Education

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 2016: Technology center school districts; directing the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education to take certain actions in its administration of certain federal funds. Effective date.

SB 2016 directs Oklahoma's Department of Career and Technology Education to prioritize federal Perkins Act funds for expanding high-demand vocational programs (like welding, healthcare, and construction) in technology center school districts. It requires 20% of state leadership funds to support high school student enrollment through transportation, tuition waivers, and school partnerships, and creates performance incentives for districts increasing student participation. The bill mandates an annual report tracking enrollment growth, industry credentials earned, and fund distribution to the Governor and legislature. It directly affects technology center districts and Oklahoma high school students seeking vocational training pathways.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationDirects Perkins funds toward vocational programs and allocates state funds for student enrollment support, expanding access and funding for career education programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Higher Education K-12 Education

Track

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 1340: Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program; increasing income eligibility limits beginning in certain school year. Effective date.

SB 1340 raises income eligibility limits for Oklahoma's Higher Learning Access Program, directly affecting low-income students seeking college benefits. Beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, the bill increases the maximum parent federal adjusted gross income for qualification to $60,000 (for families with two or fewer children), $70,000 (three or four children), and $80,000 (five or more children). This updates previous thresholds that were lower for earlier school years. The change expands access to the program by allowing more students from middle-income families to qualify for benefits like tuition assistance.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands state-funded higher education access by raising income thresholds, increasing program spending to support low-income students.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands college access for low-income students by raising income eligibility thresholds, directly increasing educational access per bill summary.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

Track

signed · Oklahoma · Senate Apr 23, 2025

SB 808: Practice of physical therapy; clarifying certain exemption from referral. Effective date.

SB 808 clarifies Oklahoma's physical therapy referral rules, allowing licensed physical therapists (and assistants under supervision) to evaluate and treat patients without a doctor's referral for up to 30 days, except for workers' compensation cases. It specifically exempts children receiving physical therapy under federal special education laws (IDEA/504), screening/education services, and non-injury-related fitness/wellness programs. The bill explicitly states physical therapists cannot practice "healing arts" beyond their scope and maintains existing restrictions on non-therapeutic services. Signed into law on April 23, 2025, it takes effect November 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExempts IDEA/504 special education services, facilitating physical therapy access for students without referral barriers.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves referral barrier for physical therapy access, improving patient access to care without expanding coverage or funding.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education

died · Oklahoma · House Feb 17, 2025

HB 2196: Education; Larry Dickerson Education Flexible Benefits Allowance Act; school employee dependents; effective date; emergency.

HB 2196 establishes a flexible benefit allowance for Oklahoma school district employees to cover health insurance and other benefits for themselves and their dependents. The state must appropriate annual funds to cover the allowance, calculated based on the number of eligible employees (including certified personnel and support staff like bus drivers or janitors) and their dependents. School districts must offer a flexible benefits plan including health coverage, allowing employees to use the allowance for health insurance or receive unused portions as taxable pay. The bill also updates definitions of "dependent" and requires the State Board of Education to report on self-insured health plans used by school districts.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes state-funded flexible benefits for school employees (including teachers/support staff) to cover health insurance, supporting educator welfare and retention.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates state funding for school employee health insurance coverage under flexible benefits plan, expanding access to healthcare for employees and dependents.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill establishes state-funded flexible benefits allowance for school employees' health insurance and dependents, expanding worker benefits through mandatory state appropriation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Insurance

Track

signed · Oklahoma · House May 29, 2025

HB 2257: Oklahoma National Guard Educational Assistance Act; providing for review of certain fees; authorizing establishment of certain cap; modifying retention eligibility; emergency.

