Education (Higher Education)

in committee · Oklahoma · House Mar 5, 2025

HB 1980: Higher education; Oklahoma Higher Education Fair Admissions Act; criminal history inquiries; State Regents for Higher Education; emergency.

HB 1980, the Oklahoma Higher Education Fair Admissions Act, prohibits public colleges and universities from asking prospective online students about their past criminal records if those students will not reside on campus during their enrollment. The bill also bans institutions from inquiring about an applicant's juvenile behavioral history. These restrictions apply specifically to students enrolled exclusively in online programs, with the Oklahoma Regents for Higher Education responsible for enforcement and potential penalties for violations, including fines or loss of state funding. The law aims to remove barriers for certain students seeking higher education access.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves barriers to higher education access by prohibiting criminal history inquiries for online students, aligning with expanded educational access policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

Track

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

Track

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 13, 2026

SB 2084: Governmental Tort Claims Act; limiting settlement awards for wrongful termination claims; providing for inclusion of certain damages. Effective date.

SB 2084 caps settlement amounts for wrongful termination claims by employees of Oklahoma public institutions of higher education (like state universities) at two years of their base salary at termination. It limits total settlements to include back pay and damages but excludes accrued unpaid wages, leave, and retirement contributions already earned. The bill specifically applies to state law claims, not federal ones, and takes effect November 1, 2026. This directly affects public university employees filing termination disputes under Oklahoma law.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesCaps government spending on wrongful termination settlements, reducing state expenditures for public university employee claims by limiting settlement amounts.95% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill limits settlement amounts for wrongful termination claims by public university employees, reducing potential compensation (a benefit) for teachers/staff, opposing enhanced educator protections.90% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentCaps wrongful termination settlements at 2 years' base salary for public university employees, excluding earned wages/retirement benefits, restricting worker compensation rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Employment Discrimination

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 13, 2026

SB 1989: Oklahoma College Savings Plan; expanding options for making contributions to a 529 Savings Plan. Effective date.

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands digital contribution options for 529 college savings plans, increasing accessibility and participation in higher education funding mechanisms.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyPermits digital payments via P2P apps and networks for 529 contributions, enabling tech-integrated financial transactions without restricting technology use.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 9, 2026

HB 3126: Commissioners of the Land Office; Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education; Concurrent Enrollment Revolving Fund; State Aid Formula; effective date; emergency.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects existing oil/gas lease revenues to fund concurrent enrollment programs, allocating state funds toward education without tax changes or cuts.92% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationRedirects oil/gas lease funds to create dedicated revolving fund for concurrent enrollment programs, expanding high school access to college courses and providing ongoing funding.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education

Track

died · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 1719: Schools; extending prohibition on use of cell phones and personal electronic devices on certain campuses. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1719 requires Oklahoma public school districts to adopt policies banning student use of cell phones and personal electronic devices (like smartphones, tablets, or smartwatches) campus-wide from "bell to bell" during instructional time for the 2025-2026 school year. Starting in 2026-2027, school boards may choose whether to implement such a ban. The policy must include disciplinary procedures and allow limited exceptions for emergencies or students monitoring health conditions. This directly affects all public school students and school boards across Oklahoma.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill restricts student device use during instructional time, limiting access to information and educational tools during class hours.85% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRestricts student device use in schools, directly limiting technology access during instruction per bill's campus-wide ban requirement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

Track

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 2120: Governmental Tort Claims Act; limiting settlement awards for wrongful termination claims; providing for inclusion of certain damages. Effective date.

SB 2120 limits settlement amounts for wrongful termination claims by employees of Oklahoma's public institutions of higher education. It caps total settlements at two years of the employee's base salary, including back pay and compensatory damages, but excludes accrued unpaid wages and retirement contributions already earned. The bill applies only to claims under Oklahoma state law, not federal claims, and takes effect on November 1, 2026. This change directly affects public university employees who pursue wrongful termination lawsuits in state court.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationCaps wrongful termination settlements for university employees, limiting compensation and protections for educators in higher education.90% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentCaps wrongful termination settlements at 2 years' salary, reducing employee compensation rights and weakening protections under Oklahoma state law.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Employment Discrimination

Track

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 5, 2026

SB 1477: Students; prohibiting students of certain age or older from participating in concurrent enrollment. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1477 limits concurrent enrollment in college courses to high school students under 21 years of age, prohibiting those 21 or older from participating. The bill amends Oklahoma Statutes Section 628.13 to establish this age restriction, affecting high school students aged 21 and above who would no longer qualify for college course enrollment through their high school program. This change directly alters eligibility for concurrent enrollment, a program allowing students to earn college credit while still in high school. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill restricts concurrent enrollment eligibility to under-21 students, limiting educational access for older high school students in college credit programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 2050: Higher education; removing language providing resident tuition eligibility for certain students. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 2050 removes exceptions that allowed undocumented students to qualify for in-state tuition and state financial aid at Oklahoma colleges. It deletes provisions permitting students to use affidavits or pending immigration applications to prove eligibility, and eliminates the prior exemption for students who received resident tuition status before the 2006-2007 academic year. The bill directly affects undocumented students seeking to enroll in Oklahoma's public universities or community colleges, barring them from in-state tuition rates and state-funded scholarships or financial aid. This change takes effect July 1, 2026, making undocumented students ineligible for these benefits under Oklahoma law.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRemoves in-state tuition and aid eligibility for undocumented students, directly restricting higher education access for a specific group.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationRemoves in-state tuition eligibility for undocumented students, restricting access to educational services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid DACA & Dreamers

Track

signed · Oklahoma · House May 12, 2026

HB 2961: Higher education; TSgt Marshal Dakota Roberts Gold Star Survivor Act; career and technology education; waiver of tuition and fees for the spouse and children of a Gold Star recipient; effective date.

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands higher education access for Gold Star families through tuition waivers, enhancing affordability and support for veterans' dependents.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExpands tuition waiver benefits for Gold Star families (spouses/children of fallen veterans), extending existing program to include military service deaths.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Veteran Education