Education (Student Financial Aid)

signed · Oklahoma · House May 12, 2026

HB 3718: Special education; Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program; requiring certain meeting in certain time period; evaluations; exceptions; eligibility; calculation of scholarship; effective date.

This bill establishes and clarifies the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program in Oklahoma, allowing parents of students with special needs to use state funds to enroll their children in eligible private schools. The legislation defines specific eligibility criteria, including students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), children of military families, and those in foster care or juvenile justice placements, while requiring parents to secure private school admission before receiving funding. It also sets a 45-day deadline for school districts to determine special education eligibility, deeming students eligible for scholarships if the district fails to decide within that timeframe, and outlines financial responsibilities such as transportation costs remaining with the family. The bill ensures continuity of educational choice by allowing scholarships to remain active until a student graduates, turns 22, or re-enrolls in public school, while mandating that private schools meet state accreditation standards to participate.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands educational access by allowing state funds for private school enrollment for students with disabilities, strengthening support for special needs education.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice Special Education Student Financial Aid

in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 17, 2026

HB 3051: Higher education; Tulsa Reconciliation Education and Scholarship Program; qualifications; participation; awards; effective date; emergency.

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates scholarship program funding higher education access for Tulsa students affected by 1921 massacre, expanding educational opportunity for underserved groups.95% confidence

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

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signed · Oklahoma · House May 4, 2026

HB 3705: Schools; Parental Choice Tax Credit Program; increasing the amount of credits authorized.

HB 3705 increases Oklahoma's Parental Choice Tax Credit Program, allowing taxpayers to claim credits for education expenses of eligible students. The bill raises the maximum annual credit for private school tuition to $7,500 (or actual tuition, whichever is lower) for families earning under $75,000, with tiered reductions up to $5,000 for households earning over $250,000. It also creates special credit tiers for students experiencing homelessness ($7,500) and those at financially disadvantaged private schools (maximum credit based on average school costs). Qualified expenses include tuition, tutoring, textbooks, and standardized test fees, but exclude scholarship-funded amounts. This directly affects Oklahoma families choosing private education or approved alternative learning programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax relief for lower/middle-income families via expanded education tax credits, aligning with support indicators for tax relief.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases educational access via tax credits for private school tuition, including special tiers for homeless/disadvantaged students, expanding parental choice in education funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Higher Education School Choice Student Financial Aid

in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 3, 2026

HB 3077: Schools; Education Reform Act of 2026; effective date.

HB 3077 amends Oklahoma's Higher Learning Access Program to provide state funding covering 100% of resident tuition and 50% of fees for eligible students at public colleges, private accredited Oklahoma colleges, and career training programs. It adds a five-year limit on program benefits (starting from first enrollment), excludes remedial noncredit courses, and prioritizes continuing students over new applicants for funding. The bill also requires the State Regents to establish maximum course limits and consider other financial aid when awarding benefits, effective July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates state funds for tuition/fees at public/private colleges, increasing public education budget allocation.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides 100% tuition coverage and 50% fee funding for eligible students at public/private Oklahoma colleges, expanding higher education access and reducing financial barriers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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passed · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 31, 2026

SB 2040: Tulsa Reconciliation Education and Scholarship Program; modifying eligibility; removing certain eligibility criteria. Emergency.

SB 2040 modifies Oklahoma's Tulsa Reconciliation Education and Scholarship Program to expand eligibility for descendants of 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre victims. It increases the income limit for most applicants from $70,000 to $125,000 annually while removing income limits entirely for direct lineal descendants. The bill requires applicants to verify lineage through documentation (like family records or public archives) reviewed by the Oklahoma Historical Society, and mandates that all applicants must mark a checkbox confirming descendant status on applications. It directs the State Regents to prioritize descendants in scholarship selection and updates how scholarship funds are distributed to support students in Oklahoma higher education or career programs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands educational access by increasing scholarship income limits and removing barriers for Tulsa Massacre descendants' descendants.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 3, 2026

HB 3395: Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program; changing certified classroom teacher to school employee; modifying definition; effective date; emergency.

HB 3395 amends Oklahoma's Higher Learning Access Program eligibility rules by changing the term "certified classroom teacher" to "school employee" in the definition used for student eligibility. Specifically, it updates Section 2603(8)(e) to allow students whose parents are "school employees" (not just certified classroom teachers) to qualify for tuition assistance. This change affects students with parents working in Oklahoma schools, broadening who qualifies under this specific eligibility category. The bill modifies the statutory definition without altering other program requirements or benefits. It is an administrative update to align terminology with current school employment classifications.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands eligibility for tuition assistance by including all school employees (not just certified teachers), broadening educational access for students with parent employment in Oklahoma schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid Teachers

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died · Oklahoma · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 3963: Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program; changing certified classroom teacher to school employee; modifying definition; expanding eligibility to children of permanently disabled veterans; effective date; emergency.

HB 3963 amends Oklahoma's Higher Learning Access Program to expand eligibility for tuition assistance. It adds children of veterans with a 100% permanent disability from military service (certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs) to the list of qualifying groups, alongside existing categories like children of certified classroom teachers. The bill changes the definition of "certified classroom teacher school employee" to "school employee" in the eligibility rules. This policy change directly affects qualifying veterans' children seeking in-state tuition assistance at Oklahoma colleges and universities.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands tuition assistance eligibility to children of disabled veterans, increasing access to higher education through the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExpands tuition assistance eligibility to children of veterans with 100% service-connected disability, directly advancing veteran benefits under the Higher Learning Access Program.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid Teachers Veteran Benefits Veteran Education

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signed · Oklahoma · House May 6, 2026

HB 3590: Revenue and taxation; Oklahoma Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship Act; eligibility; removing federal law reference; authorizing payment be made via secure electronic funds transfer; effective date.

HB 3590, the Oklahoma Opportunity Scholarship Act of 2026, expands tax credits for Oklahoma taxpayers who contribute to scholarship-granting organizations. It increases the maximum annual tax credit: to $5,000 for single filers (up from $1,000), $10,000 for married couples filing jointly (up from $2,000), and $250,000 for businesses (up from $100,000). Taxpayers who commit to contribute the same amount for two consecutive years qualify for a 100% credit (up from 75%) on those contributions. The bill affects Oklahoma taxpayers making eligible contributions and requires scholarship organizations to submit annual financial reports to the Oklahoma Tax Commission. It takes effect January 1, 2027.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesExpands tax credits, including $250k business credit, creating breaks primarily for wealthy entities per bill's tax relief structure.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands tax credits for scholarship donations, increasing access to private education options through enhanced incentives for contributions to scholarship-granting organizations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits School Choice 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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