SB 407 requires Oklahoma public school districts receiving federal funds under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) for English learner programs to dedicate 50% of those funds to professional development for teachers who teach English as a second language. This applies specifically to districts using ESSA funds to support students with limited English proficiency. The bill mandates this allocation as a direct policy change, with no additional requirements beyond the funding reallocation. It takes effect immediately upon passage due to an emergency declaration.
HB 2050 creates a new temporary licensure pathway for international medical graduates in Oklahoma who cannot immediately qualify for full licensure. It allows these applicants to obtain a limited license if they meet ECFMG standards, provide evidence of three years of post-graduate training or clinical practice abroad, secure employment at an accredited health care provider, and pass an English competency exam. During the limited license period (up to three years), they must practice only under supervision at an approved training program. After three years with no disciplinary issues and passing all USMLE exams, they may qualify for full licensure without the prior practice restrictions. This directly affects foreign-trained physicians seeking to practice in Oklahoma.
HB 3914, the Civil Liberties Protection Act, prohibits Oklahoma state agencies and local governments from using public funds or taking actions that assist federal efforts violating constitutional rights. It specifically bans sharing pregnancy-related data or religious affiliation information with federal authorities for enforcement purposes and invalidates existing agreements requiring such data. The law creates a legal cause of action for citizens if state entities unlawfully cooperate with federal actions, and requires the Attorney General to defend affected Oklahomans while reporting on federal requests for assistance. This bill directly affects state agencies, political subdivisions, and their contractors by restricting their interactions with federal programs.
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Civil Liberties
This bill updates Oklahoma's definition of "coercive control" within the Protection from Domestic Abuse Act. It adds specific examples to the definition, including isolating a victim from support networks, depriving basic needs, controlling finances or movements, threatening based on immigration status, forcing sex acts, and using animal cruelty to intimidate. These changes clarify what constitutes coercive control in domestic abuse cases, directly affecting victims and legal proceedings under Oklahoma's domestic abuse laws. The bill does not create new penalties or procedures - it solely refines the statutory definition to better capture non-physical abuse tactics.
SB 399 expands driver license eligibility in Oklahoma to non-citizens with specific immigration statuses, including refugees, temporary protected status holders, and those with deferred action or pending residency applications. The bill removes previous restrictions requiring legal permanent residency for license applicants and updates documentation requirements to accept certain immigration status proofs. It also prohibits driver's license offices from offering voter registration services to applicants or licensees who do not qualify as electors under the law. These changes apply directly to immigrants in the specified categories who previously faced barriers to obtaining driver licenses in Oklahoma.
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 1400 removes a provision requiring non-citizens to provide proof of legal U.S. status to obtain an Oklahoma driver's license. It amends Section 6-103 of Oklahoma's driver license law by deleting paragraph 9, which previously barred "any alien" from licensing unless presenting documentation of legal presence. This change eliminates a specific eligibility barrier for non-citizens, allowing them to apply for licenses without proving legal residency status. The bill directly affects non-citizens in Oklahoma who previously faced this documentation requirement under the law.
