Education

passed · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 31, 2026

SB 1262: Education; providing certain tuition waivers for individuals who are victims of certain offenses. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1262 provides a resident tuition waiver for Oklahoma students under 18 who were victims of human trafficking for commercial sex or labor, as defined in Oklahoma law. The waiver covers no resident tuition at Oklahoma public colleges and universities but is limited to five years from the date of eligibility. It requires rules to be established for implementation and takes effect immediately upon passage. The bill directly affects Oklahoma residents who were minors during specific trafficking offenses.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides tuition waiver for trafficking victims, expanding higher education access for vulnerable minors by removing financial barriers at public colleges.95% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

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passed · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 31, 2026

SB 1272: Higher education; increasing income eligibility for an Oklahoma Tuition Equalization Grant. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1272 raises the maximum family income limit for Oklahoma students to qualify for the Tuition Equalization Grant, a program providing up to $2,000 annually toward college costs. This change directly affects low- and middle-income Oklahoma residents who were previously ineligible due to income thresholds but now meet the updated criteria. The bill amends statute 70 O.S. § 2632 to reflect this higher income limit without altering the grant amount or other eligibility requirements, and it takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationSB 1272 expands access to higher education funding by raising income eligibility for Oklahoma's Tuition Equalization Grant, allowing more low/middle-income students to qualify for up to $2,000 annual aid.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 31, 2026

SB 1339: Schools; directing funds to be allocated to certain school districts to implement the minimum salary schedule. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1339 establishes a tiered minimum salary schedule for certified school personnel (like teachers) in Oklahoma public schools, based on years of experience and education level. It requires the State Board of Education to allocate state funds annually to school districts to implement these salary increases starting with the 2025-2026 school year. The bill directly affects all Oklahoma public school districts and their certified staff by mandating specific pay thresholds. The schedule includes detailed pay rates for different experience levels and degrees, with provisions for fringe benefits and out-of-state certification recognition.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates state funds allocation for teacher salary increases, directly increasing public education spending as required by the bill.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates state funding for teacher salary increases based on experience/education, directly supporting educator compensation and retention in public schools.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates state-funded minimum salary increases for school staff based on experience/education, directly raising wages for certified personnel in public schools.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 30, 2026

SB 366: School district boards of education; directing a board of education to provide certain notice if a lessee does not timely elect to purchase certain property. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 366 changes Oklahoma's charter school application process by removing the requirement for applicants to first submit proposals to the local school district. Instead, starting July 1, 2025, new charter school applications must be submitted directly to a proposed sponsor (such as a school district board, university, or approved organization). This applies to all new applications filed after July 1, 2024, streamlining the process for charter school developers. Virtual charter schools remain subject to separate submission rules with the Statewide Charter School Board. The bill updates statutory language to reflect this procedural shift.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves barriers to charter school applications, expanding educational access options for K-12 students by streamlining approval processes through direct sponsor submission.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 5, 2026

SB 1782: Higher education; prohibiting the governing boards of certain institutions of higher education from establishing and maintaining tenure plans after certain date. Effective date.

SB 1782 prohibits the governing boards of eight specific Oklahoma public higher education institutions (including the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, and community colleges) from creating new tenure systems for faculty hired after a certain date. The bill requires these institutions to electronically submit annual data on faculty numbers, tenure status, and graduate assistants to the Oklahoma State Regents by July 31 each year. The State Regents must then forward this data to state officials by September 1. This policy change directly affects faculty employment contracts and tenure eligibility at these institutions, with no new tenure plans permitted for hires after the effective date.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationProhibits new tenure systems at public universities, reducing faculty job security and benefits, directly restricting academic freedom and educator protections.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Education

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 5, 2026

SB 2006: Higher education; allowing certain tuition aid grants to be used at certain institutions participating in certain agreement. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 2006 prohibits Oklahoma public universities from using state funds to provide scholarships, grants, tuition aid, or discounted tuition to foreign national students from countries designated as "countries of particular concern" by the U.S. Department of State. This applies starting with the 2026-2027 academic year and directly affects eligible international students from those specific countries. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education must create rules to implement the law, though private or non-state funding for such aid remains unaffected. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and is classified as an emergency measure.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRestricts state funding for international students from designated countries, limiting educational access for a specific group in higher education.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationRestricts state-funded higher education access for international students from designated 'countries of particular concern,' limiting immigrant services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Education

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 4, 2026

SB 1617: Teachers; allowing the Teacher Empowerment Revolving Fund to be used to support compensation of teachers certified in special education. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1617 amends Oklahoma law to direct the Teacher Empowerment Revolving Fund to cover the state’s share of additional pay for special education teachers. It requires school districts to pay 5% of base wages for special education teachers, with the state covering the remaining 5% using funds from the existing revolving fund (previously used for other teacher stipends). This policy change, effective July 1, 2026, directly affects all Oklahoma public school teachers certified in special education. The bill ensures the state’s funding obligation is met through the revolving fund rather than new appropriations, aligning with Section 13-110 of state law.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationDirectly allocates state funds to cover 5% of special education teacher compensation, increasing financial support for educators in a critical teaching field.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 4, 2026

SB 1718: Schools; directing the State Department of Education to establish the Oklahoma Principal Leadership Development Program. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1718 requires Oklahoma's State Department of Education to create the Oklahoma Principal Leadership Development Program, directly affecting new school principals (first or second year) and all certified principals. The program implements three phased requirements: starting in 2026-2027, principals must complete a professional development plan including goals for student achievement and school climate; by 2027-2028, new principals must work with certified mentors for two years; and by 2028-2029, a year-long leadership academy will be developed. Principals who complete these requirements receive $5,000 stipends beginning in 2029-2030, subject to funding availability. The bill aims to improve principal effectiveness through structured training, mentorship, and ongoing leadership development.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates principal development program with phased requirements to improve leadership and student outcomes, directly strengthening educator support and school performance standards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 3, 2026

SB 1594: Teachers; adding requirement for school principal certification. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1594 requires Oklahoma school principals to complete specific professional education on special education laws and practices, including federal/state regulations, individualized education programs (IEPs), and student discipline procedures. This applies to all principals seeking or renewing certification, except those who earned their master's degree in education administration before July 1, 2005. The bill amends existing certification rules (Section 6-189) to mandate this training as part of the principal certification requirements. It does not change other existing requirements like master's degrees or teaching experience.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates principal training on special education laws and IEPs, strengthening educational leadership standards for K-12 schools.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 3, 2026

SB 1292: State Department of Education; directing the Department to establish the Oklahoma High Dosage Tutoring Program for students in kindergarten through three. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1292 creates the Oklahoma High Dosage Tutoring Program to provide intensive reading tutoring for prekindergarten through third-grade students. The program requires school districts to offer in-person tutoring (three one-hour sessions weekly for 10-12 weeks per semester) and prioritize districts federally designated for improvement under the Every Student Succeeds Act. Tutors earn bonuses of $1,600 per cohort per semester and $1,000 per grade level of reading growth achieved by students, with eligibility tied to students improving at least half a grade level in reading annually. Parental consent is required for student participation, and students may be removed from the program under specific circumstances like non-attendance or parental withdrawal. The program becomes effective July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates state-funded tutoring program with tutor bonuses, mandates in-person reading support for K-3, prioritizes underperforming schools, directly advancing K-12 student support.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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