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"Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit Act; expanding scope of scholarships while participating in the program," was withdrawn from committee on February 19, 2025, and is no longer active.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 However, with the title stricken and the bill withdrawn, no legislative action or policy changes were enacted.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.
SB 388 allows students enrolled in charter schools or virtual charter schools to participate in public school extracurricular activities, such as sports or clubs, if they meet residency requirements. It requires school associations to update their policies to include these students and amends Oklahoma’s Extracurricular Activities Accountability Act (70 O.S. 27-103) to reflect this change. The bill defines "resident school district" based on student residence and applies to all charter schools, including virtual ones, effective July 1, 2024. This policy change directly affects students in non-traditional schools seeking equal access to campus activities.
HB 2092 requires Oklahoma public, charter, and private schools meeting specific poverty thresholds to participate in the federal Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for school meals. Schools with at least 25% "identified students" (children in programs like SNAP, TANF, or homeless programs) must join CEP, which provides free meals to all students without individual applications. School districts must group schools to maximize eligibility, though schools already offering universal free meals are exempt. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, aligning Oklahoma with the federal Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.
HB 1283 creates the Educators' Professional Liability Insurance Program, providing all public and charter school employees in Oklahoma (including part-time staff) with automatic liability coverage up to $2 million per incident. The program, administered by the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES), requires OMES to select insurers through competitive bidding or establish a self-insured pool, with costs covered by annual state appropriations. School districts and OMES must notify eligible employees in writing at hire and annually about this automatic coverage. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025, and does not alter existing tort claims laws or school district obligations.
SB 1389 modifies Oklahoma's Parental Choice Tax Credit Act by increasing annual credit limits for parents or guardians paying qualified education expenses for eligible students. The bill sets income-based maximums: $7,500 for households earning under $75,000, decreasing to $5,000 for households earning over $250,000, with special provisions for schools serving homeless or financially disadvantaged students. It directly affects Oklahoma taxpayers who pay tuition or approved educational expenses (like curriculum, tutoring, or assessments) for students in accredited private schools or qualifying educational programs. The credit applies to tax years 2024 and beyond, with the Oklahoma Tax Commission required to publish specific administrative information. This bill adjusts existing credit limits without changing the program's core structure or eligibility rules.
HB 1159 allows Oklahoma students to transfer between schools within their district year-round, provided the receiving school's grade level has available space. It establishes specific preferences for transfers, including siblings of transferring students, children of district employees, students changing residence within the district, and those in foster care. School districts must publicly post capacity limits for transfers and prioritize students based on these preferences when space is limited. The bill requires districts to set and report these capacity limits annually, ensuring transparency in the transfer process.
SB 686 amends Oklahoma's Parental Choice Tax Credit Act to allow taxpayers to carry forward unused portions of their annual credit amount to future tax years. This change specifically increases the annual credit limitation by the amount of certain unused credits from prior years, while removing the previous option to reallocate unused credits between different types of qualified education expenses. The bill affects Oklahoma taxpayers claiming the credit for eligible students' education costs, including private school tuition and related expenses, as defined under the existing program. It does not alter the credit amounts or income thresholds but changes how unused credit is handled administratively.
HB 1396 prohibits private schools in Oklahoma from requiring parents to participate in the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit Program as a condition for enrolling their child. It requires schools to provide enrolled students using the tax credit a written tuition agreement showing the base rate, with future increases limited to the State Treasurer's annual inflation measure (based on local consumer index data) and requiring written notice at least one semester in advance. This applies only to students receiving the tax credit, not to other students. The bill aims to prevent schools from tying enrollment to tax credit participation while standardizing tuition increase notifications for tax credit users. It takes effect July 1, 2025.
SB 682 modifies Oklahoma's Parental Choice Tax Credit Program to change how taxpayers claim credits for private school expenses. It establishes income-based credit limits (ranging from $5,000 to $7,500 annually) for parents or guardians paying tuition at accredited private schools, with higher amounts for families below certain income thresholds. The bill also prohibits the Oklahoma Tax Commission from reclaiming credits for eligible students and clarifies that credits cover tuition, fees, and approved educational materials. This directly affects Oklahoma families using the program to offset private school costs, with specific provisions for schools serving homeless or financially disadvantaged students.
HB 1758 would provide Oklahoma virtual charter schools with $100,000 annually if their academic performance is within 10 points of the state average on the Oklahoma State Report Card. Schools meeting this threshold could use the funds for facility costs, student testing, transportation, or student services. Funding is based on academic data from two years prior (e.g., 2022-2023 scores determine 2025 funding) and is in addition to existing district funding. The bill requires available state funds and takes effect July 1, 2025.
