Education (Student Financial Aid)

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 1615: Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program; providing eligibility for children of certified administrators. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1615 expands eligibility for Oklahoma's Higher Learning Access Program to include children of certified classroom teachers and certified administrators. The bill amends eligibility requirements (70 O.S. § 2603) to add a new qualifying category under paragraph 8(e), allowing these students to qualify for tuition assistance if they meet other standard program criteria like residency, academic performance, and financial need. This change directly affects students whose parents work as certified educators in Oklahoma schools. The bill updates statutory language to reflect this expansion and repeals prior eligibility language. It takes effect immediately upon enactment as an emergency measure.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands tuition assistance eligibility for children of educators, directly enhancing higher education access and supporting teachers' families through program funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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died · Oklahoma · Senate May 14, 2026

SB 1546: Education; modifying eligibility under the Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship Act.

SB 1546 renames Oklahoma's teacher scholarship program to the NEXT-ED Program and increases scholarship amounts for students pursuing teaching degrees. The bill provides up to $2,000 per year for the first three years (for students with fewer than 90 credits) and up to $5,000 for the final year (for students with 90+ credits), with a total maximum of $11,000 per student. To qualify, students must commit to teaching in Oklahoma public schools for five years after graduation and maintain a 2.5 GPA. Participants who fulfill this teaching commitment may also receive up to $20,000 in total through annual employment incentive payments of up to $4,000 per year.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases state appropriations for teacher scholarships ($11k max per student), directly funding education workforce development through public spending.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases teacher scholarship funding ($11k max) to recruit educators, directly supporting K-12 teacher workforce development and education access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid Teachers

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signed · Oklahoma · House Apr 20, 2026

HB 3704: Revenue and taxation; income tax; federal income tax credit; election to participate; scholarship granting organizations; Oklahoma Tax Commission; effective date.

HB 3704 directs Oklahoma to participate in a federal income tax credit program allowing individuals to claim a credit for donations to scholarship granting organizations (SGOs). The bill requires the Governor to certify Oklahoma's participation to the U.S. Treasury and designates the Oklahoma Tax Commission to register SGOs, maintain their lists, and handle federal reporting. This enables Oklahoma taxpayers to claim the federal credit for qualifying donations, while coordinating with Oklahoma's existing state tax credit for SGO contributions. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and remains in place until changed by law or federal policy.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEnables tax credit for SGO donations, reducing taxable income for donors, aligning with tax relief indicators.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnables tax credits for donations to SGOs, expanding scholarship access for K-12 education through private funding mechanisms.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits School Choice Student Financial Aid

passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 14, 2026

HB 3708: Education; Oklahoma Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship Act; adding grants; definition of a scholarship-granting organization; defining capital improvement grant; information to be submitted to Tax Commission; effective date; emergency.

HB 3708 modifies Oklahoma's tax credit system to expand education-related incentives. It creates three tax credit options: 50% of contributions (up to $1,000 for individuals, $2,000 for joint filers, or $100,000 for businesses) to scholarship-granting organizations, educational improvement grant organizations, or public school foundations/districts. A 75% credit is available for donors who commit to contributing the same amount for two consecutive years. Organizations receiving funds must annually submit audited financial reports to the Oklahoma Tax Commission and publicly share program outcomes. The bill directly affects individual taxpayers, businesses, and eligible education-focused nonprofits.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands tax credits (50-75%) for education donations, directing private funds to public schools via tax incentives, aligning with funding public services.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates tax credits to incentivize private donations to schools and educational organizations, expanding funding streams for K-12 education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits School Choice Student Financial Aid

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 9, 2026

HB 2963: Higher education; Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program; removing ACT test requirement; effective date; emergency.

HB 2963 removes the requirement for a minimum 22 ACT score (or equivalent SAT/CLT score) for Oklahoma students who graduated from a high school not accredited by the State Board of Education to qualify for the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program. This change directly affects students who attended non-accredited high schools and previously needed to meet the standardized test threshold to receive tuition assistance. The bill amends Section 2603 of the Oklahoma Statutes to eliminate this specific test requirement while maintaining other eligibility criteria like residency, citizenship, GPA, and financial need.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves ACT score barrier for non-accredited high school students to access tuition aid, expanding higher education access under the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid Testing & Assessment

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signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 13, 2026

SB 1633: Higher education; removing language providing resident tuition eligibility for certain students. Emergency.

