Education

died · Oklahoma · House Apr 21, 2026

HB 2978: Schools; library media program; community standards; sexually explicit conduct; effective date.

HB 2978 requires Oklahoma school libraries to select materials based on "community standards" for the population they serve, while explicitly excluding depictions or descriptions of sexually explicit conduct (as defined in Oklahoma law). The bill affects all public school library media programs by changing how they acquire print, digital, and multimedia resources. Key provisions mandate that library collections reflect local community norms for age-appropriate materials, with no inclusion of content meeting the legal definition of sexually explicit conduct. The policy takes effect on November 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRestricts library materials to community standards, excluding explicit content and limiting curriculum options in K-12 schools.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Education

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passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 16, 2026

HB 3025: Schools; general fund expenditures; gift, grant, and donation monies; general fund carryover; effective date.

HB 3025 modifies Oklahoma school district funding rules for gift, grant, and donation monies. It requires schools to place funds received for building projects (capital expenditures) into a dedicated building fund, not the general fund. For noncapital funds (like operational costs), districts may retain them in the general fund but must wait one year before using them, preventing immediate spending. This affects all Oklahoma public school districts receiving external funds for school operations or construction. The bill clarifies how districts must categorize and manage these funds to ensure proper financial accountability.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRequires one-year delay for noncapital operational funds, restricting immediate spending on school operations per bill's funding rules.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Education

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passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 1, 2026

HB 3134: Higher education; Keep Accreditation About Academics Act; accrediting agencies; civil action; Attorney General; effective date.

HB 3134, the "Keep Accreditation About Academics Act," prohibits accrediting agencies from considering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices when reviewing or renewing accreditation for Oklahoma's public higher education institutions. It requires agencies to stop collecting or using any DEI-related information in accreditation decisions and mandates policies to prevent such data from influencing reviews. Students or employees of affected institutions can sue accrediting agencies for violations, and the Attorney General may enforce the law under anti-discrimination and consumer protection statutes. Violators face triple damages for fees paid by institutions, plus $1,000 per affected student. The law directly affects all Oklahoma public colleges and universities and their accrediting agencies, restricting how accreditation processes address DEI initiatives.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationProhibits DEI considerations in higher education accreditation, restricting diversity initiatives and academic policy integration per bill's explicit language.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Education

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passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 1, 2026

HB 3132: Higher education; Selecting Neutral Accreditors Act; review for diversity, equity, and inclusion practices and procedures; Attorney General enforcement; effective date.

HB 3132 requires Oklahoma public universities to stop using accrediting agencies that have implemented diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices within the past five years. By July 1, 2027, each university must switch to an accreditor without recent DEI practices or report to the legislature if no suitable option exists. Before new accreditation or renewals, universities must select an accreditor that has not used DEI practices in the last five years. The Attorney General can enforce these rules, investigate violations, and void agreements that circumvent the law.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill mandates universities eliminate DEI practices in accreditation, directly restricting diversity initiatives in higher education policy92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Education

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passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 1, 2026

HB 4344: Oklahoma State System of Higher Education; permitting reduction in allocations for payment of annual obligations; effective date.

HB 4344 allows the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to reduce funding allocations to public colleges and universities when necessary to cover specific lease payments (under Section 3206.6a of Title 70) or annual obligations (under Section 3980.4 of Title 70). This bill directly affects all 22 institutions in Oklahoma's public higher education system by giving the Regents authority to redirect existing state funds. The key mechanism permits the Regents to adjust annual funding distributions to ensure required lease and obligation payments are made without new appropriations. The bill focuses on administrative flexibility in fund allocation, not new spending or policy changes.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationPermits reduction of higher education funding allocations to cover lease payments, directly defunding public universities by redirecting existing state funds away from institutions.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Education

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passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 1, 2026

HB 4491: Schools; allowing school districts to adopt a policy for certain students to participate in extracurricular activities; eligibility requirements; definitions; standards; effective date.

