SB 233, the "Teacher Shortage Reduction Act," provides tuition waivers for Oklahoma high school juniors and seniors who commit to becoming public school teachers. It allows eligible students to receive a waiver covering up to 60 college credit hours (instead of the standard 9-18 credits) if they declare an intention to pursue teacher education and teach in Oklahoma public schools for three years within ten years of earning their degree. Students who fail to fulfill this teaching commitment must repay the waived tuition, though hardship exceptions may apply. The program is funded through state appropriations and requires students to submit a formal declaration to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.
HB 1339 amends Oklahoma county commissioners' powers by updating procedures for highway modifications and creating a tuition reimbursement program for county employees. It requires 15 days' public notice and a hearing before relocating highways affecting institutions, and establishes a program where employees can receive 100% tuition reimbursement (with A/B grades) or 75% for passing grades at approved schools. Safety awards for employees are capped at $250 annually, excluding elected officials. These changes directly affect county employees seeking education benefits and county commissioners managing highway projects.
SB 7 creates the Oklahoma Teacher Recruitment Academy, which provides tuition and mandatory fee assistance for students pursuing bachelor's degrees in approved teacher preparation programs. To qualify, students must enroll in Oklahoma's public higher education system, agree to teach in a critical shortage subject area (identified annually by the State Department of Education), and commit to teach one school year for each academic year of assistance received. The program covers tuition/fees up to $10 million annually, prioritizes students who exhaust other financial aid first, and requires repayment if participants fail to teach in qualifying roles. This directly affects Oklahoma students in teacher preparation programs and public schools facing staffing shortages in identified critical subject areas.
HB 1304 requires Oklahoma public high schools to offer a dedicated one-year computer science curriculum as part of graduation requirements for students in grades 8-12. It mandates that schools include computer science courses (covering programming, hardware, and business applications) as an approved option to fulfill the "two units of world language or computer technology" requirement for graduation. The bill specifies these courses must be approved for college admission and exclude basic keyboarding or typing courses. This directly affects all Oklahoma public high school students meeting graduation standards under the 2024-2025 school year curriculum rules. The policy change updates existing graduation requirements to explicitly include computer science as a valid pathway.
HB 1092 creates a $7,500 annual tax credit for Oklahoma residents who complete qualifying trade or vocational programs (such as HVAC, plumbing, or welding training) at approved Oklahoma schools. The credit, available for taxable years starting January 1, 2026, offsets income tax liability up to the actual tuition cost paid (whichever is lower), but cannot reduce tax below zero. Unused portions may carry forward for up to three years, and the credit can only be claimed once per individual after receiving program certification. This policy directly supports Oklahoma residents pursuing in-demand technical careers by reducing the cost of vocational education.
HB 1469 creates an income tax credit program for Oklahoma taxpayers covering qualified education expenses for eligible students. It directly affects parents, guardians, or legal custodians who pay for private school tuition or approved educational services (like tutoring, materials, or assessments) for children in Oklahoma. The credit amount varies by family income (ranging from $5,000 to $7,500 annually) and includes special provisions for schools serving homeless students or financially disadvantaged students (90% of enrollment below 250% of federal poverty level). The bill requires taxpayers to submit receipts to the Oklahoma Tax Commission and limits credits to expenses not covered by scholarships or discounts.
HB 1184 raises the minimum ACT composite score required for Oklahoma high school graduates to qualify for the state's Higher Learning Access Program tuition assistance from 21 to 22. This change directly affects students seeking first-time enrollment in Oklahoma public or private colleges, as they must now achieve a 22 ACT score (along with maintaining a 2.5 GPA and meeting other existing eligibility criteria). The bill amends Section 2603 of Oklahoma law to update this academic threshold for program participation. It does not alter other requirements like residency, financial need, or graduation timeframe. The policy change applies to students graduating within the previous three years.
SB 1308 allows students who graduated from an Oklahoma high school and lived in Oklahoma with a parent or guardian for at least two years prior to graduation to qualify for resident tuition at Oklahoma public colleges, regardless of their current immigration status. To qualify, students must meet admission standards and either provide proof of an immigration status application or file an affidavit promising to apply within one year of enrollment. The bill also ensures these students cannot be denied state scholarships or financial aid due to their immigration status. This applies to new students enrolling on or after July 1, 2026.
SB 1363 establishes a new minimum salary schedule for Oklahoma public school teachers starting in the 2026-2027 school year, setting base pay based on years of experience and education level (e.g., $43,000 for a bachelor’s degree with 0 experience). It adds a 5% bonus for teachers in hard-to-fill positions (defined as schools with 15%+ vacancies or critical shortage subjects like math/science) and provides $1,500 after the first year and $1,000 after the second year for teachers in STEM, bilingual education, or special education. The bill also offers a $1,000 stipend plus 3% additional pay for teachers earning extra endorsements like English as a second language. These changes directly affect all certified Oklahoma public school teachers and require annual reporting on hard-to-fill positions by the State Department of Education.
HB 1519 expands Oklahoma's Parental Choice Tax Credit Program by increasing the maximum annual tax credit for private school tuition from $5,000 to $7,500, removing the previous cap. It creates income-based tiers for the credit amount (ranging from $5,000 to $7,500 depending on household income) and broadens eligible expenses to include tutoring, textbooks, and standardized test fees. The bill directly affects Oklahoma taxpayers with children enrolled in accredited private schools, including schools serving homeless students or financially disadvantaged students (defined as 90% of enrollment below 250% of the federal poverty threshold). It requires taxpayers to submit receipts for qualified expenses and allows unused credit to be refunded. The program would apply to tax years 2024 and beyond, administered by the Oklahoma Tax Commission.
