Education

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 1865: Schools; requiring students to complete certain growth and development instruction in order to graduate. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1865 requires Oklahoma public high school students to complete a minimum 3-minute video about fetal development (using ultrasound, computer-generated, or non-profit produced content) to graduate, starting with the 2027-2028 school year. The instruction must be integrated into existing classes, and parents must receive written notice one week in advance with opt-out information. Students who opt out cannot face disciplinary action. The bill applies to all students graduating from state-accredited public high schools and allows the State Board of Education to create implementing rules.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationMandates specific fetal development curriculum content, restricting academic freedom and adding non-academic graduation requirement to K-12 curriculum.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 1, 2026

HB 3132: Higher education; Selecting Neutral Accreditors Act; review for diversity, equity, and inclusion practices and procedures; Attorney General enforcement; effective date.

HB 3132 requires Oklahoma public universities to stop using accrediting agencies that have implemented diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices within the past five years. By July 1, 2027, each university must switch to an accreditor without recent DEI practices or report to the legislature if no suitable option exists. Before new accreditation or renewals, universities must select an accreditor that has not used DEI practices in the last five years. The Attorney General can enforce these rules, investigate violations, and void agreements that circumvent the law.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill mandates universities eliminate DEI practices in accreditation, directly restricting diversity initiatives in higher education policy92% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 1868: School curriculum; requiring teachers who present certain instruction on biological evolution to also present instruction on certain concepts. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1868 requires Oklahoma public school teachers presenting biological evolution to also teach creationism or intelligent design. It prohibits school boards and administrators from stopping teachers from objectively analyzing the scientific strengths and weaknesses of evolution, creationism, or intelligent design. The bill explicitly states its provisions must not promote any religious or non-religious doctrine. This law applies to all public school teachers and students in Oklahoma, effective July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationMandates teaching creationism/intelligent design in science classes, restricting standard evolution curriculum and undermining science education standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 1416: Schools; creating the Teaching Honesty, Respect, Integrity, Virtue, and Excellence (THRIVE) Act; requiring development of certain education program. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1416, the THRIVE Act, requires all Oklahoma public school districts and charter schools to implement a mandatory character education program focused on 15 specific traits like honesty, respect, responsibility, and "sexual abstinence outside of marriage" as part of their curriculum. The State Department of Education must develop an approved list of research-based materials and resources by the 2026-2027 school year, excluding any content contradicting these traits. Parents may opt their children out of the program via written notice, and schools must publicly share implementation details and opt-out procedures. The bill directly affects every K-12 student and school in Oklahoma, mandating a standardized character education framework aligned with state curriculum standards.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationMandates specific moral curriculum requiring 'sexual abstinence outside marriage' and excludes content contradicting it, restricting educational content and academic freedom.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 3, 2026

HB 3761: Schools; prohibiting public schools and school districts from being members of any association or organization who have diversity, equity, and inclusion practices; emergency.

HB 3761 prohibits Oklahoma public schools and school districts from joining any association or organization that supports diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices, including those granting preferential treatment based on race, ethnicity, or national origin. It requires schools to review current memberships by July 1, 2026, and terminate ties with non-compliant organizations within 15 days of notice. Schools must annually submit compliance certificates to the State Board of Education by July 1, starting in 2026. The bill directly affects all public K-12 schools and districts in Oklahoma, restricting their affiliations with groups promoting certain DEI initiatives.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationProhibits schools from joining DEI-focused organizations, restricting curriculum diversity initiatives and limiting educational program participation.92% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 16, 2026

