Sen. Adam Pugh

Maddy summarySB 1023 requires Oklahoma state agencies to seek legislative approval before finalizing permanent rules, directly affecting agencies that create regulations and the Legislature that must review them. The bill mandates agencies submit proposed permanent rules by February 1 each year, with the Legislature having until the end of the regular session to approve or disapprove them via joint resolution. Rules not acted upon by the deadline are automatically deemed disapproved, and agencies cannot resubmit identical rules without legislative permission. This replaces the previous process (repealing Section 308.3) to shift authority from agencies to the Legislature for rule adoption.

Maddy summarySB 704 requires all Oklahoma public high schools to offer at least four advanced placement (AP) courses starting in the 2024-2025 school year. It mandates that school districts provide access to AP courses through options including an online platform maintained by the Statewide Charter School Board, with a focus on STEM, foreign language, and AP courses. The bill directs this online platform to be available to all students across Oklahoma school districts, eliminating barriers to course access. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and includes requirements for the State Department of Education to provide information about AP course benefits and track district implementation.

Maddy summarySB 849 repeals Oklahoma Statutes Section 8-103.1, which previously governed student transfer policies for dependent children of military personnel. This repeal removes the specific legal provision that addressed how these students could transfer between school districts. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2025, and is enacted as an emergency measure. The repeal does not create new policies but eliminates an existing statutory requirement.

Maddy summarySB 695 revises Oklahoma's method for calculating high school graduation rates to include charter schools and standardize reporting. It requires schools to use a "four-year adjusted cohort rate" (counting students who graduate in four years with a standard diploma) and an "extended-year rate" (including those graduating in five years), with specific rules for excluding students who transfer out or leave the state. Schools must now provide written or electronic confirmation documenting a student's transfer to another school, enrollment in a diploma-eligible program, or other valid reason before removing them from the graduation cohort. These changes apply to all public schools, charter schools, and districts, and take effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 696 removes a requirement in Oklahoma law that school transportation vehicles with 10+ passenger capacity must display "SCHOOL BUS" in 8-inch letters on the front and rear. The bill amends Section 9-103 of Oklahoma Statutes to delete this specific wording while keeping other transportation rules intact. It affects all school buses and contracted transportation vehicles operating in Oklahoma. The change takes effect July 1, 2025, and the bill was declared an emergency to allow immediate implementation. This is a technical correction to statutory language, not a policy change to safety standards.

Maddy summarySB 297 amends Oklahoma's tax code (68 O.S. § 2358) to adjust how taxable income is calculated for state tax purposes. It updates provisions related to federal net operating loss deductions, clarifying how Oklahoma handles carryovers and carrybacks of losses for tax years beginning after 2000. The bill also refines rules for allocating income from property (real, tangible, or intangible) and business activities to align with current federal tax law. This is a procedural update to existing tax code language, not a new exemption or policy change.

Maddy summarySB 242 creates Oklahoma's Veterans Entering Teaching (VET) Program, providing tuition and mandatory fee assistance to veterans discharged honorably from the U.S. Armed Forces who enroll in approved teacher preparation programs at Oklahoma colleges or universities. To qualify, veterans must commit to teaching in an Oklahoma public school district for three consecutive years after earning their degree. The program covers tuition and fees for degree completion (up to $2 million annually) but requires veterans to exhaust federal education benefits first and prohibits overlapping with another teacher training program. Failure to meet the teaching commitment requires repayment calculated based on months missed, with hardship waivers available.

Maddy summarySB 285 creates a tax credit for Oklahoma taxpayers who contribute to eligible higher education institution foundations. It offers a 50% credit on contributions (up to $1,000 for single individuals, $2,000 for married couples, or $100,000 for businesses) and a 75% credit for those who commit to a second-year contribution. Foundations must submit annual audited financial reports to the Oklahoma Tax Commission and publicly share program outcomes. This policy directly affects Oklahoma taxpayers making qualifying donations and the higher education foundations receiving contributions.

Maddy summarySB 696 removes a requirement in Oklahoma law that school transportation vehicles with a capacity of 10 or more passengers must display "SCHOOL BUS" in 8-inch letters on both the front and rear. This change affects school districts and transportation contractors operating such vehicles, updating Section 9-103 of 70 O.S. 2021. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and declares an emergency to expedite implementation. The legislation modifies a specific visual marking rule without altering other transportation safety standards.

Maddy summarySB 695 updates Oklahoma's method for calculating high school graduation rates to ensure consistency across all schools. It requires schools and charter schools to use a "four-year adjusted cohort" rate, defined as students earning diplomas within four years divided by the original cohort size, adjusted for transfers, emigration, or death. To remove a student from a cohort, schools must provide written or electronic confirmation of enrollment in another diploma-awarding program or documented transfer. This bill directly affects all Oklahoma public and charter high schools by changing how their graduation data is reported and calculated. The changes take effect July 1, 2025.