Education

in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 1494: Geographic literacy; appropriation; effective date; emergency.

HB 1494 allocates $150,000 from Oklahoma's General Revenue Fund to the State Department of Education for a specific purpose: contracting with an Oklahoma-based nonprofit organization that specializes in geography education. This funding aims to improve geographic literacy in Oklahoma public schools by training educators through programs developed by the nonprofit. The bill directs the funds to be used for this purpose during the 2025-2026 fiscal year, with the appropriation effective July 1, 2025. The legislation declares an emergency to allow immediate implementation upon passage.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $150,000 from General Revenue Fund to fund geography education training, advancing public education spending.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates $150,000 to fund geography education training for K-12 teachers, directly enhancing curriculum and educator development in public schools.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Revenue

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signed · Oklahoma · House May 6, 2025

HB 1485: Teachers; temporary contracts; teachers with emergency or provisional certificates; effective date; emergency.

HB 1485 modifies Oklahoma's teacher contract rules by clarifying that temporary contracts for teachers with emergency or provisional certificates are exempt from the four-semester limit. It requires school districts to provide written contract terms upfront, or the contract becomes a continuing one, and grants teachers who complete a full school year on temporary contracts one year of service credit toward career status. The law also specifies that temporary contract teachers in federally or privately funded roles must follow evaluation rules but cannot exceed the four-semester limit unless replacing a leave-taking teacher or for emergency/provisional certificate holders. The bill, which became law without a governor's signature on May 6, 2025, directly affects school districts and teachers using temporary contracts.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExempts emergency/provisional cert teachers from contract limits, mandates written terms, grants service credit - enhances teacher stability and career progression in K-12 education.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides teachers with temporary contracts explicit rights: written terms, service credit, and exemption from semester limits, strengthening employment protections for educators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

signed · Oklahoma · House May 12, 2026

HB 2959: Schools; student abuse or neglect reporting; superintendents and administrators; school employees; law enforcement; interviews; investigations; duty to report; electronic communication; violations; effective date; emergency.

HB 2959 requires all school employees in Oklahoma to immediately report suspected abuse or neglect of students under 18 to both the Department of Human Services and local law enforcement (police, not school resource officers). It mandates that school superintendents or administrators must report suspected abuse by staff to law enforcement within 24 hours - before any school investigation or interviews occur - and prohibits school officials from questioning accused staff until law enforcement is notified. The bill also requires all school employees to annually acknowledge their reporting duty and defines "abuse or neglect" broadly to include sexual abuse, trafficking, and other specific offenses under Oklahoma law. This law directly affects every school employee and administrator in Oklahoma public and private schools.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates immediate reporting of student abuse to authorities, enhancing student safety protocols in K-12 schools per bill's core requirement.95% confidence

in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 1495: Higher education; College Fee Waiver for Children of Parents with Disabilities Act; State Regents for Higher Education; emergency.

This bill creates a fee waiver program for Oklahoma students whose parents have disabilities. It covers tuition, mandatory fees, and other enrollment costs for up to four years of undergraduate study or until a bachelor's degree is earned, provided students maintain good academic standing. Eligibility requires proof of a parent's disability (via Social Security Disability Insurance, medical documentation, or other ADA-compliant evidence) and enrollment at an Oklahoma public institution of higher education. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education will oversee implementation, verify eligibility, and require annual reporting on participation and graduation rates, with funding provided by the Legislature.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates fee waiver program covering tuition/fees for higher education, expanding access for students with disabled parents through financial support at public institutions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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signed · Oklahoma · House May 29, 2025

HB 1277: State Board of Education; providing reasons for which a license or certificate may be revoked or suspended; providing for notice; effective date; emergency.

