SB 2040: Tulsa Reconciliation Education and Scholarship Program; modifying eligibility; removing certain eligibility criteria. Emergency. - Oklahoma

SB2040 (3-17-26) (JETT) WDFA1.PDF → Floor (Senate) · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to create a scholarship program for Tulsa residents impacted by the 1921 race massacre. The changes significantly broaden eligibility by adding a category for all Tulsa public school students (not just descendants) and removing specific poverty-based school and census block requirements. It also establishes a $70,000/$128,000 family income cap that adjusts annually, with no limit for direct descendants.

Scope change

The program now applies to all qualified high school students in the Tulsa School District, whereas the original text appeared to restrict eligibility primarily to direct descendants.

ELIGIBILITY

Added a new eligibility category for any qualified high school student in the Tulsa School District, regardless of whether they are a direct descendant of a 1921 victim.

Removed two specific eligibility criteria: attending a Tulsa public school with 75% free/reduced lunch enrollment and living in a census block with 30% poverty rate.

Established a family income limit of $70,000 for single applicants and $128,000 for joint filers, with no income limit for direct descendants.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement that the income limit be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index.

Authorized the use of the FAFSA form to verify family income.

FISCAL

Set the scholarship amount to not exceed the average resident tuition for eligible institutions.

SB2040 (3-17-26) (JETT) FA1.PDF → SB2040 (3-17-26) (JETT) WDFA1.PDF · 1 edit

MINOR

The document was updated from a draft version to a final version, indicated by the change in the filename from 'FA' (Final Amendment) to 'WDFA' (Working Draft Final Amendment). The only substantive change visible in the provided text is the update of the timestamp from March 17, 2026, to March 25, 2026, reflecting a revision made by Senator Jett.

TECHNICAL

The document's metadata timestamp was updated to reflect a later revision date (March 25, 2026) compared to the previous version (March 17, 2026).

Committee Substitute → SB2040 (3-17-26) (JETT) FA1.PDF · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to simplify eligibility requirements by removing the complex criteria regarding school lunch programs and census block poverty levels. Instead, the focus shifted to requiring students to submit a historical essay about the Tulsa Race Massacre and maintain a 2.5 GPA. Additionally, a new priority rule was added to favor students who are direct descendants of victims who lived in the Greenwood Area during the 1921 unrest.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding who qualifies for the scholarship was narrowed and redefined; the previous broad eligibility based on school demographics was replaced with specific academic and historical knowledge requirements.

ELIGIBILITY

Eliminated the requirement that applicants attend schools where 75% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch or live in census blocks where 30% are below the poverty level.

Established a new priority status for applicants who are direct lineal descendants of individuals who resided in the Greenwood Area in Tulsa between April 30 and June 1, 1921, and were victims of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.

Clarified that the income limit exemption applies specifically to direct lineal descendants of victims, while maintaining the $70,000/$128,000 income caps for other applicants.

REQUIREMENT

Added a mandatory requirement for applicants to submit a historical essay on the Tulsa Race Massacre with criteria set by the State Regents.

Added a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale as a condition for eligibility.

Engrossed → Committee Substitute · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was reorganized into a 'Committee Substitute' version, which typically incorporates feedback from legislative committees. The substantive policy changes include increasing the income limit for scholarship eligibility from $70,000 to $128,000, removing the requirement that applicants must have attended a specific public school with high poverty rates, and removing the requirement that applicants live in a specific census block area with high poverty rates. These changes significantly expand the pool of eligible students beyond those in the most economically distressed areas of Tulsa.

Scope change

The bill's scope has expanded to include a broader range of students by removing specific geographic and school-based poverty thresholds that previously restricted eligibility.

ELIGIBILITY

The maximum family income limit for scholarship eligibility was increased from $70,000 to $128,000 per year.

The requirement that applicants must have attended a Tulsa public school where 75% or more of students qualify for free/reduced lunch was removed.

The requirement that applicants must reside in a census block area where 30% or more of residents are at or below the poverty level was removed.

TECHNICAL

The document format was updated from 'Engrossed' to 'Committee Substitute,' indicating a revision process has occurred.

Introduced → Engrossed · 5 edits · Mar 26, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was amended to clarify its purpose, adjust eligibility criteria, and update financial thresholds. Key changes include raising the maximum family income limit for applicants from $125,000 to $128,000, adding a provision for annual income adjustments based on inflation, and narrowing the scholarship's geographic scope to Oklahoma public schools rather than any public school in the United States.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed from including public school districts nationwide to being limited to public school districts within the state of Oklahoma.

ELIGIBILITY

The maximum family income limit for applicants was increased from $125,000 to $128,000.

A new requirement was added to automatically adjust the income limit annually based on the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index.

The description of eligible Tulsa students was updated to specifically include 'high school students'.

SCOPE

Eligibility was restricted to students attending public school districts within Oklahoma, removing eligibility for students in public school districts outside the state.

DEFINITION

The definition of priority applicants was refined to specify they must be 'seniors in high school' and direct lineal descendants of Greenwood Area residents.

Tulsa Reconciliation Education and Scholarship Program; modifying eligibility; removing certain eligibility criteria. Emergency.

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