SB 1250 requires Oklahoma public school districts and charter schools to annually submit a list of all library materials to the State Department of Education, either through their online catalog or a written attestation. The bill prohibits any pornographic materials or sexualized content from being accessible to students under 18 in school libraries and mandates that schools establish a written policy for reviewing materials and handling complaints. Schools failing to comply face a 5% reduction in state funding, with the State Department of Education investigating reported violations, notifying parents, and allowing schools to request a hearing before the State Board of Education. This law aims to ensure age-appropriate library access while establishing clear reporting and enforcement mechanisms.
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.
This bill expands Oklahoma's School Security Revolving Fund to cover additional security measures and requires annual allocations for three fiscal years. It directly affects Oklahoma public schools and the State Department of Education, which manages the fund. Key provisions include removing previous spending limits, mandating yearly fund allocations (subject to available money), and specifying that funds must be used for school resource officers, physical security upgrades (like cameras, locks, and ballistic shelters), and mental health counseling services. The bill emphasizes these funds must supplement, not replace, existing school security funding.
SB 683 creates an Oklahoma income tax credit for families covering education expenses for eligible students. It directly affects Oklahoma taxpayers with children in accredited private schools or using approved alternative education methods (like homeschooling). The credit amount varies by family income: up to $7,500 annually for lower-income families ($75,000 adjusted gross income or less), decreasing to $5,000 for higher earners ($250,000+), with separate provisions for schools serving homeless or financially disadvantaged students. Qualified expenses include private school tuition, tutoring, textbooks, and standardized test fees, but exclude amounts covered by scholarships. The bill amends existing tax law to define terms and update references, effective for tax years 2024 and beyond.
SB 1341 creates a reusable "Career Counselor Revolving Fund" within Oklahoma's State Department of Education to support career counselors in public school districts. The bill appropriates $1.5 million from the General Revenue Fund for fiscal year 2027, which will be used to fund career counseling services without annual reauthorization. The fund will be replenished through future appropriations, gifts, or grants, allowing continuous support for school-based career counselors. This directly affects school districts and their career counseling programs by providing dedicated, ongoing funding.
SB 1391 modifies Oklahoma's Parental Choice Tax Credit Act to adjust household income limits for families using the program. It increases the income threshold for the highest credit tier from $150,000 to $225,000 annually (with a $6,000 credit), adds a new $250,000+ bracket (capping credits at $5,000), and maintains lower tiers for lower-income households. The bill affects families paying private school tuition who qualify for the tax credit, capping the credit at actual tuition costs regardless of income. It also requires participating private schools to administer certain assessments to students, updating prior requirements. These changes apply to tax years 2024 onward and fiscal years 2026 onward.
SB 1413 requires Oklahoma public school districts to notify parents in writing when a teacher with a temporary emergency certificate (issued for urgent staffing needs) teaches their child. The notification must include the teacher's name and classes. The bill also sets specific limits - 90 to 270 clock hours - for professional education training in alternative teacher certification programs, replacing previous flexible requirements. These changes directly affect parents, students, school districts, and teachers seeking certification through alternative pathways.
SB 1342 increases the monthly cash payment for Oklahoma school district employees who opt out of the cafeteria health plan. Certified personnel (e.g., teachers) and support staff will receive $500 per month as taxable compensation instead of the previous $69.71 and $189.69, respectively. The change applies to all employees choosing not to participate in the school-district-sponsored cafeteria plan after November 1, 2026. This replaces the previous tiered benefit structure with a flat $500 amount for both employee categories. The bill updates statutory language and effective dates but does not alter the health plan options themselves.
SB 235 creates Oklahoma's "Grow Your Own Educator Program," which provides matching grants to eligible public school districts that help current employees pursue teaching degrees. School districts must have existing tuition or loan repayment programs for staff enrolled in accredited teacher preparation programs to qualify. The state establishes a dedicated "Grow Your Own Educator Revolving Fund" to cover the matching portion of these grants, awarded on a first-come basis with funds limited by available appropriations. Districts must report annually on employee progress and outcomes, while the state submits broader program reports to elected officials.
HB 1287 authorizes the University of Oklahoma's Board of Regents to create a high-dosage math tutoring pilot program for ninth-grade students who scored lowest on Oklahoma's eighth-grade math assessment. The program targets public high schools in districts with 30,000+ enrolled students and public charter schools. It requires the University of Oklahoma's College of Education to administer the tutoring, focusing on intensive, frequent support for struggling math students. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, with an emergency clause allowing immediate implementation upon approval.
