SB 1353 creates a revolving fund in Oklahoma's State Treasury to provide free menstrual products (tampons and sanitary napkins) in designated restrooms at public schools. It directly affects all public school districts and charter schools in Oklahoma by requiring the State Department of Education to use this fund to help schools make these products available at no cost in restrooms used by females or single-occupancy facilities. The fund is supported by state appropriations, donations, and grants, with the Department of Education managing disbursements to schools. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.
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.
HB 1867 expands Oklahoma's annual sales tax-free weekend to include school supplies, allowing residents to purchase these items tax-free during a three-day period in August. The bill sets price limits ($100 for clothing/footwear, $50 for school supplies) and excludes athletic wear, accessories, and rentals from the exemption. It applies to both state and local sales taxes, requiring school supply items to meet an annual list approved by the State Board of Education. This directly affects shoppers buying qualifying school supplies and clothing during the designated tax-free weekend.
HB 1483 extends whistleblower protections to school support employees (like counselors, cafeteria workers, and administrative staff) in Oklahoma, alongside teachers. It prohibits school districts from disciplining these employees for reporting violations of law, the Oklahoma Constitution, or rules - whether to supervisors, school boards, law enforcement, or the State Department of Education. The bill requires school districts to prominently post this law and clarifies it doesn’t override student privacy rights under FERPA. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, after being approved by the governor on May 6, 2025.
HB 1289 prohibits Oklahoma public universities from requiring students, employees, applicants, or contractors to endorse specific ideologies (like political views or diversity initiatives) or provide statements about race, ethnicity, or related topics. It bans institutions from using such information for admissions, hiring, or promotions, with exceptions for standard demographic data and academic research. The bill creates a legal right for affected individuals to sue institutions that violate these rules, seeking remedies like reinstatement or hiring. It applies to all public higher education institutions in Oklahoma and requires annual compliance reports to state legislators.
SB 664 creates a new "Skilled Trade Education and Workforce Development Fund" funded by transferring administrative fines from plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and roofing licensing revolving funds. It allows the Construction Industries Board to contract with Oklahoma vocational, technical, and accredited educational institutions offering trade coursework to develop curriculum about state trade laws and promote skilled trade careers through public outreach. The fund supports developing instructional materials, workforce programs, and curriculum for these four trades, with contracts requiring Board approval and post-completion reporting. This directly affects educational institutions providing electrical, mechanical, plumbing, or roofing training and aims to advance workforce development in Oklahoma's construction trades. The bill becomes effective November 1, 2025.
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.
SB 759 updates Oklahoma's Parents' Bill of Rights to require written parental consent before students receive sex education, instruction about sexuality, or lessons on sexual orientation/gender identity. It mandates schools to notify parents and obtain written consent for students to participate in clubs or activities, access certain materials, or have photographs taken. The bill also expands parental access to medical records, requires annual staff training on these policies, and shortens timelines for schools to respond to parental requests. It directly affects all public school parents and districts in Oklahoma by imposing new consent and notification procedures for educational content and student information.
HB 2371 proposes funding pilot programs for school districts to use AI software on school-issued devices as a safety tool, without direct student surveillance. The bill requires the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and the State Department of Education to fund AI programs that analyze device activity (via existing web filtering systems) to assess student safety, readiness to learn, and well-being, using data already collected for compliance. It creates a dedicated revolving fund in the state treasury to cover costs like software, equipment, and personnel for these voluntary pilot programs, which can be implemented at the district or school level. The bill would take effect November 1, 2025, if passed.
SB 749 creates the "Oklahoma Higher Education Freedom of Expression and Transparency Act" for public universities in Oklahoma. It prohibits institutions from showing bias in approving property use for student groups or speakers based on viewpoint, race, or political affiliation, and bans requiring unequal fees from specific student groups. The bill mandates that all courses publish syllabi online by the 7th business day of each semester, including course titles, instructors, required materials, and historical grading data. It also requires institutions to collect and report student outcome data (disaggregated by minority status) and submit it to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. These measures aim to increase transparency around curriculum content and ensure compliance with the defined restrictions on "divisive concepts" in teaching.
