Oklahoma Statutes Section 628.13 to establish this age restriction, affecting high school students aged 21 and above who would no longer qualify for college course enrollment through their high school program. This change directly alters eligibility for concurrent enrollment, a program allowing students to earn college credit while still in high school. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
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.
This Oklahoma House Concurrent Resolution expresses support for eliminating the United States Department of Education and urges the U.S. Congress to cooperate with that goal. The document argues that education is a state responsibility under the Tenth Amendment and claims that federal involvement has led to excessive regulations and poor student outcomes in Oklahoma. It highlights concerns about declining national reading scores and asserts that local control would better address educational needs. The resolution does not change any laws or policies within Oklahoma but serves as a formal statement of legislative sentiment regarding federal education policy.
HB 4358 limits screen time for prekindergarten through fifth grade public school students to one hour per school day, including all classroom activities using devices like tablets, computers, or smart devices. The law exempts students requiring special education accommodations under IEPs or 504 plans, as well as necessary assistive technology. It applies to all public schools in Oklahoma starting the 2026-2027 school year. The bill defines "screen time" broadly to cover both teacher-directed and student-selected digital activities during school hours.
HB 2978 requires Oklahoma school libraries to select materials based on "community standards" for the population they serve, while explicitly excluding depictions or descriptions of sexually explicit conduct (as defined in Oklahoma law). The bill affects all public school library media programs by changing how they acquire print, digital, and multimedia resources. Key provisions mandate that library collections reflect local community norms for age-appropriate materials, with no inclusion of content meeting the legal definition of sexually explicit conduct. The policy takes effect on November 1, 2026.
HB 3134, the "Keep Accreditation About Academics Act," prohibits accrediting agencies from considering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices when reviewing or renewing accreditation for Oklahoma's public higher education institutions. It requires agencies to stop collecting or using any DEI-related information in accreditation decisions and mandates policies to prevent such data from influencing reviews. Students or employees of affected institutions can sue accrediting agencies for violations, and the Attorney General may enforce the law under anti-discrimination and consumer protection statutes. Violators face triple damages for fees paid by institutions, plus $1,000 per affected student. The law directly affects all Oklahoma public colleges and universities and their accrediting agencies, restricting how accreditation processes address DEI initiatives.
HB 3132 requires Oklahoma public universities to stop using accrediting agencies that have implemented diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices within the past five years. By July 1, 2027, each university must switch to an accreditor without recent DEI practices or report to the legislature if no suitable option exists. Before new accreditation or renewals, universities must select an accreditor that has not used DEI practices in the last five years. The Attorney General can enforce these rules, investigate violations, and void agreements that circumvent the law.