HB 4491 prohibits full-time students enrolled in statewide virtual charter schools (sponsored by the Statewide Charter School Board) from participating in Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association (OSSAA) sports and competitive extracurricular activities starting July 1, 2026. The bill directly affects these virtual charter students, who would instead be limited to intramural activities organized by their virtual school or external groups. It amends existing law to clarify that virtual charter students cannot join district-sponsored athletic associations, while allowing schools to offer their own non-competitive activities. The provision applies only to statewide virtual charter schools, not traditional public or brick-and-mortar charter schools.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill restricts virtual charter students' access to competitive extracurricular activities, limiting educational opportunities and program participation for this group.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Education

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 18, 2026

HB 3551: Higher education; resident tuition; illegal immigrants; SAVE Program verification; effective date

HB 3551 changes Oklahoma's rules for in-state college tuition eligibility. It requires students without legal U.S. immigration status to provide proof of an active application with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (via the federal SAVE Program) to qualify for resident tuition, rather than using a simple affidavit. This directly affects undocumented students or those with pending immigration status seeking in-state tuition at Oklahoma public colleges. The bill also clarifies that students who already qualified for resident tuition before the 2006-2007 academic year remain exempt from these new verification rules. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill restricts educational access for undocumented students by requiring additional proof (SAVE Program application) for in-state tuition eligibility, replacing simpler affidavit process.90% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationRequires federal immigration application proof for in-state tuition, restricting undocumented students' access to higher education benefits.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Education

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 10, 2026

HB 3379: Higher education; Higher Education Workforce Development and Fair Admission Act; prohibiting state education institutions from inquiring about criminal conviction history on initial application; exceptions; effective date; emergency.

HB 3379 prohibits Oklahoma public colleges and universities from asking about a prospective student's criminal history on initial application forms or during early admissions decisions, except for convictions related to sex offenses listed in Oklahoma law (21 Okl. Stat. §§ 843.5, 1111, etc.). After admission, institutions may inquire about criminal history for counseling, campus participation decisions, or specific programs like teacher preparation, but must consider factors like time passed, rehabilitation, and the offense's relevance. The bill specifically prevents denial of admission or academic program continuation for students seeking licensed careers (e.g., teaching) based solely on criminal history, requiring institutions to offer counseling about licensing requirements instead. It takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits colleges from asking about criminal history on initial applications, reducing barriers to education for formerly incarcerated individuals, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves criminal history barriers in college admissions, expanding access to higher education for eligible students while maintaining exceptions for safety-critical programs.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

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signed · Oklahoma · Senate Jun 11, 2025

SB 140: Mathematics instruction; directing expenditure of certain funds; creating the Oklahoma Math Achievement and Proficiency Act. Effective date. Emergency.

This bill, titled "Mathematics instruction..." but actually amending the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program, adjusts financial eligibility rules for students seeking higher education support. It raises income thresholds for program qualification (e.g., $80,000 annually for families with five+ children starting in 2025-2026) and adjusts age limits for participation (extending to age 18 for some applicants). Students must meet updated income requirements and comply with program terms like regular school attendance and avoiding substance abuse to maintain eligibility. The bill directly affects Oklahoma students in grades 5-11 seeking financial aid for post-secondary education through this state program.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesRaises income thresholds for program eligibility, reducing state expenditure on higher education access by limiting qualifying applicants.85% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRaises income thresholds for higher education funding eligibility, restricting access to support programs for qualifying students.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Education

died · Oklahoma · Senate May 30, 2025

SB 1054: Tulsa Reconciliation Education and Scholarship Program; modifying eligibility; removing certain eligibility criteria.

SB 1054 would have modified the Tulsa Reconciliation Education and Scholarship Program by removing specific eligibility requirements for applicants. The bill aimed to expand access to the scholarship program, which supports education-related opportunities tied to Tulsa reconciliation efforts. It directly affected students or applicants who previously met the excluded criteria. The proposed change focused solely on revising the program's qualification rules, without altering funding or other program structures. (Note: The bill was withdrawn and died in conference; this summary reflects its intended policy changes.)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves eligibility barriers to expand scholarship access, directly advancing educational access for students under the Tulsa Reconciliation program.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

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