Schools; creating the Advancing Rights for Caregiving, Health, and Extended Recovery (Maternity Leave Protection for Teachers) Act; effective date.
HB 1601, the "ARCHER Act," extends maternity leave protections for eligible public school teachers in Oklahoma. It amends existing sick leave rules (70 O.S. § 6-104.8) to require school districts to provide extended leave for teachers who have worked at least 1,250 hours in the past year, specifically covering pregnancy-related needs beyond standard sick leave. The bill creates a dedicated exception to current sick leave policies, ensuring teachers can take leave for maternity without losing pay, aligning with federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) standards. This directly affects full-time classroom teachers in public school districts who meet the employment threshold. The law became effective after Governor approval on May 6, 2025.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Feb 3, 2025
Signed May 7, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 6 comparisons
What changed between versions
Floor (House)
→
Floor (Senate)
·
3 edits
MINOR
The bill text was converted from the House version to the Senate version, with minor formatting and page header changes. The substantive policy content of the ARCHER Act remains unchanged, though the Senate version includes additional text about transferred sick leave usage at the bottom of the excerpt.
TECHNICAL
Page headers changed from 'HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES' to 'SENATE FLOOR VERSION' with updated dates and sponsor lists.
Committee substitute designation changed to 'ENGROSSED HOUSE BILL' indicating the bill has passed the House and is now in Senate consideration.
REQUIREMENT
Additional text added regarding transferred sick leave days being used first for illness up to a maximum of 10 transferred days.
Floor votes · Senate Apr 30, 2025 · House Mar 17, 2025
How they voted
41–5
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 49
Apr 30, 2025
D
Democratic9
88% Yea
R
Republican40
82% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
28
Key actions
8
Committee
6
May 7, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by Governor 05/06/2025
lower
Apr 30, 2025
Committee
Referred for enrollment
lower
Apr 30, 2025
Upper · Passed
Engrossed measure signed, returned to House
upper
Apr 30, 2025
Upper · Passed
Measure passed: Ayes: 39 Nays: 5
upper
Apr 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported Do Pass Education committee; CR filed
upper
Mar 18, 2025
Introduced
First Reading
upper
Mar 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Engrossed, signed, to Senate
lower
Mar 17, 2025
Committee
Referred for engrossment
lower
Mar 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third Reading, Measure passed: Ayes: 58 Nays: 27
lower
Mar 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
CR; Do Pass, amended by committee substitute Appropriations and Budget Committee
lower
Feb 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Recommendation to the full committee; Do Pass Appropriations and Budget Education Subcommittee
lower
Feb 4, 2025
Committee
Referred to Appropriations and Budget Education Subcommittee
lower
Feb 3, 2025
Introduced
First Reading
lower
2 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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