SB 508 expands existing whistleblower protections for Oklahoma teachers to include school support staff (like cafeteria workers, custodians, and administrative aides). It prohibits school districts from disciplining these employees for reporting violations of law, the Oklahoma Constitution, or safety concerns - whether disclosed directly to supervisors, school boards, or state education officials. Schools must prominently post this protection policy, while still respecting student privacy under FERPA. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and is designated an emergency measure.
SB 678 creates a state fund to reimburse Oklahoma counties for lost property tax revenue when centrally assessed properties (like oil/gas facilities) decrease in value. Counties qualify if they lose at least $250,000 in annual tax collections from these properties, receiving 25% of the loss for the first two years after the valuation drop. Reimbursement funds prioritize school districts first, with remaining funds going to counties. The bill appropriates $2 million from the General Revenue Fund to start the fund, effective July 2025.
SB 388 allows students enrolled in charter schools or virtual charter schools to participate in public school extracurricular activities, such as sports or clubs, if they meet residency requirements. It requires school associations to update their policies to include these students and amends Oklahoma’s Extracurricular Activities Accountability Act (70 O.S. 27-103) to reflect this change. The bill defines "resident school district" based on student residence and applies to all charter schools, including virtual ones, effective July 1, 2024. This policy change directly affects students in non-traditional schools seeking equal access to campus activities.
SB 842 requires Oklahoma public school districts, charter schools, and private schools to conduct a national criminal background check for all volunteers before they begin working at school sites. Starting with the 2025-2026 school year, volunteers must pay a fee of up to $50 (or the actual cost) for the check, processed by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI), with fees deposited into the OSBI Revolving Fund. School boards may choose to reimburse volunteers for this fee and must publicly post on their websites whether the check is required and if reimbursement is available. The bill exempts volunteers meeting specific criteria under existing law, and takes effect July 1, 2025.
SB 472, titled "Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit Act; expanding scope of scholarships while participating in the program," was withdrawn from committee on February 19, 2025, and is no longer active. The bill's original intent, as reflected in its title, was to expand tax credit eligibility for education scholarships under Oklahoma's parental choice program. However, with the title stricken and the bill withdrawn, no legislative action or policy changes were enacted. This procedural withdrawal means the proposed expansion of scholarship access did not advance.
SB 141 requires Oklahoma's State Board of Education to issue a request for proposals by November 2025 for a statewide student information system that school districts must use by July 2027. The bill mandates the system include specific technical standards like XML data formats, interoperability protocols, and federal reporting capabilities to ensure consistent data sharing for state aid calculations, testing programs, and student mobility tracking. School districts must comply with these requirements or risk forfeiting state aid payments under amended funding rules. The system is designed to streamline data collection for state and federal education reporting, with the State Department of Education responsible for implementation by July 2027.
SB 231 expands Oklahoma's August sales tax holiday to include additional school-related items. It adds school art supplies, school instructional materials (like reference books), and school computer supplies to the list of exempt items, alongside existing clothing, footwear, and sports equipment. The exemption applies to purchases under $100 during the three-day holiday period (first Friday in August to Sunday following). This directly affects students, parents, and schools purchasing these specific educational items during the tax-free window. The bill does not change the existing tax holiday dates or price threshold.
SB 240 modifies Oklahoma's school funding formula by increasing the percentage of state education funds retained for midyear adjustments from 1.5% to 4%. It updates how State Aid is calculated using actual tax collections, adjusted assessed valuation, and weighted average daily membership (ADM) from the previous year. The bill affects all Oklahoma public school districts by changing their allocation method and removing outdated provisions related to tax calculations and reporting requirements. These changes aim to improve the accuracy of funding distributions while streamlining administrative processes.
