Education (Higher Education)

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

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 18, 2026

HB 3551: Higher education; resident tuition; illegal immigrants; SAVE Program verification; effective date

HB 3551 changes Oklahoma's rules for in-state college tuition eligibility. It requires students without legal U.S. immigration status to provide proof of an active application with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (via the federal SAVE Program) to qualify for resident tuition, rather than using a simple affidavit. This directly affects undocumented students or those with pending immigration status seeking in-state tuition at Oklahoma public colleges. The bill also clarifies that students who already qualified for resident tuition before the 2006-2007 academic year remain exempt from these new verification rules. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill restricts educational access for undocumented students by requiring additional proof (SAVE Program application) for in-state tuition eligibility, replacing simpler affidavit process.90% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationRequires federal immigration application proof for in-state tuition, restricting undocumented students' access to higher education benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Citizenship & Naturalization DACA & Dreamers

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 3, 2026

HB 3598: Higher education; prohibiting illegal immigrants from receiving scholarships, financial aid, or resident tuition; effective date; emergency.

HB 3598 prohibits undocumented immigrant students in Oklahoma from receiving in-state tuition rates or state-funded scholarships and financial aid at public colleges and universities. The bill amends Oklahoma law to remove the existing pathway allowing such students to qualify for resident tuition by meeting high school residency requirements and submitting immigration applications, and explicitly bans them from these benefits. An exception applies to students enrolled in a degree program during the 2006-2007 school year or earlier who previously received resident tuition under prior rules. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationProhibits undocumented students from state-funded higher education benefits, restricting access to educational opportunities at public colleges and universities.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationProhibits undocumented students from in-state tuition and state financial aid, restricting access to higher education services per bill's explicit language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education Student Financial Aid DACA & Dreamers Driver Licenses & IDs

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 3, 2026

HJR 1037: Oklahoma Constitution; freeze, suspension, or withholding of state-appropriated funds for institutions of higher education; ballot title; filing.

HJR 1037 proposes a constitutional amendment allowing Oklahoma's Legislature to freeze, suspend, or withhold up to 100% of state funds for any public institution within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education. It would require a joint resolution approved by majority votes in both the Senate and House, with gubernatorial approval, to implement such funding changes for up to two years. The bill specifies that this action would only affect state-appropriated funds - not federal money, private donations, tuition, or other nonstate revenue - and would automatically end after two years unless extended by a new resolution. The amendment is currently pending voter approval after legislative passage.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill enables defunding higher education by allowing suspension of state funds, directly restricting public education budget allocations.95% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill enables withholding state funds for higher education institutions, directly defunding public universities per constitutional amendment proposal.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 1247: Higher education; removing exception allowing certain students to be eligible for resident tuition and certain other benefits. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1247 removes an exception that previously allowed certain non-lawfully present students to qualify for resident tuition and financial aid at Oklahoma public colleges and universities. It amends Oklahoma law to prohibit these students from receiving resident tuition rates or postsecondary education benefits, aligning with the broader rule that non-lawfully present individuals are ineligible for such benefits. The bill repeals the outdated Section 3242 of the Oklahoma Statutes and takes effect on July 1, 2026. This change directly affects undocumented students seeking in-state tuition rates at Oklahoma's public higher education institutions.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRemoves eligibility for resident tuition benefits for non-lawfully present students, restricting access to higher education funding and rates.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationRemoves resident tuition benefits for non-lawfully present students, restricting access to higher education services based on immigration status.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid DACA & Dreamers

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 1747: Higher education; Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program; no award for reenrollment in failed courses; effective date; emergency.

HB 1747 prohibits Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program (OK-HLAP) funding for students reenrolling in courses they previously failed. The bill directly affects Oklahoma students receiving OK-HLAP financial aid, which covers tuition at public or private higher education institutions. Key provisions ban payments for retaking failed courses starting in the 2025-2026 academic year, while maintaining existing rules on funding for remedial courses (banned since 2018-2019) and other eligibility limits. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and was declared an emergency.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationProhibits OK-HLAP funding for retaking failed courses, restricting financial aid access and limiting program usage for higher education students.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 1249: Higher education; prohibiting certain institutions of higher education from using state funds for certain purposes. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1249 prohibits Oklahoma public universities from using state funds to provide scholarships, grants, tuition aid, or discounted tuition to foreign national students starting in the 2026-2027 academic year. This directly affects public higher education institutions in Oklahoma's state system (like the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University) and foreign national students who would have received state-funded financial aid. The bill requires the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to create implementing rules and takes effect on July 1, 2026. The law does not change eligibility for federal aid or private scholarships.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRestricts state funding for foreign student aid at public universities, limiting educational access for international students in higher education.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationRestricts state-funded financial aid for foreign national students, limiting access to higher education services for non-immigrant students.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid DACA & Dreamers

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 11, 2025

HB 1184: Education; Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program; minimum ACT score; effective date.

HB 1184 raises the minimum ACT composite score required for Oklahoma high school graduates to qualify for the state's Higher Learning Access Program tuition assistance from 21 to 22. This change directly affects students seeking first-time enrollment in Oklahoma public or private colleges, as they must now achieve a 22 ACT score (along with maintaining a 2.5 GPA and meeting other existing eligibility criteria). The bill amends Section 2603 of Oklahoma law to update this academic threshold for program participation. It does not alter other requirements like residency, financial need, or graduation timeframe. The policy change applies to students graduating within the previous three years.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRaises ACT score requirement from 21 to 22 for tuition assistance, restricting access to state funding for college-bound students.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education Student Financial Aid

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 591: Education; creating the Free to Speak Act; prohibiting public school and certain institution of higher learning employees from addressing certain students in certain manner. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 591, the "Free to Speak Act," requires public school and state university employees in Oklahoma to use a student's legal name and pronouns matching the sex listed on their original birth certificate - without parental permission for minors. It prohibits job penalties for employees who refuse to use preferred names/pronouns inconsistent with birth certificate sex and protects students from disciplinary action for refusing to use such names/pronouns. The bill defines "sex" strictly as biological sex based on genetics and physiology as recorded on a birth certificate. Violations allow affected employees or students to seek legal remedies, including damages, within two years.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationMandates birth certificate sex-based pronouns, restricting inclusive practices and limiting educational access for transgender students in schools.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 17, 2025

HB 2831: Schools; requiring students who attend a physical school location to also attend concurrent enrollment classes at a physical school location; effective date; emergency.

HB 2831 requires high school students attending physical campuses to take concurrent enrollment college courses in person at their school building or a nearby college campus, eliminating virtual attendance for these classes. It applies directly to Oklahoma public and charter school students enrolled in concurrent enrollment programs. The bill also maintains tuition waivers for eligible seniors (18 credits) and juniors (9 credits) and mandates annual reports tracking participation and outcomes. Key provisions focus on requiring physical attendance for concurrent enrollment classes while preserving existing financial support and reporting requirements. This policy change specifically alters how students access college courses while enrolled in traditional high schools.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRestricts virtual concurrent enrollment access, eliminating remote options for students while mandating in-person attendance at physical locations.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education School Choice

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