Education (Student Financial Aid)

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 105: Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program; removing prior public school enrollment requirement; modifying eligibility requirements. Effective date. Emergency.

This bill removes a requirement that students with disabilities must have attended a public school the previous year to qualify for the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship Program. It directly affects families seeking private school options for children with disabilities who previously needed public school enrollment history. The key change eliminates the "prior public school attendance" rule in Section 13-101.2, while maintaining other eligibility criteria like having an IEP or meeting specific exemptions (e.g., military transfers, foster care, homelessness). Private schools must still meet program standards, and scholarships remain available until the student graduates, enrolls in public school, or turns 22. The change makes the program more accessible for eligible students without prior public school enrollment.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves prior public school attendance requirement, expanding access to scholarships for students with disabilities seeking private school options.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice Special Education Student Financial Aid

in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 2273: Higher Education; Department of Transportation Educational Assistance Act; workforce development grant program; effective date; emergency.

HB 2273 creates the Oklahoma Department of Transportation Educational Assistance Program, providing tuition assistance to eligible Oklahoma residents pursuing degrees in fields needed by the Department of Transportation (DOT). Students receive coverage for resident tuition, fees, and academic service fees (up to 18 credit hours per semester) for up to 120 credit hours toward an undergraduate degree or a master's degree, contingent on maintaining a 2.0 GPA and good academic standing. In exchange, participants must work for the DOT in an eligible profession for five years after graduation; failure to complete the degree or fulfill the work requirement triggers repayment of all assistance received. The program is funded through DOT resources and private/public donations, with repayments deposited into a dedicated revolving fund.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates tuition assistance program for DOT-related higher education fields, directly funding access and workforce development within education.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationCreates workforce development grant program for DOT-related fields, supporting transportation sector workforce needs through education funding.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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died · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 26, 2025

SB 472: Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit Act; expanding scope of scholarships while participating in the program. Effective date.

SB 472, titled "Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit Act; expanding scope of scholarships while participating in the program," was withdrawn from committee on February 19, 2025, and is no longer active. The bill's original intent, as reflected in its title, was to expand tax credit eligibility for education scholarships under Oklahoma's parental choice program. However, with the title stricken and the bill withdrawn, no legislative action or policy changes were enacted. This procedural withdrawal means the proposed expansion of scholarship access did not advance.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill expands tax credits for education scholarships, providing tax relief and aligning with tax policy support for education funding through fiscal incentives.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly aimed to expand tax credit scholarships for education, increasing parental choice and access to educational options under Oklahoma's parental choice program.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits School Choice Student Financial Aid

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 1020: Higher education; Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program; eligibility for children of certain public school employees; effective date; emergency.

HB 1020 expands eligibility for Oklahoma's Higher Learning Access Program to include children of public school employees who have worked for at least five consecutive years. This specifically covers teachers, librarians, certified nurses, support staff, and correctional instructors with teaching certificates paid by public funds. The bill exempts these students from the standard financial need requirement, automatically qualifying them for tuition assistance. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education must verify the parent's employment status to implement this change.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands tuition assistance eligibility for children of educators, removing financial barriers to higher education access and directly funding educational opportunities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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passed · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 31, 2026

SB 1272: Higher education; increasing income eligibility for an Oklahoma Tuition Equalization Grant. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1272 raises the maximum family income limit for Oklahoma students to qualify for the Tuition Equalization Grant, a program providing up to $2,000 annually toward college costs. This change directly affects low- and middle-income Oklahoma residents who were previously ineligible due to income thresholds but now meet the updated criteria. The bill amends statute 70 O.S. § 2632 to reflect this higher income limit without altering the grant amount or other eligibility requirements, and it takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationSB 1272 expands access to higher education funding by raising income eligibility for Oklahoma's Tuition Equalization Grant, allowing more low/middle-income students to qualify for up to $2,000 annual aid.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 1243: Career and technology education; creating the National Guard CareerTech Assistance Act; tuition assistance; repayment amount; hardship waiver; creating fund; effective date; emergency.

