Education

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 3, 2026

SB 1594: Teachers; adding requirement for school principal certification. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1594 requires Oklahoma school principals to complete specific professional education on special education laws and practices, including federal/state regulations, individualized education programs (IEPs), and student discipline procedures. This applies to all principals seeking or renewing certification, except those who earned their master's degree in education administration before July 1, 2005. The bill amends existing certification rules (Section 6-189) to mandate this training as part of the principal certification requirements. It does not change other existing requirements like master's degrees or teaching experience.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates principal training on special education laws and IEPs, strengthening educational leadership standards for K-12 schools.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

Track

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 2, 2026

SB 1251: Schools; allowing the School Security Revolving Fund to be used for certain purpose; requiring funds to be allocated for certain fiscal years, subject to availability. Effective date. Emergency.

This bill expands Oklahoma's School Security Revolving Fund to cover additional security measures and requires annual allocations for three fiscal years. It directly affects Oklahoma public schools and the State Department of Education, which manages the fund. Key provisions include removing previous spending limits, mandating yearly fund allocations (subject to available money), and specifying that funds must be used for school resource officers, physical security upgrades (like cameras, locks, and ballistic shelters), and mental health counseling services. The bill emphasizes these funds must supplement, not replace, existing school security funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates annual state budget allocations for school security funding, strengthening public safety spending through state appropriations.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands school security funding with mandatory annual allocations for resource officers and physical security upgrades, directly enhancing safety infrastructure in K-12 schools.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

Track

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 2, 2026

SB 1337: Education employees; providing certain amount of paternity leave for certain employees. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1337 adds 90 days of unpaid paternity leave for full-time education employees (like teachers and school staff) in Oklahoma during their child's first year. It allows these employees to take leave without pay for childcare while still receiving full credit toward salary increases and retirement service time. The bill also updates existing leave-sharing programs to include paternity leave eligibility and modifies related revolving funds. This directly affects education employees seeking parental leave, with specific provisions for both maternity and paternity leave under updated statutes. The policy change takes effect immediately due to an emergency declaration.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides 90 days unpaid paternity leave for education employees with maintained salary/retirement benefits, directly supporting teacher welfare and retention.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAdds 90 days unpaid paternity leave with full credit for salary increases/retirement, expanding worker benefits and protecting career progression for education employees.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

Track

signed · Oklahoma · House Feb 25, 2026

HB 1484: Schools; creating Rain's Law; requiring certain instruction on fentanyl abuse prevention and drug poisoning awareness; effective date; emergency.

HB 1484, known as "Rain's Law," requires Oklahoma public schools to provide annual, research-based instruction on fentanyl abuse prevention and drug poisoning awareness to students in grades 6 through 12. The bill mandates that this instruction cover suicide prevention, fentanyl abuse and addiction prevention, local resource access, and health education about fentanyl use. Schools must incorporate this content into health classes, and the State Department of Education will develop curriculum standards and resources to support implementation. The law also designates a week for "Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Week" to align with National Red Ribbon Week, with age-appropriate instruction determined by each school district.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates fentanyl education in health curriculum for grades 6-12, enhancing student health education programs per bill requirements.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates school-based public health education on fentanyl abuse and suicide prevention, directly advancing public health programs under healthcare topic.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 1237: Teachers; creating the Teachers' Bill of Rights; affording certain rights to teachers, administrators, and support staff. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1237 creates Oklahoma's "Teachers' Bill of Rights," granting specific protections to public school teachers, administrators, and support staff. It directly affords rights including free expression (like keeping religious materials in classrooms, wearing faith-based jewelry, and praying with students), protection from harassment or threats, classroom discipline authority (removing disruptive students), medical privacy (refusing vaccines/masks as employment condition), and guaranteed planning time (1 hour) and lunch (20 minutes). The bill also requires school districts to establish a due process plan for reporting rights violations, including anonymous reporting and timely investigations. It takes effect July 1, 2026, and declares an emergency.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationGrants teachers protections including free expression, discipline authority, and medical privacy, directly strengthening educator rights and working conditions in K-12 schools.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentGrants teachers workplace protections including free expression, medical privacy, and harassment safeguards, directly advancing worker rights under Labor & Employment policy.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

Track

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 10, 2026

SB 1342: School district employees; increasing amount in lieu of flexible benefit allowance for certain personnel. Effective date.

