Education; teacher compensation; increase for classroom teachers; effective date; emergency.

HB 2251 requires Oklahoma school districts to provide a 20% salary increase to classroom teachers for the 2025-2026 school year, applying to both current teachers who stay with the same district and new hires (based on 2024-2025 salaries). The increase must be added to existing compensation, benefits, or mandated raises, unless teaching duties are reduced proportionally. It defines "classroom teacher" to exclude superintendents but includes all other teachers as defined in Oklahoma law. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, with an emergency declaration making it immediately enforceable upon passage.