HB 3793 establishes new training hour requirements for nursing education programs in Oklahoma. It mandates that diploma programs for registered nurses must total 1,300-1,500 hours (including clinical training), while LPN-to-RN ladder programs must provide 600-700 additional nursing hours beyond LPN education. Non-nursing coursework in both program types is capped at 330 hours. The bill affects nursing programs seeking state approval and takes effect November 1, 2026.
HB 3051 creates the Tulsa Reconciliation Education and Scholarship Program to provide financial aid to students directly affected by the 1921 Tulsa race massacre. It awards scholarships covering tuition costs (up to resident rates) to Tulsa Public School District students meeting specific criteria: family income under $125,000, attendance at schools with high free/reduced lunch participation, and residence in designated high-poverty census blocks. The program also allows preference for applicants who can verify lineage as direct descendants of Greenwood Area residents (1921), with documentation verified by the Oklahoma Historical Society. Scholarships are limited to students under 21 years old at application, with additional awards for high school students to preserve historical awareness of the 1921 event.
SB 1989 expands contribution options for Oklahoma's 529 College Savings Plan by explicitly permitting digital payments through peer-to-peer apps and digital networks, in addition to cash. This change directly affects anyone contributing to the plan, including parents, students, or others saving for qualified higher education expenses. The bill updates the statute (70 O.S. 2021, Section 3970.7) to clarify that contributions may now be made via these digital methods. The amendment does not alter savings limits, tax treatment, or other program rules, focusing solely on expanding how funds can be deposited.
SB 1800 requires Oklahoma school districts and charter schools to immediately suspend employees facing investigations, arrests, or charges for specific offenses involving sexual abuse or exploitation of students (as defined in Oklahoma law). Upon receiving law enforcement notification, school boards must suspend the employee without a hearing, preserving their pay and benefits while prohibiting them from school grounds during the suspension. Superintendents must also notify parents that the employee is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and mandates the State Board of Education to create implementing rules.
HB 3486 caps school district superintendent total compensation at six times the salary of a teacher with a bachelor's degree and zero years of experience. It directly affects all Oklahoma public school districts by restricting superintendent pay packages (including base salary, bonuses, and benefits) to this ratio for new or renewed contracts after July 1, 2026. The bill requires districts to file superintendent contracts with the state, disclose administrator salary schedules publicly, and ensures contracts cannot exceed the specified ratio. It aims to align administrative pay more closely with entry-level teacher compensation without changing teacher salaries directly. The law takes effect immediately upon approval as an emergency measure.
HB 3126 redirects funds from Oklahoma's oil and gas lease revenues to create a dedicated revolving fund for concurrent enrollment programs, which allow high school students to take college courses. It requires the Commissioners of the Land Office to transfer bonus and delay rental income from oil and gas leases into a new "Concurrent Enrollment Revolving Fund," which can be invested to generate interest and provide ongoing funding. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education must use these funds exclusively for concurrent enrollment, with no other purposes allowed. This ensures a stable, continuing source of support for high school students accessing college-level coursework.
SB 1411 amends Oklahoma's charter school law to add specific requirements for charter school applications and oversight. It mandates 10-hour training for applicants and sponsors, requires detailed applications covering 34 elements (including financial plans, academic programs, and student support plans), and demands annual performance reviews posted on sponsor websites. The bill directly affects charter school applicants, sponsors (like school districts or organizations), and the Statewide Charter School Board. If passed, it would take effect immediately as an emergency measure, updating application standards and requiring sponsors to report deficiencies in school performance.
SB 1778, the Strong Readers Act, requires Oklahoma public schools to screen all kindergarten through third-grade students for reading skills at multiple points during the school year using approved tools. It mandates intensive reading intervention services for students not meeting grade-level targets, including summer academies for first- and third-grade students who remain behind, and requires retention of third graders who do not meet reading proficiency after interventions (with specific exemptions for students with disabilities or English learners). The bill also requires schools to provide written parental notifications about interventions, maintain reading intervention plans within 30 days of identification, and report progress data to the state. These provisions aim to improve early literacy outcomes through structured screening, targeted support, and accountability for student reading proficiency.
This bill amends Oklahoma statutes to allow municipal and school district bond elections to be held on any November state or federal election day, regardless of whether the year is odd or even. It directly affects cities and school districts that need to hold bond elections for infrastructure or capital projects. The key change modifies existing rules (in 11 O.S. §16-112 and 70 O.S. §15-102) to remove previous restrictions on election timing, aligning bond votes with regular election cycles. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and was declared an emergency measure.
HB 2961 waives tuition and fees for spouses and children of Gold Star veterans (those killed in U.S. military service) at Oklahoma's public higher education institutions and career technology schools. It expands existing tuition waivers - previously limited to children of fallen peace officers, firefighters, and law enforcement retirees - to include Gold Star families who meet residency requirements (Oklahoma resident at death or during enrollment). The waiver covers all tuition and fees for up to five years and applies to both the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education and career technology districts. This bill modifies Sections 3218.7-1, 14-134, and 14-134.1 of Oklahoma Statutes, effective July 1, 2026.
