SB 363 Oklahoma Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Higher education; exempting certain private and out-of-state institutions from accreditation. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 363 exempts certain private and out-of-state institutions from Oklahoma's accreditation requirements, including religious degree-granting institutions meeting specific criteria, out-of-state schools participating in state authorization reciprocity agreements, and Oklahoma Tuition Equalization Grant participants. Non-exempt institutions must still maintain accreditation by a recognized agency, be domiciled in the U.S., and comply with Oklahoma's authorization standards. The bill also requires institutions to pay annual fees into a tuition recovery fund and establishes procedures for denying or revoking authorization for non-compliance. These changes primarily affect private colleges, out-of-state universities operating in Oklahoma, and religious schools offering qualifying degrees.

Bill status vetoed 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Vetoed

May 2025

Introduced Feb 3, 2025 Vetoed May 6, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

Floor (House) → Floor (Senate) · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill version transitioned from the House to the Senate floor, incorporating committee amendments that add new definitions, modify accreditation requirements, and establish fee collection and tuition recovery mechanisms. The changes clarify institutional classifications and expand regulatory oversight for private and out-of-state degree-granting institutions in Oklahoma.

Scope change

The bill now explicitly defines 'religious degree-granting institutions' with specific IRS exemption criteria and adds requirements for institutions to be domiciled within the United States or its territories. Non-degree-granting activities are now subject to the Oklahoma Board of Private Vocational Schools rather than State Regents.

DEFINITION

Added definition for 'religious degree-granting institution' requiring 501(c)(3) status and degrees meeting specific religious criteria

REQUIREMENT

Added domicile requirement that institutions must be located within the United States, its districts, or territories

Added requirement for State Regents to promulgate rules implementing the section's provisions

FISCAL

Established annual fee collection from applicants to cover authorization costs and created a Tuition Recovery Revolving Fund

ENFORCEMENT

Added authority for State Regents to deny, not renew, or revoke authorization with notice and hearing requirements

ELIGIBILITY

Modified exemptions to clarify that religious degree-granting institutions must meet specific criteria to qualify for exemption

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 6, 2025

Vetoed

Vetoed 05/06/2025

upper

Apr 29, 2025

Committee

Referred for enrollment

upper

Apr 29, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Reading, Measure and Emergency passed: Ayes: 83 Nays: 0

lower

Apr 16, 2025

Lower · Passed

CR; Do Pass Education Oversight Committee

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Policy recommendation to the Education Oversight committee; Do Pass Postsecondary Education

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Committee

Referred to Postsecondary Education

lower

Mar 25, 2025

Introduced

First Reading

lower

Mar 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

Engrossed to House

upper

Mar 24, 2025

Committee

Referred for engrossment

upper

Mar 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

Measure and Emergency passed: Ayes: 46 Nays: 0

upper

Feb 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported Do Pass Education committee; CR filed

upper

Feb 3, 2025

Introduced

First Reading

upper

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors