From diana.sanders at okstate.edu Mon Mar 1 09:34:00 2021 From: diana.sanders at okstate.edu (Sanders, Diana) Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2021 15:34:00 +0000 Subject: [Oasfaa] Financial Aid Webinar March Series Announcement In-Reply-To: <1F3D23F7B030DB49BA40287726A17300592421FE@WEXCRIB00001047.corp.internal.citizensbank.com> References: <1F3D23F7B030DB49BA40287726A17300592421FE@WEXCRIB00001047.corp.internal.citizensbank.com> Message-ID: Our corporate sponsors would like our OASFAA members to be aware of available training opportunities. Please see the below offerings from Citizens. We will pass other opportunities along as we receive them. We’re pleased to share our March webinar series-Please share our email with your staff. We’ve expanded upon our presentation schedule and are including new presentations that outline everything from important resources and mindfulness training to best practices on advising students and their families. We are excited to explore this month’s series with you! To register for our complimentary webinars, CLICK HERE March 2nd Tuesday 12 pm EST RFI to PLA and Everything in Between Learn the process and best practices to create an RFI and leverage the value of a preferred lender list. March 4th Thursday 3 pm EST Guide for New Financial Aid Professionals Learn the tools and resources to utilize in your day to day functions as a Financial Aid Administrator March 9th Tuesday 12 pm EST Developing Focus Improve your ability to give attention to the important things and reduce distractions with practical adjustments. March 11th Thursday 3 pm EST Understanding Private Loan Refinancing Prepare for the factors to consider before refinancing your student loans, and how to best evaluate the options. March 16th Tuesday 12 pm EST Financing the Gap Help students and their families as they navigate their financing options after savings, scholarships, and grants have been exhausted. March 18th Thursday 3 pm EST Developing Focus Improve your ability to give attention to the important things and reduce distractions with practical adjustments. March 23rd Tuesday 12 pm EST 5 Dysfunctions of a Team Achieve team success by understanding the causes of organizational politics and avoiding its pitfalls. March 25th Thursday 3 pm EST Student Loan Repayment Basics and Options Plan for the reality of repaying student loans with this overview of both federal and private student loan repayment, consolidation, and refinance options. March 30th Tuesday 12 pm EST Guide for New Financial Aid Professionals Learn the tools and resources to utilize in your day to day functions as a Financial Aid Administrator. and it is for Guide for New FA Professionals presentation -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bfair at osrhe.edu Mon Mar 1 12:04:53 2021 From: bfair at osrhe.edu (Fair, Bryce) Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2021 18:04:53 +0000 Subject: [Oasfaa] =?windows-1252?q?FW=3A_Legislative_Update_=96_February_2?= =?windows-1252?q?7=2C_2021?= In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Below is the legislative update for last week. You will find the latest action on financial aid-related bills in the section titled “Scholarships” towards the end of the report. Bryce Fair From: Johnson, Dr. Glen Sent: Saturday, February 27, 2021 2:22 PM To: Subject: Legislative Update – February 27, 2021 OKLAHOMA STATE REGENTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION Memo To: Higher Education Network From: Chancellor Glen D. Johnson Date: Saturday, February 27, 2021 Subject: Legislative Update – February 27, 2021 The update below reflects the major legislation concerning Higher Education. If you have any questions, please contact LeeAnna McNally, Vice Chancellor for Governmental Relations, at lmcnally at osrhe.edu or (405) 301-0332. Legislative Report February 27, 2021 Agency Administration House Bill 1090 (Representative Gerrid Kendrix) Allows the State Auditor and Inspector General to perform audits and inspections of government entities without authorization from the Governor, the Chief Executive Officer of a government entity, or a joint or concurrent resolution of the Legislature. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House General Government Committee. Passed House General Government Committee 7-0 on Wednesday, February 17. House Bill 1126 (Representative Logan Phillips) Requires employers who engage in any type of electronic email monitoring of employee accounts to give written notice to all employees prior to any monitoring electronic mail communication. Update: Passed House Business and Commerce Committee 10-0 on Wednesday, February 10. House Bill 1570 (Representative Jacob Rosecrants) Designates the second week of October as Veterans Suicide Awareness Week. Update: Assigned to House General Government Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1602 (Representative Collin Walke) The bill entitles a consumer to request that a business that collects the consumer's personal information disclose to the consumer the categories and specific items of personal information the business has collected. It establishes a requirement for the consumer to request the information. It establishes procedures for the business to disclose the information. Update: Passed House Technology Committee 6-0 on Wednesday, February 10. House Bill 1615 (Representative Forrest Bennett) Establishes criteria for family and medical leave insurance benefits. The bill provides a maximum number of weeks benefits are allowed. It establishes a waiting period. The bill provides a method for determining family and medical leave insurance benefits. It authorizes payroll contributions and establishes a method of determining those contributions. Update: Assigned to House Business and Commerce Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1640 (Representative Justin Humphrey) Requires that any employee or former employee who has reported any violation of state or federal law, rule or policy, mismanagement, gross waste of public funds, an abuse of authority or a substantive and specific danger to public health or safety to have, in addition to any other remedy set forth therein, the right to file a civil action against the agency and individuals employed by or acting on behalf of the agency in the district court where the violation occurred for all damages suffered from a retaliatory discharge of employment or other adverse employment action taken against the employee. It requires the employee or former employee to be entitled to recover damages in an amount not to exceed $175,000, in addition to costs and reasonable attorney fees for the successful prosecution of the action. Update: Assigned to House Judiciary Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1787 (Representative Daniel Pae) Authorizes state agencies to pay employees in an on-call status. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 7-0 on Thursday, February 25. House Bill 1888 (Representative Danny Williams) Bans all public bodies from conducting any form of gender or sexual diversity training or counseling. Update: Passed House General Government Committee 6-2 on Wednesday, February 10. House Bill 1875 (Representative Tammy West) Permits each educational institution to choose to designate specific information which will be classified as directory information for students attending the educational institution. Update: Passed House General Government Committee 8-0 on Wednesday, February 10. House Bill 1921 (Representative Ryan Martinez) Modifies the authority of OMES to designate quarters for every department of state government provided no department shall be assigned quarters that results in the relocation of a department’s employees or relocation of the performance of duties imposed upon such department by law. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Laid Over. Passed House Rules Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Emergency added. House Bill 1943 (Representative Cyndi Munson) Creates Volunteer Administrative Leave allowing state employees to use hours of labor for a 501(c)(3) charitable organization or public school. Update: Assigned to House General Government Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2088 (Speaker Charles McCall) Exempts the legislature and judicial branches of state government from any and all fees or costs for services rendered by state agencies. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 16. House Bill 2108 (Representative Mauree Turner) Bars any state entity from requiring gender identification attesting to an applicant’s attempt to change gender identity. The applicant’s affidavit should only require an attestation under penalty of perjury that the request to change their gender identification is not for any fraudulent purpose. Update: Assigned to House General Government Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2109 (Representative Mauree Turner) Requires including a nonbinary option on any state government document asking for gender identification. Update: Assigned to House General Government Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2180 (Representative Ronny Johns) Removes requirements for making payroll deductions for certain insurance premiums with a minimum participation of 500 state employees. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House Insurance Committee. Passed House Insurance Committee 7-0 on Wednesday, February 24. House Bill 2185 (Representative Ronny Johns) Modifies the requirements of publications on contracts awarded by state agencies to include the address of the company and the reason to be awarded the contract. Deletes explanations on the out of state ownership percentage of contracted companies. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House Government Modernization and Efficiency Committee. Passed Government Modernization and Efficiency Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 23. House Bill 2190 (Representative Mike Dobrinski) Allows state agencies to adopt policies permitting employees to use administrative leave for the purpose of physical fitness and wellness. Update: Assigned to House General Government Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2294 (Representative Dustin Roberts) Deletes the ability for employees to accumulate more than the maximum annual leave. Update: Passed House General Government Committee 8-0 on Wednesday, February 10. House Bill 2339 (Representative Jay Steagall) Places statutory law adopted by the legislature above any rule promulgated by a state agency. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2456 (Representative Emily Virgin) Establishes criteria for family and medical leave insurance benefits. The bill provides a maximum number of weeks benefits are allowed. It establishes a waiting period. The bill provides a method for determining family and medical leave insurance benefits. It authorizes payroll contributions and establishes a method of determining those contributions. It permits an intermittent or reduced leave schedule. Update: Assigned to House Business and Commerce Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 20 (Senator Kay Floyd) Prohibits a legislator that serves as an employee of a school district, a technology center school district or an institution within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education from being entitled to participate in the Teachers' Retirement System in connection with such employment; receiving any benefits pursuant to the Oklahoma Employees Insurance and Benefits Act other than those allowed in connection with service as a member of the Legislature Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 24 (Senator Carri Hicks) Declares Juneteenth National Freedom Day on June 19 an official state holiday, during which state offices would be closed. Update: Assigned to Senate General Government Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 41 (Senator Greg McCortney) Modifies the requirements for state employee payroll deductions for private insurance organizations and service companies that provide legal services. It removes the requirement that the organizations and service companies that provide legal services be regulated by the State Insurance Commissioner and have a minimum participation of 500 state employees. Update: Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 9-0 on Thursday, February18. Senate Bill 63 (Senator John Michael Montgomery) Removes language related to the State Government Reduction-in-Force and Severance Benefits Act that requires an employee to repay all severance benefits on a proportional basis if an affected employee is reemployed by the agency from which separated as a result of a reduction-in-force Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 9-0 on Thursday, February 11. Senate Bill 64 (Senator Darrell Weaver) Requires any person offering testimony before the Legislative Oversight Committee on State Budget Performance, the Senate Appropriations Committee, the House Appropriations and Budget Committee, or any of their subcommittees to have an oath administered that he or she will testify truly, or that any written testimony provided is true or believed to be true. The bill makes it a misdemeanor to knowingly and willfully falsify or conceal any material fact; make any materially false, fictitious or fraudulent statement or representation or prevent any false writing or document. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 183 (Senator Jo Anna Dossett) Requires, by July 1, 2022, every administrative body, state agency director or official with authority over any occupational or professional license or certification to develop and promulgate administrative rules to ensure no individual who has obtained an occupational or professional licensure or certification may have such license or certification revoked or suspended solely for failure to make their scheduled student loan payments or being delinquent on their student loans. Update: Assigned to Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 282 (Senator Frank Simpson) Amends Section 840-2.20 of the Oklahoma Personnel Act to allow for a temporary increase in the accumulation limits for annual leave following an emergency declaration period, which shall carryover to the end of the fiscal year following the year in which the emergency declaration ended. increase and carryover of annual leave time Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 9-0 on Thursday, February 4. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Thursday, February 18. Senate Bill 296 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom) Requires OMES to utilize agency information to prepare a “Coercive Federal Funds Report” detailing each source of federal funds agencies receive in excess of $5 million, the conditions necessary for eligibility of those funds, the manner in which those funds must be spent, maintenance of effort and other similar requirements, and conditions that relate to policy matters other than the manner in which funds are spent including requirements that state regulations meet or exceed federal stringencies. Update: Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. Senate Bill 299 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom) Allows for cooperative “piggybacking” purchase agreements between state agencies including on public construction contracts. Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 7-2 on Thursday, February 25. Senate Bill 333 (Senator Frank Simpson) Amends Section 840-2.15 of the Oklahoma Personnel Act to allow for a temporary increase in the accumulation limits for compensatory time following an emergency declaration period, which shall carryover to the end of the fiscal year following the year in which the emergency declaration ended. increase and carryover of annual leave time. Update: Assigned to Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee. Reassigned to House General Government Committee. Passed House General Government Committee 8-0 on Thursday, February 18. Senate Bill 403 (Senator Brenda Stanley) Makes it unlawful for any person, alone or in concert with others and without authorization, to willfully disturb, interfere or disrupt business of any political subdivision, which includes publicly posted meetings, or any political subdivision. Update: Assigned to Senate Public Safety Committee. Amended to make the bill an Emergency. Passed Public Safety Committee with a vote of 11-0 on Monday, February 8. Senate Bill 426 (Senator J.J. Dossett) Creates the Paid Family Leave Act. It requires the Department of Labor to establish a family temporary disability insurance program. Family temporary disability insurance is to provide up to six weeks of wage replacement benefits to workers who take time off work to care for a seriously ill child, spouse, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling or domestic partner, or to bond with a minor child within one year of the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption. Update: Assigned to Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee. Senate Bill 439 (Senator Shane Jett) Requires every state agency to designate a liaison to serve as a point of contact for the federally recognized Indian tribes residing in Oklahoma. It makes it the duty of the liaison to assist both the state and tribal governments in addressing issues of mutual interest. Update: Assigned to Senate General Government Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 459 (Senator Lonnie Paxton) Amends the Standards for Workplace Drug and Alcohol testing in light of medical marijuana. Update: Passed Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 10-3 on Thursday, February 18. Senate Bill 484 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Allows the Legislature to approve or disapprove any agency implementation of a federal rule or law. Requires state agencies to send their interpretation of any rule or regulation before implementation. Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 10-1 on Thursday, February 25. Senate Bill 543 (Senator Rob Standridge) Requires OMES to award flexible benefit contracts to Oklahoma-based companies. Update: Assigned to Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 539 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Requires agency rules to be published on their website. Requires justification for rulemaking. Allows the legislature to amend any rules. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 571 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Requires every agency to disclose the federal or state authority for any part of the agency operation when requested by a member of the legislature. Update: Assigned to Senate General Government Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 640 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Sets a permanent limit on the number of full-time equivalent employees employed by a state agency as the number included in a June 2021 budget. Update: Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. Senate Bill 650 (Senator Kim David) Provides a 2 percent increase to the amount of a participant’s benefit allowance from the amount provided in the previous plan year. Update: Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 8-1 on Thursday, February 18. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 18-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Senate Bill 794 (Senator James Leewright) Requires that if the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission or its representative determines that an individual has been overpaid unemployment benefits to provisions therein relating to administrative overpayment, the individual must be sent a notice of overpayment determination. It allows that if the individual disagrees with this determination, said individual can file an appeal of the determination with the Appeal Tribunal within 10 days after the date of mailing. Update: Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee and Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee. Passed Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 12-0 on Thursday, February 11. Senate Bill 827 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom) Prohibits state employees or agencies from entering into contracts which require any maintenance of effort to get prior consent of the legislature. Update: Assigned to Senate General Government Committee. Senate Bill 829 (Senator Casey Murdock) Requires state agencies who have jurisdiction over parcels of land containing 80 or more acres of contiguous land to fence it. Update: Assigned to Senate General Government Committee. Reassigned to Senate Agriculture and Wildlife Committee. Passed Senate Agriculture and Wildlife 12-0 on Monday, February 8. Senate Bill 830 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Prohibits adopting any policy that would promote race or sex stereotyping or scapegoating. Update: Assigned to Senate General Government Committee. Senate Bill 876 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Makes all newly hired state employees unclassified employees. Prohibits anyone being placed under classified service except for those positions required by federal grant or funding. Update: Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. Laid over. Senate Bill 895 (Senator Paul Rosino) Allows state agencies to choose to have required audits performed by a public accountant or certified public accountant registered to do business with the state. Update: Assigned to Senate Finance Committee. Reassigned to House General Government Committee. Passed House General Government Committee 7-2 on Thursday, February 18. Senate Bill 896 (Senator James Leewright) Exempts an acquisition or contract by a state agency for information technology staff augmentation services or technology consulting from the Central Purchasing Act. Update: Assigned to Senate General Government Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 924 (Senator Greg Treat) Creates a state data definition and gives OMES the authority to determine when state data is allowed to be shared between agencies or with federal entities if a request to share is initially rejected. Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 6-0 on Thursday, February 18. Senate Bill 981 (Senator Darrell Weaver) Creates a “Meets Standards” category and rating for Longevity Pay increase for public employees. It excludes institutions under the authority of the State Regents for Higher Education, employees of public-school districts and elected officials. Update: Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. Senate Bill 984 (Senator Kim David) Prohibits an agency or official of the executive branch from entering into a contingency fee contract that provides for the private attorney or firm to receive an aggregate contingency fee that exceeds amounts specified therein. It prohibits the total fee payable to all retained private attorneys in any contingency fee contract from exceeding $50 million exclusive of any costs and expenses provided by the contract and actually incurred by the retained private attorneys, regardless of the number of actions or proceedings or the number of retained private attorneys involved in the matter. Update: Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 7-2 on Tuesday, February 23. Senate Bill 1008 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Requires all executive branch agencies which implement rules to include a specific reference to the statutory provision that gives them the authority to make such a rule. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 1017 (Senator Shane Jett) Requires every state agency to complete a quarterly efficiency evaluation. Creates the Oklahoma Government Waste Advisory Board to oversee these evaluations and publish reports. Update: Assigned to Senate General Government Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Concurrent Resolution 2 (Senator Rob Standridge) Requires the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to submit a report to the Legislature and to make the report available on its website by December 31, 2021, that includes a list of all persons employed in a faculty or teaching position including their position rank at their respective institutions within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education and their compensation during the 2020-2021 academic year; a list of the courses taught and the hours taught by persons employed in a faculty or teaching position at institutions within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education during the 2020-2021 academic year; the tenure policy of each institution within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education for the 2020-2021 academic year; and the number of faculty employed by each institution within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education who had tenure during the 2020-2021 academic year. Budget Bills House Bill 1665 (Representative Kevin West) Creates a Federal Funds Holding Account within the General Revenue Fund to receive all funds required to be paid to the State of Oklahoma. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 20-10 on Wednesday, February 24, Title Stricken. House Bill 1990 (Representative Trey Caldwell) Allows ad valorem reimbursement fund to be used to reimburse counties for loss of revenue. Update: Assigned to House Appropriations and Budget Committee. Direct to Appropriations Committee. Passed House Appropriations Committee 28-0 Thursday, February 18. House Bill 2086 (Speaker Charles McCall) Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services to ensure state agencies are charged no more than the actual cost of the services provided by the Office. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 9-0 Tuesday, February 16. House Bill 2775 (Representative John Pfeiffer) Adds to the definition of “Cost Approach” in the ad valorem tax code to include physical deterioration, functional or internal obsolescence, and economic or external obsolescence. Update: Passed House County and Municipal Government Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 22. House Bill 2776 (Representative John Pfeiffer) Creates the Ad Valorem School District Support Revolving Fund which shall consist of all ad valorem funds under protest received by the State Department of Education (SDE). The SDE may distribute this money to school districts which are affected by protested ad valorem taxes. Update: Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed House Rules Committee 7-2 on Thursday, February 25. House Bill 2777 (Representative John Pfeiffer) Allows for wind power valuation for real property and personal property in the ad valorem tax code. Update: Passed House County and Municipal Government Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 22. House Bill 2780 (Representative John Pfeiffer) Allows the Oklahoma Tax Commission to garnish accrued earnings of a delinquent taxpayer by contacting the taxpayer’s employer. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 27-3 on Wednesday, February 24. House Bill 2855 (Representative Sean Roberts) Bars any agency from filing a budget with the director of OMES that would result in spending more than the total amount for such agency during the fiscal year ending in June 2020 until completing an independent comprehensive performance audit. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Joint Resolution 1001 (Representative Andy Fugate) Proposes a vote of the people on a constitutional amendment that changes the way the maximum Constitutional Reserve (Rainy Day) Fund balance amount would be computed. It would require the maximum balance allowed be based on a percentage of total state expenditures instead of using revenue estimates provided by the State Board of Equalization for the annual appropriations process. It would provide that total expenditures include all appropriated monies and federal funds. It would exclude from total expenditures money from revolving funds which are used by state agencies, fees or similar charges that were not derived from tax revenue, and money obtained by issuing state government bonds. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 9-0 Tuesday, February 16. Senate Bill 79 (Senator Roger Thompson) Exempts from sales tax the transfer of tangible personal property to or by nonprofit 501(c)(3) entities that have entered into a joint operating agreement with the University Hospitals Trust. Update: Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. Amended to provide an effective date of July 1, 2022. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee as amended 20-0 on Thursday, February 18. Senate Bill 84 (Senator Chuck Hall) Authorizes and directs the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission to review the unemployment compensation structure and to develop a method that ties unemployment benefits and employer contribution rates to the economic conditions and employment rates of the state. Update: Assigned to Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 181 (Senator Zack Taylor) Permits more than one-half of ad valorem taxes to be paid by January 1 of each year. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 12-0 Tuesday, February 2. Passed off Senate Floor 46-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 383 (Senator Robert Standridge) Establishes that the owner or operator of a social media website who contracts with users in Oklahoma is subject to a private right of action by a social media website user if the social media website purposely deletes or censors a social media website user’s political speech or religious speech or uses an algorithm to suppress political speech or religious speech. Update: Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 5-3 on Tuesday, February 23. Senate Bill 389 (Senator Mark Allen) Lowers the gross production tax on oil to 6 percent and 4 percent for wells with the first production occurring between July 16, 2018, through December 31, 2022, for a time period of 36 months beginning on January 1, 2022. Update: Assigned to Senate Finance Committee then to Senate Appropriations Committee. Senate Bill 395 (Senator Jo Anna Dossett) Requires any bill, resolution or amendment reducing the revenue of the state by lowering taxes to be accompanied with documentation of the negative fiscal impact on the state and requires any such measure to receive approval of at least three-fourths of both chambers. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee then to Senate Appropriations Committee. Senate Bill 498 (Senator Roger Thompson) Permits a facility engaged in cement manufacturing to have the payroll requirements of the five-year ad valorem tax exemption waived for tax year 2021, which is based in part on the 2020 calendar year payroll reported to the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission and permits it to continue to receive the exemption for the five-year period only if all other requirements of this section are met. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Referred to Full Appropriations Committee. Laid over. Senate Bill 590 (Senator John Michael Montgomery) Directs the first $1 million that would otherwise go to the Common Education Technology Revolving Fund, the Higher Education Capital Revolving Fund and the Oklahoma Student Aid Revolving Fund to instead be directed to the property held by the Land Office Trust beginning in the fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2023, with the amount increasing by $1 million each year until the full amount of the apportionment is redirected to the property held by the Land Office Trust. Update: Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. Senate Bill 591 (Senator John Michael Montgomery) Allows the State Treasurer to invest up to $2 million of the revenue stabilization fund into a hedge fund. Update: Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. Senate Bill 609 (Senator Chuck Hall) Extends the ad valorem tax exemption to manufacturing facilities, doubles the acquisition or expansion limit. Adds definitions to manufacturing facilities. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 11-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Thursday, February 18. Senate Bill 753 (Senator Brent Howard) For any property acquired by a governmental entity operating as a trust, after the effective date of this act, the trust shall annually make in lieu of tax payments an amount equal to the ad valorem assessed against the property immediately prior to purchase by the trust. Update: Assigned to Senate Finance Committee. Title Stricken. Passed Senate Finance Committee 10-1 on Tuesday, February 9. Senate Bill 771 (Senator Blake Stephens) Creates the Tax Collection Modernization Act allowing each county treasurer in their sole discretion to let taxpayers make payments on the total amount of tax due, and holding these payments on trust until the amount is sufficient to pay the total due. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 11-0 on Friday, February 19. Title Stricken. Senate Bill 906 (Senator Casey Murdock) Provides allowances for depreciation of value in ad valorem tax consideration. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 9-2 on Friday, February 19. Senate Bill 930 (Senator Kim David) Excludes private hospitals from ad valorem tax exemptions. Update: Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. Senate Joint Resolution 14 (Senator Joe Newhouse) Puts to a vote of the people increasing the cap on the Constitutional Reserve Fund from 15 percent to 30 percent. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Senate Joint Resolution 16 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom) Changes the way maximum balance allowed for the rainy-day fund from using the Board of Equalization estimates to a percentage of a total of the state expenditures for the previous year including all state and federal funds. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. CareerTech House Bill 1026 (Representative Rande Worthen) Allows CLEET to establish and certify additional law enforcement and criminal justice programs at state-supported technology center schools in the State of Oklahoma operating under the State Board of Career and Technology Education for teaching students between 16 and 19 years of age. Update: Passed House Public Safety Committee 7-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Senate Bill 623 (Senator David Bullard) Requires the State Board of CareerTech to establish a pilot program to provide grants to public school districts to offer career and technology programs to 9-12th grade students. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee then to Senate Appropriations Committee. Common Education House Bill 1027 (Representative Trish Ranson) Requires de-escalation training for certified teachers, beginning in the 2022-2023 school year. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 13-0 on Tuesday, February 16. House Bill 1046 (Representative Dell Kerbs) Requires a copy or a hyperlink to a copy of the most recent audit of the financial statements of a school district be posted on the school district website for public inspection. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. House Bill 1073 (Representative Tom Gann) Extends the sunset date for the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness Board until July 1, 2024. Update: Passed House Administrative Rules Committee 10-0 on Wednesday, February 10. House Bill 1103 (Representative Mark Vancuren) Directs the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and the State Education Department to create a set of guidelines and provide directions to schools in order to survey every public and private school student in grades 6,8,10 and 12 with the Oklahoma Prevention Needs Assessment Survey every other year beginning in the 2022-2023 school year. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 16. House Bill 1104 (Representative Mark Vancuren) Requires information on a student's tribal affiliation to be included in student data collected for the state. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee on 12-0 Tuesday, February 16. House Bill 1568 (Representative Jeff Boatman) Creates Maria’s Law requiring collaboration with the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to adopt standards and approve age-appropriate curriculum for K-12 students as a part of normal health education curriculum. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. House Bill 1569 (Representative Jacob Rosecrants) Creates the Oklahoma Play to Learn Act. States that the intention of the Legislature is to focus on the importance of child-centered, play-based learning. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 9. House Bill 1590 (Representative Melissa Provenzano) Makes any public funds paid to an educational management organization for school functions be subject to the same reporting requirements and audits as a school district. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1594 (Representative Melissa Provenzano) Modifies the membership of the State Board of Education. Two members are appointed by the Governor, two members are appointed by the President Pro Tem of the Senate and two by the Speaker of the House. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1599 (Representative Melissa Provenzano) Allows school districts to provide a staff assistant to regular education or special education teachers on an IEP. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1641 (Representative Justin Humphrey) Bans any curriculum that promotes or degrades any race, gender or sexual orientation. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1656 (Representative Denise Brewer) Requires the State Board of Education to require each local school district to employ at least one certified school counselor at each school site. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1657 (Representative Denise Brewer) Requires local boards of education to prohibit race discrimination based on natural hair or hairstyles in their dress codes. Update: Assigned to House Judiciary-Civil Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1686 (Representative John Talley) Authorizes the State Board of Education to adopt suicide awareness prevention curriculum. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1761 (Representative Trish Ranson) Requires the Board of Education for a school district to adopt an attendance policy reflecting students completing instructional activities while not in school. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1762 (Representative Trish Ranson) Establishes trauma informed violence de-escalation training information to be made available for teachers. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1769 (Representative Mike Dobrinski) Requires the Oklahoma State Department of Education to maintain a dyslexia information handbook. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1775 (Representative Sherrie Conley) Creates Riley's Rule, a requirement that each athletic and practice facility create an emergency action plan. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Laid Over. Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Thursday, February 25. House Bill 1778 (Representative Sherrie Conley) Modifies provisions of the School Safety and Bullying Prevention Act. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1802 (Representative Nicole Miller) Requires school districts to publish and make revenue sources available on the school district site. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1839 (Representative John Waldron) Removes the inclusion of chronic absenteeism from consideration when assigning school grades. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1841 (Representative John Waldron) Directs the State Department of Education to implement a modernized educational data infrastructure. Update: Assigned to House Appropriations and Budget Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1846 (Representative Andy Fugate) Revises household income limitations for Oklahoma Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship eligibility. Update: Assigned to House Appropriations and Budget Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1851 (Representative Andy Fugate) If an eligible student attends a school which is identified as a school in need of improvement, the eligible student may receive a Family Choice Act transfer to the nearest qualified school located in another school district. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1886 (Representative Jeff Boatman) Requires all teachers and certified support staff to complete mental health training as a part of their continuing education. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1919 (Representative Meloyde Blancett) Requires all student to receive guidance services from certified school counselors. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1963 (Representative Jadine Nollan) If vacancies occur which result in a loss of majority members of the board of education of a school district or technology center school district, the Governor shall appoint a member or members necessary to constitute a quorum to the board of education. Update: Assigned to House Elections and Ethics Committee. Laid Over. Passed House Elections and Ethics Committee 7-0 on Thursday, February 25. House Bill 1968 (Representative Jadine Nollan) Deletes expenditure and program classification reporting requirements for certain gifted and talented programs. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 13-0 on Monday, February 8. Referred to full House Appropriations Committee. Laid Over. Passed House Appropriations Committee 30-0 on Wednesday, February 24. House Bill 1985 (Representative Mark Lepak) Removes the ability for a school district to remove teachers union fees from an employee’s paycheck. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2030 (Representative Terry O’Donnell) Adds passing the Naturalization test to high school graduation requirements. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 11-3 on Tuesday, February 16. House Bill 2084 (Speaker Charles McCall) Requires the subject matter standards for history to include the United States Constitution, Declaration of Independence, Emancipation Proclamation, Federalist Papers and other documents with significant history and heritage of the United States. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2223 (Representative Randy Randleman) Requires the Oklahoma State Department of Education to maintain a dyslexia information handbook. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 9. House Bill 2381 (Representative Danny Sterling and Senator Frank Simpson) Directs local school districts to conduct an annual fitness assessment. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 22-9 on Wednesday, February 25. Title Stricken. House Bill 2388 (Representative John Talley) Asks school districts to provide age-appropriate instruction about social-emotional learning. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House Common Education Committee. Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. House Bill 2396 (Representative Todd Russ) Asks the board of education to adopt a policy regarding sex trafficking and exploitation prevention. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 9. House Bill 2418 (Representative Monroe Nichols) Adjusts the state aid formula to lower the weight of “gifted” children and adds a category for economically disadvantaged and gifted. Update: Assigned to House Appropriations and Budget Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2460 (Representative Mark Lepak) Prohibits school strikes or shutdowns by board of education or school employees. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2462 (Representative Dick Lowe) Allows the State Department of Education to enter into contracts and agreements for the payment of food, lodging and other expenses necessary to host or participate in conferences and training sessions. Update: Passed House General Government Committee 7-0 on Wednesday, February 17. House Bill 2547 (Representative Preston Stinson) Requires media timeouts at high school sporting events which are being broadcast. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Reassigned to House Rules Committee. Passed House Rules Committee 6-0 on Thursday, February 25. House Bill 2570 (Representative Chad Caldwell) Creates minimum requirements for how often public schools must meet in person. If they fail to meet that standard, they must transition to being a charter school and forfeit a percentage of the state aid formula. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2651 (Representative Jon Echols) Creates a tax credit for those contributing to eligible educational improvement grant organizations. Update: Assigned to House Appropriations and Budget Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2662 (Representative Dick Lowe) Creates the Seizure Safe Schools Act requiring each local school district to have at least one school employee at each school who has met certain seizure safe training requirements. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Amended to change from a Shall to a May. Passed House Common Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 16. Author change. House Bill 2727 (Representative Ajay Pittman) Requires subject to the availability of funds that there be a basic life skills education curriculum taught in public schools. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. House Bill 2749 (Representative Rhonda Baker) Requires schools that receive more than $2,500 from the Reading Proficiency Act to spend at least 10 percent on professional development for Pre-k-5 grade teachers. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday February 16. House Bill 2751 (Representative Rhonda Baker) Defines computer science requirements for public elementary schools beginning in the year 2024-2025. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2837 (Representative Mark Vancuren) Requires that if a student is transferred to a school district other than the district of residence of the student, the receiving district must establish availability of the appropriate program, staff and services prior to approval of the transfer. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2856 (Representative Sean Roberts) Requires school districts to publish their proposed budget on their website. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2859 (Representative Sean Roberts) Allows school districts to sell advertising on the exterior of school transportation. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Joint Resolution 1026 (Representative Anthony Moore) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment that removes debt limits for school districts. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. House Joint Resolution 1029 (Representative Monroe Nichols) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment that authorizes a school district to raise an additional $5 million levy on taxable property within the district if approved by the majority of district voters. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. House Joint Resolution 1033 (Representative Chad Caldwell) Puts to a vote of the people a requirement that a school spends at least 60 percent of its annual budget on instructional expenditures. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Senate Bill 2 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom) Clarifies and expands the duties of the School Finance Review Commission to conduct a review of all matters related to school finance, including but not limited to teacher compensation and benefits; administrative costs, including administrative functions that may be shared between districts; opportunities for school districts to be operated in a cost effective manner; variances in per pupil and administrative expenditures among school districts with comparable enrollment, demographics and outcomes on statewide assessments; and expenditures not directly or sufficiently related to improving student outcomes. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 on Tuesday, February 23. Senate Bill 13 (Senator Brenda Stanley) Requires a teacher whose certificate is suspended by the State Board of Education to be placed on suspension while proceedings for revocation or other action are pending before the State Board of Education. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Senate Bill 21 (Senator Kay Floyd) Makes it a requirement, rather than permissive, beginning with the 2021-2022 school year, that district school boards provide schoolwide training to all students in grades seven through twelve and staff addressing suicide awareness and prevention. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee as amended by Committee Substitute 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Senate Bill 54 (Senator John Michael Montgomery) Requires the State Department of Education to designate a school district site or charter school site as a Purple Star School. The bill defines applicable terms. It establishes the requirements for a school district site or charter school to be designated as a Purple Star School. It requires the State Board of Education to promulgate necessary rules. Update: Passed Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Committee 10-0 on Thursday, February 11. Senate Bill 66 (Senator John Haste) Exempts any insurance policy sold to any school district from the surplus lines premium tax. Update: Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Senate Bill 68 (Senator Frank Simpson) Requires a public school student to be considered in compliance with statutory residency provisions if he or she is a student whose parent or legal guardian is transferred or is pending transfer to a military installation within the state while on active military duty pursuant to an official military order. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 2. Senate Bill 89 (Senator John Haste) Creates the Health Education Act. The bill defines applicable terms. It requires health education to be taught in public schools, including but not limited to physical health, mental health, social and emotional health and intellectual health. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 on Tuesday, February 23. Senate Bill 128 (Senator Dave Rader) Creates the Seizure Safe Schools Act requiring at least one school employee at each school to meet certain training requirements. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Title Stricken, Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9 Senate Bill 130 (Senator George Burns) Creates the Oklahoma American Heritage Education Act. It adds to the list of items each school district in the state is required to permit a principal or teacher to utilize in a public-school building, classroom, or at any public-school event relating to the history, heritage, or foundation of the United States or the State of Oklahoma. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 142 (Senator Roland Pederson) Requires a school district’s board of education to allow a nonresident and non-transferred pupil to determine whether to require a tuition fee equal to the per capita cost of education for a similar period in such district during the preceding year. The bill requires the tuition fee to be paid to the receiving district in advance yearly or by semester as determined by the district board of education of the receiving district. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee as amended by committee substitute 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Senate Bill 157 (Senator J.J. Dossett) Removes language that provides State Board of Education appointees to serve at the pleasure of the Governor. It adds language that permits the Governor to remove members of the board for cause, including being found guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction of a felony or any offense involving moral turpitude; being found guilty of malfeasance, misfeasance or nonfeasance in relation to board duties; being found mentally incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction; or failing to attend three successive meetings of the board without just cause, as determined by the Governor. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Title Stricken. Passed Senate Education Committee 10-2 on Tuesday, February 2. Senate Bill 197 (Senator Tom Dugger) Requires candidates who win board of education elections to be seated at the first meeting following the April election date. It clarifies language related to the April board of education election date. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Senate Bill 210 (Senator Brent Howard) Permits a member of a school district board of education to be removed from office by means of a recall petition demanding the removal of a board member and the election of a successor to the member. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Laid over. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 252 (Senator Brenda Stanley) Requires all public schools to begin teaching computer science courses in the 2024-2025 school year. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Title Stricken. Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 2 Senate Bill 271 (Senator Zack Taylor) Gives teachers the authority for the control and discipline of their students within the guidelines set by the school district and requires the teacher to keep good order in the classroom and other places in which they are assigned to be in charge of students, and sets out measures the teachers are allowed to take in order to control students including notifying law enforcement directly. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 291 (Senator John Haste) Adds a science, technology, engineering and math block course taught at a high school or tech center to the options for the graduation requirements in competencies of mathematics. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee then to Appropriations. Senate Bill 307 (Senator Marty Quinn) Creates the Educational Deregulation Act allowing school districts to create and implement educational improvement plans which would exempt them from educational related statutory regulations and State Board of Education rules. Removes accountability requirements to the state and local level. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 323 (Senator Jo Anna Dossett) Modifies the state aid formula for the 2021-2022 school year and those thereafter. Update: Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. Senate Bill 376 (Senator Carri Hicks) Directs each school district to create a special education advisory council and sets the membership of said councils, makes all meetings of said councils subject to the Open Meetings Act, sets the duties of the councils. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 377 (Senator Carri Hicks) Entitles support employees to pay for any time lost when a school district is closed because of an epidemic or when an order for such a closing has been issued by a health officer authorized by law to issue the order. Update: Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. Senate Bill 417 (Senator J.J. Dossett) Provides for an increase in compensation for school support personnel. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee then to Appropriations. Senate Bill 419 (Senator J.J. Dossett) Removes the requirement to administer assessments in U.S. history under the statewide system of student assessments. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 10-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Senate Bill 420 (Senator J.J. Dossett) Requires the State Department of Education to keep confidential the home addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses and social security numbers of any person employed or formerly employed by a school district or a public charter school. It allows a person employed or formerly employed by a school district or public charter school to provide the State Department of Education with written permission to disclose any or all of the information kept confidential. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 437 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom) Requires public school districts to provide remediation courses for high school students who score below benchmarks on subject-area portions of the American College Testing (ACT) exam or below equivalent scores on the SAT exam in the most recent year for which student performance data is available. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 9-3 on Tuesday, February 9. Senate Bill 450 (Senator Michael Brooks) Requires school districts that receive state aid funds as a result of qualifying for the "bilingual" pupil category weight to use the funds to provide professional development for teachers who offer instruction in English as a second language. It requires the expenditures to be reported using the Oklahoma Cost Accounting System. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee then to Appropriations. Senate Bill 503 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Adds to required history curriculum, the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, substantive selections from the Federalist Papers the Emancipation Proclamation, the Articles of Confederation, the Gettysburg Address and George Washington’s Farwell Address. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 9-2 on Tuesday, February 23. Senate Bill 517 (Senator John Michael Montgomery) Requires the board of education of a school district that offers full-time virtual education, the governing board of a public charter school that offers full-time virtual education, and the governing board of a statewide virtual charter school to be exempt from the tuition fee requirement for nonresident and non-transferred students who attend a full-time virtual education program. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 613 (Senator David Bullard) Requires the State Board of Education and school district boards to find effective ways to adjust scientific curriculum as it addresses scientific controversies. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 615 (Senator David Bullard) Adds conversations with a school counselor about sexual behavior or attitudes to the list of curriculum and information that must be approved by a superintendent or designee. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 619 (Senator David Bullard) Allows school districts to obtain liability insurance coverage to protect a student participating in an apprenticeship internship or mentorship program. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Title Stricken Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 20-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Senate Bill 626 (Senator David Bullard) Requires disclosure to a student’s school district if a student has received mental health services in the previous year. Requires school personnel to meet with the parents to determine if an IEP is warranted. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 634 (Senator Julie Daniels) Requires an authorization form that has the statement of understanding of the first amendment rights to not be a part of a union for public education employees. Makes that form’s authorization a yearly requirement. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Reassigned to Senate Judiciary Committee. Passed Senate Judiciary 7-4 on Tuesday, February 23. Senate Bill 642 (Senator Adam Pugh) Includes multi-aptitude battery assessments that measure developed abilities and help predict future academic and occupational success in the military. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Title Stricken. Senate Bill 661 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Adds passing the Naturalization test to high school graduation requirements. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 662 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Requires the State Board of Education and school district boards to find effective ways to adjust scientific curriculum as it addresses scientific controversies. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee then to Appropriations. Senate Bill 707 (Senator Greg McCortney) Sets a deadline for parents to present immunization records or exemptions. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 on Tuesday, February 9. Senate Bill 783 (Senator Adam Pugh) Requires the Department of Education to publish a list of the capacity for a class in each grade level K-12. Strengthens open transfer policies. Gives OEQA audit authority over transfer Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 9-3 on Tuesday, February 23. Amended by Committee Substitute. Senate Bill 803 (Senator Shane Jett) Prohibits public and charter schools from teaching “divisive subjects.” Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 807 (Senator Chris Kidd) Entitles support employees to pay for any time lost when a school district is closed because of an epidemic or when an order for such a closing has been issued by a health officer authorized by law to issue the order. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 10-1 on Tuesday, February 23. Senate Bill 823 (Senator Zack Taylor) Modifies the dates that allow the calculation of state aid allocations and increases the caps on certain carryover. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee then to Senate Appropriations Committee. Senate Joint Resolution 3 (Senator Carri Hicks) Proposes a vote of the people on a constitutional amendment that allows a member of the Legislature to be employed as a certified teacher with a public school district in this state after he or she completes his or her term in office. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Senate Joint Resolution 9 (Senator Mary Boren) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment that changes the duty of the legislature when it comes to public education. Removes the words “Wherein all the children of the State may be educated”. Instead requires the legislature to “make suitable provision for the support and maintenance of an efficient and equitable system of free public schools”. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. COVID-19 House Bill 1057 (Representative Jim Olsen) Prohibits any person from being required to receive any vaccine as a condition of their public or private employment. It also preempts any employment-related vaccination mandate. Update: Assigned to House States Rights Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1669 (Representative Kevin West) Modifies the powers of the Governor during catastrophic health emergencies to emphasize the importance of not interfering with civil rights. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1670 (Representative Kevin West) Terminates the Governor’s emergency health powers after 30 days if an emergency proclamation is not extended. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1887 (Representative Danny Williams) Prohibits a governmental entity from issuing any order or rule that requires closure of any place of worship. Update: Assigned to House States Rights Committee. Laid Over. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2192 (Representative Jason Lowe) Creates the Covid-19 Save Lives Response Act. Requires all those medically able who are older than 5 years of age to wear a face covering in public. Allows the denial of services to those not wearing face coverings. Limits non-essential gatherings. Requires all businesses to the extent they are able to provide work from home procedures. Creates punishment of $1,000 fines for violating this act. Leaves act in place until there are no more than 300 patients hospitalized state wide for Covid-19. Update: Assigned to House States Rights Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2335 (Representative Jay Steagall) Prohibits compulsory immunization through any state entity via direct or indirect means. Update: Passed House Public Health Committee 7-1 on Wednesday, February 10. House Bill 2579 (Representative Wendi Stearman) Terminates the Governor’s emergency health powers after 30 days if an emergency proclamation is not extended. Update: Assigned to House General Government Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2580 (Representative Wendi Stearman) Prohibits compulsory immunization through any state entity via direct or indirect means. Update: Assigned to House Public Health Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Joint Resolution 1032 (Representative Chad Caldwell) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment prohibiting a governmental entity from issuing any order or rule that requires closure of any place of worship. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Senate Bill 223 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Prohibits compulsory immunization through any state entity via direct or indirect means. Update: Assigned to Senate Health and Human Services Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 224 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Prohibits cities or towns from enacting or enforcing a mask mandate. Update: Assigned to Senate General Government Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 255 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Allows for contact tracing, provides qualifications and limits authority to certain conditions. Update: Assigned to Senate Health and Human Services committee then to Appropriations. Senate Bill 352 (Senator Warren Hamilton) Prohibits any state entity from requiring immunization or mask wearing. Makes attempting to enforce a requirement a misdemeanor. Update: Assigned to Senate General Government Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 368 (Senator David Bullard) Prohibits any governmental declaration of a religious institution as nonessential. Requires that religious institutions be exempt from closure orders for the purpose of health or security that is greater than that imposed on any private entity. Update: Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 6-2 on Tuesday, February 9. Senate Bill 557 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Limits the Governor’s powers in a state of emergency, or other political entity from prohibiting activities in a place of worship. Update: Assigned to Senate Public Safety Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 671 (Senator Shane Jett) Prohibits compulsory immunization through any state entity via direct or indirect means. Update: Assigned to Senate Health and Human Services Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 678 (Senator David Bullard) Prohibits a governmental entity from issuing any order or rule that requires closure of any place of worship. Update: Assigned to Senate Judiciary Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 679 (Senator David Bullard) Prohibits compulsory immunization through any state entity via direct or indirect means. Update: Assigned to Senate Health and Human Services Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 765 (Senator David Bullard) Makes it unlawful to require vaccination as a condition of employment. Update: Assigned to Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee. Laid Over. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 786 (Senator Shane Jett) Declares all Oklahoma business “essential” in order to avoid pandemic related shutdowns. Update: Assigned to Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 835 (Senator Blake Stephens) Bans any discrimination by any public accommodation towards a person on the basis of their vaccination or immunity status. Update: Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 6-2 on Friday, February 19. Senate Bill 846 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Makes it unlawful to require vaccination as a condition of employment. Update: Assigned to Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 875 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Bars all state entities or political subdivisions from denying government services or entrance to anyone not wearing a mask. Update: Assigned to Senate General Government Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 885 (Senator Shane Jett) Prohibits cities or towns from enacting or enforcing a mask mandate. Update: Assigned to Senate General Government Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 1016 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Adds to the definition of Catastrophic Health Emergency situations where there is an overloading of hospitals, emergency rooms and medical facilities beyond their capacity to serve. Update: Assigned to Senate Health and Human Services Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Charter Schools House Bill 1591 (Representative Melissa Provenzano) Gives virtual charter school sponsorship, funding and other authority over to the State Board of Education rather than the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1595 (Representative Melissa Provenzano) Includes punishments for virtual charter schools for not transmitting student records within 3 years. Punishments to be determined by the State Department of Education. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1861 (Representative Andy Fugate) States that the fee for administrative services rendered by charter school sponsor shall not be more than three percent of the state aid allocation of charter school and shall not be less than zero percent of the state aid allocation of the charter school. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1855 (Representative Andy Fugate) Eliminates the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board and assigns its duties to the State Board of Education. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2753 (Representative Rhonda Baker) Eliminates the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board and assigns its duties to the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Joint Resolution 1036 (Representative Jon Echols) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment allowing a school district to become indebted after a 3/5ths vote to acquire or improve the school sites or equipment of a charter school. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Senate Bill 53 (Senator Carri Hicks) Removes language permitting the State Board of Education to sponsor charter schools. It prohibits, beginning July 1, 2022, the board's sponsorship of charter schools, except for those operated by the Office of Juvenile Affairs. It requires charter schools sponsored by the board to enter a contract with another sponsor by July 1, 2022. It requires the charter school to be dissolved if it does not successfully enter a contract with another sponsor. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 69 (Senator Frank Simpson) Provides a student will be eligible to enroll in a statewide virtual charter school if the student's parent or legal guardian is transferred or is pending transfer to a military installation within this state while on active military duty pursuant to an official military order. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 2. Senate Bill 152 (Senator Jo Anna Dossett) Removes language permitting the State Board of Education to sponsor charter schools. It prohibits, beginning July 1, 2022, the board's sponsorship of charter schools, except for those operated by the Office of Juvenile Affairs. It requires charter schools sponsored by the board to enter a contract with another sponsor by July 1, 2022. It requires the charter school be dissolved if it does not successfully enter a contract with another sponsor. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 166 (Senator J.J. Dossett) Gives virtual charter school sponsorship, funding and other authority over to the State Board of Education rather than the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board. Update: Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. Senate Bill 221 (Senator Rob Standridge) Creates the Wellness Scholarship Program to provide a scholarship to an eligible private school of choice students who have health-related concerns. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee then to Senate Appropriations Committee. Senate Bill 222 (Senator Rob Standridge) Creates the Hope Scholarship Program to provide a scholarship to an eligible private school of choice for students who have experienced bullying. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 on Tuesday, February 23. Senate Bill 239 (Senator Dewayne Pemberton and Representative Toni Hasenbeck) Creates a process for the State Board of Education to hear appeals to the charter school sponsorship process. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed off the Senate Floor 30-16 on Wednesday, February 10. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 532 (Senator Rob Standridge) Creates the School Choice for Disadvantaged Children Program Act; a scholarship to a participating private school of choice for eligible students. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee then to Senate Appropriations Committee. Senate Bills 630 (Senator David Bullard) If a student has expressed an intent to enroll in a virtual charter school, the resident school district of the student may deny the transfer if the resident district offers a full-time virtual education program that is equal in scope and content to the virtual charter school to which a transfer is being sought. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 665 (Senator J.J. Dossett) Prohibits for-profit management organizations or other business entities to apply for, receive or renew a charter school application or contract. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 658 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Requires the State Department of Education to provide any notice or publication on immunization requirements all information on exemptions to such requirements. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Amended to pass Senate Education Committee 8-3 on Tuesday, February 9. Senate Bill 700 (Senator Chris Kidd) Requires that a charter school which is operated by the Office of Juvenile Affairs be operated or contracted out of an OJA facility. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Ethics Senate Bill 176 (Senator Julia Kirt) Requires those appointed by the Governor as agency directors or cabinet secretaries to file financial disclosure statements with the Ethics Commission. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 178 (Senator Julia Kirt) Removes the $150,000 cap on the Ethics Commission (revolving) Fund and permits all fees collected by the commission to be deposited into the fund. Update: Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. Senate Bill 989 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Prohibits a person from using or authorizing the use of public funds, property or time to engage in legislative or executive lobbying, as such terms are defined in the Rules of the Ethics Commission, except as provided in Section 840-2.5 of this title or in connection with individual rights set forth in the United States and Oklahoma Constitutions. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. General Government House Bill 2107 (Representative Mauree Turner) Requires all legislative measures beginning with the second session of the 58th Legislature to be prepared using gender neutral terms. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 487 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Allows the Governor to remove any gubernatorial appointment on any agency, board or commission at any time. Vacancies created by this removal will be filled by current provisions. Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 7-2 on Thursday, February 25. Senate Bill 847 (Senator Darrell Weaver) Allows the Legislature to create an “Educator of the Day” program. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Joint Resolution 1 (Senator Kay Floyd) Proposes a vote of the people on a constitutional amendment that would prohibit members of the Legislature from being appointed or elected to any office or commission during their term; receiving any appointment from the Governor, the Governor and Senate or the Legislature during the term; or being interested in any contract with the state or a political subdivision during the term. It would not prohibit an employee of a school district, a technology center school district or the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education from continuing to serve during the term, or prohibit an appointment to a legislative committee or other legislative position. It also would not prohibit a former member from returning to his or her profession or business. It would permit the Legislature to enact laws to implement these provisions. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Higher Education House Bill 1004 (Representative Jim Olsen) It prohibits the state or political subdivision from prohibiting or restricting any mental health provider or religious advisor from providing counseling or any patient or client from receiving counseling intended to aid patients or clients in their self-determined objectives of reducing, eliminating, resolving, or addressing unwanted same-sex attractions, behaviors, identity, sexual or gender-identity expressions, or unwanted gender dysphoria. Update: Assigned to House Children Youth and Family Services Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1583 (Representative Mickey Dollens) Allows public schools and institutions of higher education to include on student ID cards a National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the Crisis Text Line and the campus police or security telephone line. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1589 (Representative Melissa Provenzano) Creates the Oklahoma Student Borrowers Bill of Rights requiring that student loan servicers not employ any deceptive practices, maintain accurate reporting to consumer credit bureaus, and otherwise accurately inform borrowers of their rights and obligations in public and plain language. Update: Assigned to House Judiciary Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1801 (Representative Nicole Miller) Grants priority enrollment and course registration to all members of the Oklahoma National Guard and to students who are eligible to receive educational financial assistance from the Department of Veteran Affairs. Update: Passed House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee with a vote of 9-0 on Monday, February 8. House Bill 1852 (Representative Andy Fugate) Allows the Oklahoma Capitol Improvement Authority to issue notes, bonds or other evidences of obligation up to $270 million in order for the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University to construct buildings and other improvements to research, develop and manufacture generic drugs including insulin. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1962 (Representative Jadine Nollan) Specifies the definition of “qualified higher education expenses” to fall in line with section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code. Update: Passed House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee with a vote of 9-0 on Monday, February 8. House Bill 1994 (Representative Trey Caldwell) Allows student athletes to enter contracts and be compensated for the use of their name or likeness. Update: Assigned to House Business and Commerce Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2046 (Speaker Charles McCall) Creates the Higher Education Institution Local Funding Act. The measure authorizes the board of regents of eligible two-year colleges to adopt a resolution calling for the creation of a higher education funding district, for the purpose of providing additional sources of funding for the institution. If approved by the board of regents, the creation of the funding district and its initial operational millage rate would go to a vote of the people within the established district boundary. Additional bonds may be included in the ballot measure calling for the creation of the district. The ballot measure would require 60 percent approval to pass. Update: Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed House Rules Committee as amended 7-0 on Thursday, February 25. House Bill 2477 (Representative Sean Roberts) Requires institutes of higher education to remove all questions from scholarship and enrollment applications which identify the applicant’s gender, race or ethnic group. Update: Assigned to House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee. Laid over. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2691 (Representative Toni Hasenbeck) Requires the Commission for Educational Quality an Accountability to issue a report detailing factors in the public education system that contribute to graduation rates, assessment scores and the state workforce. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. House Bill 2750 (Representative Rhonda Baker) States the intent of the Legislature that in establishing minimum required score on AP exams for granting course credit the Regents for Higher Education should not require an AP score above 3. Update: Passed House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 22. House Bill 2874 (Representative Kevin Wallace and Senator Roger Thompson) Adds the University Hospitals Trust to those exempt from sales tax. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 26-1 on Wednesday, February 10. Title Stricken. Passed off the House Floor 83-9 on Monday, February 22. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2926 (Speaker Charles McCall) Requires each institution of higher education to publish a salary report of common occupations and industries in which students are employed upon graduation. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 7-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Senate Bill 56 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom) Requires the State Board of Career and Technology Education and the State Regents for Higher Education by December 31, 2021, to review courses offered by technology center schools to determine if they are eligible for college credit. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 70 (Senator Frank Simpson) Increases the time period before the date of enrollment from five years to 10 years when a person was discharged or released from active military service to qualify for in-state enrollment. Update: Passed Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Education 4-0 on Wednesday, February 10. Referred to Full Appropriations Committee. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Thursday, February 18. Senate Bill 102 (Senator John Haste) Requires all state agencies that provide, contract for, or otherwise fund mental health services report to the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES): all mental health services provided by the agency, including the name, purpose and primary funding source or sources of each service; a financial summary of spending amounts by method of finance associated with each program that includes annual spending on each service in each of the last five state fiscal years; and outcome summaries for mental health services that include target population or populations. Update: Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. Senate Bill 138 (Senator Mary Boren) Prohibits a higher learning institution, including its faculty, staff and other employees, from requiring an enrolled student to take a leave of absence, withdraw from a program or limit her studies solely due to pregnancy. It requires a higher learning institution, including the faculty, staff or other employees, to reasonably accommodate pregnant students so they may complete their courses of study and research. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 139 (Senator Roger Thompson) Adds the Senate Appropriations Committee Chair and the House Appropriations and Budget Committee Chair to the list of recipients of the annual report submitted by Oklahoma State University Medical Authority. Update: Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. Laid Over. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 20-0 on Wednesday February, 24. Senate Bill 238 (Senator Dewayne Pemberton) Creates a task force to study the requirement for high school students to complete the FASFA. Designates the makeup of this task force and the end date for a report. Requires the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the Senate to provide the staff and administrative support for the task force. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 Tuesday, February 9. Senate Bill 260 (Senator Dewayne Pemberton) Authorizes the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission to release to employees of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, the Oklahoma State Regents of Higher Education, the Center for Economic and Management Research of the University of Oklahoma, the Center for Economic and Business Development at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, or a center of economic and business research or development at a comprehensive or regional higher education institution within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education information required to identify economic trends and to complete performance accountability reports required by the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act. Update: Assigned to Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 261 (Senator John Michael Montgomery) Creates the Oklahoma Student Borrower’s Bill of Rights, requiring that student loan servicers not employ any deceptive practices, maintain accurate reporting to consumer credit bureaus, and otherwise accurately inform borrowers of their rights and obligations in public and plain language. Update: Passed Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 11-2 on Thursday, February 11. Senate Bill 276 (Senator Michael Brooks) Prohibits an institution of higher education from inquiring about a prospective student’s criminal history on the initial application or at any time during the admissions process prior to acceptance or rejection. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 292 (Senator John Haste) Creates a task force to study the concurrent enrollment needs of the State. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Senate Bill 331 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom) creates the Save Women's Sports Act. The bill defines applicable terms. It prohibits athletic teams designated for "females," "women" or "girls" from being open to students of the male sex. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 477 (Senator Warren Hamilton) Authorizes a public or private postsecondary institution to request that an enrolled student submit written documentation of whether the student has been vaccinated against meningococcal disease. It requires any employee of a public or private postsecondary educational institution who coerces or in any way influences a student enrolled in the institution to receive a vaccination against meningococcal disease to be guilty of a misdemeanor. It allows a public or private postsecondary institution to request that an enrolled student submit written documentation of whether the student has been vaccinated against hepatitis B, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR). It requires that any employee of a public or private postsecondary educational institution who coerces or in any way influences a student enrolled in the institution to receive a vaccination against hepatitis B, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) to be guilty of a misdemeanor. Update: Assigned to Senate Health and Human Services Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 614 (Senator David Bullard) Enhances higher education students’ First Amendment rights to include the “right to an unbiased education” and freedom from any endorsement, symbolism or propaganda of “socialism, communism, Marxism or anti-American sentiment.” Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 10-2 on Tuesday, February 23. Senate Bill 633 (Senator Julie Daniels) Creates the Student and Administration Equality Act allowing a student who is accused of a violation of non-academic disciplinary or conduct rules that would result in a 10 or more day suspension to be represented by an attorney or advocate. Creates a structure for hearings and a presumption of innocence for the student accused. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 637 (Senator Rob Standridge) Prohibits an institution of higher education from requiring students to enroll in a course that is not a core requirement of their chosen curriculum, a course with no tuition or fee charged, or a course that is not directly relevant to a degree being pursued. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 641 (Senator Adam Pugh) Encourages the Regents for Higher Education to adopt a policy authorizing additional online distance learning opportunities. Allows the creation of a distance education tuition classification. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Laid Over. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 660 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Prevents all institutions of higher education from raising tuition and fee rates above those approved for the 2020-2021 rates. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee then to Senate Appropriations Committee. Senate Bill 805 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Prohibits any institution of higher education from receiving funds form an individual or entity that is or has been associated with the China-based People’s Liberation Army. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 893 (Senator Adam Pugh) Allows the undergraduate and graduate programs of the same discipline of engineering at an institution to be part of the qualified program if either program is ABET accredited. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 11-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Senate Joint Resolution 15 (Senator Rob Standridge) Puts to a vote of the people a prohibition for higher education from requiring students to enroll in a course that is not a core requirement of their chosen curriculum, a course with no tuition or fee charged, or a course that is not directly relevant to a degree being pursued. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Healthcare House Bill 1006 (Representative Carol Bush) Creates the Transparency in Health Care Prices Act. The bill defines applicable terms. It requires healthcare providers make available to the public, in a single document, either electronically or by posting conspicuously on the provider's website if one exists, the health care prices for at least the 20 most common health care services the healthcare provider provides. Update: Passed House Public Health Committee 8-0 on Wednesday, February 24. House Bill 2299 (Representative Dustin Roberts) Creates the Oklahoma Medical Education Protection Act which preserves the supplemental payment programs payable to University Health Science Centers when entering into contractual arrangements with any entity for the management of Medicaid patients. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 8-0 on Tuesday, February 23. House Bill 2711 (Representative Merleyn Bell) Modifies the list of employees in unclassified service to include registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Update: Assigned to House Government Modernization and Efficiency Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2811 (Representative Chris Sneed) Allows CareerTech and the Oklahoma Board of Private Vocational Schools to also qualify as an approved program for registered nurses. Update: Reassigned to House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Joint Resolution 1041 (Representative Sean Roberts) Puts to a vote of the people an amendment repealing Medicaid expansion. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Senate Bill 4 (Senator Greg McCortney) Permits a pharmacist to substitute an interchangeable biological product for a prescribed biological product only if the substituted product has been determined by FDA to be interchangeable with the prescribed biological product; the prescribing physician has permitted substitution; and the pharmacy informs the patient of the substitution. Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services committee 10-0 Wednesday, February 3. Senate Bill 5 (Senator Greg McCortney) Requires every hospital to compile a list of 25 common outpatient procedures and annual submit to the State Department of Health a list of its average charges for those procedures, in a method determined by the department. Update: Assigned to Senate Health and Human Services Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 100 (Senator Brenda Stanley) Permits an applicant for a license to practice podiatric medicine to submit an electronic application online. It requires an applicant legally reside in the United States, rather than be loyal to the US. The bill removes the requirement that the applicant be free from contagious or infectious disease. Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 8-3 on Thursday, February 25. Senate Bill 105 (Senator Zack Taylor) Exempts the board of directors of a federally qualified health center from the definition of public body under the Open Meeting Act. It corrects misspellings of the term "policies" related to federally qualified health centers. Update: Assigned to Senate Judiciary Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 107 (Senator John Michael Montgomery and Representative Todd Russ) Gives the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) the authority, beginning with the Jan. 1, 2022 plan year, to renew vision plan contracts with plan providers for succeeding one-year terms if the provider had a contract for the immediately preceding year. Update: Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off Senate Floor 47-0 on Thursday, February 10. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 120 (Senator Rob Standridge) Creates the Prescription Drug Safety and Cost Reduction Importation Pilot Program Act. The bill requires the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to submit an application to the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services for the purpose of establishing a prescription drug importation pilot program for the state Medicaid program to import pharmaceutical drugs from one or more countries approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Update: Assigned to Senate Health and Human Services Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 164 (Senator Brenda Stanley) Modifies language related to participation in a research program or experimental procedures. It requires human subject research to be approved by an accredited institutional review board rather than a local institutional review board. It requires when the patient is incapable of giving informed consent and is a minor that the consent be given by the parent or legal guardian. Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 10-0 Wednesday, February 3. Senate Bill 174 (Senator Dave Rader) Requires a medical laboratory director to possess a bachelor's degree in the chemical, environmental, biological or physical sciences or engineering, with at least a total of 24 college semester credit hours in chemistry or biology and at least two years of experience in the environmental analysis of representative inorganic and organic analytes for which the laboratory will be performing. It permits a master's degree or doctoral degree in one of the disciplines to be substituted for one year of experience. Update: Assigned to Senate Health and Human Services Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 188 (Senator Dave Rader) Clarifies language related to the reporting of diseases. The bill also requires the system of reporting provide for direct reporting by practicing physicians or clinical laboratories to city-county health departments. Update: Assigned to Senate Health and Human Services Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 207 (Senator Jessica Garvin) Authorizes the Oklahoma Health Care Authority Administrator to designate an administrative law judge to perform appeal hearings for those adversely affected by a decision of the authority. Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 11-0 on Monday, February 8. Referred to Full Appropriations Committee. Senate Bill 301 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom) Requires the Chief Medical Examiner to conduct a review of the necessity of the requirement that a medicolegal investigation be conducted on every body that is to be transported out of state. Update: Assigned to Senate Health and Human Services Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 319 (Senator Robert Standridge and Representative Daniel Pae) Exempts from the prohibition furnishing anyone under the age of 21 any cigarettes, cigarette papers, cigars, bidis, snuff, chewing tobacco, or any other form of tobacco product, or vapor products persons performing activities as part of a scientific study being conducted by a research institution for the purpose of medical research to further efforts in cigarette and tobacco use prevention and cessation and tobacco product regulation, provided that such medical research has been approved by a properly accredited institutional review board pursuant to applicable federal regulations. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 11-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Thursday, February 11. Engrossed to House Senate Bill 349 (Senator Greg McCortney) Requires testing centers to make an electronic copy of their current charge description available on the center’s website. The State Department of Health shall maintain a database of comparative pricing for all laboratory or imaging centers in the state. Update: Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. Laid over. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 350 (Senator Warren Hamilton) Prohibits required immunization for all public education. Update: Assigned to Senate Health and Human Services Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 406 (Senator Jessica Garvin) Modifies the definitions of "University Hospital" and "Oklahoma's Children's Hospital." It authorizes the University Hospital’s authority to assign any inpatient and outpatient hospital and clinical facilities, research buildings, facilities or property and any other buildings, facilities or property under its ownership or management and control to University Hospital, Oklahoma Children's Hospital or any other division or entity which is part of University Hospital. Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 11-0 on Monday, February 8. OneNet House Bill 1049 (Representative Dell Kerbs) Requires the Department of Public Safety to provide motor license agents with internet services that operate at adequate transmission speeds to allow the agents to efficiently transact business and transmit data to and from the agency. Update: Passed House Technology Committee 5-1 on Wednesday, February 10. House Bill 1124 (Representative Logan Phillips) Creates the State Broadband Deployment Grant Program to direct competitive grants to applicants seeking to expand broadband internet services and directs the Corporation Commission to create the Rural Broadband Expansion Council to promulgate rules and procedures for the program. Update: Passed House Technology Committee 5-1 on Wednesday, February 24. House Bill 1127 (Representative Logan Phillips) Appropriates $2 million from the FY2021 General Reserve Fund to the Rural Broadband Expansion Council for the purpose of developing and implementing a mapping system as provided in statute. Update: Assigned to House Appropriations and Budget Committee. Reassigned to House Rules Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1132 (Representative Logan Phillips) Deletes the requirement that the Corporation Commission not approve, endorse, forward or file any application for reimbursement submitted pursuant to subsection (h) of Section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, for transmission services requiring a circuit of T-1 or greater capacity unless OneNet is the circuit provider. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House Technology Committee. Passed House Technology Committee 6-0 on Wednesday, February 24. House Bill 1635 (Representative Logan Phillips) Creates a 25 percent tax credit for qualified broadband telecommunications infrastructure. Update: Assigned to House Appropriations and Budget Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2090 (Speaker Charles McCall) Expands the Rural Broadband Expansion Council from 14 to 16 members. One of the additional members would represent a wireless internet service provider and be appointed by the Speaker of the House. The other additional member would represent a Native American tribe and be appointed by the Senate President Pro Temp. Update: Passed House Technology Committee 6-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Emergency Added. House Bill 2928 (Speaker Charles McCall) Directs broadband service providers in the state to submit a report containing their network area coverage map to the Department of Commerce and the Rural Broadband Expansion Council by October 31, 2021. The providers would be required to update this map and report annually. OneNet is also directed to provide mapping of all assets and network coverage. Update: Passed House Technology Committee 6-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Senate Bill 643 (Senator Adam Pugh) Prohibits OneNet from bidding on a contract to provide services to a private sector entity. Update: Assigned to Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 802 (Senator James Leewright) Increases the Rural Broadband Expansion Council by one member to be filled by a tribal leader of this state. Update: Passed Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 12-1 on Thursday, February 18. Open Meetings/Records House Bill 1876 (Representative Tammy West and Senator Brenda Stanley) Specifies what private employee information is not subject to the Open Meeting Act. Update: Passed House General Government Committee 8-0 On Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 82-0 on Thursday, February 18. