Rep. Toni Hasenbeck

Maddy summarySB 245 directs Oklahoma's State Department of Education to establish a new intensive tutoring program for public school students. The program would provide structured academic support to students needing extra help, particularly in core subjects. The bill mandates the department to create this program and takes effect immediately under emergency provisions. It directly impacts Oklahoma public school students eligible for the tutoring services.

Maddy summarySB 701 temporarily lifts specific restrictions on course and program offerings at several Oklahoma higher education institutions, primarily affecting Muskogee and Tulsa campuses. It ends a 5-year moratorium (through 2030) on rules that previously limited colleges like Northeastern State University's Muskogee branch to upper-division courses, prevented community colleges from offering upper-division classes, and restricted other institutions from duplicating programs. The bill allows the State Regents for Higher Education to approve "functional exceptions" enabling institutions to offer new courses or programs outside their usual mission to address unmet workforce needs. This directly impacts institutions including Northern Oklahoma College, Connors State College, and Oklahoma State University-Tulsa. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 841, the "Strong Readers Act," modifies how the Statewide Literacy Revolving Fund is used and changes training requirements for students in teacher preparation programs. It directs funds toward literacy programs supporting K-12 students and requires teacher candidates to complete specific literacy instruction training before certification. The bill affects school districts, literacy programs, and teacher education institutions by altering funding allocation and educator preparation standards. Signed into law on May 23, 2025, it takes effect immediately as an emergency measure.

Maddy summaryHB 1096 modifies Oklahoma school district requirements for teacher professional development. It updates goals to prioritize increasing academic performance scores, closing achievement gaps, and reducing college remediation rates. The bill adds mandatory annual training on dyslexia and dysgraphia for teachers, expands autism awareness training for early childhood educators, and requires data-driven planning for professional development programs. School districts must annually report on these programs to the State Department of Education, including progress toward specific student achievement goals. The bill does not reference the Classic Learning Test in its substantive provisions as described in the provided text.

Maddy summaryHB 1096 modifies the goals of certain K-12 educational programs and adjusts eligibility requirements for specific higher education programs. It adds the Classic Learning Test as an accepted assessment for qualifying students seeking admission to those higher education programs. The bill directly affects students applying to participating colleges and school districts administering the specified programs. It became effective immediately upon the governor's approval on May 22, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 841, the "Strong Readers Act," modifies how the Statewide Literacy Revolving Fund is used and changes training requirements for students in teacher preparation programs. It directly affects educators and literacy programs by altering fund allocation rules and mandating specific training for future teachers. The bill also specifies an emergency effective date, meaning it takes effect immediately upon approval. No additional policy details or outcomes are described in the provided text.

Maddy summaryHB 2854 allows Oklahoma's public higher education institutions to modify their program offerings to address unmet workforce needs, beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year. It specifically updates provisions for the University Center at Ponca City (involving Northern Oklahoma College) and a new campus in Muskogee (serving Connors State College and Northeastern State University), removing Northern Oklahoma College's exclusive authority over lower-division courses at Ponca City starting in 2026. The bill establishes separate boards of trustees for each center to manage operations, budgets, and program approvals. These changes apply to institutions within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education and directly affect students seeking accessible degree programs in those communities. The legislation focuses on expanding educational access and program flexibility without altering tuition or state funding mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHB 2798 establishes a statewide centralized hotline for reporting child abuse and neglect in Oklahoma, requiring school employees, health care professionals, and anyone suspecting abuse of a child under 18 to report immediately. The bill mandates the Department of Human Services to train hotline staff, track call data (including screened-out reports and unsubstantiated cases), and securely store recordings for 12 months while protecting reporter confidentiality. It imposes penalties for failure to report (misdemeanor for initial failure, felony for prolonged knowledge of abuse) or making false reports (misdemeanor, plus up to $5,000 fines in custody cases), and prohibits retaliation against reporters. The law, signed by the Governor on May 21, 2025, directly affects school staff, medical providers, and the general public who interact with children.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how certain higher education institutions in Oklahoma can offer courses, affecting students and colleges within the state system. It encourages the State Regents for Higher Education to allow colleges to expand their educational programs to address unmet workforce needs. Specifically, beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year, Northern Oklahoma College will no longer have exclusive authority over lower division courses at the University Center at Ponca City. Additionally, Connors State College and Northeastern State University will be authorized to offer a broader range of lower and upper division courses in Muskogee, potentially increasing course availability for students in those areas.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 2798 modifies the reporting requirements for suspected child abuse and neglect in Oklahoma. It mandates the Department of Human Services (DHS) to establish a centralized hotline with specific training, tracking, and recording standards. The bill requires school employees to report suspected abuse of students to DHS and law enforcement, and healthcare professionals to report infants testing positive for alcohol or drugs. It also establishes criminal penalties for individuals who knowingly fail to report suspected abuse or make false reports, while protecting good-faith reporters from employer retaliation.