HB 1243 creates the Oklahoma National Guard CareerTech Assistance Program, providing tuition assistance to eligible Oklahoma National Guard members enrolled in state technology center programs that lead to certification or licensure. The program covers tuition costs (up to a three-year limit) for members who agree to remain in service for 24 months after completing their training and maintain academic requirements like a 2.0 GPA. Members who fail to meet service or academic obligations must repay assistance calculated as a monthly amount based on the total assistance received, though hardship waivers are available. The program is funded through a new revolving fund in the state treasury, supported by annual state appropriations, and administered by the State Board of Career and Technology Education.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates dedicated state fund for tuition assistance, directly allocating budget resources to fund National Guard education programs without tax changes.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates tuition assistance fund for National Guard members in career tech programs, expanding educational access and funding for vocational training.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProvides tuition assistance for National Guard members in technology certification programs, funding workforce development in technology fields.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransProvides tuition assistance for National Guard members' career training, directly supporting veterans' education and employment benefits through state-funded program.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Higher Education Student Financial Aid National Guard & Reserve Veteran Education

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died · Oklahoma · Senate May 30, 2025

SB 1054: Tulsa Reconciliation Education and Scholarship Program; modifying eligibility; removing certain eligibility criteria.

SB 1054 would have modified the Tulsa Reconciliation Education and Scholarship Program by removing specific eligibility requirements for applicants. The bill aimed to expand access to the scholarship program, which supports education-related opportunities tied to Tulsa reconciliation efforts. It directly affected students or applicants who previously met the excluded criteria. The proposed change focused solely on revising the program's qualification rules, without altering funding or other program structures. (Note: The bill was withdrawn and died in conference; this summary reflects its intended policy changes.)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves eligibility barriers to expand scholarship access, directly advancing educational access for students under the Tulsa Reconciliation program.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 2242: Higher education; Inspired to Teach Program; certain advanced degrees; effective date; emergency.

HB 2242 creates the "Inspired to Teach Program" to support future educators in Oklahoma. It provides scholarship funding covering tuition, fees, and living costs for undergraduate teacher education students (up to $5,500 total) and graduate students in school counseling, special education, or administration (up to $4,500 total), based on credit hours completed. Participants must agree to teach or work in Oklahoma public schools (pre-K-12) for five consecutive years after graduation and maintain academic standards. The program requires the State Regents to establish a committee to evaluate effectiveness and report annually to the Legislature.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates scholarship program funding teacher education tuition/fees, requiring 5-year teaching commitment in OK public schools to support educator pipeline.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid Teachers

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 2928: Schools; Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program; eligibility for children with incarcerated parents; effective date.

HB 2928 expands Oklahoma's Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship Program to include students with disabilities who have at least one parent in prison, in addition to existing eligibility for students with disabilities. It also retroactively allows students previously denied scholarships due to lacking an IEP/ISP on October 1, 2009 (but meeting all other requirements) to qualify. The program continues to provide private school choice for eligible students, requiring prior public school attendance (with specific exemptions) and private school acceptance. School districts must inform parents about this option annually through existing special education notices.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands scholarship access for disabled students with incarcerated parents and retroactively includes previously denied students, enhancing educational access under the scholarship program.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice Special Education Student Financial Aid

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 2232: Higher education; Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Act; eligibility requirements; effective date.

HB 2232 updates eligibility rules for Oklahoma's Higher Learning Access Program, which provides financial aid for higher education. It sets annual family income thresholds for financial need eligibility, starting at $55,000 in 2017-2018 and increasing to $100,000 by 2018-2019, with adjustments based on dependent children (e.g., $60,000 for ≤2 dependents, $80,000 for ≥5). Public and private schools must designate a contact person (e.g., counselor) to help students enroll and monitor participation requirements, including regular school attendance and avoiding substance abuse or violent behavior. Students who fail to meet these terms lose eligibility for program benefits.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands higher education financial aid access by raising income thresholds from $55k to $100k, increasing eligibility for more students.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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