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2038 (Speaker Charles McCall) Extends the provisions that allows for virtual open meetings until January 31, 2022 Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2644 (Representative Jon Echols) Extends the provisions that allows for virtual open meetings until March 31, 2024 Update: Assigned to House General Government Committee. Laid Over. Passed House General Government Committee 8-0 on Tuesday, February 24. Senate Bill 452 (Senator Julia Kirt) Requires, upon request, any record of a public body that is excepted from confidentiality under the Open Records Act and stored electronically to be provided electronically; provided, a public body will not be required to convert a record that is maintained in a nonelectronic format into an electronic format. Update: Assigned to Senate Judiciary Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 507 (Senator Jo Anna Dossett) Reinstates virtual open meetings provisions until December 31, 2021. Update: Assigned to Senate Judiciary Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 777 (Senator Brent Howard) Allows for virtual meeting pursuant to the Open Meetings Act any time the Governor declares a state of emergency or whenever an in-person meeting is determined to be detrimental to the health and safety of citizens of this state. Update: Assigned to Senate Judiciary Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 919 (Senator John Michael Montgomery) Extends the provisions that allows for virtual open meetings until February 15, 2022. Update: Assigned to Senate Judiciary Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 970 (Senator Kay Floyd) Makes all license or certification public record, excluding an applicant’s personal address, phone number or other personal material. Update: Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Senate Bill 992 (Senator Shane Jett) Makes all license or certification public record, excluding an applicant’s personal address, phone number or other personal material. Update: Assigned to Senate Judiciary Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 1005 (Senator Tom Dugger) Allows open meeting requests to be filled electronically provided a public body is not required to convert a record from a non-electronic format into an electronic one. Update: Assigned to Senate Judiciary Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 1014 (Senator Greg Treat) Removes any private foundation that is affiliated with a university but not supported by public funds from the definition of public body in the open meetings, open records act. Update: Assigned to Senate General Government Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 1031 (Senator Greg Treat and Representative Jon Echols) Extends the provisions that allow for virtual open meetings until the Governor declares the state of emergency to have ended. Update: Assigned to Senate General Government Committee. Withdrawn from General Government Committee. Direct to Calendar. Passed off the Senate Floor as amended by Floor Substitute with a vote of 45-0 on Wednesday, February 3. Direct to House Calendar. Passed off the House Floor 88-5 on Monday, February 8. Signed by Governor Stitt on Wednesday, February 10. Senate Bill 1032 (Senator Greg Treat) Requires livestreaming for virtual open meetings Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 7-0 on Thursday, February 18. Scholarships House Bill 1739 (Representative Sheila Dills) Creates the Connecting Futures Act. It allows the Department of Human Services to, subject to available funding, create a pilot program to address needs of any minors who are separated from their parents or legal guardians, are not supported by their parents or legal guardians and are not in the custody of the Department of Human Services or in the custody of any Indian tribe. It requires the pilot program to allow the Department to provide assistance in securing necessary services to allow eligible minors to become self-reliant and productive citizens. Update: Passed House Children Youth and Family Services Committee 5-0 on Tuesday, February 9. House Bill 1800 (Representative Nicole Miller) Waives the tuition for any undergraduate courses pursued by a member of the Oklahoma National Guard. Update: Assigned to House Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee on Education. Amended to remove fee waiver by unanimous consent. Passed out of the House Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee on Education 13-0 on Monday, February 8. Referred to full House Appropriations and Budget Committee. House Bill 1821 (Representative Toni Hasenbeck) Increases flexibility in the use of Tuition Aid Grants, by removing language directing the Regents for Higher Education to direct tuition aid grants to all eligible applicants, and adding factors to the way the awards are prioritized including: Enrollment status, unmet financial need, continuous enrollment, nearness to degree completion or certificate, state employment needs, and eligibility for other State and institutional funds. Update: Passed House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee with a vote of 9-0 on Monday, February 8. House Bill 1982 (Representative Mark Lepak) Modifies the tax credit cap for scholarship granting entities to allow the cap to increase by 25 percent if the amount is equal or greater than 90 percent the previous year. Update: Assigned to House Appropriations and Budget Committee. Laid Over. Title Stricken. Laid over. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2399 (Representative Todd Russ) Extends the qualification for Oklahoma’s higher learning access program to those students whose parents died after the students tenth grade year, and meet the other financial requirements. Update: Assigned to House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee. Amended by unanimous consent passed to House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. House Bill 2652 (Representative Jon Echols) Creates the Oklahoma Veteran Educational Assistance Act waiving enrollment and tuition fees for all veterans. Update: Assigned to House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 132 (Senator David Bullard) Extends application window for Oklahoma’s Promise to the eleventh grade. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Title Stricken Senate Bill 237 (Senator Dewayne Pemberton) Increases flexibility in the use of Tuition Aid Grants, by removing language directing the Regents for Higher Education to direct tuition aid grants to all eligible applicants, and adding factors to the way the awards are prioritized including: Enrollment status, unmet financial need, continuous enrollment, nearness to degree completion or certificate, state employment needs, and eligibility for other State and institutional funds. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 Tuesday, February 9. Senate Bill 639 (Senator Adam Pugh) Extends qualification for Oklahoma’s Promise to those enrolled in an area that has been identifies as a critical occupation area. Requires the Department of Commerce and the Regents for Higher Education to publish a yearly list between October and June of the critical occupation areas that meet the guidelines. Requires the Regents, in consultation with CareerTech, to identify postsecondary vo-tech programs that correlate to the critical occupation areas. Sets a 5-year completion timeline, requires scholarships to be paid back if the program is not completed. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Senate Bill 663 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Changes Oklahoma’s Higher Learning Access Program to a forgivable loan, allows students attending private schools or those “educated by other means” to apply. Requires the student to graduate within 5 years and remain a resident of the state for 5 years after graduation for the loan to be forgiven. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee then to Senate Appropriations Committee. Teacher Retirement System House Bill 1907 (Representative Jacob Rosecrants) Modifies the Rule of 80 and Post-retirement earnings limitation of those in the Teacher Retirement System. Deletes superfluous language. Update: Assigned to House Banking Financial Services and Pensions Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2189 (Representative Ronny Johns) Modifies period of service required for retirement benefit eligibility. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2293 (Representative Dustin Roberts) modifies the matching of TRS funds to be based only on the member’s regular annual compensation regardless of the source of funds, except federal funding. Update: Passed House Banking Financial Services and Pensions Committee 6-2 on Monday, February 22. House Bill 2302 (Representative Dustin Roberts) Creates the Oklahoma Prosperity Act. It requires each covered employer to be required to offer each employee an opportunity to contribute to an IRA established under the program for the benefit of the employee through withholding from wages. It prohibits employers from contributing to the program. The bill expands the duties of the State Treasurer and establishes provision for contributions to accounts through the program. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2378 (Representative Dean Davis) Adjusts post-retirement provisions of the TRS. Does not allow a retired member to accrue any additional service credits. Update: Assigned to House Banking Financial Services and Pensions Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2379 (Representative Dean Davis) Allows a retired member of the TRS to not be subject to earning limitations for substitute teachings after retirement. Update: Assigned to House Banking Financial Services and Pensions Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2486 (Representative Avery Frix) Terminates the OPERS defined contribution plan created by the Retirement Freedom Act and provides that all state employees will participate in the OPERS defined benefit plan upon November 1, 2022, or the last date required for distribution of the plan account balances. Employees currently participating in the defined contribution plan will be considered 100 percent vested in their account balance as of November 1, 2021, including employer matching amounts and any gains resulting from management of the account, and will have the option to use their account balance to purchase service credit or to transfer their balance to a qualifying retirement plan. Update: Amended by committee substitute. Passed House Rules Committee 7-0 on Thursday, February 25. House Bill 2686 (Representative Toni Hasenbeck) Reduces the years of service to be vested in Oklahoma Teachers Retirement System to 5 years from 7 years. Update: Assigned to House Banking Financial Services and Pensions Committee. Referred to Actuary. Senate Bill 108 (Senator John Michael Montgomery) Permits, beginning Nov. 1, 2021 and every two years thereafter, state pension boards to authorize a cost-of-living benefit allowance increases based on a percentage of the previous two years of social security cost of living adjustment percentage rates combined when certain conditions are met. It prohibits the language from being construed to constitute a property right or a guarantee or pledge of action. Update: Assigned to Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee then to Senate Appropriations Committee. Senate Bill 251 (Senator Carri Hicks) Removes earnings limitations for certain Oklahoma Teachers Retirement System members. Update: Assigned to Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 267 (Senator Dewayne Pemberton) Allows retired educators who have received benefits for at least one year and who have not been employed by a public school during that time to be eligible to be reemployed as an active classroom teacher in common or career tech school district with no limitation on earnings. Update: Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 9-0 on Thursday, February 18. Senate Bill 465 (Senator Frank Simpson) Allows for the purchase of additional military service credits for members of the Public Employees Retirement System. Update: Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Senate Bill 513 (Senator John Michael Montgomery) The Board of Trustees of the Teachers' Retirement System Oklahoma may issue pension obligation bonds; provided, however, the Board may not issue such bonds unless the funded ratio of System falls below eighty percent (80 percent). Update: Assigned to Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 683 (Senator Chris Kidd) Removes the one-year regular employment requirement for full-time non-classified optional personnel to join the TRS. Update: Assigned to Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee. Laid Over. Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 8-1 on Monday, February 22. Senate Bill 694 (Senator Darcy Jech) Raises the limit on allowed earnings from $15,000 to $25,000 for retired members under the age of 62. Update: Assigned to Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 891 (Senator Joe Newhouse) Establishes a defined contribution system for those who first became employed after November 1, 2022. Update: Assigned to Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 914 (Senator Lonnie Paxton) Creates the pension cost-of-living adjustment savings account revolving fund to be used for future COLA. Update: Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 933 (Senator Lonnie Paxton) Gives all teachers who are defined as active classroom teachers meaning they were physically present on school property for at least 130 days and continues to be employed for the 2021-2024 school years, three years of creditable service for the 2020-2021 year. Update: Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 9-0, as amended by Committee Substitute, on Monday, February 22. Senate Bill 973 (Senator Jessica Garvin) Modifies restrictions with respect to post-retirement employment for those in the TRS. Update: Assigned to Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Joint Resolution 18 (Senator Lonnie Paxton) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment that requires any COLA to include funding. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Teacher Certification House Bill 1572 (Representative Jacob Rosecrants) Amends teacher salary bonus for psychologists, speech-language pathologists and audiologists. Update: Assigned to House Appropriations and Budget Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1592 (Representative Melissa Provenzano) Creates the Teach in Oklahoma Act. Grants Oklahoma teachers credit on the salary schedule for teachers with active duty in the military or out-of-state/out-of-country teaching experience. Update: Assigned to House Banking, Financial Services and Pensions Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1593 (Representative Melissa Provenzano) Requires 7th-12th grade teachers to have workplace safety training emphasized into curriculum. The program shall be completed the first year a certified teacher is employed by a school district. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 13-0 Tuesday, February 16. House Bill 1773 (Representative Sherrie Conley) Requires teaching candidates in early childhood elementary, secondary and special education to study the philosophy framework and implementation of a multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) designed to address the core academic and nonacademic needs of all students. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Amended by committee substitute. Passed House Common Education Committee with a vote of 8-1 on Monday, February 8. House Bill 1796 (Representative Nicole Miller) Allows the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Commission for Education Quality and Accountability to grant subject area examination exceptions for initial certification in a field that does not require an advanced degree if the candidate already has an advanced degree in the subject essentially comparable to the content assessed in the examination. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 13-0 on Tuesday, February 9. House Bill 1813 (Representative Meloyde Blancett) Allows student teachers while serving a full-day internship to receive compensation for up to one full school year. Update: Assigned to House Appropriations and Budget Committee. Laid over. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1836 (Representative John Waldron) The State Department of Education shall develop a system to code teacher certification and renewal applications in order to report data on the pathways for teacher certification, including certification. Update: Assigned to House Appropriations and Budget Committee. Laid over. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1837 (Representative John Waldron) Expands the teacher shortage incentive program to include students in any major course of study. Update: Assigned to House Appropriations and Budget Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1838 (Representative John Waldron) Awards a one-time stipend of $4,000 to all eligible students participating in the teacher internship program. Update: Assigned to House Appropriations and Budget Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1840 (Representative John Waldron) Reimburses the testing fee or payment for a competency examination for any teacher who graduates from an in-state institution of higher education. Update: Assigned to House Appropriations and Budget Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2329 (Representative Mark Lawson) Allows the State Board of Education to grant an exception to the certification examination to teacher candidates who are deaf. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 8-0 on Thursday, February 25. House Bill 2692 (Representative Toni Hasenbeck) Creates the Advanced Roles for Teachers and School Leaders Act, makes a new classification of teachers on the minimum salary schedule as a part of a pilot program to promote advanced teaching roles and organizational models. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2693 (Representative Toni Hasenbeck) Updates the name of the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation to the Office of Educational Quality and Accountability. Rewards teachers who are renewing their National Board Certification by awarding them a portion of the renewal application fee. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House Appropriations Committee. Passed House Appropriations Committee 28-0 on Thursday, February 18. House Bill 2748 (Representative Rhonda Baker and Senator Brenda Stanley) Requires the State Board of Education to issue one-year alternative teacher certificates renewable for up to 3 years to teach early childhood education or elementary education if the alternative certified teacher meets certain qualifications. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House floor 86-0 on Thursday, February 18. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2752 (Representative Rhonda Baker) Requires the State Department of Education in coordination with the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability to establish a micro-credential programs for teachers who hold a certificate to complete additional coursework and earn STEM credentials. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Senate Bill 51 (Senator Carri Hicks) Removes the requirement to pass the general education portions of the competency examination for an alternative placement teaching certificate or a teacher certificate. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Senate Bill 52 (Senator Carri Hicks) Increases the minimum salary schedule for teachers. Update: Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. Senate Bill 67 (Senator Frank Simpson) Permits the State Board of Education to grant an exception to the requirements for all certification examinations for teacher candidates who are "deaf." Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 2. Senate Bill 215 (Senator J.J. Dossett) Requires priority status in the Teaching Certification Scholarship Program to be given to teacher candidates who seek to complete the subject area test for English as a second language. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 229 (Senator John Michael Montgomery) Allows the State Board of Education to renew an Emergency or Provisional Teacher Certification for up to five years. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 10-2 on Tuesday, February 23. Title Stricken Senate Bill 245 (Senator Jo Anna Dossett) Gives priority status for receipt of the Teacher Certification Scholarship Program to those who seek to teach disabled or special education students. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 308 (Senator Marty Quinn) Allows a school district to issue teacher certification to those who have “demonstrated content expertise” in corresponding subject areas and grade levels. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 447 (Senator Carri Hicks) Requires the minimum teachers' salary schedule adopted and transmitted by the State Board of Education to include the base salary amounts including the minimum state salary amounts provided in statute and district increments in excess of the minimums and district-paid benefits, such as life, dental, disability, salary protection, vision, cancer and health supplemental insurance. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 701 (Senator Shane Jett) Directs that support employees are entitled to pay for time lost when a school district is closed due to an epidemic. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee then to Senate Appropriations Committee. Laid over. Senate Bill 703 (Senator Adam Pugh) Requires that teachers be granted credit for all years out-of-state teaching experience on the minimum salary schedule. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee then to Senate Appropriations Committee. Weapons on Campus / Gun Laws House Bill 1100 (Representative Jim Olsen) Preempts the entire field of legislation or policies in the state touching firearm and ammunition components. The bill allows the court to require a person, municipality, agency or political subdivision to pay reasonable expenses to the aggrieved party and sets the process for an aggrieved party to provide notice of an unlawful order, policy, ordinance or regulation. Update: Assigned to House Judiciary-Civil Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1101 (Representative Jim Olsen) Allows convicted felons to ride in a vehicle with a pistol, machine gun, toy or air pistol or sawed-off shotgun and clarifies certain language. Update: Assigned to House Judiciary-Civil Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1629 (Representative David Hardin) Preempts any federal, state county or municipal law rule or regulation that orders the confiscation of firearms, firearm accessories of ammunition. Update: Passed House Judiciary-Criminal Committee 7-2 on Wednesday, February 10. House Bill 1630 (Representative David Hardin and Senator Dewayne Pemberton) Modifies the Unlawful Intent to Carry and Penalty Portions of Firearms Act to allow flexibility in punishment upon conviction. Deletes the ability to permanently revoke a handgun license. Amends background checks to remove criminal history records fingerprints and FBI searches on license renewal. Update: Passed House Judiciary-Criminal Committee 8-1 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House floor 78-18 on Monday, February 22. Engrossed to Senate House Bill 1662 (Representative Kevin West) If a defendant claims self-defense the State of Oklahoma must then have to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the defensive force was not justified. Update: Passed House Judiciary-Criminal Committee 7-2 on Wednesday, February 24. House Bill 1673 (Representative Kevin West) Allows the carrying of firearms in bars and restaurants as long as the carrier is not consuming alcoholic beverages. Reduces fines and punishments from $1,000 and two years in prison to $250. Removes the revocation of a handgun license upon violation of this statute. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1897 (Representative Sean Roberts) Allows municipalities by ordinance to authorize all or certain municipal employees to carry concealed firearms. Update: Assigned to House Judiciary-Criminal Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1898 (Representative Sean Roberts) Adds statutory references to the Oklahoma Self Defense Act. Update: Passed House Judiciary - Criminal Committee 3-1 on Thursday, February 25. House Bill 2005 (Representative Tammy Townley) Exempts those acting in self-defense or defending property whether or not they own said property from the law against pointing firearms at people. Makes it legal to be pointing a deadly weapon if you are licensed to own or carry such a weapon. Update: Assigned to House Judiciary - Criminal Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2333 (Representative Jay Steagall) Bans all persons or business entities from making or enforcing a policy that prohibits any person or employee of the business entity, from carrying or storing firearms in a vehicle. Update: Assigned to House Public Safety Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2334 (Representative Jay Steagall) Authorizes the possession of firearms on streets, plazas, sidewalks and alleys. Authorizes open carry on property of nonprofit entities and public trusts. Update: Passed House Public Safety Committee 5-2 on Tuesday, February 23. House Bill 2401 (Representative Todd Russ) Changes the ban on all felons from carrying firearms to a ban on anyone convicted of a specifically classified violent felony from carrying firearms for a period of 5 years. Update: Passed House Judiciary-Criminal Committee 7-2 on Wednesday, February 24. House Bill 2588 (Representative Sean Roberts) Allows a board of education of a school district to adopt a policy to authorize the carrying of a handgun onto school property by school personnel if the person possesses a valid handgun license and meets other requirements authorized by the board of education. Update: Assigned to House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee. Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee 3-1 on Thursday, February 25. House Bill 2645 (Representative Jon Echols) Allows the carrying of firearms in bars and restaurants as long as the carrier is not consuming alcoholic beverages. Reduces fines and punishments from $1,000 and two years in prison to $250. Removes the revocation of a handgun license upon violation of this statute. Update: Assigned to House Public Safety Committee. Reassigned to House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee. Passed House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee 3-1 on Thursday, February 25. Senate Bill 18 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom) Declares any federal, state, county or municipal act, law, executive order, administrative order, court order, rule or regulation ordering the confiscation of firearms, firearm accessories or ammunition from law-abiding citizens of Oklahoma be considered an infringement on the rights of citizens to keep and bear arms as guaranteed by the Second Amendment. Update: Assigned to Senate Public Safety Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 80 (Senator J.J. Dossett) Provides a person employed or operating as an unarmed security guard on or after November 1, 2021, will have 30 days from the date of employment to secure a license issued by the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training pursuant to the Oklahoma Security Guard and Private Investigator Act. Update: Assigned to Senate Public Safety Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 106 (Senator Mark Allen) Defines the term "completed application" within the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act to mean all fields are completed, questions answered and contains all required signatures on the Application for Self-Defense Act License and all required documents including legible fingerprints, if applicable. It removes the 90-day grace period for handgun license renewals. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Friday, February 19. Senate Bill 186 (Senator David Bullard) Removes language that prohibits a person convicted of a felony from operating a motor vehicle or riding as a passenger in a motor vehicle in which there is any pistol, imitation, or homemade pistol, altered air or toy pistol, machine gun, sawed-off shotgun or sawed-of rifle, or any other firearm. It modifies the qualifications for restoring the right to carry a firearm. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 11-0 on Friday, February 19. Senate Bill 442 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Makes its unlawful for any person to carry or use shotguns, rifles or pistols in any circumstances while under the influence of medical marijuana obtained under a valid medical marijuana patient license. It exempts an applicant or licensee in legal possession of a medical marijuana patient license from the preclusion for a person from being eligible for a handgun license pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 11-0 on Friday, February 19. Senate Bill 443 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Authorizes any person in lawful possession of a valid handgun license to enter the Capitol with a handgun upon presentation of the valid handgun license. It provides the bill cannot be construed to authorize a peace or security officer to remove or inspect any handgun or restrain any person carrying a properly concealed loaded or unloaded handgun without probable cause that a crime has been committed. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 451 (Micheal Bergstrom) Modifies language related to self-defense with a firearm. It makes it unlawful for any person to point any pistol, firearm or any other deadly weapon whether loaded or not, at any other person or persons except for persons acting in self-defense or to home or business owners in defense of their private property whether or not they possess a valid handgun license pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act. It adds "occupied premises" to the list of places the Legislature recognizes that the citizens of the State of Oklahoma have a right to expect absolute safety and that a person legally is allowed to defend. Update: Assigned to Senate Public Safety Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 486 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Preempts any federal, state county or municipal law rule or regulation that orders the confiscation of firearms, firearm accessories or ammunition. Update: Assigned to Senate Public Safety Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 631 (Senator Warren Hamilton) Makes Oklahoma a “Second Amendment Sanctuary State” pre-empting any legislation or rule at any level that would infringe upon the right to bear arms. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Monday, February 22. Senate Bill 644 (Senator Blake Stephens) Allows municipalities to, by ordinance, authorize all or certain municipal employees to carry concealed firearms. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 10-1 on Friday, February 19. Senate Bill 645 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom) Allows municipalities to, by ordinance, authorize all or certain municipal employees to carry concealed firearms. Update: Assigned to Senate Public Safety Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 646 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom) Allows the carrying of firearms in bars and restaurants as long as the carrier is not consuming alcoholic beverages. Reduces fines and punishments from $1,000 and two years in prison to $250. Removes the revocation of a handgun license upon violation of this statute. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Monday, February 22. Title Stricken. Senate Bill 672 (Senator Casey Murdock) Allows unmitigated transport of firearms for any person not otherwise prohibited from purchasing or carrying firearms. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Friday, February 19. Senate Bill 711 (Senator John Haste) Adds county owned buildings to the locations a sheriff may authorize certain employees to carry a firearm. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Friday, February 19. Senate Bill 730 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Bans any person, property owner, tenant, employer, or business entity from establishing or enforcing any rule that prohibits transporting carrying or storing firearms. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Monday, February 22. Senate Bill 732 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Allows anyone whose Second Amendment rights are violated to bring a lawsuit against any order or regulation or other political subdivision of the state. Defines responsibilities of the court in such a case. Update: Assigned to Senate Public Safety Committee. Laid Over. Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Monday February, 22. Senate Bill 733 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Deletes exclusion of Higher Education and CareerTech campuses from the open carry law. Allows anyone in possession of a valid handgun license to carry a concealed weapon on a college campus. Update: Assigned to Senate Public Safety Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 759 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom) Renames the Oklahoma Firearms Act and the Oklahoma Self Defense Act under the same umbrella of the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act of 2021. Update: Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 763 (Senator David Bullard) Allows first responders employed by a county or municipality, who possess a valid handgun license issued pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act, to be authorized to carry a concealed handgun when acting in the course and scope of employment. Update: Assigned to Senate Public Safety Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 767 (Senator David Bullard) Allows superintendents to authorize anyone with a valid handgun license and has demonstrated proficiency in handgun training and campus-specific active shooter training to carry weapons on school grounds. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-1 on Monday, February 22. Title Stricken Senate Bill 925 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Modifies language related to self-defense with a firearm. It adds "occupied premises" to the list of places the Legislature recognizes that the citizens of the State of Oklahoma have a right to expect absolute safety and that a person legally is allowed to defend. