Education

in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 1288: Education; alternative education programs; charter schools and virtual charter schools; full-time virtual or blended instruction; effective date; emergency.

HB 1288 updates Oklahoma's requirements for alternative education programs serving students in grades 7-12 who are at risk of not graduating. It requires school districts to implement programs meeting specific standards (like smaller class sizes, certified teachers, individualized plans, and life skills instruction) and explicitly includes designated charter and virtual charter schools in this system. The bill establishes funding based on student enrollment, allows full-time virtual or blended learning options, and mandates performance reporting. It also creates a separate evaluation framework for designated alternative education programs and prohibits using state funds to replace existing district resources.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires standards for at-risk students (smaller classes, certified teachers), funds via enrollment, includes charter/virtual schools - advances educational access and quality for K-12 programs.95% confidence

Track

signed · Oklahoma · House May 29, 2025

HB 2766: General appropriations; various agencies, authorities, boards, bureaus, commission, funds and programs; effective date.

HB 2766 is the Oklahoma state budget bill for fiscal year 2026, allocating over $1.65 billion from the General Revenue Fund to support public schools. It directs specific funding for teacher salaries, textbooks, health benefits for staff, school administration, and the School Consolidation Assistance Fund, drawing from multiple sources including the Education Lottery Trust Fund and Mineral Leasing Fund. The bill was enacted without the Governor's signature on May 29, 2025, and directly affects all Oklahoma public schools and their students through these state-funded resources.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $1.65B from General Revenue Fund for public school funding including teacher salaries, textbooks, and health benefits, directly advancing essential education programs.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $1.65B for teacher salaries, textbooks, health benefits, and school consolidation fund from education-specific sources like Education Lottery Trust Fund.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds teacher salaries and health benefits for school staff, directly supporting labor-related employment standards within public education.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Revenue State Budget Teachers

passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 24, 2025

HB 2154: Charter schools; Oklahoma Charter Schools Act; exemptions; financial statements; contract requirements; effective date; emergency.

HB 2154 amends Oklahoma's Charter Schools Act to require charter school governing boards to approve a budget for each upcoming fiscal year before it begins. This change directly affects all Oklahoma charter school governing boards by adding a new annual procedural requirement. The bill focuses on strengthening financial oversight through mandatory pre-fiscal-year budget approvals, without altering other provisions like financial statement requirements or contract rules. The amendment was added to the bill during committee review and is currently pending in the House.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates annual budget approvals for charter schools to strengthen financial oversight, supporting operational integrity in K-12 education management.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice

Track

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 1353: Schools; creating the Menstrual Products for Schools Revolving Fund; providing for use of fund to assist certain schools in making menstrual products available in certain restrooms. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1353 creates a revolving fund in Oklahoma's State Treasury to provide free menstrual products (tampons and sanitary napkins) in designated restrooms at public schools. It directly affects all public school districts and charter schools in Oklahoma by requiring the State Department of Education to use this fund to help schools make these products available at no cost in restrooms used by females or single-occupancy facilities. The fund is supported by state appropriations, donations, and grants, with the Department of Education managing disbursements to schools. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill uses state appropriations to fund free menstrual products in schools, directly advancing public service funding through state budget allocation.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides free menstrual products in school restrooms to ensure student access, attendance, and well-being, directly supporting educational access for K-12 students.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides free menstrual products in public schools, improving access to essential health supplies under public health programs.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

Track

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 1308: Higher education; providing eligibility for resident tuition. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1308 allows students who graduated from an Oklahoma high school and lived in Oklahoma with a parent or guardian for at least two years prior to graduation to qualify for resident tuition at Oklahoma public colleges, regardless of their current immigration status. To qualify, students must meet admission standards and either provide proof of an immigration status application or file an affidavit promising to apply within one year of enrollment. The bill also ensures these students cannot be denied state scholarships or financial aid due to their immigration status. This applies to new students enrolling on or after July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands higher education access by removing immigration status barriers for qualifying students to pay resident tuition at Oklahoma public colleges.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationBill removes immigration status barrier for resident tuition eligibility, supporting immigrant access to higher education services.95% confidence

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

Track

died · Oklahoma · House Feb 5, 2025

HB 1867: Revenue and taxation; sales tax; sales-tax-free weekend; school supplies; exemptions; effective date; emergency.