SB 1342 increases the monthly cash payment for Oklahoma school district employees who opt out of the cafeteria health plan. Certified personnel (e.g., teachers) and support staff will receive $500 per month as taxable compensation instead of the previous $69.71 and $189.69, respectively. The change applies to all employees choosing not to participate in the school-district-sponsored cafeteria plan after November 1, 2026. This replaces the previous tiered benefit structure with a flat $500 amount for both employee categories. The bill updates statutory language and effective dates but does not alter the health plan options themselves.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases cash compensation for teachers/support staff from $69.71/$189.69 to $500/month, directly supporting educators' benefits as per education topic indicators.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncreases cash compensation for school employees opting out of health plans from $69.71/$189.69 to $500/month, significantly expanding worker benefits and compensation.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

Track

signed · Oklahoma · Senate Jun 11, 2025

SB 235: Teachers; establishing the Grow Your Own Educator Program; providing for grant application process. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 235 creates Oklahoma's "Grow Your Own Educator Program," which provides matching grants to eligible public school districts that help current employees pursue teaching degrees. School districts must have existing tuition or loan repayment programs for staff enrolled in accredited teacher preparation programs to qualify. The state establishes a dedicated "Grow Your Own Educator Revolving Fund" to cover the matching portion of these grants, awarded on a first-come basis with funds limited by available appropriations. Districts must report annually on employee progress and outcomes, while the state submits broader program reports to elected officials.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationSB 235 establishes matching grants for school districts to help staff pursue teaching degrees via a dedicated revolving fund, directly funding teacher development and retention in K-12 education.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Oklahoma · House May 30, 2025

HB 1287: Schools; authorizing the Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma to create a math tutoring pilot program for certain students; effective date; emergency.

HB 1287 authorizes the University of Oklahoma's Board of Regents to create a high-dosage math tutoring pilot program for ninth-grade students who scored lowest on Oklahoma's eighth-grade math assessment. The program targets public high schools in districts with 30,000+ enrolled students and public charter schools. It requires the University of Oklahoma's College of Education to administer the tutoring, focusing on intensive, frequent support for struggling math students. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, with an emergency clause allowing immediate implementation upon approval.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAuthorizes high-dosage math tutoring pilot for struggling students, strengthening academic support in targeted schools per bill's explicit purpose.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Oklahoma · House May 30, 2025

HB 1282: Scholarships; Oklahoma Rising Scholars Award; renaming; eligibility; awards; waivers; effective date; emergency.

HB 1282 renames Oklahoma's scholarship program to the "Oklahoma State Regents' Academic Rising Scholars Award Program" and updates eligibility criteria to include top Oklahoma students (top 0.5% test scores, National Merit Scholars, and institutional nominees), as well as students demonstrating exceptional promise through academic achievements or overcoming obstacles. The program provides funding covering tuition, fees, room, board, and required textbooks for up to five years at Oklahoma colleges, with public institutions capped at their annual tuition costs and private institutions receiving funding equivalent to the highest public tuition rates. It requires institutions to administer scholarships, mandates full-time enrollment, and establishes separate funding levels based on student eligibility categories. The bill, signed into law on May 30, 2025, directly affects Oklahoma students meeting these academic criteria who attend public or private accredited colleges within the state.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands scholarship eligibility and funds tuition/fees for top students, directly increasing educational access and financial support for higher education.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Oklahoma · House May 30, 2025

HB 1087: Education; length of school year; extending amount of classroom instruction time; minimum salary schedule; adding years of experience to minimum salary amounts; effective date; emergency.

HB 1087 establishes a new minimum salary schedule for Oklahoma public school teachers based on years of experience and education level, directly affecting all certified teachers in the state's public schools. The bill sets specific annual salary amounts ranging from $39,601 for entry-level teachers with a Bachelor's degree to $65,319 for those with 35+ years of experience and a Doctorate. It clarifies that "fringe benefits" exclude certain retirement contributions and requires school districts to notify teachers if salary adjustments would fall below the minimum schedule. The law takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year after being approved by the governor on May 30, 2025.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes minimum teacher salaries increasing pay based on experience/education, directly supporting educator compensation and funding.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncreases minimum teacher salaries from $39,601 to $65,319 based on experience/education, directly advancing compensation standards for public school educators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education