HB 3885: Schools; subjecting certain students in grades three through five to school suspensions; effective date; emergency. - Oklahoma

Floor (House) → Floor (Senate) · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to transition from a House version to a Senate version, which significantly expanded protections for school employees and clarified suspension procedures. The Senate version adds specific immunity for educators using reasonable force, clarifies that criminal liability for students remains separate from school discipline, and establishes stricter rules for suspensions involving firearms. Additionally, the Senate version introduces new grounds for suspension, such as possession of low-point beer, and mandates a minimum one-year suspension for firearm possession.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include specific protections for school employees and volunteers, and the definition of offenses triggering mandatory suspensions was broadened to include possession of low-point beer.

REQUIREMENT

Added explicit immunity for education employees who use necessary and reasonable force to control or discipline students.

Clarified that school suspensions do not limit criminal liability for students who assault or commit battery against school employees.

Added 'possession of an intoxicating beverage, low-point beer' as a specific offense triggering out-of-school suspension.

Mandated a minimum one-year out-of-school suspension for students found in possession of a firearm on school property or in school vehicles.

DEFINITION

Updated the definition of 'firearm' to include all weapons as defined by federal law (18 U.S.C. Section 921).

House Committee Substitute → HB3885 (4-27-26) (HINES) FA1.PDF · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to replace mandatory expulsion for certain offenses with out-of-school suspension for the remainder of the school year. Additionally, the amendment requires school districts to provide virtual instruction to students during their suspension period.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from imposing expulsion to imposing a suspension that extends for the rest of the school year, while also adding a requirement for virtual instruction.

ENFORCEMENT

Changed the penalty for specific offenses from expulsion to out-of-school suspension for the remainder of the school year.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement for school districts to provide virtual instruction to students during their suspension period.

Proposed Policy Committee Substitute 1 → House Committee Substitute · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to clarify that students in grades three through five who assault school employees face mandatory out-of-school suspensions, aligning them with the stricter penalties previously reserved for older students. The amendment also updated the definition of 'firearm' to include all weapons defined by federal law and standardized the suspension protocols for dangerous weapons and controlled substances across all grade levels.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to explicitly mandate out-of-school suspensions for younger students (grades 3-5) committing specific violent acts against school staff, whereas the original text only specified suspension terms for older students.

ELIGIBILITY

Students in grades three through five are now explicitly subject to out-of-school suspension if they assault, attempt to cause bodily injury, or act in a manner that could reasonably cause bodily injury to a school employee or volunteer.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'firearm' was updated to include all weapons as defined by 18 U.S.C. Section 921, broadening the scope beyond just guns to include other weapon types.

REQUIREMENT

Suspensions for possession of firearms on school property or school buses are now mandated to be at least one year, with the district superintendent retaining the ability to modify the term on a case-by-case basis.

TECHNICAL

The bill text was reorganized and reformatted from a 'Proposed Policy Committee Substitute' to a 'House Committee Substitute,' incorporating standard legislative formatting and page numbering.

Engrossed → Proposed Policy Committee Substitute 1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was completely rewritten by a Policy Committee Substitute, replacing the original text with new language that updates the description of student offenses and modifies the suspension requirements. The new version clarifies that students in grades three through five can be suspended for acts of assault or physical injury, while maintaining separate suspension rules for older students. It also retains provisions for employee immunity and outlines specific grounds for out-of-school suspension.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on student discipline in Oklahoma public schools, but the specific offenses triggering mandatory suspensions were updated to include assault and physical injury for younger students.

REQUIREMENT

The description of the bill's purpose was updated to explicitly include 'assault' and 'attempt to cause physical bodily injury' as grounds for suspending students in grades three through five.

The statutory text for Section 6-149.7 was replaced with new language that defines prohibited student behaviors more broadly to include acts that could reasonably cause bodily injury to employees or volunteers.

The statutory text for Section 24-101.3 was replaced with new language that maintains the requirement for district policies on suspension appeals and alternative placements.

TECHNICAL

The document format was changed from an 'Engrossed' version to a 'Proposed Policy Committee Substitute,' indicating the bill is still in the legislative process and subject to further changes.

Introduced → Engrossed · 4 edits · Mar 24, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was updated to reflect its final passage by adding sponsor names and changing the status from 'Introduced' to 'Engrossed'. The substantive policy text regarding student suspension rules, including specific offenses and appeal processes, remains unchanged.

Scope change

The bill's scope and applicability remain unchanged; only the document metadata was updated.

TECHNICAL

Added the names of the bill sponsors (Cantrell and Caldwell) and the Senate co-sponsor (Hines) to the header.

Changed the bill status from 'AS INTRODUCED' to 'ENGROSSED HOUSE' to indicate it has passed both chambers.

Updated the list of purposes to include 'affirming the disciplinary protections provided for in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act' and 'allowing modification of certain suspension terms'.

Adjusted line numbering and formatting to match the standard format for an engrossed bill.

Schools; subjecting certain students in grades three through five to school suspensions; effective date; emergency.

What changed between versions

How they voted

Actions timeline

Sponsors