HB 1867 expands Oklahoma's annual sales tax-free weekend to include school supplies, allowing residents to purchase these items tax-free during a three-day period in August. The bill sets price limits ($100 for clothing/footwear, $50 for school supplies) and excludes athletic wear, accessories, and rentals from the exemption. It applies to both state and local sales taxes, requiring school supply items to meet an annual list approved by the State Board of Education. This directly affects shoppers buying qualifying school supplies and clothing during the designated tax-free weekend.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands tax exemption for school supplies, providing temporary tax relief for families purchasing essential items during designated period.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationTax-free school supplies lower financial barriers for families, enhancing access to educational materials per bill's focus on school supply exemptions.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax

Track

signed · Oklahoma · House May 7, 2025

HB 1483: Schools; whistleblower protections; extending applicability of protections to support employees; effective date; emergency.

HB 1483 extends whistleblower protections to school support employees (like counselors, cafeteria workers, and administrative staff) in Oklahoma, alongside teachers. It prohibits school districts from disciplining these employees for reporting violations of law, the Oklahoma Constitution, or rules - whether to supervisors, school boards, law enforcement, or the State Department of Education. The bill requires school districts to prominently post this law and clarifies it doesn’t override student privacy rights under FERPA. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, after being approved by the governor on May 6, 2025.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExtends whistleblower protections to school support staff (counselors, cafeteria workers), protecting them from retaliation for reporting violations, thus strengthening educator safety and school environment.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExtends whistleblower protections to school support staff, prohibiting retaliation for reporting violations, directly strengthening worker rights protections.95% confidence

in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 1289: Higher education; Academic Loyalty Oath Ban; prohibition of ideological oaths; right of action; effective date; emergency.

HB 1289 prohibits Oklahoma public universities from requiring students, employees, applicants, or contractors to endorse specific ideologies (like political views or diversity initiatives) or provide statements about race, ethnicity, or related topics. It bans institutions from using such information for admissions, hiring, or promotions, with exceptions for standard demographic data and academic research. The bill creates a legal right for affected individuals to sue institutions that violate these rules, seeking remedies like reinstatement or hiring. It applies to all public higher education institutions in Oklahoma and requires annual compliance reports to state legislators.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBans ideological oaths in higher education, protecting academic freedom and curriculum autonomy without restricting educational access or funding.92% confidence

Track

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 10, 2025

SB 664: Construction Industries Board; modifying eligibility of certain educational institutions to enter into certain contracts. Effective date.

SB 664 creates a new "Skilled Trade Education and Workforce Development Fund" funded by transferring administrative fines from plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and roofing licensing revolving funds. It allows the Construction Industries Board to contract with Oklahoma vocational, technical, and accredited educational institutions offering trade coursework to develop curriculum about state trade laws and promote skilled trade careers through public outreach. The fund supports developing instructional materials, workforce programs, and curriculum for these four trades, with contracts requiring Board approval and post-completion reporting. This directly affects educational institutions providing electrical, mechanical, plumbing, or roofing training and aims to advance workforce development in Oklahoma's construction trades. The bill becomes effective November 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates Skilled Trade Education Fund to fund vocational curriculum development and workforce programs at educational institutions, directly advancing education through targeted funding.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates Skilled Trade Education Fund to develop workforce training curriculum and promote career pathways in construction industries, directly advancing employment opportunities and skills development.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Curriculum Workforce Development

Track

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 1363: Schools; establishing a minimum salary schedule for teachers; providing for certain additional compensation; directing funding to be provided to certain schools subject to availability. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1363 establishes a new minimum salary schedule for Oklahoma public school teachers starting in the 2026-2027 school year, setting base pay based on years of experience and education level (e.g., $43,000 for a bachelor’s degree with 0 experience). It adds a 5% bonus for teachers in hard-to-fill positions (defined as schools with 15%+ vacancies or critical shortage subjects like math/science) and provides $1,500 after the first year and $1,000 after the second year for teachers in STEM, bilingual education, or special education. The bill also offers a $1,000 stipend plus 3% additional pay for teachers earning extra endorsements like English as a second language. These changes directly affect all certified Oklahoma public school teachers and require annual reporting on hard-to-fill positions by the State Department of Education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes minimum teacher salaries, adds bonuses for hard-to-fill roles/STEM, and provides incremental raises - directly increasing educator compensation and retention.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Special Education Teachers

Track