SB 1633 removes provisions allowing undocumented students to qualify for Oklahoma resident tuition by submitting immigration status applications or affidavits. It eliminates language ensuring these students would not be disqualified from state scholarships or financial aid based on immigration status. The bill aligns Oklahoma’s higher education residency rules with Section 3242.2, which generally prohibits non-residents from receiving resident tuition benefits or state financial aid. This change directly affects students who previously relied on the removed documentation pathways to access in-state tuition rates.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill removes resident tuition eligibility and financial aid access for undocumented students in higher education, directly restricting educational access for a specific group.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill removes protections for undocumented students, restricting access to resident tuition and state financial aid by aligning with non-resident prohibitions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid DACA & Dreamers

in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 3, 2026

HB 3493: Higher education; resident tuition; illegal immigrants; effective date; emergency.

HB 3493 modifies Oklahoma's higher education tuition and financial aid rules for students not lawfully present in the U.S. It requires students seeking resident tuition or state-funded financial aid (including scholarships and grants) to provide proof of U.S. citizenship or legal immigration status, such as a filed application with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services or an affidavit committing to file one within one year of enrollment. The bill specifically affects undocumented students who graduated from Oklahoma high schools but lack legal status, while exempting those already enrolled in degree programs before the 2006-2007 academic year. The changes take effect July 1, 2026, and apply to all state-funded aid programs at Oklahoma's public higher education institutions.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRestricts higher education access for undocumented students by requiring citizenship/legal status proof for in-state tuition and state aid, limiting educational opportunities.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationRestricts undocumented students' access to resident tuition and state financial aid by requiring legal immigration status proof, limiting access to higher education services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid Citizenship & Naturalization DACA & Dreamers Driver Licenses & IDs

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 1899: Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program; providing eligibility for children of school district certified personnel. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1899 expands eligibility for Oklahoma's Higher Learning Access Program to include children of certified school personnel, such as teachers and other district employees. The bill amends Section 2603 of Oklahoma law to explicitly add "children of certified classroom teachers or certified personnel" as a qualifying group under financial need requirements. This change allows these students to receive tuition assistance equivalent to resident rates for their first semester of college, provided they meet other standard program criteria like high school graduation and academic requirements. The amendment updates existing eligibility rules without altering the program's core structure or funding mechanisms.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands tuition assistance for children of teachers, enhancing higher education access for educator families under Oklahoma's program.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education Student Financial Aid

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died · Oklahoma · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 4158: Higher education; Oklahoma Tuition Equalization Grant; increasing income cap; effective date; emergency.

HB 4158 increases the income threshold for Oklahoma Tuition Equalization Grants from $50,000 to $80,000 annually for students' parents (or $80,000 for independent students). This change directly affects Oklahoma residents whose family income previously exceeded $50,000 but now qualifies them for the $2,000 annual grant. The bill amends existing eligibility rules under Section 2632 of Oklahoma law, maintaining other requirements like full-time enrollment and institutional accreditation. It takes effect July 1, 2026, with emergency status.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases grant eligibility for higher education, expanding access to $2,000 annual aid for families earning up to $80k, directly funding student affordability.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 3, 2026

HB 3598: Higher education; prohibiting illegal immigrants from receiving scholarships, financial aid, or resident tuition; effective date; emergency.

HB 3598 prohibits undocumented immigrant students in Oklahoma from receiving in-state tuition rates or state-funded scholarships and financial aid at public colleges and universities. The bill amends Oklahoma law to remove the existing pathway allowing such students to qualify for resident tuition by meeting high school residency requirements and submitting immigration applications, and explicitly bans them from these benefits. An exception applies to students enrolled in a degree program during the 2006-2007 school year or earlier who previously received resident tuition under prior rules. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationProhibits undocumented students from state-funded higher education benefits, restricting access to educational opportunities at public colleges and universities.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationProhibits undocumented students from in-state tuition and state financial aid, restricting access to higher education services per bill's explicit language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education Student Financial Aid DACA & Dreamers Driver Licenses & IDs

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