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Friday, February 19. Senate Bill 926 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Extends the firearms law preemption to air powered pistols Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 22. Senate Joint Resolution 21 (Senator David Bullard) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment prohibiting any future legislation, taxation or rules that would infringe upon Second Amendment rights. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Workforce Development House Bill 1582 (Representative Micky Dollens) Creates the Oklahoma Military to Machinists Act. Requires the Governor’s Council for Workforce and Economic Development to develop and operate a pilot program with selected workforce development boards to be known as the Military Machinists Program for Veterans. Update: Assigned to House Appropriations and Budget Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1586 (Representative Mickey Dollens) Creates a tax credit for each qualified apprentice employed by eligible employers for at least 7 years. Requires the Governor’s Council for Workforce and Economic Development in coordination with the Oklahoma Department of Commerce to create standards for participation and eligibility. Update: Assigned to House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1899 (Representative Sean Roberts) Removes the stipulation in the Quality Jobs Act that the incentive payments cannot go to an employee or independent contractor for an athletic contest conducted in the state. Update: Assigned to House Appropriations and Budget Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1981 (Representative Mark Lepak) Creates a Universal Licensing Recognition Act. Allows a person living in Oklahoma to apply for licensing or certification if there is no conflict with any interstate compact or state-to-state reciprocity or equivalency agreement as determined by the Oklahoma regulatory entity. The bill requires the person to show proof of residency or be married to and accompanying an active duty member of the military stationed in Oklahoma, be currently licensed or certified by another state with a similar scope of work through a substantially similar examination, have minimum education requirement and, if applicable, professional work experience, education training and clinical supervision requirements. Update: Passed House Business and Commerce Committee 9-2 on Wednesday, February 24. House Bill 2860 (Representative Kevin Wallace) Creates the Oklahoma Remote Quality Jobs Inventive Act. Provides for the Department of Commerce and the Oklahoma Tax Commission to create policy’s attracting growth industries that employ remote workers. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 29-0 on Wednesday, February 24. House Bill 2929 (Speaker Charles McCall) Requires the Department of Commerce to post on its website information related to its business recruiting efforts with an emphasis on possible business site locations or relocation decisions within the state. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 9-2 on Wednesday, February 24. Senate Bill 71 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom) Modifies language related to the Department of Commerce's requirement to promulgate rules for the administration of the Oklahoma Local Development and Enterprise Zone Incentive Leverage Act. It requires the rules establish reporting requirements for successful applicants which allow data collection and analysis by the department on employment, capital investment, changes in assessed value of a project and other impacts resulting from payments and reporting of data by the department to the Oklahoma Tax Commission. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 10-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Senate Bill 72 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom) Repeals the Oklahoma Research and Development Incentives Act. Update: Assigned to Senate Finance Committee then to Senate Appropriations Committee. Senate Bill 82 (Senator David Bullard) Instructs the Department of Corrections to create a “Future of Oklahoma Industry and Labor (FOIL) Report" that analyzes and describes the current and predictable trends of the jobs, industries and labor workforce in this state. Update: Assigned to Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 161 (Senator George Young) Implements a $10 state minimum wage. It requires employers to pay the greater of the state or federal minimum wage. Update: Assigned to Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee then to Senate Appropriations Committee. Senate Bill 211 (Senator Tom Dugger) Modifies the powers and duties of the Oklahoma Board of Private Vocational Schools. It permits a school to be accredited by an accrediting organization approved by the U.S. Department of Education for multiple years, and to obtain a sustained license annually during the period of the multi-year accreditation. It modifies the fees the board may assess. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Title Stricken. Passed Senate Education Committee 10-2 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 20-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Senate Bill 332 (Senator Mary Boren) Sets the state minimum wage at $8.50 per hour beginning Jan. 1, 2022; $9.75 per hour beginning Jan. 1. 2023; $11 per hour beginning Jan. 1, 2024; $13 per hour beginning Jan. 1, 2025; and $15 per hour beginning Jan 1. 2026. It requires, beginning Jan. 1, 2027 and each Jan. 1 thereafter, that the state minimum wage increase according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) percentage increase from the prior year. Update: Assigned to Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee then to Senate Appropriations Committee. Senate Bill 520 (Senator Julia Kirt) Requires the Oklahoma Office of Workforce Development to provide training that combines instruction at a worksite during paid employment with a classroom education. Update: Assigned to Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 542 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Creates the “Right to Earn a Living” stating that all Oklahoma regulations be limited to those demonstrably necessary and carefully tailored to fulfill legitimate public health, safety or welfare objectives. Update: Assigned to Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 587 (Senator Chuck Hall) Adds the delivery of industry focused instruction from Common Education, CareerTech or Higher Education to the definitions in the Oklahoma Community Economic Development Pooled Finance Act. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Senate Bill 620 (Senator David Bullard) Requires every public school district to designate an industry day for students in 9-12th grade to explore career opportunities available within the state. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 936 (Senator Chuck Hall) Combines the various quality jobs programs under the Oklahoma Quality Jobs Program Act. Update: Passed Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 11-1 on Thursday, February 11. Passed Senate Appropriations and Budget 20-0 on Thursday, February 18. Thank you. Glen Glen D. Johnson Chancellor Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education 655 Research Parkway, Suite 200 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104 405.225.9122 gjohnson at osrhe.edu follow us on Twitter @okhighered [cid:image005.jpg at 01D70D13.DFF71290] [cid:image006.jpg at 01D70D13.DFF71290] -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image005.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 2044 bytes Desc: image005.jpg URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image006.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 1893 bytes Desc: image006.jpg URL: From matt.short at okstate.edu Mon Mar 1 15:15:59 2021 From: matt.short at okstate.edu (Short, Matt) Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2021 21:15:59 +0000 Subject: [Oasfaa] Job Opening Message-ID: OSUIT in Okmulgee, OK has an opening for a Financial Aid Counselor. For more information and to apply, use the link below. Please supply a resume and cover letter for full consideration. We are a Banner institution and highly automated for processing financial aid. https://okstate.csod.com/ats/careersite/JobDetails.aspx?site=8&id=8889 Sincerely, [OSUIT Logo 2019] Matt Short Director Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships OSU Institute of Technology | 1801 E. 4th Street | Okmulgee, OK 74447 P 918.293.5222 | F 918.293.4650 www.osuit.edu NEVER SEND SENSITIVE INFORMATION SUCH AS SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS VIA EMAIL. The most secure way to return documents to the financial aid office is through the secure upload link on the student's banner portal. Students can go to my.okstate.edu. Click on the "Self Service" icon, click on the "Financial Aid" tab. The secure upload is the first link. For agencies without access to the secure upload, please fax to 918-293-4650. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 12761 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: From diana.sanders at okstate.edu Mon Mar 1 16:01:48 2021 From: diana.sanders at okstate.edu (Sanders, Diana) Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2021 22:01:48 +0000 Subject: [Oasfaa] FREE Corporate Sponsor March Training sessions - from Ascendium Education In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: HEY OASFAA!!!! More FREE Professional Development and Training opportunities! ________________________________ Hello OASFAA, Ascendium Education is pleased to announce its March training schedule. You’re invited to attend any of the complimentary sessions listed here – please follow the date link to register. [cid:image002.png at 01D70B6C.B12E8B30] SmartSessions® provide free, online training on important professional development, student success, and default management topics. Presented by certified trainers with decades of experience, our training sessions keep you a step ahead in an ever-changing world. Register for your session(s) of choice by following the date link. Handling Unpleasant Conversations Whether you’re working with a student, parent or colleague, there are times when conversations may not be pleasant. Handling them involves more than keeping a smile and maintaining a good attitude—it requires the use of strategies and practice. During this interactive session, we’ll share proven techniques to help you prevent and manage unpleasant discussions. Date: Tuesday, March 9 at 11:00 A.M. CST Retooling Your Time Management to Work for You Most of us have more work to do than there are hours in a day—and we try to manage time efficiently so that we can be productive. However, when you’re understaffed and have conflicting demands and a never-ending list of tasks to complete, managing time can be challenging. Attend this session to learn strategies for retooling your time management such as chunking, blocking, and the Eisenhower Principle. Date: Tuesday, March 16 at 11:00 A.M. CDT The Student Loan Repayment Checklist Many borrowers leave school without a plan for repaying their student loan debt. With everything going on at the end of their college careers, it’s not unusual for important student loan information to be missed during online exit counseling. You can help prepare your borrowers by providing them with a student loan repayment checklist. During this session, we’ll share those essential items that can make the transition to repayment a successful one. Date: Tuesday, March 30 at 11:00 A.M. CDT Uniting Personalities for a Positive Work Environment Everyone’s perspective and behavior are based upon their experiences, thoughts, and emotions. There are times when personalities clash, disagreements occur, and morale is diminished. Appreciating what makes a person “tick” can have a positive impact in the workplace. Join us to enhance your understanding of personalities in the workplace and ways to unite for better relationships. Date: Wednesday, March 31 at 2:00 P.M. CDT -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image002.png Type: image/png Size: 12133 bytes Desc: image002.png URL: From lori.boyd at okstate.edu Thu Mar 4 10:39:52 2021 From: lori.boyd at okstate.edu (Boyd, Lori) Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2021 16:39:52 +0000 Subject: [Oasfaa] Pell Grant Recipients Eligible for Federal Internet Subsidy During Pandemic Message-ID: Good morning. The information below was in the NASFAA News this morning. Pell Grant Recipients Eligible for Federal Internet Subsidy During Pandemic [https://www.nasfaa.org/uploads/images/Logos/Covid_19_tn.png] The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently announced a program to help those struggling to pay for internet amid the pandemic, stating that a household is eligible to receive the benefit if one member of the household received a federal Pell Grant during the current award year, among other possible criteria for eligibility. Under the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, eligible households can receive up to $50 per month to help pay for broadband internet service. Written or electronic confirmation from a student's school that the individual is a Pell Grant recipient will serve as verification for the program, or a student's financial aid award letter documenting the amount of their Pell Grant award received for the current year. A copy of a student's paid invoice that shows the student's receipt of a Pell Grant during the current award year or a copy of the student's Student Aid Report will all serve as proper documentation, according to the notice from the FCC. [cid:image001.png at 01D5373C.65A18FB0] LORI BOYD ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF FISCAL OPERATIONS Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid 405.744.8730 * 119 Student Union * finaid.okstate.edu [cid:image010.png at 01D5373D.52894C00] -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image002.png Type: image/png Size: 61363 bytes Desc: image002.png URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image006.png Type: image/png Size: 26212 bytes Desc: image006.png URL: From lori.boyd at okstate.edu Thu Mar 4 10:41:03 2021 From: lori.boyd at okstate.edu (Boyd, Lori) Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2021 16:41:03 +0000 Subject: [Oasfaa] CLASP Webinar: How Financial Aid Administrators Can Help Students Enroll in SNAP During the COVID-19 Crisis Message-ID: CLASP Webinar: How Financial Aid Administrators Can Help Students Enroll in SNAP During the COVID-19 Crisis Last December, lawmakers temporarily expanded SNAP student eligibility rules to make more students eligible for SNAP during the COVID-19 public health crisis. Financial aid administrators and colleges have a unique opportunity to reach out to newly eligible students and to help them enroll in SNAP over the coming months. During a webinar on Wednesday, March 10 at 2:00 p.m. ET, experts from the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) and from various states will share the best practices for reaching out to college students about their eligibility for SNAP. Presenters will provide an overview of SNAP student eligibility rules, student hunger, and will present models from California, Massachusetts, and New Jersey for providing outreach and easing the SNAP application process for students. Register now. [cid:image001.png at 01D5373C.65A18FB0] LORI BOYD ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF FISCAL OPERATIONS Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid 405.744.8730 * 119 Student Union * finaid.okstate.edu [cid:image010.png at 01D5373D.52894C00] -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image005.png Type: image/png Size: 61388 bytes Desc: image005.png URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image006.png Type: image/png Size: 26212 bytes Desc: image006.png URL: From TLehrling at se.edu Thu Mar 4 16:10:15 2021 From: TLehrling at se.edu (Tony D. Lehrling) Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2021 22:10:15 +0000 Subject: [Oasfaa] FCC Emergency Broadband program Message-ID: I received this from my IT department. I know very little about it, but I thought I would share it. Tony L. Southeastern Oklahoma State Univ. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: FCC Subsidy Fact Sheet.docx Type: application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document Size: 18676 bytes Desc: FCC Subsidy Fact Sheet.docx URL: From bfair at osrhe.edu Mon Mar 8 16:14:47 2021 From: bfair at osrhe.edu (Fair, Bryce) Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2021 22:14:47 +0000 Subject: [Oasfaa] =?windows-1252?q?FW=3A_Legislative_Update_=96_March_6=2C?= =?windows-1252?q?_2021?= In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <5faa2b0017494475b2f945946f5a2b95@osrhe.edu> Following is the legislative update for last week. Several financial aid-related bills have been passed out of committee and a few have already passed on the floor in their house of origin (see the “Scholarships” section). Bills that were not passed out of committee have been removed from the list. The next deadline for bills to pass on the floor of their house of origin is this Thursday, March 11. Bryce Fair OKLAHOMA STATE REGENTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION Memo To: Higher Education Network From: Chancellor Glen D. Johnson Date: Saturday, March 6, 2021 Subject: Legislative Update – March 6, 2021 The update below reflects the major legislation concerning Higher Education. If you have any questions, please contact LeeAnna McNally, Vice Chancellor for Governmental Relations, at lmcnally at osrhe.edu or (405) 301-0332. Legislative Report March 6, 2021 Agency Administration House Bill 1090 (Representative Gerrid Kendrix and Senator Brent Howard) Allows the State Auditor and Inspector General to perform audits and inspections of government entities without authorization from the Governor, the Chief Executive Officer of a government entity, or a joint or concurrent resolution of the Legislature. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House General Government Committee. Passed House General Government Committee 7-0 on Wednesday, February 17. Passed off the House Floor 91-0 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1126 (Representative Logan Phillips) Requires employers who engage in any type of electronic email monitoring of employee accounts to give written notice to all employees prior to any monitoring electronic mail communication. Update: Passed House Business and Commerce Committee 10-0 on Wednesday, February 10. House Bill 1602 (Representative Collin Walke and Senator John Michael Montgomery) The bill entitles a consumer to request that a business that collects the consumer's personal information disclose to the consumer the categories and specific items of personal information the business has collected. It establishes a requirement for the consumer to request the information. It establishes procedures for the business to disclose the information. Update: Passed House Technology Committee 6-0 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 85-11 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1787 (Representative Daniel Pae) Authorizes state agencies to pay employees in an on-call status. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 7-0 on Thursday, February 25. House Bill 1888 (Representative Danny Williams) Bans all public bodies from conducting any form of gender or sexual diversity training or counseling. Allows for sexual harassment prevention training. Any body that violates this law will be denied any source of public funding. Update: Passed House General Government Committee 6-2 on Wednesday, February 10. Amended by Committee Substitute. Laid Over. House Bill 1875 (Representative Tammy West and Senator Brenda Stanley) Permits each educational institution to choose to designate specific information which will be classified as directory information for students attending the educational institution. Update: Passed House General Government Committee 8-0 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 92-0 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate House Bill 1921 (Representative Ryan Martinez) Modifies the authority of OMES to designate quarters for every department of state government provided no department shall be assigned quarters that results in the relocation of a department’s employees or relocation of the performance of duties imposed upon such department by law. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Laid Over. Passed House Rules Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Emergency added. House Bill 1986 (Representative Judd Strom) Requires any state agency that owns, operates or leases land in the state that is utilized for livestock grazing to enclose the area with a fence or another suitable means for the portion that contains livestock, as well as maintaining the enclosure. The bill allows the state agency to enter into a labor cost-sharing contract with adjacent landowner provided the landowner is not otherwise responsible for the cost of the enclosure or its maintenance. Update: Passed House Agriculture and Rural Development Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 16. House Bill 2085 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator David Bullard) Requires the Office of Management and Enterprise Services to display the national motto of the United States in a prominently visible location in all state buildings. The bill authorizes the Oklahoma Attorney General to prepare and present a legal defense of the display. Update: Passed House States’ Rights Committee 5-1 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 81-19 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2088 (Speaker Charles McCall) Exempts the legislature and judicial branches of state government from any and all fees or costs for services rendered by state agencies. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 16. House Bill 2180 (Representative Ronny Johns and Senator Greg McCortney) Removes requirements for making payroll deductions for certain insurance premiums with a minimum participation of 500 state employees. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House Insurance Committee. Passed House Insurance Committee 7-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 82-12 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2185 (Representative Ronny Johns and Greg McCortney) Modifies the requirements of publications on contracts awarded by state agencies to include the address of the company and the reason to be awarded the contract. Deletes explanations on the out of state ownership percentage of contracted companies. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House Government Modernization and Efficiency Committee. Passed Government Modernization and Efficiency Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 88-3 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2294 (Representative Dustin Roberts) Deletes the ability for employees to accumulate more than the maximum annual leave. Update: Passed House General Government Committee 8-0 on Wednesday, February 10. Senate Bill 41 (Senator Greg McCortney and Representative Ronny Johns) Modifies the requirements for state employee payroll deductions for private insurance organizations and service companies that provide legal services. It removes the requirement that the organizations and service companies that provide legal services be regulated by the State Insurance Commissioner and have a minimum participation of 500 state employees. Update: Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 9-0 on Thursday, February18. Title Restored. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-0 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 63 (Senator John Michael Montgomery and Representative Avery Frix) Removes language related to the State Government Reduction-in-Force and Severance Benefits Act that requires an employee to repay all severance benefits on a proportional basis if an affected employee is reemployed by the agency from which separated as a result of a reduction-in-force Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 9-0 on Thursday, February 11. Passed off the Senate Floor 31-15 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 282 (Senator Frank Simpson) Amends Section 840-2.20 of the Oklahoma Personnel Act to allow for a temporary increase in the accumulation limits for annual leave following an emergency declaration period, which shall carryover to the end of the fiscal year following the year in which the emergency declaration ended. increase and carryover of annual leave time Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 9-0 on Thursday, February 4. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Thursday, February 18. Senate Bill 299 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom and Representative Mark Lepak) Allows for cooperative “piggybacking” purchase agreements between state agencies including on public construction contracts. Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 7-2 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the Senate Floor 36-8 on Thursday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 333 (Senator Frank Simpson and Representative Tammy Townley) Amends Section 840-2.15 of the Oklahoma Personnel Act to allow for a temporary increase in the accumulation limits for compensatory time following an emergency declaration period, which shall carryover to the end of the fiscal year following the year in which the emergency declaration ended. increase and carryover of annual leave time. Update: Assigned to Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee. Reassigned to House General Government Committee. Passed House General Government Committee 8-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-1 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 403 (Senator Brenda Stanley and Representative Robert Manger) Makes it unlawful for any person, alone or in concert with others and without authorization, to willfully disturb, interfere or disrupt business of any political subdivision, which includes publicly posted meetings, or any political subdivision. Update: Assigned to Senate Public Safety Committee. Amended to make the bill an Emergency. Passed Public Safety Committee with a vote of 11-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the Senate Floor 36-9 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 459 (Senator Lonnie Paxton) Amends the Standards for Workplace Drug and Alcohol testing in light of medical marijuana. Update: Passed Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 10-3 on Thursday, February 18. Senate Bill 484 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Allows the Legislature to approve or disapprove any agency implementation of a federal rule or law. Requires state agencies to send their interpretation of any rule or regulation before implementation. Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 10-1 on Thursday, February 25. Senate Bill 650 (Senator Kim David) Provides a 2 percent increase to the amount of a participant’s benefit allowance from the amount provided in the previous plan year. Update: Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 8-1 on Thursday, February 18. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 18-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Senate Bill 794 (Senator James Leewright) Requires that if the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission or its representative determines that an individual has been overpaid unemployment benefits to provisions therein relating to administrative overpayment, the individual must be sent a notice of overpayment determination. It allows that if the individual disagrees with this determination, said individual can file an appeal of the determination with the Appeal Tribunal within 10 days after the date of mailing. Update: Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee and Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee. Passed Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 12-0 on Thursday, February 11. Senate Bill 829 (Senator Casey Murdock) Requires state agencies who have jurisdiction over parcels of land containing 80 or more acres of contiguous land to fence it. Update: Assigned to Senate General Government Committee. Reassigned to Senate Agriculture and Wildlife Committee. Passed Senate Agriculture and Wildlife 12-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 13-7 on Monday, March 1. Senate Bill 895 (Senator Paul Rosino) Allows state agencies to choose to have required audits performed by a public accountant or certified public accountant registered to do business with the state. Update: Assigned to Senate Finance Committee. Reassigned to House General Government Committee. Passed House General Government Committee 7-2 on Thursday, February 18. Senate Bill 924 (Senator Greg Treat) Creates a state data definition and gives OMES the authority to determine when state data is allowed to be shared between agencies or with federal entities if a request to share is initially rejected. Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 6-0 on Thursday, February 18. Senate Bill 984 (Senator Kim David) Prohibits an agency or official of the executive branch from entering into a contingency fee contract that provides for the private attorney or firm to receive an aggregate contingency fee that exceeds amounts specified therein. It prohibits the total fee payable to all retained private attorneys in any contingency fee contract from exceeding $50 million exclusive of any costs and expenses provided by the contract and actually incurred by the retained private attorneys, regardless of the number of actions or proceedings or the number of retained private attorneys involved in the matter. Update: Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 7-2 on Tuesday, February 23. Senate Concurrent Resolution 2 (Senator Rob Standridge) Requires the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to submit a report to the Legislature and to make the report available on its website by December 31, 2021, that includes a list of all persons employed in a faculty or teaching position including their position rank at their respective institutions within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education and their compensation during the 2020-2021 academic year; a list of the courses taught and the hours taught by persons employed in a faculty or teaching position at institutions within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education during the 2020-2021 academic year; the tenure policy of each institution within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education for the 2020-2021 academic year; and the number of faculty employed by each institution within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education who had tenure during the 2020-2021 academic year. Update: Not assigned to committee. Budget Bills House Bill 1665 (Representative Kevin West and Senator Chuck Hall) Creates a Federal Funds Holding Account within the General Revenue Fund to receive all funds required to be paid to the State of Oklahoma. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 20-10 on Wednesday, February 24, Title Stricken. Passed off the House Floor 86-12 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1990 (Representative Trey Caldwell) Allows ad valorem reimbursement fund to be used to reimburse counties for loss of revenue. Update: Assigned to House Appropriations and Budget Committee. Direct to Appropriations Committee. Passed House Appropriations Committee 28-0 Thursday, February 18. Passed off the House Floor 65-30 on Tuesday, March 2 House Bill 2086 (Speaker Charles McCall) Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services to ensure state agencies are charged no more than the actual cost of the services provided by the Office. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 9-0 Tuesday, February 16. House Bill 2775 (Representative John Pfeiffer and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Adds to the definition of “Cost Approach” in the ad valorem tax code to include physical deterioration, functional or internal obsolescence, and economic or external obsolescence. Update: Passed House County and Municipal Government Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 22. Passed off the House Floor 92-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2776 (Representative John Pfeiffer) Creates the Ad Valorem School District Support Revolving Fund which shall consist of all ad valorem funds under protest received by the State Department of Education (SDE). The SDE may distribute this money to school districts which are affected by protested ad valorem taxes. Update: Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed House Rules Committee 7-2 on Thursday, February 25. House Bill 2777 (Representative John Pfeiffer) Allows for wind power valuation for real property and personal property in the ad valorem tax code. Update: Passed House County and Municipal Government Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 22. House Bill 2780 (Representative John Pfeiffer) Allows the Oklahoma Tax Commission to garnish accrued earnings of a delinquent taxpayer by contacting the taxpayer’s employer. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 27-3 on Wednesday, February 24. House Joint Resolution 1001 (Representative Andy Fugate) Proposes a vote of the people on a constitutional amendment that changes the way the maximum Constitutional Reserve (Rainy Day) Fund balance amount would be computed. It would require the maximum balance allowed be based on a percentage of total state expenditures instead of using revenue estimates provided by the State Board of Equalization for the annual appropriations process. It would provide that total expenditures include all appropriated monies and federal funds. It would exclude from total expenditures money from revolving funds which are used by state agencies, fees or similar charges that were not derived from tax revenue, and money obtained by issuing state government bonds. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 9-0 Tuesday, February 16. Senate Bill 79 (Senator Roger Thompson and Representative Kevin West) Exempts from sales tax the transfer of tangible personal property to or by nonprofit 501(c)(3) entities that have entered into a joint operating agreement with the University Hospitals Trust. Update: Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. Amended to provide an effective date of July 1, 2022. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee as amended 20-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-1 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 181 (Senator Zack Taylor and Representative Brad Boles) Permits more than one-half of ad valorem taxes to be paid by January 1 of each year. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 12-0 Tuesday, February 2. Passed off Senate Floor 46-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 383 (Senator Robert Standridge) Establishes that the owner or operator of a social media website who contracts with users in Oklahoma is subject to a private right of action by a social media website user if the social media website purposely deletes or censors a social media website user’s political speech or religious speech or uses an algorithm to suppress political speech or religious speech. Update: Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 5-3 on Tuesday, February 23. Senate Bill 498 (Senator Roger Thompson) Permits a facility engaged in cement manufacturing to have the payroll requirements of the five-year ad valorem tax exemption waived for tax year 2021, which is based in part on the 2020 calendar year payroll reported to the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission and permits it to continue to receive the exemption for the five-year period only if all other requirements of this section are met. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Referred to Full Appropriations Committee. Laid over. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 18-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Senate Bill 609 (Senator Chuck Hall and Representative Kyle Hilbert) Extends the ad valorem tax exemption to manufacturing facilities, doubles the acquisition or expansion limit. Adds definitions to manufacturing facilities. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 11-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 33-1 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 753 (Senator Brent Howard) For any property acquired by a governmental entity operating as a trust, after the effective date of this act, the trust shall annually make in lieu of tax payments an amount equal to the ad valorem assessed against the property immediately prior to purchase by the trust. Update: Assigned to Senate Finance Committee. Title Stricken. Passed Senate Finance Committee 10-1 on Tuesday, February 9. Senate Bill 771 (Senator Blake Stephens) Creates the Tax Collection Modernization Act allowing each county treasurer in their sole discretion to let taxpayers make payments on the total amount of tax due, and holding these payments on trust until the amount is sufficient to pay the total due. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 11-0 on Friday, February 19. Title Stricken. Senate Bill 906 (Senator Casey Murdock) Provides allowances for depreciation of value in ad valorem tax consideration. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 9-2 on Friday, February 19. Senate Joint Resolution 14 (Senator Joe Newhouse) Puts to a vote of the people increasing the cap on the Constitutional Reserve Fund from 15 percent to 30 percent. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Senate Joint Resolution 16 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom) Changes the way maximum balance allowed for the rainy-day fund from using the Board of Equalization estimates to a percentage of a total of the state expenditures for the previous year including all state and federal funds. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. CareerTech House Bill 1026 (Representative Rande Worthen) Allows CLEET to establish and certify additional law enforcement and criminal justice programs at state-supported technology center schools in the State of Oklahoma operating under the State Board of Career and Technology Education for teaching students between 16 and 19 years of age. Update: Passed House Public Safety Committee 7-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Common Education House Bill 1027 (Representative Trish Ranson and Senator Brenda Stanley) Requires de-escalation training for certified teachers, beginning in the 2022-2023 school year. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 13-0 on Tuesday, February 16. Passed off the House Floor 81-11 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1046 (Representative Dell Kerbs and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Requires a copy or a hyperlink to a copy of the most recent audit of the financial statements of a school district to be on the front page of the school district website for public inspection. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor as amended 95-0 on Wednesday, March. 3 Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1073 (Representative Tom Gann and Senator Nathan Dahm) Extends the sunset date for the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness Board until July 1, 2024. Update: Passed House Administrative Rules Committee 10-0 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 89-2 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1103 (Representative Mark Vancuren) Directs the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and the State Education Department to create a set of guidelines and provide directions to schools in order to survey every public and private school student in grades 6,8,10 and 12 with the Oklahoma Prevention Needs Assessment Survey every other year beginning in the 2022-2023 school year. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 16. House Bill 1104 (Representative Mark Vancuren and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Requires information on a student's tribal affiliation to be included in student data collected for the state. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee on 12-0 Tuesday, February 16. Passed off the House Floor 94-0 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1568 (Representative Jeff Boatman and Senator John Haste) Creates Maria’s Law requiring collaboration with the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to adopt standards and approve age-appropriate curriculum for K-12 students as a part of normal health education curriculum. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 84-10 with Title Stricken on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1569 (Representative Jacob Rosecrants) Creates the Oklahoma Play to Learn Act. States that the intention of the Legislature is to focus on the importance of child-centered, play-based learning. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 9. House Bill 1775 (Representative Sherrie Conley and Senator Jessica Garvin) Creates Riley's Rule, a requirement that each athletic and practice facility create an emergency action plan. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Laid Over. Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the House Floor 93-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1963 (Representative Jadine Nollan and Senator Brenda Stanley) If vacancies occur which result in a loss of majority members of the board of education of a school district or technology center school district, the Governor shall appoint a member or members necessary to constitute a quorum to the board of education. Update: Assigned to House Elections and Ethics Committee. Laid Over. Passed House Elections and Ethics Committee 7-0 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the House Floor 80-16 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1968 (Representative Jadine Nollan and Senator Brenda Stanley) Deletes expenditure and program classification reporting requirements for certain gifted and talented programs. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 13-0 on Monday, February 8. Referred to full House Appropriations Committee. Laid Over. Passed House Appropriations Committee 30-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the Senate Floor 80-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2030 (Representative Terry O’Donnell) Adds passing the Naturalization test to high school graduation requirements. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 11-3 on Tuesday, February 16. House Bill 2223 (Representative Randy Randleman) Requires the Oklahoma State Department of Education to maintain a dyslexia information handbook. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 9. House Bill 2381 (Representative Danny Sterling and Senator Frank Simpson) Directs local school districts to conduct an annual fitness assessment. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 22-9 on Wednesday, February 25. Title Stricken. Passed off the House Floor 57-37 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2388 (Representative John Talley and Senator Tom Dugger) Asks school districts to provide age-appropriate instruction about social-emotional learning. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House Common Education Committee. Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 70-22 on Wednesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2396 (Representative Todd Russ and Senator Brenda Stanley) Asks the board of education to adopt a policy regarding sex trafficking and exploitation prevention. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House Floor 86-6 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2462 (Representative Dick Lowe and Senator Brent Howard) Allows the State Department of Education to enter into contracts and agreements for the payment of food, lodging and other expenses necessary to host or participate in conferences and training sessions. Update: Passed House General Government Committee 7-0 on Wednesday, February 17. Passed off the House Floor 86-5 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2547 (Representative Preston Stinson) Requires media timeouts at high school sporting events which are being broadcast. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Reassigned to House Rules Committee. Passed House Rules Committee 6-0 on Thursday, February 25. House Bill 2662 (Representative Dick Lowe and Senator Dave Rader) Creates the Seizure Safe Schools Act requiring each local school district to have at least one school employee at each school who has met certain seizure safe training requirements. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Amended to change from a Shall to a May. Passed House Common Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 16. Author change. Passed off the House Floor 95-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2727 (Representative Ajay Pittman) Requires subject to the availability of funds that there be a basic life skills education curriculum taught in public schools. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. House Bill 2749 (Representative Rhonda Baker and Senator Adam Pugh) Requires schools that receive more than $2,500 from the Reading Proficiency Act to spend at least 10 percent on professional development for Pre-k-5 grade teachers. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday February 16. Passed off the House Floor 90-5 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Joint Resolution 1026 (Representative Anthony Moore) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment that removes debt limits for school districts. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. House Joint Resolution 1029 (Representative Monroe Nichols) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment that authorizes a school district to raise an additional $5 million levy on taxable property within the district if approved by the majority of district voters. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. House Joint Resolution 1033 (Representative Chad Caldwell) Puts to a vote of the people a requirement that a school spends at least 60 percent of its annual budget on instructional expenditures. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Senate Bill 2 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom and Representative Toni Hasenbeck) Clarifies and expands the duties of the School Finance Review Commission to conduct a review of all matters related to school finance, including but not limited to teacher compensation and benefits; administrative costs, including administrative functions that may be shared between districts; opportunities for school districts to be operated in a cost effective manner; variances in per pupil and administrative expenditures among school districts with comparable enrollment, demographics and outcomes on statewide assessments; and expenditures not directly or sufficiently related to improving student outcomes. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 38-8 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 13 (Senator Brenda Stanley and Representative Rhonda Baker) Requires a teacher whose certificate is suspended by the State Board of Education to be placed on suspension while proceedings for revocation or other action are pending before the State Board of Education. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 21 (Senator Kay Floyd) Makes it a requirement, rather than permissive, beginning with the 2021-2022 school year, that district school boards provide schoolwide training to all students in grades seven through twelve and staff addressing suicide awareness and prevention. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee as amended by Committee Substitute 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Senate Bill 54 (Senator John Michael Montgomery and Representative Daniel Pae) Requires the State Department of Education to designate a school district site or charter school site as a Purple Star School. The bill defines applicable terms. It establishes the requirements for a school district site or charter school to be designated as a Purple Star School. It requires the State Board of Education to promulgate necessary rules. Update: Passed Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Committee 10-0 on Thursday, February 11. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 66 (Senator John Haste and Representative Lonnie Sims) Exempts any insurance policy sold to any school district from the surplus lines premium tax. Update: Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to House Senate Bill 68 (Senator Frank Simpson and Representative Max Wolfley) Requires a public school student to be considered in compliance with statutory residency provisions if he or she is a student whose parent or legal guardian is transferred or is pending transfer to a military installation within the state while on active military duty pursuant to an official military order. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 89 (Senator John Haste) Creates the Health Education Act. The bill defines applicable terms. It requires health education to be taught in public schools, including but not limited to physical health, mental health, social and emotional health and intellectual health. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 on Tuesday, February 23. Senate Bill 128 (Senator Dave Rader and Representative Dick Lowe) Creates the Seizure Safe Schools Act requiring at least one school employee at each school to meet certain training requirements. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Title Stricken, Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 47-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 142 (Senator Roland Pederson) Requires a school district’s board of education to allow a nonresident and non-transferred pupil to determine whether to require a tuition fee equal to the per capita cost of education for a similar period in such district during the preceding year. The bill requires the tuition fee to be paid to the receiving district in advance yearly or by semester as determined by the district board of education of the receiving district. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee as amended by committee substitute 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Failed on the Senate Floor 21-26 on Wednesday, March 1. Motion to reconsider. Senate Bill 157 (Senator J.J. Dossett) Removes language that provides State Board of Education appointees to serve at the pleasure of the Governor. It adds language that permits the Governor to remove members of the board for cause, including being found guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction of a felony or any offense involving moral turpitude; being found guilty of malfeasance, misfeasance or nonfeasance in relation to board duties; being found mentally incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction; or failing to attend three successive meetings of the board without just cause, as determined by the Governor. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Title Stricken. Passed Senate Education Committee 10-2 on Tuesday, February 2. Senate Bill 197 (Senator Tom Dugger) Requires candidates who win board of education elections to be seated at the first meeting following the April election date. It clarifies language related to the April board of education election date. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Laid Over. Senate Bill 252 (Senator Brenda Stanley) Requires all public schools to begin teaching computer science courses in the 2024-2025 school year. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Title Stricken. Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 2 Senate Bill 419 (Senator J.J. Dossett and Representative John Waldron) Removes the requirement to administer assessments in U.S. history under the statewide system of student assessments. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 10-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 43-2 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 437 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom) Requires public school districts to provide remediation courses for high school students who score below benchmarks on subject-area portions of the American College Testing (ACT) exam or below equivalent scores on the SAT exam in the most recent year for which student performance data is available. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 9-3 on Tuesday, February 9. Failed Senate Appropriations Committee 7-12 on Wednesday, March 3. Senate Bill 503 (Senator Nathan Dahm and Representative Ryan Martinez) Adds to required history curriculum, the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, substantive selections from the Federalist Papers the Emancipation Proclamation, the Articles of Confederation, the Gettysburg Address and George Washington’s Farwell Address. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 9-2 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 39-7 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 619 (Senator David Bullard and Representative Kevin West) Allows school districts to obtain liability insurance coverage to protect a student participating in an apprenticeship internship or mentorship program. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Title Stricken Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 20-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Title Restored. Passed off the Senate Floor 47-0 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 634 (Senator Julie Daniels and Representative Terry O’Donnell) Requires an authorization form that has the statement of understanding of the first amendment rights to not be a part of a union for public education employees. Makes that form’s authorization a yearly requirement. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Reassigned to Senate Judiciary Committee. Passed Senate Judiciary 7-4 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 25-21 on Thursday, March 4. Emergency Passed 32-14 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 642 (Senator Adam Pugh) Includes multi-aptitude battery assessments that measure developed abilities and help predict future academic and occupational success in the military. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Title Stricken. Senate Bill 707 (Senator Greg McCortney) Sets a deadline for parents to present immunization records or exemptions. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 on Tuesday, February 9. Senate Bill 783 (Senator Adam Pugh and Representative Brad Boles) Requires the Department of Education to publish a list of the capacity for a class in each grade level K-12. Strengthens open transfer policies. Gives OEQA audit authority over transfer Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 9-3 on Tuesday, February 23. Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed off the Senate Floor 32-15 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 807 (Senator Chris Kidd) Entitles support employees to pay for any time lost when a school district is closed because of an epidemic or when an order for such a closing has been issued by a health officer authorized by law to issue the order. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 10-1 on Tuesday, February 23. Senate Joint Resolution 3 (Senator Carri Hicks) Proposes a vote of the people on a constitutional amendment that allows a member of the Legislature to be employed as a certified teacher with a public school district in this state after he or she completes his or her term in office. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Senate Joint Resolution 9 (Senator Mary Boren) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment that changes the duty of the legislature when it comes to public education. Removes the words “Wherein all the children of the State may be educated”. Instead requires the legislature to “make suitable provision for the support and maintenance of an efficient and equitable system of free public schools”. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. COVID-19 House Bill 2335 (Representative Jay Steagall) Prohibits compulsory immunization through any state entity via direct or indirect means. Update: Passed House Public Health Committee 7-1 on Wednesday, February 10. House Joint Resolution 1032 (Representative Chad Caldwell) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment prohibiting a governmental entity from issuing any order or rule that requires closure of any place of worship. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Senate Bill 368 (Senator David Bullard) Prohibits any governmental declaration of a religious institution as nonessential. Requires that religious institutions be exempt from closure orders for the purpose of health or security that is greater than that imposed on any private entity. Update: Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 6-2 on Tuesday, February 9. Senate Bill 835 (Senator Blake Stephens) Bans any discrimination by any public accommodation towards a person on the basis of their vaccination or immunity status. Update: Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 6-2 on Friday, February 19. Charter Schools House Joint Resolution 1036 (Representative Jon Echols) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment allowing a school district to become indebted after a 3/5ths vote to acquire or improve the school sites or equipment of a charter school. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Senate Bill 69 (Senator Frank Simpson and Representative Max Wolfley) Provides a student will be eligible to enroll in a statewide virtual charter school if the student's parent or legal guardian is transferred or is pending transfer to a military installation within this state while on active military duty pursuant to an official military order. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 222 (Senator Rob Standridge) Creates the Hope Scholarship Program to provide a scholarship to an eligible private school of choice for students who have experienced bullying. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 20-0 on Monday, March 1. Senate Bill 239 (Senator Dewayne Pemberton and Representative Toni Hasenbeck) Creates a process for the State Board of Education to hear appeals to the charter school sponsorship process. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed off the Senate Floor 30-16 on Wednesday, February 10. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 658 (Senator Nathan Dahm and Representative Kevin West) Requires the State Department of Education to provide any notice or publication on immunization requirements all information on exemptions to such requirements. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Amended to pass Senate Education Committee 8-3 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 35-10 on Thursday, March 4. Emergency Passed 36-9 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. General Government Senate Bill 487 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Allows the Governor to remove any gubernatorial appointment on any agency, board or commission at any time. Vacancies created by this removal will be filled by current provisions. Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 7-2 on Thursday, February 25. Senate Joint Resolution 1 (Senator Kay Floyd) Proposes a vote of the people on a constitutional amendment that would prohibit members of the Legislature from being appointed or elected to any office or commission during their term; receiving any appointment from the Governor, the Governor and Senate or the Legislature during the term; or being interested in any contract with the state or a political subdivision during the term. It would not prohibit an employee of a school district, a technology center school district or the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education from continuing to serve during the term, or prohibit an appointment to a legislative committee or other legislative position. It also would not prohibit a former member from returning to his or her profession or business. It would permit the Legislature to enact laws to implement these provisions. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Higher Education House Bill 1801 (Representative Nicole Miller) Grants priority enrollment and course registration to all members of the Oklahoma National Guard and to students who are eligible to receive educational financial assistance from the Department of Veteran Affairs. Update: Passed House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. House Bill 1962 (Representative Jadine Nollan and Senator Marty Quinn) Specifies the definition of “qualified higher education expenses” to fall in line with section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code. Update: Passed House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee with a vote of 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the House Floor 95-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2046 (Speaker Charles McCall) Creates the Higher Education Institution Local Funding Act. The measure authorizes the board of regents of eligible two-year colleges to adopt a resolution calling for the creation of a higher education funding district, for the purpose of providing additional sources of funding for the institution. If approved by the board of regents, the creation of the funding district and its initial operational millage rate would go to a vote of the people within the established district boundary. Additional bonds may be included in the ballot measure calling for the creation of the district. The ballot measure would require 60 percent approval to pass. Update: Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed House Rules Committee as amended 7-0 on Thursday, February 25. House Bill 2691 (Representative Toni Hasenbeck) Requires the Commission for Educational Quality an Accountability to issue a report detailing factors in the public education system that contribute to graduation rates, assessment scores and the state workforce. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. House Bill 2750 (Representative Rhonda Baker and Senator Adam Pugh) States the intent of the Legislature that in establishing minimum required score on AP exams for granting course credit the Regents for Higher Education should not require an AP score above 3. Update: Passed House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 22. Amended to allow the granting of additional credit for higher than 3. Passed off the House Floor 94-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2874 (Representative Kevin Wallace and Senator Roger Thompson) Adds the University Hospitals Trust to those exempt from sales tax. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 26-1 on Wednesday, February 10. Title Stricken. Passed off the House Floor 83-9 on Monday, February 22. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2926 (Speaker Charles McCall) Requires each institution of higher education to publish a salary report of common occupations and industries in which students are employed upon graduation. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 7-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Senate Bill 70 (Senator Frank Simpson) Increases the time period before the date of enrollment from five years to 10 years when a person was discharged or released from active military service to qualify for in-state enrollment. Update: Passed Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Education 4-0 on Wednesday, February 10. Referred to Full Appropriations Committee. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Thursday, February 18. Senate Bill 139 (Senator Roger Thompson) Adds the Senate Appropriations Committee Chair and the House Appropriations and Budget Committee Chair to the list of recipients of the annual report submitted by Oklahoma State University Medical Authority. Update: Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. Laid Over. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 20-0 on Wednesday February, 24. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Senate Bill 238 (Senator Dewayne Pemberton and Representative Kyle Hilbert) Creates a task force to study the requirement for high school students to complete the FASFA. Designates the makeup of this task force and the end date for a report. Requires the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the Senate to provide the staff and administrative support for the task force. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 40-5 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 261 (Senator John Michael Montgomery and Representative Melissa Provenzano) Creates the Oklahoma Student Borrower’s Bill of Rights, requiring that student loan servicers not employ any deceptive practices, maintain accurate reporting to consumer credit bureaus, and otherwise accurately inform borrowers of their rights and obligations in public and plain language. Update: Passed Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 11-2 on Thursday, February 11. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 292 (Senator John Haste and Representative Jadine Nollan) Creates a task force to study the concurrent enrollment needs of the State. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-1 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 614 (Senator David Bullard) Enhances higher education students’ First Amendment rights to include the “right to an unbiased education” and freedom from any endorsement, symbolism or propaganda of “socialism, communism, Marxism or anti-American sentiment.” Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 10-2 on Tuesday, February 23. Senate Bill 893 (Senator Adam Pugh) Allows the undergraduate and graduate programs of the same discipline of engineering at an institution to be part of the qualified program if either program is ABET accredited. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 11-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Senate Joint Resolution 15 (Senator Rob Standridge) Puts to a vote of the people a prohibition for higher education from requiring students to enroll in a course that is not a core requirement of their chosen curriculum, a course with no tuition or fee charged, or a course that is not directly relevant to a degree being pursued. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Healthcare House Bill 1006 (Representative Carol Bush and Senator Adam Pugh) Creates the Transparency in Health Care Prices Act. The bill defines applicable terms. It requires healthcare providers make available to the public, in a single document, either electronically or by posting conspicuously on the provider's website if one exists, the health care prices for at least the 20 most common health care services the healthcare provider provides. Update: Passed House Public Health Committee 8-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 92-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2299 (Representative Dustin Roberts) Creates the Oklahoma Medical Education Protection Act which preserves the supplemental payment programs payable to University Health Science Centers when entering into contractual arrangements with any entity for the management of Medicaid patients. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 8-0 on Tuesday, February 23. House Joint Resolution 1041 (Representative Sean Roberts) Puts to a vote of the people an amendment repealing Medicaid expansion. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Senate Bill 4 (Senator Greg McCortney) Permits a pharmacist to substitute an interchangeable biological product for a prescribed biological product only if the substituted product has been determined by FDA to be interchangeable with the prescribed biological product; the prescribing physician has permitted substitution; and the pharmacy informs the patient of the substitution. Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services committee 10-0 Wednesday, February 3. Senate Bill 100 (Senator Brenda Stanley) Permits an applicant for a license to practice podiatric medicine to submit an electronic application online. It requires an applicant legally reside in the United States, rather than be loyal to the US. The bill removes the requirement that the applicant be free from contagious or infectious disease. Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 8-3 on Thursday, February 25. Senate Bill 107 (Senator John Michael Montgomery and Representative Todd Russ) Gives the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) the authority, beginning with the Jan. 1, 2022 plan year, to renew vision plan contracts with plan providers for succeeding one-year terms if the provider had a contract for the immediately preceding year. Update: Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off Senate Floor 47-0 on Thursday, February 10. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 164 (Senator Brenda Stanley and Representative Cynthia Roe) Modifies language related to participation in a research program or experimental procedures. It requires human subject research to be approved by an accredited institutional review board rather than a local institutional review board. It requires when the patient is incapable of giving informed consent and is a minor that the consent be given by the parent or legal guardian. Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 10-0 Wednesday, February 3. Passed off the Senate Floor 43-2 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 207 (Senator Jessica Garvin) Authorizes the Oklahoma Health Care Authority Administrator to designate an administrative law judge to perform appeal hearings for those adversely affected by a decision of the authority. Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 11-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed Full Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Senate Bill 319 (Senator Robert Standridge and Representative Daniel Pae) Exempts from the prohibition furnishing anyone under the age of 21 any cigarettes, cigarette papers, cigars, bidis, snuff, chewing tobacco, or any other form of tobacco product, or vapor products persons performing activities as part of a scientific study being conducted by a research institution for the purpose of medical research to further efforts in cigarette and tobacco use prevention and cessation and tobacco product regulation, provided that such medical research has been approved by a properly accredited institutional review board pursuant to applicable federal regulations. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 11-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Thursday, February 11. Engrossed to House Senate Bill 406 (Senator Jessica Garvin and Representative Marcus McEntire) Modifies the definitions of "University Hospital" and "Oklahoma's Children's Hospital." It authorizes the University Hospital’s authority to assign any inpatient and outpatient hospital and clinical facilities, research buildings, facilities or property and any other buildings, facilities or property under its ownership or management and control to University Hospital, Oklahoma Children's Hospital or any other division or entity which is part of University Hospital. Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 11-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-1 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. OneNet House Bill 1049 (Representative Dell Kerbs) Requires the Department of Public Safety to provide motor license agents with internet services that operate at adequate transmission speeds to allow the agents to efficiently transact business and transmit data to and from the agency. Update: Passed House Technology Committee 5-1 on Wednesday, February 10. House Bill 1124 (Representative Logan Phillips) Creates the State Broadband Deployment Grant Program to direct competitive grants to applicants seeking to expand broadband internet services and directs the Corporation Commission to create the Rural Broadband Expansion Council to promulgate rules and procedures for the program. Update: Passed House Technology Committee 5-1 on Wednesday, February 24. House Bill 1132 (Representative Logan Phillips) Deletes the requirement that the Corporation Commission not approve, endorse, forward or file any application for reimbursement submitted pursuant to subsection (h) of Section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, for transmission services requiring a circuit of T-1 or greater capacity unless OneNet is the circuit provider. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House Technology Committee. Passed House Technology Committee 6-0 on Wednesday, February 24. House Bill 2090 (Speaker Charles McCall) Expands the Rural Broadband Expansion Council from 14 to 16 members. One of the additional members would represent a wireless internet service provider and be appointed by the Speaker of the House. The other additional member would represent a Native American tribe and be appointed by the Senate President Pro Tem. Update: Passed House Technology Committee 6-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Emergency Added. House Bill 2928 (Speaker Charles McCall) Directs broadband service providers in the state to submit a report containing their network area coverage map to the Department of Commerce and the Rural Broadband Expansion Council by October 31, 2021. The providers would be required to update this map and report annually. OneNet is also directed to provide mapping of all assets and network coverage. Update: Passed House Technology Committee 6-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Senate Bill 802 (Senator James Leewright) Increases the Rural Broadband Expansion Council by one member to be filled by a tribal leader of this state. Update: Passed Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 12-1 on Thursday, February 18. Open Meetings/Records House Bill 1876 (Representative Tammy West and Senator Brenda Stanley) Specifies what private employee information is not subject to the Open Meeting Act. Update: Passed House General Government Committee 8-0 On Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 82-0 on Thursday, February 18. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2644 (Representative Jon Echols) Extends the provisions that allows for virtual open meetings until March 31, 2024 Update: Assigned to House General Government Committee. Laid Over. Passed House General Government Committee 8-0 on Tuesday, February 24. Senate Bill 970 (Senator Kay Floyd and Representative Brad Boles) Makes all license or certification public record, excluding an applicant’s personal address, phone number or other personal material. Update: Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 1031 (Senator Greg Treat and Representative Jon Echols) Extends the provisions that allow for virtual open meetings until the Governor declares the state of emergency to have ended. Update: Assigned to Senate General Government Committee. Withdrawn from General Government Committee. Direct to Calendar. Passed off the Senate Floor as amended by Floor Substitute with a vote of 45-0 on Wednesday, February 3. Direct to House Calendar. Passed off the House Floor 88-5 on Monday, February 8. Signed by Governor Stitt on Wednesday, February 10. Senate Bill 1032 (Senator Greg Treat) Requires livestreaming for virtual open meetings Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 7-0 on Thursday, February 18. Scholarships House Bill 1739 (Representative Sheila Dills and Senator Brenda Stanley) Creates the Connecting Futures Act. It allows the Department of Human Services to, subject to available funding, create a pilot program to address needs of any minors who are separated from their parents or legal guardians, are not supported by their parents or legal guardians and are not in the custody of the Department of Human Services or in the custody of any Indian tribe. It requires the pilot program to allow the Department to provide assistance in securing necessary services to allow eligible minors to become self-reliant and productive citizens. Update: Passed House Children Youth and Family Services Committee 5-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House Floor 82-6 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1821 (Representative Toni Hasenbeck and Senator Dewayne Pemberton) Increases flexibility in the use of Tuition Aid Grants, by removing language directing the Regents for Higher Education to direct tuition aid grants to all eligible applicants, and adding factors to the way the awards are prioritized including: Enrollment status, unmet financial need, continuous enrollment, nearness to degree completion or certificate, state employment needs, and eligibility for other State and institutional funds. Update: Passed House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the House Floor 94-2 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2399 (Representative Todd Russ and Senator Marty Quinn) Extends the qualification for Oklahoma’s higher learning access program to those students whose parents died after the students tenth grade year, and meet the other financial requirements. Update: Assigned to House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee. Amended by unanimous consent passed to House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the House Floor 93-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. Senate Bill 132 (Senator David Bullard) Extends application window for Oklahoma’s Promise to the eleventh grade. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Title Stricken Senate Bill 237 (Senator Dewayne Pemberton and Representative Mark McBride) Increases flexibility in the use of Tuition Aid Grants, by removing language directing the Regents for Higher Education to direct tuition aid grants to all eligible applicants, and adding factors to the way the awards are prioritized including: Enrollment status, unmet financial need, continuous enrollment, nearness to degree completion or certificate, state employment needs, and eligibility for other State and institutional funds. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-1 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 639 (Senator Adam Pugh) Extends qualification for Oklahoma’s Promise to those enrolled in an area that has been identifies as a critical occupation area. Requires the Department of Commerce and the Regents for Higher Education to publish a yearly list between October and June of the critical occupation areas that meet the guidelines. Requires the Regents, in consultation with CareerTech, to identify postsecondary vo-tech programs that correlate to the critical occupation areas. Sets a 5-year completion timeline, requires scholarships to be paid back if the program is not completed. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Teacher Retirement System House Bill 2293 (Representative Dustin Roberts) modifies the matching of TRS funds to be based only on the member’s regular annual compensation regardless of the source of funds, except federal funding. Update: Passed House Banking Financial Services and Pensions Committee 6-2 on Monday, February 22. House Bill 2486 (Representative Avery Frix) Terminates the OPERS defined contribution plan created by the Retirement Freedom Act and provides that all state employees will participate in the OPERS defined benefit plan upon November 1, 2022, or the last date required for distribution of the plan account balances. Employees currently participating in the defined contribution plan will be considered 100 percent vested in their account balance as of November 1, 2021, including employer matching amounts and any gains resulting from management of the account, and will have the option to use their account balance to purchase service credit or to transfer their balance to a qualifying retirement plan. Update: Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed House Rules Committee 7-0 on Thursday, February 25. Senate Bill 267 (Senator Dewayne Pemberton and Representative Jadine Nollan) Allows retired educators who have received benefits for at least one year and who have not been employed by a public school during that time to be eligible to be reemployed as an active classroom teacher in common or career tech school district with no limitation on earnings. Update: Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 9-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the House Floor 36-11 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 683 (Senator Chris Kidd) Removes the one-year regular employment requirement for full-time non-classified optional personnel to join the TRS. Update: Assigned to Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee. Laid Over. Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 8-1 on Monday, February 22. Senate Joint Resolution 18 (Senator Lonnie Paxton) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment that requires any COLA to include funding. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Teacher Certification House Bill 1593 (Representative Melissa Provenzano and Senator Brenda Stanley) Requires 7th-12th grade teachers to have workplace safety training emphasized into curriculum. The program shall be completed the first year a certified teacher is employed by a school district. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 13-0 Tuesday, February 16. Passed off House Floor 74-19 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1773 (Representative Sherrie Conley and Senator Jessica Garvin) Requires teaching candidates in early childhood elementary, secondary and special education to study the philosophy framework and implementation of a multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) designed to address the core academic and nonacademic needs of all students. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Amended by committee substitute. Passed House Common Education Committee 8-1 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the House Floor 91-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1796 (Representative Nicole Miller and Senator Adam Pugh) Allows the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Commission for Education Quality and Accountability to grant subject area examination exceptions for initial certification in a field that does not require an advanced degree if the candidate already has an advanced degree in the subject essentially comparable to the content assessed in the examination. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 13-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House Floor 91-1 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senator. House Bill 2329 (Representative Mark Lawson) Allows the State Board of Education to grant an exception to the certification examination to teacher candidates who are deaf. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 8-0 on Thursday, February 25. House Bill 2693 (Representative Toni Hasenbeck) Updates the name of the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation to the Office of Educational Quality and Accountability. Rewards teachers who are renewing their National Board Certification by awarding them a portion of the renewal application fee. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House Appropriations Committee. Passed House Appropriations Committee 28-0 on Thursday, February 18. House Bill 2748 (Representative Rhonda Baker and Senator Brenda Stanley) Requires the State Board of Education to issue one-year alternative teacher certificates renewable for up to 3 years to teach early childhood education or elementary education if the alternative certified teacher meets certain qualifications. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House floor 86-0 on Thursday, February 18. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2752 (Representative Rhonda Baker) Requires the State Department of Education in coordination with the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability to establish a micro-credential programs for teachers who hold a certificate to complete additional coursework and earn STEM credentials. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Senate Bill 51 (Senator Carri Hicks and Representative Danny Sterling) Removes the requirement to pass the general education portions of the competency examination for an alternative placement teaching certificate or a teacher certificate. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off Senate Floor 33-12 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 67 (Senator Frank Simpson and Speaker Charles McCall) Permits the State Board of Education to grant an exception to the requirements for all certification examinations for teacher candidates who are "deaf." Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 229 (Senator John Michael Montgomery) Allows the State Board of Education to renew an Emergency or Provisional Teacher Certification for up to five years. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 10-2 on Tuesday, February 23. Title Stricken Weapons on Campus / Gun Laws House Bill 1629 (Representative David Hardin) Preempts any federal, state county or municipal law rule or regulation that orders the confiscation of firearms, firearm accessories of ammunition. Update: Passed House Judiciary-Criminal Committee 7-2 on Wednesday, February 10. House Bill 1630 (Representative David Hardin and Senator Dewayne Pemberton) Modifies the Unlawful Intent to Carry and Penalty Portions of Firearms Act to allow flexibility in punishment upon conviction. Deletes the ability to permanently revoke a handgun license. Amends background checks to remove criminal history records fingerprints and FBI searches on license renewal. Update: Passed House Judiciary-Criminal Committee 8-1 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House floor 78-18 on Monday, February 22. Engrossed to Senate House Bill 1662 (Representative Kevin West) If a defendant claims self-defense the State of Oklahoma must then have to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the defensive force was not justified. Update: Passed House Judiciary-Criminal Committee 7-2 on Wednesday, February 24. House Bill 1898 (Representative Sean Roberts) Adds statutory references to the Oklahoma Self Defense Act. Update: Passed House Judiciary - Criminal Committee 3-1 on Thursday, February 25. House Bill 2334 (Representative Jay Steagall) Authorizes the possession of firearms on streets, plazas, sidewalks and alleys. Authorizes open carry on property of nonprofit entities and public trusts. Update: Passed House Public Safety Committee 5-2 on Tuesday, February 23. House Bill 2401 (Representative Todd Russ) Changes the ban on all felons from carrying firearms to a ban on anyone convicted of a specifically classified violent felony from carrying firearms for a period of 5 years. Update: Passed House Judiciary-Criminal Committee 7-2 on Wednesday, February 24. House Bill 2588 (Representative Sean Roberts) Allows a board of education of a school district to adopt a policy to authorize the carrying of a handgun onto school property by school personnel if the person possesses a valid handgun license and meets other requirements authorized by the board of education. Update: Assigned to House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee. Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee 3-1 on Thursday, February 25. House Bill 2645 (Representative Jon Echols) Allows the carrying of firearms in bars and restaurants as long as the carrier is not consuming alcoholic beverages. Reduces fines and punishments from $1,000 and two years in prison to $250. Removes the revocation of a handgun license upon violation of this statute. Update: Assigned to House Public Safety Committee. Reassigned to House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee. Passed House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee 3-1 on Thursday, February 25. Senate Bill 106 (Senator Mark Allen and Representative Terry O’Donnell) Defines the term "completed application" within the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act to mean all fields are completed, questions answered and contains all required signatures on the Application for Self-Defense Act License and all required documents including legible fingerprints, if applicable. It removes the 90-day grace period for handgun license renewals. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Friday, February 19. Passed off the Senate Floor 35-8 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 186 (Senator David Bullard) Removes language that prohibits a person convicted of a felony from operating a motor vehicle or riding as a passenger in a motor vehicle in which there is any pistol, imitation, or homemade pistol, altered air or toy pistol, machine gun, sawed-off shotgun or sawed-of rifle, or any other firearm. It modifies the qualifications for restoring the right to carry a firearm. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 11-0 on Friday, February 19. Senate Bill 442 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Makes its unlawful for any person to carry or use shotguns, rifles or pistols in any circumstances while under the influence of medical marijuana obtained under a valid medical marijuana patient license. It exempts an applicant or licensee in legal possession of a medical marijuana patient license from the preclusion for a person from being eligible for a handgun license pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 11-0 on Friday, February 19. Senate Bill 631 (Senator Warren Hamilton) Makes Oklahoma a “Second Amendment Sanctuary State” pre-empting any legislation or rule at any level that would infringe upon the right to bear arms. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Monday, February 22. Senate Bill 644 (Senator Blake Stephens) Allows municipalities to, by ordinance, authorize all or certain municipal employees to carry concealed firearms. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 10-1 on Friday, February 19. Senate Bill 646 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom) Allows the carrying of firearms in bars and restaurants as long as the carrier is not consuming alcoholic beverages. Reduces fines and punishments from $1,000 and two years in prison to $250. Removes the revocation of a handgun license upon violation of this statute. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Monday, February 22. Title Stricken. Senate Bill 672 (Senator Casey Murdock) Allows unmitigated transport of firearms for any person not otherwise prohibited from purchasing or carrying firearms. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Friday, February 19. Senate Bill 711 (Senator John Haste) Adds county owned buildings to the locations a sheriff may authorize certain employees to carry a firearm. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Friday, February 19. Senate Bill 730 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Bans any person, property owner, tenant, employer, or business entity from establishing or enforcing any rule that prohibits transporting carrying or storing firearms. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Monday, February 22. Senate Bill 732 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Allows anyone whose Second Amendment rights are violated to bring a lawsuit against any order or regulation or other political subdivision of the state. Defines responsibilities of the court in such a case. Update: Assigned to Senate Public Safety Committee. Laid Over. Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Monday February, 22. Senate Bill 767 (Senator David Bullard) Allows superintendents to authorize anyone with a valid handgun license and has demonstrated proficiency in handgun training and campus-specific active shooter training to carry weapons on school grounds. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-1 on Monday, February 22. Title Stricken Senate Bill 925 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Modifies language related to self-defense with a firearm. It adds "occupied premises" to the list of places the Legislature recognizes that the citizens of the State of Oklahoma have a right to expect absolute safety and that a person legally is allowed to defend. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Friday, February 19. Senate Bill 926 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Extends the firearms law preemption to air powered pistols Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 22. Senate Joint Resolution 21 (Senator David Bullard) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment prohibiting any future legislation, taxation or rules that would infringe upon Second Amendment rights. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Workforce Development House Bill 1981 (Representative Mark Lepak) Creates a Universal Licensing Recognition Act. Allows a person living in Oklahoma to apply for licensing or certification if there is no conflict with any interstate compact or state-to-state reciprocity or equivalency agreement as determined by the Oklahoma regulatory entity. The bill requires the person to show proof of residency or be married to and accompanying an active duty member of the military stationed in Oklahoma, be currently licensed or certified by another state with a similar scope of work through a substantially similar examination, have minimum education requirement and, if applicable, professional work experience, education training and clinical supervision requirements. Update: Passed House Business and Commerce Committee 9-2 on Wednesday, February 24. House Bill 2860 (Representative Kevin Wallace and Senator Roger Thompson) Creates the Oklahoma Remote Quality Jobs Inventive Act. Provides for the Department of Commerce and the Oklahoma Tax Commission to create policy’s attracting growth industries that employ remote workers. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 29-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House floor 96-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2929 (Speaker Charles McCall) Requires the Department of Commerce to post on its website information related to its business recruiting efforts with an emphasis on possible business site locations or relocation decisions within the state. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 9-2 on Wednesday, February 24. Senate Bill 71 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom and Representative Kevin McDugle) Modifies language related to the Department of Commerce's requirement to promulgate rules for the administration of the Oklahoma Local Development and Enterprise Zone Incentive Leverage Act. It requires the rules establish reporting requirements for successful applicants which allow data collection and analysis by the department on employment, capital investment, changes in assessed value of a project and other impacts resulting from payments and reporting of data by the department to the Oklahoma Tax Commission. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 10-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 211 (Senator Tom Dugger and Representative Ken Luttrell) Modifies the powers and duties of the Oklahoma Board of Private Vocational Schools. It permits a school to be accredited by an accrediting organization approved by the U.S. Department of Education for multiple years, and to obtain a sustained license annually during the period of the multi-year accreditation. It modifies the fees the board may assess. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Title Stricken. Passed Senate Education Committee 10-2 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 20-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the Senate floor 42-5 on Wednesday. March, 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 587 (Senator Chuck Hall) Adds the delivery of industry focused instruction from Common Education, CareerTech or Higher Education to the definitions in the Oklahoma Community Economic Development Pooled Finance Act. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Senate Bill 936 (Senator Chuck Hall) Combines the various quality jobs programs under the Oklahoma Quality Jobs Program Act. Update: Passed Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 11-1 on Thursday, February 11. Passed Senate Appropriations and Budget 20-0 on Thursday, February 18. Thank you. Glen Glen D. Johnson Chancellor Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education 655 Research Parkway, Suite 200 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104 405.225.9122 gjohnson at osrhe.edu follow us on Twitter @okhighered [cid:image005.jpg at 01D71280.9FED6C90] [cid:image006.jpg at 01D71280.9FED6C90] -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image005.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 2048 bytes Desc: image005.jpg URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image006.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 1890 bytes Desc: image006.jpg URL: From lori.boyd at okstate.edu Tue Mar 9 07:31:03 2021 From: lori.boyd at okstate.edu (Boyd, Lori) Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2021 13:31:03 +0000 Subject: [Oasfaa] ED Announces Delay for ASLA Requirement Message-ID: ED Announces Delay for ASLA Requirement The Department of Education (ED) announced Monday that it would not require borrowers to complete the Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement (ASLA) for award year 21-22. The ASLA requirement - which would require students and parents to acknowledge how much they owe in federal loans prior to their first loan disbursement - was set to go into effect for award year 21-22 after an earlier delay. While the ASLA will still be available on studentaid.gov, all processing related to the ASLA will continue under existing rules. ED cited the need to reduce administrative burden during current COVID-19 disruptions as the reason for the delay. [cid:image001.png at 01D5373C.65A18FB0] LORI BOYD ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF FISCAL OPERATIONS Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid 405.744.8730 * 119 Student Union * finaid.okstate.edu [cid:image010.png at 01D5373D.52894C00] -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 11714 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image002.png Type: image/png Size: 4958 bytes Desc: image002.png URL: From Mendy-Schmerer at ouhsc.edu Tue Mar 9 08:13:37 2021 From: Mendy-Schmerer at ouhsc.edu (Schmerer, Mendy M. (HSC)) Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2021 14:13:37 +0000 Subject: [Oasfaa] [EXTERNAL] ED Announces Delay for ASLA Requirement In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: And I am NOT sad about this announcement. The principal behind this is reasonable and potentially beneficial and informative to the borrowers. However, like so many things recently rolling out from FSA, the implementation was going to prove to be problematic from an administrative standpoint. I'm relieved that ED saw what a nightmare this was going to be in its current form. Have a great Tuesday, everyone! Mendy Schmerer, MEd, FAAC(r) Director, Office of Student Financial Aid | SWASFAA President, 2020 - 2021 University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center 865 University Research Park, Suite 240 | Oklahoma City, OK 73104 O (405) 271-2118, x 48817 | F (405) 271-5446 Mendy-Schmerer at ouhsc.edu https://financialservices.ouhsc.edu/Departments/Student-Financial-Aid www.facebook.com/OUHSCFinancialAid CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE This email, including any attachments, contains information from The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, which may be confidential or privileged. The information is intended to be for the use of the individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, be aware that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the contents of this information is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender immediately by a "reply to sender only" message and destroy all electronic and hard copies of the communication, including attachments. From: OASFAA On Behalf Of Boyd, Lori Sent: Tuesday, March 9, 2021 7:31 AM To: oasfaa at lists.onenet.net Subject: [EXTERNAL] [Oasfaa] ED Announces Delay for ASLA Requirement ED Announces Delay for ASLA Requirement The Department of Education (ED) announced Monday that it would not require borrowers to complete the Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement (ASLA) for award year 21-22. The ASLA requirement - which would require students and parents to acknowledge how much they owe in federal loans prior to their first loan disbursement - was set to go into effect for award year 21-22 after an earlier delay. While the ASLA will still be available on studentaid.gov, all processing related to the ASLA will continue under existing rules. ED cited the need to reduce administrative burden during current COVID-19 disruptions as the reason for the delay. [cid:image001.png at 01D5373C.65A18FB0] LORI BOYD ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF FISCAL OPERATIONS Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid 405.744.8730 * 119 Student Union * finaid.okstate.edu [cid:image010.png at 01D5373D.52894C00] -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 11714 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image002.png Type: image/png Size: 4958 bytes Desc: image002.png URL: From Andrew.Hammontree at francistuttle.edu Thu Mar 11 11:01:25 2021 From: Andrew.Hammontree at francistuttle.edu (Andrew W. Hammontree) Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2021 17:01:25 +0000 Subject: [Oasfaa] OASFAA Long-Range Plan Committee Message-ID: <7cc8eb8b58ef4b8ca600a78846275325@XCH-APP-01.francistuttle.edu> Dear OASFAA: This year I have the honor of serving as the OASFAA Long-Range Plan Committee Chair. This committee is responsible for developing long-term recommendations related to OASFAA's mission, structure, operation, and service to members. We also review and suggest changes to the association's policies and procedures. In case you didn't know, OASFAA's Strategic Long-Range Plan is available on the OASFAA website. The Board in the middle of implementing the objectives of a three-year plan that will end on June 30, 2023. If you have any suggestions for where OASFAA should focus its attention in the future, I would love to hear from you. You can contact me at (405) 717-4336 or andrew.hammontree at francistuttle.edu. As always, if you are interested in getting involved in OASFAA, please contact anyone on the Board. You can find a list of board members and committee chairs here. Sincerely, Andrew Hammontree, MBA, FAAC(r) Director of Financial Aid Francis Tuttle Technology Center 12777 N Rockwell Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73142 P (405) 717-4336 F (405) 717-4392 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From lori.boyd at okstate.edu Fri Mar 12 08:20:47 2021 From: lori.boyd at okstate.edu (Boyd, Lori) Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2021 14:20:47 +0000 Subject: [Oasfaa] NASFAA Releases HEERF Funds Comparison Chart Message-ID: NASFAA Releases HEERF Funds Comparison Chart [https://www.nasfaa.org/uploads/images/Logos/Covid_19_tn.png] With the signing of the American Rescue Plan into law on Thursday, there are now three Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) buckets of aid to higher education. NASFAA has created a comparison chart to help members keep track of the requirements for each HEERF type. As the Department of Education releases guidance on any of the funds, NASFAA will continue to update this chart and new guidance will appear in red text. The chart can also be found on NASFAA's COVID-19 Web Center. [cid:image001.png at 01D5373C.65A18FB0] LORI BOYD ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF FISCAL OPERATIONS Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid 405.744.8730 * 119 Student Union * finaid.okstate.edu [cid:image010.png at 01D5373D.52894C00] -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image005.png Type: image/png Size: 61416 bytes Desc: image005.png URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image006.png Type: image/png Size: 26212 bytes Desc: image006.png URL: From lcoponiti at usao.edu Fri Mar 12 14:47:31 2021 From: lcoponiti at usao.edu (Laura Coponiti) Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2021 20:47:31 +0000 Subject: [Oasfaa] Repeat Classes Message-ID: Happy Friday Everyone, I have a quick question that I hope someone can help me with regarding repeating a class. We have a student who took a class and eared a D then retook the class and earned an F. We paid for the class the first time and the second time per regs but since she earned an F the second time can we pay for the class the third time? I know if she would have earned a passing grade the second time we could not pay for it again but I am not sure since she didn't pass it if we can again. Thanks for your help in advance. Laura Coponiti Dean of Enrollment Management Troutt 112 University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma 1727 West Alabama Chickasha, OK 73018 405-574-1350 (office) 405-574-1220 (fax) [cid:16D7802A-BD66-411D-B03E-8C59B4BF1350] -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 10002 bytes Desc: image001.jpg URL: From bfair at osrhe.edu Sat Mar 13 13:02:17 2021 From: bfair at osrhe.edu (Fair, Bryce) Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2021 19:02:17 +0000 Subject: [Oasfaa] =?windows-1252?q?FW=3A_Legislative_Update_=96_March_12?