SB 1864: Schools; removing minimum salary schedule amounts beginning in certain school year; directing certain personnel to be paid in accordance with certain salary schedule. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1864 removes Oklahoma's state-mandated minimum salary schedules for certified school personnel (including teachers) starting with the 2026-2027 school year. Instead, school districts will determine their own salary schedules for these employees, replacing the previous state-set pay tables. The bill also requires districts to provide written notice to teachers if retirement benefits would reduce their salary below the district's schedule, and allows districts to credit up to five years of out-of-state or military teaching experience toward salary. This change directly affects public school employees and districts across Oklahoma.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRemoves state-mandated minimum teacher salaries, allowing districts to set lower pay without oversight, weakening teacher compensation protections.85% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentRemoves state-mandated minimum teacher salaries, allowing districts to set lower pay without state oversight, weakening wage protections for educators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 1, 2026

HB 4491: Schools; allowing school districts to adopt a policy for certain students to participate in extracurricular activities; eligibility requirements; definitions; standards; effective date.

HB 4491 prohibits full-time students enrolled in statewide virtual charter schools (sponsored by the Statewide Charter School Board) from participating in Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association (OSSAA) sports and competitive extracurricular activities starting July 1, 2026. The bill directly affects these virtual charter students, who would instead be limited to intramural activities organized by their virtual school or external groups. It amends existing law to clarify that virtual charter students cannot join district-sponsored athletic associations, while allowing schools to offer their own non-competitive activities. The provision applies only to statewide virtual charter schools, not traditional public or brick-and-mortar charter schools.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill restricts virtual charter students' access to competitive extracurricular activities, limiting educational opportunities and program participation for this group.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Choice

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 3, 2026

HB 4452: School employees; prohibiting specified existing organizations from continuing to represent employees; modifying prohibition against payroll deductions on behalf of certain employees; effective date; emergency.

HB 4452 requires Oklahoma school districts to hold secret ballot elections every three years to determine if existing employee organizations (like teacher unions) can continue representing school staff. If a majority of employees vote against the current organization, the school district must stop recognizing it as the bargaining representative, though existing contracts remain in effect until their term ends. The bill also prohibits school districts from making payroll deductions for organizations that collectively bargain with schools, while allowing deductions for other professional groups. This directly affects school employees, current bargaining organizations, and school districts managing labor relations. The elections must occur between August 1 and December 1 annually, with specific rules for voting and ballot challenges.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRestricts teacher union representation via mandatory secret ballots, weakening collective bargaining power for school employees per bill's core provisions.95% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentRequires secret ballots every 3 years to end union representation, weakening collective bargaining rights by enabling districts to replace unions if majority votes against them.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers Collective Bargaining

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 3, 2026

HB 2985: Schools; repealer; effective date; emergency.

HB 2985 repeals a requirement in Oklahoma law (70 O.S. 2021, Section 24-157) that mandated gender or sexual diversity training for school staff. This bill directly affects public schools in Oklahoma by removing a specific training obligation. The repeal takes effect on July 1, 2026, and the bill declares an emergency to allow immediate implementation upon approval. It does not create new requirements but eliminates an existing mandate related to school staff training.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRepeals mandatory gender/sexual diversity training for school staff, removing a curriculum-related requirement that restricts educational content in K-12 schools.92% confidence

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passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 22, 2026

HB 3242: Privacy; opposite sex; restrooms in public schools; sleeping quarters; private changing areas; student housing; public institutions of higher education; public buildings; domestic violence shelters; effective date.

HB 3242 requires public schools, public higher education institutions, and domestic violence shelters to designate restrooms, changing areas, and sleeping quarters as exclusively for males or females. It prohibits students from sharing sleeping quarters with someone of the opposite sex unless they are family members (e.g., parent, sibling), and mandates single-sex facilities for all shared spaces where undressing occurs. Exceptions include emergencies, maintenance, and coaches entering locker rooms during athletic events under strict conditions (e.g., students fully clothed, accompanied by another adult). Noncompliant schools face a 5% state funding cut, and parents can sue school districts for violations. The law applies to all public K-12 schools, colleges, and shelters operating under state oversight.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationMandates single-sex facilities in schools/higher ed, restricting student access to shared spaces like restrooms/changing areas, limiting educational access and facility use.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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