HB 2257 creates the Oklahoma National Guard Educational Assistance Program, providing tuition and fee coverage for eligible Oklahoma National Guard members attending Oklahoma colleges. It covers up to 120 credit hours for undergraduate degrees (max 18 credits per semester) and 40 credit hours for master's programs, including mandatory fees and academic service fees. To qualify, members must maintain a 2.0 GPA, hold a military occupational specialty after their first semester, and agree to serve 24 additional months in the Guard after completing their education. Failure to meet service requirements triggers repayment calculations based on the total assistance amount. The program becomes effective November 1, 2025, and is funded through a revolving fund managed by the Military Department and State Regents for Higher Education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides tuition/fee coverage for National Guard members at Oklahoma colleges, directly funding higher education access and expanding educational opportunities for military personnel.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill creates educational assistance for Oklahoma National Guard members (a key veteran support benefit), covering tuition/fees for up to 120 credits, directly advancing veterans' educational opportunities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education National Guard & Reserve Veteran Education

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 13, 2026

SB 1204: School employees; requiring school districts to provide paid bereavement leave to certain employees for certain purposes. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1204 requires Oklahoma school districts to provide teachers and school support personnel with three days of paid bereavement leave following the death of their spouse or child, including leave for miscarriage. This leave must be granted in addition to existing sick leave benefits and cannot be reduced by local negotiated leave policies. The bill amends Oklahoma law to mandate this policy for all affected employees, effective immediately under an emergency provision. It directly affects school employees covered under Section 6-104 of Oklahoma Statutes.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates paid bereavement leave for teachers/support staff, directly supporting educator well-being and retention through enhanced benefits.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates paid bereavement leave for school staff (spouse/child death), expanding worker benefits beyond existing sick leave policies without reduction.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 24, 2025

SB 231: Sales tax; expanding items eligible for the August sales tax holiday. Effective date.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands sales tax holiday for school supplies, providing temporary tax relief for families purchasing essential items, aligning with tax relief for middle/lower income.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands sales tax exemption for school supplies (art, instructional materials, computers), reducing costs for families/schools purchasing educational resources, directly enhancing access to necessary materials.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement Sales Tax Curriculum

Track

passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 1849: Children; sunset; Teacher Recruitment and Retention Program; Partnership for School Readiness; childcare facilities employee; income exemption; notice to the Department of Human Services; conditions; codification; effective date.

HB 1849 creates a temporary Teacher Recruitment and Retention Program (expiring November 1, 2028) administered by Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness. It directly affects childcare facility employees by exempting their household income from eligibility calculations for the Child Care Subsidy Program, waiving copayments for qualifying workers, and requiring childcare providers to notify the Department of Human Services within 30 days if an employee leaves. The bill ensures childcare workers qualify for subsidies without income limits, while maintaining all other standard eligibility requirements for the subsidy program.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates Teacher Recruitment and Retention Program with income exemptions for childcare workers, directly supporting educator workforce stability and access to early childhood education.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExempts childcare workers' income from subsidy calculations and waives copayments, directly expanding financial benefits for this workforce.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood Teachers

Track

signed · Oklahoma · House May 29, 2025

HB 2259: Schools; transfers; military dependent transfers; requirements; continuous transfers; definitions; effective date; emergency.

HB 2259 removes a requirement that military-dependent students must have Oklahoma as their "home of record" to qualify for continuous school transfers within Oklahoma public schools. The bill directly affects military families with children attending Oklahoma schools, streamlining their ability to transfer between schools without proving Oklahoma is their permanent home state. This change simplifies the process by eliminating the "home of record" language from existing transfer eligibility rules. The law took effect on May 29, 2025, after becoming law without the Governor's signature.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves unnecessary 'home of record' barrier for military-dependent students, streamlining school transfers and improving educational access for K-12 military families.95% confidence

in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 3, 2026

HJR 1037: Oklahoma Constitution; freeze, suspension, or withholding of state-appropriated funds for institutions of higher education; ballot title; filing.

HJR 1037 proposes a constitutional amendment allowing Oklahoma's Legislature to freeze, suspend, or withhold up to 100% of state funds for any public institution within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education. It would require a joint resolution approved by majority votes in both the Senate and House, with gubernatorial approval, to implement such funding changes for up to two years. The bill specifies that this action would only affect state-appropriated funds - not federal money, private donations, tuition, or other nonstate revenue - and would automatically end after two years unless extended by a new resolution. The amendment is currently pending voter approval after legislative passage.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill enables defunding higher education by allowing suspension of state funds, directly restricting public education budget allocations.95% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill enables withholding state funds for higher education institutions, directly defunding public universities per constitutional amendment proposal.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

Track