Education

passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 16, 2026

HB 3025: Schools; general fund expenditures; gift, grant, and donation monies; general fund carryover; effective date.

HB 3025 modifies Oklahoma school district funding rules for gift, grant, and donation monies. It requires schools to place funds received for building projects (capital expenditures) into a dedicated building fund, not the general fund. For noncapital funds (like operational costs), districts may retain them in the general fund but must wait one year before using them, preventing immediate spending. This affects all Oklahoma public school districts receiving external funds for school operations or construction. The bill clarifies how districts must categorize and manage these funds to ensure proper financial accountability.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRequires one-year delay for noncapital operational funds, restricting immediate spending on school operations per bill's funding rules.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Education

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passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 1, 2026

HB 3134: Higher education; Keep Accreditation About Academics Act; accrediting agencies; civil action; Attorney General; effective date.

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.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationProhibits DEI considerations in higher education accreditation, restricting diversity initiatives and academic policy integration per bill's explicit language.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Education

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passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 1, 2026

HB 3132: Higher education; Selecting Neutral Accreditors Act; review for diversity, equity, and inclusion practices and procedures; Attorney General enforcement; effective date.

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.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill mandates universities eliminate DEI practices in accreditation, directly restricting diversity initiatives in higher education policy92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Education

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passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 1, 2026

HB 4344: Oklahoma State System of Higher Education; permitting reduction in allocations for payment of annual obligations; effective date.

HB 4344 allows the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to reduce funding allocations to public colleges and universities when necessary to cover specific lease payments (under Section 3206.6a of Title 70) or annual obligations (under Section 3980.4 of Title 70). This bill directly affects all 22 institutions in Oklahoma's public higher education system by giving the Regents authority to redirect existing state funds. The key mechanism permits the Regents to adjust annual funding distributions to ensure required lease and obligation payments are made without new appropriations. The bill focuses on administrative flexibility in fund allocation, not new spending or policy changes.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationPermits reduction of higher education funding allocations to cover lease payments, directly defunding public universities by redirecting existing state funds away from institutions.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes 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 Yes ✗ Opposes Education

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 796: Higher education; prohibiting certain activities related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 796 prohibits Oklahoma public universities from using state funds, property, or resources for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs that grant preferential treatment based on race, ethnicity, sex, or national origin. It bans mandatory DEI training, pronoun disclosure requirements, and diversity statements in hiring, while allowing programs supporting first-generation students, low-income students, or underserved groups without race-based preferences. Universities must review and potentially restructure non-compliant DEI initiatives by July 2025 and submit annual compliance certificates starting July 2026. The bill exempts accreditation requirements, academic freedom, student organizations, and data collection from its restrictions.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationProhibits state-funded DEI programs using race/ethnicity preferences in higher ed, restricting diversity initiatives while banning mandatory DEI training.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Education

signed · Oklahoma · House May 12, 2025

HB 1940: Charter schools; sponsorship; adding county to certain sponsor; effective date; emergency.

HB 1940 amends Oklahoma's charter school law to establish a new annual limit: the Statewide Charter School Board may sponsor no more than five new charter schools per year in counties with fewer than 500,000 residents. This directly affects the Statewide Charter School Board's authority and charter school expansion in smaller counties, while maintaining existing sponsorship rules for other areas. The rule applies to all new charter school applications approved after July 1, 2025, when the bill takes effect. The bill does not change sponsorship requirements for schools in larger counties or other sponsor types.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRestricts new charter school expansion in smaller counties by capping annual sponsorships at five, limiting educational access options for K-12 students.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Education

passed · Oklahoma · Senate May 1, 2025

SB 409: School year; requiring school to be in session for an additional day if certain appropriated amount is greater than the amount appropriated for the prior fiscal year. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 409 would require Oklahoma public school districts to add one additional day of classroom instruction starting July 1, 2025, if the state allocates at least $25 million more in funding for public schools than the previous fiscal year. This provision directly affects all Oklahoma public school districts by mandating an extra school day when specific state budget increases are met. The bill establishes a clear funding trigger ($25 million greater than prior year) as the mechanism for the requirement, with no changes to existing minimum instructional time standards (180 days or 1,080 hours). It is designed to link state education funding increases directly to expanded instructional time for students. The bill was introduced but failed passage in April 2025 (22-63 vote).

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates an extra school day when state funding increases by $25M, directly linking increased funding to expanded instructional time, enhancing educational access and student learning opportunities.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

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passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 17, 2025

HB 2125: Education; adjunct teachers; instructional levels; early childhood education programs; authorizing adjunct teachers; effective date; emergency.

HB 2125 removes a restriction that previously barred adjunct teachers from teaching special education classes in early childhood education programs. The bill authorizes adjunct teachers to instruct in special education within these programs, expanding their teaching scope. This change directly affects adjunct teachers employed in Oklahoma's early childhood education settings. The bill is currently pending in the Oklahoma legislature after passing committee amendments.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves restriction on adjunct teachers teaching special education in early childhood programs, expanding access to specialized instruction within educational settings.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

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passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 1, 2025

HB 1760: Revenue and taxation; Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship Act; tax credit; foundations; cap; contribution; eligibility; rules.

HB 1760 creates tax credits for Oklahoma taxpayers who contribute to eligible scholarship-granting or educational improvement organizations. It allows a 50% tax credit (up to $1,000 for individuals, $2,000 for married couples, $100,000 for businesses) on contributions, increasing to 75% for those making a multi-year commitment with written proof. The bill also modifies how credits are allocated to business owners and requires annual financial reporting from participating organizations. These credits are subject to annual caps established by the Oklahoma Tax Commission.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates tax credits (50-75%) for education donations, reducing taxpayer liability and directing private funds toward educational programs via fiscal incentives.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates tax credits to fund education scholarships, expanding access and increasing private funding for K-12 education through tax incentives.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

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