SB 808 clarifies Oklahoma's physical therapy referral rules, allowing licensed physical therapists (and assistants under supervision) to evaluate and treat patients without a doctor's referral for up to 30 days, except for workers' compensation cases. It specifically exempts children receiving physical therapy under federal special education laws (IDEA/504), screening/education services, and non-injury-related fitness/wellness programs. The bill explicitly states physical therapists cannot practice "healing arts" beyond their scope and maintains existing restrictions on non-therapeutic services. Signed into law on April 23, 2025, it takes effect November 1, 2025.
HB 1417 creates the "School Access for Emergency Response Act" (SAFER Act), establishing a grant program through the Oklahoma State Department of Education to fund public school districts and brick-and-mortar charter schools. The bill provides grants for interoperable communication hardware, software, maintenance, and training, enabling school safety teams to directly communicate with first responders during emergencies. Key requirements include adopting FEMA’s Incident Command System (ICS) protocols and training staff using FEMA’s IS-0100.c standards. The program aims to improve emergency response coordination by ensuring schools and emergency services can share real-time communication systems.
SB 410 requires Oklahoma public high school students in grades 8-12 to complete a computer science unit to earn a standard diploma starting with the 2024-2025 school year. This replaces the previous requirement for two world language units with a new computer technology course requirement covering programming, hardware, and business applications like spreadsheets. The bill mandates that this unit must be approved for college admission and excludes basic keyboarding or typing courses. It directly affects all students pursuing standard diplomas in Oklahoma public high schools under the updated graduation requirements.
HB 1396 prohibits private schools in Oklahoma from requiring parents to participate in the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit Program as a condition for enrolling their child. It requires schools to provide enrolled students using the tax credit a written tuition agreement showing the base rate, with future increases limited to the State Treasurer's annual inflation measure (based on local consumer index data) and requiring written notice at least one semester in advance. This applies only to students receiving the tax credit, not to other students. The bill aims to prevent schools from tying enrollment to tax credit participation while standardizing tuition increase notifications for tax credit users. It takes effect July 1, 2025.
SB 186 creates a grant program to help teachers with temporary emergency or provisional teaching certificates obtain permanent certification. The Office of Educational Quality and Accountability will award up to 1,000 annual grants per year (first-come, first-served) to eligible teachers through their school districts. Grants cover costs for exam preparation, exam fees, and part of required professional education hours. The program is funded through a new revolving fund and takes effect July 1, 2025.
SB 705 renames Oklahoma's "Charter Schools Incentive Fund" to the "Charter Schools Incentive and Closure Reimbursement Fund" (Section 3-144). It expands the fund's purpose to cover charter school startup costs, building renovations, and closure expenses, while adding new funding sources like payments from charter schools. The bill also modifies Section 3-142 to clarify that charter school sponsors (e.g., school districts) may charge only up to 3% of state aid for administrative services, and directs the Statewide Charter School Board to transfer remaining balances to the renamed fund. These changes directly affect charter schools, virtual charter schools, and their sponsors by altering funding calculations and reimbursement mechanisms.
SB 508 expands existing whistleblower protections for Oklahoma teachers to include school support staff (like cafeteria workers, custodians, and administrative aides). It prohibits school districts from disciplining these employees for reporting violations of law, the Oklahoma Constitution, or safety concerns - whether disclosed directly to supervisors, school boards, or state education officials. Schools must prominently post this protection policy, while still respecting student privacy under FERPA. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and is designated an emergency measure.
SB 678 creates a state fund to reimburse Oklahoma counties for lost property tax revenue when centrally assessed properties (like oil/gas facilities) decrease in value. Counties qualify if they lose at least $250,000 in annual tax collections from these properties, receiving 25% of the loss for the first two years after the valuation drop. Reimbursement funds prioritize school districts first, with remaining funds going to counties. The bill appropriates $2 million from the General Revenue Fund to start the fund, effective July 2025.
SB 554 would require Oklahoma school districts to provide stipends (one-time payments) instead of regular salary increases to teachers holding specific certifications, such as out-of-state, international, or National Board for Professional Teaching Standards credentials. The bill prohibits these stipends from being counted toward future salary calculations or raises. It amends existing teacher certification laws to clarify that compensation for these certified teachers must follow this stipend structure rather than standard salary progression. This change directly affects teachers with the specified certifications who currently qualify for salary-based increases under Oklahoma law.
SB 388 allows students enrolled in charter schools or virtual charter schools to participate in public school extracurricular activities, such as sports or clubs, if they meet residency requirements. It requires school associations to update their policies to include these students and amends Oklahoma’s Extracurricular Activities Accountability Act (70 O.S. 27-103) to reflect this change. The bill defines "resident school district" based on student residence and applies to all charter schools, including virtual ones, effective July 1, 2024. This policy change directly affects students in non-traditional schools seeking equal access to campus activities.
