HB 1540 creates the Oklahoma Workforce Education Partnership Revolving Fund within the State Treasury to support career and technology education programs. The fund, managed by the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education (ODCTE), will use state appropriations, gifts, and donations to expand career tech education based on critical occupation data. It operates as a reusable fund (replenished by incoming revenue) until July 1, 2030, with expenditures requiring state treasurer warrants. The bill directly affects ODCTE's ability to fund workforce training programs, aiming to align education with local job market needs.
HB 1203, the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Act, would allow Oklahoma's State Treasurer to invest up to 10% of specific state funds (General Fund, Revenue Stabilization Fund, and Constitutional Reserve Fund) in Bitcoin or digital assets with a $500 billion+ market cap, plus approved stablecoins. The bill requires all digital assets to be held through secure custody solutions meeting strict security standards, including multi-party governance and encrypted storage in geographically diverse facilities. It also mandates that taxes paid in Bitcoin be converted to U.S. currency and transferred to the State General Fund, and permits state retirement funds to hold digital assets under similar secure custody rules. The act applies directly to state treasury operations, retirement funds, and tax collection processes. The bill was introduced in 2025 but failed in committee in April 2025.
SB 410 requires Oklahoma public high school students in grades 8-12 to complete a computer science unit to earn a standard diploma starting with the 2024-2025 school year. This replaces the previous requirement for two world language units with a new computer technology course requirement covering programming, hardware, and business applications like spreadsheets. The bill mandates that this unit must be approved for college admission and excludes basic keyboarding or typing courses. It directly affects all students pursuing standard diplomas in Oklahoma public high schools under the updated graduation requirements.
HB 1982 updates Oklahoma school contracting rules for electronic educational materials. It requires vendors to guarantee materials are ready for immediate use at delivery, provide free replacements for defects within seven days, and supply updates/support within seven days of a school's notification. The bill also mandates that electronic files for textbooks must be in formats compatible with federal accessibility standards (like Braille conversion), ensuring materials can be adapted for students with disabilities. These rules apply to digital textbooks, software, and online learning tools purchased by school districts, effective July 1, 2025.
HB 2024, the Oklahoma Space Renaissance Act, allocates $51.3 million in state funds to support Oklahoma's space industry development. The bill directs $35 million for infrastructure at the Oklahoma Air and Space Port to enable spacecraft testing and launches, and $15 million for a microgravity research consortium focused on commercial science projects in Oklahoma City. It also provides $1.3 million for the Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority to carry out its duties. The funding is intended for fiscal year 2026, with the bill effective July 1, 2025.
HB 2371 proposes funding pilot programs for school districts to use AI software on school-issued devices as a safety tool, without direct student surveillance. The bill requires the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and the State Department of Education to fund AI programs that analyze device activity (via existing web filtering systems) to assess student safety, readiness to learn, and well-being, using data already collected for compliance. It creates a dedicated revolving fund in the state treasury to cover costs like software, equipment, and personnel for these voluntary pilot programs, which can be implemented at the district or school level. The bill would take effect November 1, 2025, if passed.
HB 1983 requires Oklahoma public schools to teach media literacy and cybersecurity to students in sixth, seventh, or eighth grade starting in the 2027-2028 school year. It mandates a half-unit course covering specific topics like identifying online scams, fake news, deepfakes, password security, and protecting personal information. The State Department of Education must develop curriculum standards, guidelines, teacher training, and accessible resources to support this instruction, including accommodations for English learners and students with disabilities. The bill becomes effective November 1, 2025, with implementation beginning for incoming sixth graders in 2027.