HB 1277 updates Oklahoma's rules for revoking or suspending educator licenses. It automatically revokes licenses for individuals convicted of specific sexual abuse or exploitation crimes (listed in Oklahoma statutes), expands the grounds for revocation to include willful law violations, child abuse/neglect, moral turpitude, or incompetence, and requires 10 days' written notice before action. The bill applies directly to licensed teachers, principals, school nurses, bus drivers, and other public school staff who work directly with students. It also clarifies that emergency suspensions are limited to defined situations under state law and sets rules for handling certification fees.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill strengthens educator accountability by automatically revoking licenses for serious offenses, protecting student safety in schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 29, 2025

SB 59: Sales tax; providing exemption for certain organization providing clothing or supplies to certain students. Effective date.

SB 59 exempts certain nonprofit organizations from paying sales tax when purchasing clothing or supplies for students in need. This applies specifically to organizations providing these items directly to students, such as school-based aid programs or community initiatives supporting vulnerable youth. To qualify, organizations must submit required documentation to claim the exemption. The bill amends Oklahoma's sales tax code to add this specific exemption, effective May 29, 2025, after becoming law without the Governor's signature.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts nonprofits from sales tax on student supplies, providing tax relief for organizations serving vulnerable youth and supporting public service funding through targeted tax exemption.92% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill exempts nonprofits providing clothing/supplies to students in need from sales tax, reducing costs for student support programs. This directly enhances educational access for vulnerable youth by addressing basic needs, aligning with support in...80% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement Sales Tax

died · Oklahoma · House Feb 9, 2026

HB 2946: Postsecondary education; Sergeant Bobby Swartz Act; waiver of fees and costs for grandchildren of persons killed in line of duty; effective date; emergency.

HB 2946 creates a tuition and room/board fee waiver for grandchildren (and children) of Oklahoma public safety officers who died in the line of duty. The bill expands existing education benefits to cover descendants of peace officers, firefighters, law enforcement retirees, and emergency medical technicians who died on duty. This waiver applies to all public colleges and career technology schools in Oklahoma for a five-year period. The policy change directly affects eligible descendants of fallen public safety workers by removing financial barriers to postsecondary education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides tuition/fee waiver for descendants of fallen public safety officers at public colleges, expanding educational access and financial support for higher education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 10, 2025

SB 678: Ad valorem tax collections; creating the Centrally Assessed Ad Valorem Volatility Reimbursement Fund; prescribing qualifications and reimbursement amount. Effective date. Emergency.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates state fund to reimburse counties for lost property tax revenue from valuation drops, stabilizing local budgets and prioritizing school districts with $2M appropriation.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationPrioritizes school districts for reimbursement funds, maintaining education funding from property tax losses.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Revenue

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 17, 2025

HB 2917: Agricultural education; Ag in the Classroom Education Revolving Fund; Agricultural Awareness license plates; funding; program expansion; effective date.

HB 2917 creates the "Ag in the Classroom Program" under Oklahoma's State Department of Agriculture to educate students (pre-K through 12th grade) about agriculture in both urban and rural schools. It increases the fee for Agricultural Awareness license plates from $24 to $27, directing the extra $3 per plate into an Ag in the Classroom Education Revolving Fund. The fund will support program expansion, particularly into urban areas, with the Department of Agriculture having exclusive control over the program and fund spending. This bill takes effect November 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases license plate fee by $3 to fund agricultural education program expansion, directly allocating tax revenue to support a specific initiative.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates Ag in the Classroom Program with new funding via license plate fee increase to expand agricultural curriculum access in K-12 schools, including urban areas.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood

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died · Oklahoma · House Feb 10, 2025

HB 1489: Education; Education Reform Act of 2025; effective date.

HB 1489 amends Oklahoma's charter school application process to require applicants to demonstrate community support within the proposed school's geographic area. It adds specific criteria for sponsors to evaluate charter school replication proposals, including evidence of academic success, financial viability, and the ability to replicate successful programs without harming existing schools. The bill also mandates 10 hours of training for both applicants and sponsors on charter school requirements, to be provided by the Statewide Charter School Board. These changes apply to all new charter school applications filed after July 1, 2024, directly affecting charter school applicants, sponsors, and community members.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires community support and academic success evidence for charter schools, ensuring quality replication and protecting existing schools from harm.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice

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