Education

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 1437: Schools; creating the Donald J. Trump Physical Fitness Act. Effective date.

SB 1437 requires Oklahoma school districts to administer the Presidential Fitness Test starting in the 2026-2027 school year, using guidelines established by the State Department of Education. These guidelines must include staff training, exemptions for students with disabilities or medical conditions, and a parent opt-out option. School districts must use test results to promote physical activity, adjust fitness programs, and encourage participation in exercise both at school and in the community. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and directs the guidelines to align with recommendations from the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates fitness testing to promote student physical activity, aligning with school health programs and enhancing student wellness initiatives under K-12 education.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 1726: Higher education; directing certain institutions of higher education to establish certain training program for graduate instructors. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1726 requires Oklahoma public universities to create mandatory training programs for graduate students serving as primary instructors in undergraduate courses. The training must cover teaching methods, classroom management, grading, student accommodations, academic integrity, and specific protections for student speech under the First Amendment - ensuring students aren't penalized for lawful expression. It applies to all institutions within Oklahoma's State System of Higher Education and takes effect July 1, 2026. The bill was designated an emergency to expedite implementation.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates instructor training on teaching methods, academic integrity, and student speech protections, strengthening educational quality and academic freedom in higher education.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

signed · Oklahoma · House May 12, 2026

HB 3718: Special education; Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program; requiring certain meeting in certain time period; evaluations; exceptions; eligibility; calculation of scholarship; effective date.

This bill establishes and clarifies the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program in Oklahoma, allowing parents of students with special needs to use state funds to enroll their children in eligible private schools. The legislation defines specific eligibility criteria, including students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), children of military families, and those in foster care or juvenile justice placements, while requiring parents to secure private school admission before receiving funding. It also sets a 45-day deadline for school districts to determine special education eligibility, deeming students eligible for scholarships if the district fails to decide within that timeframe, and outlines financial responsibilities such as transportation costs remaining with the family. The bill ensures continuity of educational choice by allowing scholarships to remain active until a student graduates, turns 22, or re-enrolls in public school, while mandating that private schools meet state accreditation standards to participate.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands educational access by allowing state funds for private school enrollment for students with disabilities, strengthening support for special needs education.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

signed · Oklahoma · House May 12, 2026

HB 3467: Education employees; maternity leave; adoption; purpose; effective date; emergency.

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.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill restricts maternity/adoption leave eligibility to children under four, narrowing coverage and reducing employee benefits compared to broader existing policies.95% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentRestricts maternity/adoption leave eligibility to children under 4, narrowing existing coverage scope per bill summary.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Education

signed · Oklahoma · House May 12, 2026

HB 2153: Schools; school athletic association requirements; requirement that certain hearings be subject to certain act; effective date; emergency.

HB 2153 modifies Oklahoma charter school enrollment rules, primarily affecting students, families, and school districts. It requires charter schools to give enrollment priority to students with siblings already enrolled (over other preferences), limits admissions to specific geographic "academic enterprise zones" (60%+ free/reduced lunch eligibility), and establishes new rules for virtual charter schools. Effective July 2024, virtual charter schools become statewide entities, students transferring to them are considered "transfer students" requiring district record transfers within 3 days, and virtual charter students may not participate in Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association (OSAA) events (only intramural activities). The bill also prohibits enrollment restrictions based on factors like ethnicity, income, or academic performance, except for specified cases.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands educational access by prioritizing sibling enrollment and enabling statewide virtual charter schools, strengthening charter school options in underserved areas (60%+ free/reduced lunch zones).85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

signed · Oklahoma · House May 11, 2026

HB 3076: Teachers; new and innovative pathways toward teacher certification; alternative teacher preparation programs; alternative placement teaching certificates; effective date; emergency.

HB 3076 creates a pilot program for alternative teacher certification pathways in Oklahoma, allowing organizations like school districts or colleges to offer non-traditional teacher preparation programs. It requires the State Board of Education Commission to approve providers meeting specific criteria (such as financial stability, infrastructure, and program effectiveness) within 60 days, and mandates that approved programs use research-based methods to prepare teachers. The bill permits teacher candidates to demonstrate competency through non-traditional means like work experience or industry certifications, rather than solely standardized tests. The pilot program is limited to a two-year timeframe ending July 1, 2026, and requires annual reporting on program success rates.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates alternative teacher certification pathways to expand educator recruitment and support, aligning with teacher support and access indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

passed · Oklahoma · Senate May 7, 2026

SB 1884: School employees; modifying the access statewide professional educators' associations have to school employees; allowing termination of certain membership at any time. Effective date. Emergency.

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnsures equal access for teacher unions to school employees, prohibits fees/donations for union activities, strengthening educator association operations and support.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEnsures equal access for educator unions to organize, prohibits fees/conditions on union activities, directly strengthening collective bargaining rights for school employees.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

Track

signed · Oklahoma · House May 6, 2026

HB 3590: Revenue and taxation; Oklahoma Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship Act; eligibility; removing federal law reference; authorizing payment be made via secure electronic funds transfer; effective date.

HB 3590, the Oklahoma Opportunity Scholarship Act of 2026, expands tax credits for Oklahoma taxpayers who contribute to scholarship-granting organizations. It increases the maximum annual tax credit: to $5,000 for single filers (up from $1,000), $10,000 for married couples filing jointly (up from $2,000), and $250,000 for businesses (up from $100,000). Taxpayers who commit to contribute the same amount for two consecutive years qualify for a 100% credit (up from 75%) on those contributions. The bill affects Oklahoma taxpayers making eligible contributions and requires scholarship organizations to submit annual financial reports to the Oklahoma Tax Commission. It takes effect January 1, 2027.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesExpands tax credits, including $250k business credit, creating breaks primarily for wealthy entities per bill's tax relief structure.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands tax credits for scholarship donations, increasing access to private education options through enhanced incentives for contributions to scholarship-granting organizations.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 5, 2026

SB 1477: Students; prohibiting students of certain age or older from participating in concurrent enrollment. Effective date. Emergency.

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.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill restricts concurrent enrollment eligibility to under-21 students, limiting educational access for older high school students in college credit programs.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Education

signed · Oklahoma · House May 5, 2026

HB 1590: Public finance; enacting the Education Infrastructure Linked Deposit Program Act; administration of program; guidelines; loans; State Treasurer; effective date.

HB 1590 establishes the "Oklahoma Education Infrastructure Linked Deposit Program" to provide reduced-rate loans for school infrastructure projects. It directly affects charter schools and nonprofit education service entities by enabling them to access funding for constructing, expanding, or repairing buildings and integrated systems like HVAC. The program works by having the State Treasurer place state funds (as certificates of deposit) with eligible banks, which then offer these low-cost loans to qualifying schools, requiring borrowers to certify funds will be used solely for infrastructure. The State Treasurer and Board review applications, with banks applying standard credit checks and prioritizing schools based on local educational needs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates state-funded program using certificates of deposit to provide low-cost loans for school infrastructure, directly allocating state funds for essential education projects.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides reduced-rate loans for school infrastructure projects, directly funding construction/expansion of facilities for charter schools and nonprofits.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education