HB 3029 requires Oklahoma's State Board of Education to create a four-year plan addressing the Oklahoma Department of Education's program needs. The plan must include long-term goals, details on new programs, cost analyses, and specific implementation strategies. The State Board must submit this annual plan to the Governor and legislature by December 1 each year, with updates reviewed yearly. The bill takes effect September 1, 2026.
SB 1481 requires Oklahoma public elementary schools (kindergarten through grade 5) to provide 40 minutes of daily recess as a condition for school accreditation, separate from existing physical education requirements. Recess must be supervised, unstructured play time and cannot be taken away as punishment for students. Schools may divide the 40 minutes into two 20-minute periods. This bill directly affects all Oklahoma public elementary schools serving those grades and takes effect July 1, 2026.
SB 1733 requires Oklahoma school employees (including teachers, coaches, and administrators) to report suspected student sexual abuse, assault, or misconduct to law enforcement within 24 hours. It prohibits school investigations or disciplinary actions before reporting and mandates annual attestation forms confirming staff understanding of these duties. The law applies to all public and charter school staff, with confidentiality protections for reporters. It takes effect July 1, 2026, and declares an emergency for immediate implementation.
HB 2978 requires Oklahoma school libraries to select materials based on "community standards" for the population they serve, while explicitly excluding depictions or descriptions of sexually explicit conduct (as defined in Oklahoma law). The bill affects all public school library media programs by changing how they acquire print, digital, and multimedia resources. Key provisions mandate that library collections reflect local community norms for age-appropriate materials, with no inclusion of content meeting the legal definition of sexually explicit conduct. The policy takes effect on November 1, 2026.
SB 1778, the Strong Readers Act, requires Oklahoma public schools to screen all kindergarten through third-grade students for reading skills at multiple points during the school year using approved tools. It mandates intensive reading intervention services for students not meeting grade-level targets, including summer academies for first- and third-grade students who remain behind, and requires retention of third graders who do not meet reading proficiency after interventions (with specific exemptions for students with disabilities or English learners). The bill also requires schools to provide written parental notifications about interventions, maintain reading intervention plans within 30 days of identification, and report progress data to the state. These provisions aim to improve early literacy outcomes through structured screening, targeted support, and accountability for student reading proficiency.
HB 3006 extends the Oklahoma Advisory Council on Indian Education's existence until July 2027 (from 2026), continuing a body that advises on Native American student education. The council, composed of 18 members including tribal representatives, educators, and state education officials, must analyze data on Native American student outcomes and make annual reports to the State Board of Education. It focuses on identifying strategies to improve communication between tribes, schools, and education entities, and developing measurable criteria to assess educational success for Native American students. This bill directly affects Oklahoma’s public education system in how it addresses the needs of Native American students statewide.
HB 3704 directs Oklahoma to participate in a federal income tax credit program allowing individuals to claim a credit for donations to scholarship granting organizations (SGOs). The bill requires the Governor to certify Oklahoma's participation to the U.S. Treasury and designates the Oklahoma Tax Commission to register SGOs, maintain their lists, and handle federal reporting. This enables Oklahoma taxpayers to claim the federal credit for qualifying donations, while coordinating with Oklahoma's existing state tax credit for SGO contributions. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and remains in place until changed by law or federal policy.
HB 4273 creates an income tax credit for Oklahoma employees working in the aerospace sector who hold ABET-accredited engineering degrees or are licensed Professional Engineers. It defines "qualified employees" as individuals with such credentials working for "qualified employers" (aerospace businesses or higher education institutions with dedicated aerospace research programs). The credit applies to tuition paid for qualifying engineering programs and is limited to five years per person. This policy directly affects aerospace workers and employers in Oklahoma's aerospace industry by reducing their state income tax liability. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027.
HB 2361, the "Successful Adulthood Act," requires Oklahoma's Department of Human Services to provide foster youth aged 14 and older with a "Notice of Rights" explaining their legal protections. It mandates that youth transitioning out of foster care at age 18 receive essential documents, including birth certificates, Social Security cards, medical records, and educational transcripts, to support independent living. The bill extends eligibility for transition services, including housing, education, and Medicaid coverage, until age 21 for those in foster care due to abuse or neglect. It also requires the Department to provide information about college financial aid programs to foster youth and their guardians. These provisions aim to improve stability and self-sufficiency for young adults aging out of foster care.
HB 2893 exempts certain paraprofessionals and teachers from additional professional education coursework requirements. Specifically, it states that paraprofessionals with a bachelor's degree in education (and within 10 years of classroom work) and teachers with a bachelor's in education (also within 10 years of classroom service) will be deemed to have satisfied existing rules for certification renewal or professional development. The bill directly affects Oklahoma public school paraprofessionals and teachers holding qualifying degrees. It takes effect July 1, 2025, and was designated an emergency measure to take immediate effect upon passage.