= =?windows-1252?q?=2C_2021_=28please_see_URGENT_information=29?= Message-ID: <5af7a9b40e934389942337c0ddc95bf7@osrhe.edu> Below is the legislative update for this past week. Thursday was the deadline for bills to pass off the floor in their house of origin. Six financial-aid-related bills are still alive at this point and are listed in the “Scholarships” section of the legislative update. URGENT Information – (I apologize for the length of the following discussion, but we believe this is a very important issue.) For colleges and career technology centers that serve Oklahoma’s Promise students, I call your attention to SB 639 that could have a dramatic impact on future students in the program. SB 639 (by Sen. Pugh of the Senate and Rep. Baker of the House) – Last Thursday, March 11, a new version of the bill, called a “Floor Substitute” was passed by the Senate. The text of the new version can be found at http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2021-22%20FLOOR%20AMENDMENTS/Senate/SB639%20(3-09-21)%20(PUGH)%20FS%20FA1.PDF [The underlined text is the new language that would be added to current law. In addition, Section 5 of the bill is entirely new law. You can find other information about the SB 639 at http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=sb639&Session=2100]. The bill now contains the following provisions : * For all students applying to the Oklahoma’s Promise program beginning in 2021-22, the scholarship eligibility period would be expanded from 5 years to 6 years. * Students enrolling in the program in 2021-22 and thereafter who do not complete a baccalaureate degree or “postsecondary vocational-technical program” during the 6-year period of scholarship eligibility would be subject to what the Senate author refers to as a “claw back” provision and be required to repay the full amount of Oklahoma’s Promise awards they have received. [It is important to note that Oklahoma’s Promise students complete college degrees at a higher rate than non-Oklahoma’s Promise students. You can find this performance measure and many others in the most recent OKPromise year-end report for 2019-20 at https://www.okhighered.org/okpromise/pdf/okp-report-19-20.pdf. In addition, in a very recent evaluation of Oklahoma Promise by the new Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency, Finding #1 states, “Oklahoma’s Promise Recipients are Earning Critical Workforce Degrees and Remaining in Oklahoma.” Finding #2 states, “Oklahoma’s Promise Exceeds the Legislative Intent to Provide Post-Secondary Opportunities for Oklahoma Students.” You can find the full report at http://www.okloft.gov/Reports/Oklahoma_Promise_Report.pdf.] * Students would be required to enter into a “repayment agreement” with the college or career technology center in which the student was enrolled. The bill further states that, “In determining the repayment amount, the institution of higher education or technology center school in which the student was enrolled may consider hardship circumstances on a case-by-case basis.” * The bill would also authorize use of the Oklahoma’s Promise award for additional career technology programs that are not eligible for federal financial aid but are “identified as a critical occupation” program through a process established in Section 5 of the bill. The State Regents have identified an initial list of serious concerns about the “claw back” requirement: * Oklahoma’s Promise students and families have few financial resources to repay awards: * In 2019-20, the average family income of Oklahoma’s Promise award recipients was about $35,000. * Nearly 90% of Oklahoma’s Promise recipients in 2019-20 met the low-income eligibility criteria for the federal Pell Grant. * The “claw back” potentially adds more student debt for Oklahoma’s Promise students: Each year, nearly one-third of Oklahoma’s Promise recipients take out over $30 million in student loans averaging over $5,000 per borrower to help pay for non-tuition college expenses such as fees, books, and room and board. * The “claw back” provision would require additional administrative responsibilities and costs for colleges and career technology centers: Colleges and career technology centers would be required to administer the repayment requirement. * The “claw back” provision may discourage enrollment in Oklahoma’s Promise: As parents and students have become more cautious of student loan debt, the fear of potential additional debt acquired through Oklahoma’s Promise may create a reluctance to enroll in the program. We realize there are other concerns such as the complicated administrative logistics for students who transfer among institutions. Please forward to me any specific questions or additional concerns that you have. Bryce Fair Associate Vice Chancellor for Scholarships & Grants Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Phone: 405-225-9162 Email: bfair at osrhe.edu From: Johnson, Dr. Glen Sent: Friday, March 12, 2021 5:35 PM To: Subject: Legislative Update – March 12, 2021 OKLAHOMA STATE REGENTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION Memo To: Higher Education Network From: Chancellor Glen D. Johnson Date: Friday, March 12, 2021 Subject: Legislative Update – March 12, 2021 The update below reflects the major legislation concerning Higher Education. If you have any questions, please contact LeeAnna McNally, Vice Chancellor for Governmental Relations, at lmcnally at osrhe.edu or (405) 301-0332. Legislative Report March 12, 2021 Agency Administration House Bill 1090 (Representative Gerrid Kendrix and Senator Brent Howard) Allows the State Auditor and Inspector General to perform audits and inspections of government entities without authorization from the Governor, the Chief Executive Officer of a government entity, or a joint or concurrent resolution of the Legislature. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House General Government Committee. Passed House General Government Committee 7-0 on Wednesday, February 17. Passed off the House Floor 91-0 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1126 (Representative Logan Phillips) Requires employers who engage in any type of electronic email monitoring of employee accounts to give written notice to all employees prior to any monitoring electronic mail communication. Update: Passed House Business and Commerce Committee 10-0 on Wednesday, February 10. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1146 (Representative Mike Osburn and Senator Greg Treat) Places all state employee positions under the administration of the Human Capital Management Division of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services effective January 1, 2022, except those employed by the Governor, Lt. Governor, Speaker of the House, or President Pro Tempore of the Senate, as well as elected officials, political appointees, and up to 5 percent of an agency's executive management. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Amended by Floor Substitute. Passed off the House floor 93-0 on Tuesday, March 9. House Bill 1602 (Representative Collin Walke and Senator John Michael Montgomery) The bill entitles a consumer to request that a business that collects the consumer's personal information disclose to the consumer the categories and specific items of personal information the business has collected. It establishes a requirement for the consumer to request the information. It establishes procedures for the business to disclose the information. Update: Passed House Technology Committee 6-0 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 85-11 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1787 (Representative Daniel Pae) Authorizes state agencies to pay employees in an on-call status. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 7-0 on Thursday, February 25. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1888 (Representative Danny Williams and Senator David Bullard) Bans all public bodies from conducting any form of gender or sexual diversity training or counseling. Allows for sexual harassment prevention training. Anybody that violates this law will be denied any source of public funding. Update: Passed House General Government Committee 6-2 on Wednesday, February 10. Amended by Committee Substitute. Laid Over. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1875 (Representative Tammy West and Senator Brenda Stanley) Permits each educational institution to choose to designate specific information which will be classified as directory information for students attending the educational institution. Update: Passed House General Government Committee 8-0 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 92-0 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate House Bill 1921 (Representative Ryan Martinez) Modifies the authority of OMES to designate quarters for every department of state government provided no department shall be assigned quarters that results in the relocation of a department’s employees or relocation of the performance of duties imposed upon such department by law. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Laid Over. Passed House Rules Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Emergency added. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1986 (Representative Judd Strom and Senator Bill Coleman) Requires any state agency that owns, operates or leases land in the state that is utilized for livestock grazing to enclose the area with a fence or another suitable means for the portion that contains livestock, as well as maintaining the enclosure. The bill allows the state agency to enter into a labor cost-sharing contract with adjacent landowner provided the landowner is not otherwise responsible for the cost of the enclosure or its maintenance. Update: Passed House Agriculture and Rural Development Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 16. Passed off the House Floor 92-4 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2085 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator David Bullard) Requires the Office of Management and Enterprise Services to display the national motto of the United States in a prominently visible location in all state buildings. The bill authorizes the Oklahoma Attorney General to prepare and present a legal defense of the display. Update: Passed House States’ Rights Committee 5-1 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 81-19 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2088 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator Roger Thompson) Exempts the legislature and judicial branches of state government from any and all fees or costs for services rendered by state agencies. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 16. Passed off the House floor 94-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2180 (Representative Ronny Johns and Senator Greg McCortney) Removes requirements for making payroll deductions for certain insurance premiums with a minimum participation of 500 state employees. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House Insurance Committee. Passed House Insurance Committee 7-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 82-12 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2185 (Representative Ronny Johns and Greg McCortney) Modifies the requirements of publications on contracts awarded by state agencies to include the address of the company and the reason to be awarded the contract. Deletes explanations on the out of state ownership percentage of contracted companies. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House Government Modernization and Efficiency Committee. Passed Government Modernization and Efficiency Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 88-3 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2294 (Representative Dustin Roberts and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Deletes the ability for employees to accumulate more than the maximum annual leave. Update: Passed House General Government Committee 8-0 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 98-0 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to Senate. Senate Bill 41 (Senator Greg McCortney and Representative Ronny Johns) Modifies the requirements for state employee payroll deductions for private insurance organizations and service companies that provide legal services. It removes the requirement that the organizations and service companies that provide legal services be regulated by the State Insurance Commissioner and have a minimum participation of 500 state employees. Update: Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 9-0 on Thursday, February18. Title Restored. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-0 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 63 (Senator John Michael Montgomery and Representative Avery Frix) Removes language related to the State Government Reduction-in-Force and Severance Benefits Act that requires an employee to repay all severance benefits on a proportional basis if an affected employee is reemployed by the agency from which separated as a result of a reduction-in-force Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 9-0 on Thursday, February 11. Passed off the Senate Floor 31-15 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 282 (Senator Frank Simpson and Representative Tommy Hardin) Amends Section 840-2.20 of the Oklahoma Personnel Act to allow for a temporary increase in the accumulation limits for annual leave following an emergency declaration period, which shall carryover to the end of the fiscal year following the year in which the emergency declaration ended. increase and carryover of annual leave time Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 9-0 on Thursday, February 4. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-1 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Senate Bill 299 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom and Representative Mark Lepak) Allows for cooperative “piggybacking” purchase agreements between state agencies including on public construction contracts. Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 7-2 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the Senate Floor 36-8 on Thursday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 333 (Senator Frank Simpson and Representative Tammy Townley) Amends Section 840-2.15 of the Oklahoma Personnel Act to allow for a temporary increase in the accumulation limits for compensatory time following an emergency declaration period, which shall carryover to the end of the fiscal year following the year in which the emergency declaration ended. increase and carryover of annual leave time. Update: Assigned to Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee. Reassigned to House General Government Committee. Passed House General Government Committee 8-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-1 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 403 (Senator Brenda Stanley and Representative Robert Manger) Makes it unlawful for any person, alone or in concert with others and without authorization, to willfully disturb, interfere or disrupt business of any political subdivision, which includes publicly posted meetings, or any political subdivision. Update: Assigned to Senate Public Safety Committee. Amended to make the bill an Emergency. Passed Public Safety Committee with a vote of 11-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the Senate Floor 36-9 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 459 (Senator Lonnie Paxton and Representative Ty Burns) Amends the Standards for Workplace Drug and Alcohol testing in light of medical marijuana. Update: Passed Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 10-3 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 484 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Allows the Legislature to approve or disapprove any agency implementation of a federal rule or law. Requires state agencies to send their interpretation of any rule or regulation before implementation. Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 10-1 on Thursday, February 25. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 650 (Senator Kim David and Representative Jon Echols) Provides a 2 percent increase to the amount of a participant’s benefit allowance from the amount provided in the previous plan year. Update: Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 8-1 on Thursday, February 18. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 18-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the Senate Floor 41-4 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 794 (Senator James Leewright and Representative Kevin Wallace) Requires that if the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission or its representative determines that an individual has been overpaid unemployment benefits to provisions therein relating to administrative overpayment, the individual must be sent a notice of overpayment determination. It allows that if the individual disagrees with this determination, said individual can file an appeal of the determination with the Appeal Tribunal within 10 days after the date of mailing. Update: Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee and Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee. Passed Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 12-0 on Thursday, February 11. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 829 (Senator Casey Murdock and Representative Kevin Wallace) Requires state agencies who have jurisdiction over parcels of land containing 80 or more acres of contiguous land to fence it. Update: Assigned to Senate General Government Committee. Reassigned to Senate Agriculture and Wildlife Committee. Passed Senate Agriculture and Wildlife 12-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 13-7 on Monday, March 1. Title stricken. Failed to pass on the Senate Floor 14-30 on Thursday, March 11. Senate Bill 895 (Senator Paul Rosino and Representative Chris Kannady) Allows state agencies to choose to have required audits performed by a public accountant or certified public accountant registered to do business with the state. Update: Assigned to Senate Finance Committee. Reassigned to House General Government Committee. Passed House General Government Committee 7-2 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 36-9 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 924 (Senator Greg Treat and Representative Kyle Hilbert) Creates a state data definition and gives OMES the authority to determine when state data is allowed to be shared between agencies or with federal entities if a request to share is initially rejected. Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 6-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-1 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 984 (Senator Kim David and Representative Terry O’Donnell) Prohibits an agency or official of the executive branch from entering into a contingency fee contract that provides for the private attorney or firm to receive an aggregate contingency fee that exceeds amounts specified therein. It prohibits the total fee payable to all retained private attorneys in any contingency fee contract from exceeding $50 million exclusive of any costs and expenses provided by the contract and actually incurred by the retained private attorneys, regardless of the number of actions or proceedings or the number of retained private attorneys involved in the matter. Update: Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 7-2 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 38-6 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Concurrent Resolution 2 (Senator Rob Standridge) Requires the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to submit a report to the Legislature and to make the report available on its website by December 31, 2021, that includes a list of all persons employed in a faculty or teaching position including their position rank at their respective institutions within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education and their compensation during the 2020-2021 academic year; a list of the courses taught and the hours taught by persons employed in a faculty or teaching position at institutions within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education during the 2020-2021 academic year; the tenure policy of each institution within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education for the 2020-2021 academic year; and the number of faculty employed by each institution within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education who had tenure during the 2020-2021 academic year. Update: Not assigned to committee. Budget Bills House Bill 1665 (Representative Kevin West and Senator Chuck Hall) Creates a Federal Funds Holding Account within the General Revenue Fund to receive all funds required to be paid to the State of Oklahoma. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 20-10 on Wednesday, February 24, Title Stricken. Passed off the House Floor 86-12 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1990 (Representative Trey Caldwell and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Allows ad valorem reimbursement fund to be used to reimburse counties for loss of revenue. Update: Assigned to House Appropriations and Budget Committee. Direct to Appropriations Committee. Passed House Appropriations Committee 28-0 Thursday, February 18. Passed off the House Floor 65-30 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2086 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator Zack Taylor) Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services to ensure state agencies are charged no more than the actual cost of the services provided by the Office. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 9-0 Tuesday, February 16. Passed off the House Floor 94-0 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2775 (Representative John Pfeiffer and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Adds to the definition of “Cost Approach” in the ad valorem tax code to include physical deterioration, functional or internal obsolescence, and economic or external obsolescence. Update: Passed House County and Municipal Government Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 22. Passed off the House Floor 92-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2776 (Representative John Pfeiffer and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Creates the Ad Valorem School District Support Revolving Fund which shall consist of all ad valorem funds under protest received by the State Department of Education (SDE). The SDE may distribute this money to school districts which are affected by protested ad valorem taxes. Update: Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed House Rules Committee 7-2 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the House Floor 90-0 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2777 (Representative John Pfeiffer and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Allows for wind power valuation for real property and personal property in the ad valorem tax code. Update: Passed House County and Municipal Government Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 22. Title Stricken. Passed off the House Floor 93-0 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2780 (Representative John Pfeiffer and Senator Dave Rader) Allows the Oklahoma Tax Commission to garnish accrued earnings of a delinquent taxpayer by contacting the taxpayer’s employer. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 27-3 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 78-18 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to Senate. House Joint Resolution 1001 (Representative Andy Fugate and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Proposes a vote of the people on a constitutional amendment that changes the way the maximum Constitutional Reserve (Rainy Day) Fund balance amount would be computed. It would require the maximum balance allowed be based on a percentage of total state expenditures instead of using revenue estimates provided by the State Board of Equalization for the annual appropriations process. It would provide that total expenditures include all appropriated monies and federal funds. It would exclude from total expenditures money from revolving funds which are used by state agencies, fees or similar charges that were not derived from tax revenue, and money obtained by issuing state government bonds. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 9-0 Tuesday, February 16. Passed off the House Floor 93-0 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to Senate. Senate Bill 79 (Senator Roger Thompson and Representative Kevin West) Exempts from sales tax the transfer of tangible personal property to or by nonprofit 501(c)(3) entities that have entered into a joint operating agreement with the University Hospitals Trust. Update: Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. Amended to provide an effective date of July 1, 2022. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee as amended 20-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-1 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 181 (Senator Zack Taylor and Representative Brad Boles) Permits more than one-half of ad valorem taxes to be paid by January 1 of each year. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 12-0 Tuesday, February 2. Passed off Senate Floor 46-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 383 (Senator Robert Standridge and Representative Kevin West) Establishes that the owner or operator of a social media website who contracts with users in Oklahoma is subject to a private right of action by a social media website user if the social media website purposely deletes or censors a social media website user’s political speech or religious speech or uses an algorithm to suppress political speech or religious speech. Update: Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 5-3 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 34-12 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 498 (Senator Roger Thompson and Representative Scott Fetgatter) Permits a facility engaged in cement manufacturing to have the payroll requirements of the five-year ad valorem tax exemption waived for tax year 2021, which is based in part on the 2020 calendar year payroll reported to the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission and permits it to continue to receive the exemption for the five-year period only if all other requirements of this section are met. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Referred to Full Appropriations Committee. Laid over. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 18-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-1 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 609 (Senator Chuck Hall and Representative Kyle Hilbert) Extends the ad valorem tax exemption to manufacturing facilities, doubles the acquisition or expansion limit. Adds definitions to manufacturing facilities. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 11-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 33-1 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 753 (Senator Brent Howard) For any property acquired by a governmental entity operating as a trust, after the effective date of this act, the trust shall annually make in lieu of tax payments an amount equal to the ad valorem assessed against the property immediately prior to purchase by the trust. Update: Assigned to Senate Finance Committee. Title Stricken. Passed Senate Finance Committee 10-1 on Tuesday, February 9. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 771 (Senator Blake Stephens) Creates the Tax Collection Modernization Act allowing each county treasurer in their sole discretion to let taxpayers make payments on the total amount of tax due, and holding these payments on trust until the amount is sufficient to pay the total due. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 11-0 on Friday, February 19. Title Stricken. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 906 (Senator Casey Murdock and Representative Todd Russ) Provides allowances for depreciation of value in ad valorem tax consideration. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 9-2 on Friday, February 19. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Joint Resolution 14 (Senator Joe Newhouse) Puts to a vote of the people increasing the cap on the Constitutional Reserve Fund from 15 percent to 30 percent. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Senate Joint Resolution 16 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom) Changes the way maximum balance allowed for the rainy-day fund from using the Board of Equalization estimates to a percentage of a total of the state expenditures for the previous year including all state and federal funds. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. CareerTech House Bill 1026 (Representative Rande Worthen and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Allows CLEET to establish and certify additional law enforcement and criminal justice programs at state-supported technology center schools in the State of Oklahoma operating under the State Board of Career and Technology Education for teaching students between 16 and 19 years of age. Update: Passed House Public Safety Committee 7-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 97-0 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to Senate. Common Education House Bill 1027 (Representative Trish Ranson and Senator Brenda Stanley) Requires de-escalation training for certified teachers, beginning in the 2022-2023 school year. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 13-0 on Tuesday, February 16. Passed off the House Floor 81-11 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1046 (Representative Dell Kerbs and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Requires a copy or a hyperlink to a copy of the most recent audit of the financial statements of a school district to be on the front page of the school district website for public inspection. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor as amended 95-0 on Wednesday, March. 3 Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1073 (Representative Tom Gann and Senator Nathan Dahm) Extends the sunset date for the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness Board until July 1, 2024. Update: Passed House Administrative Rules Committee 10-0 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 89-2 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1103 (Representative Mark Vancuren and Senator John Haste) Directs the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and the State Education Department to create a set of guidelines and provide directions to schools in order to survey every public school student in grades 6,8,10 and 12 with the Oklahoma Prevention Needs Assessment Survey every other year beginning in the 2022-2023 school year. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 16. Amended to remove private schools. Passed off the House Floor 78-19 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1104 (Representative Mark Vancuren and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Requires information on a student's tribal affiliation to be included in student data collected for the state. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee on 12-0 Tuesday, February 16. Passed off the House Floor 94-0 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1568 (Representative Jeff Boatman and Senator John Haste) Creates Maria’s Law requiring collaboration with the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to adopt standards and approve age-appropriate curriculum for K-12 students as a part of normal health education curriculum. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 84-10 with Title Stricken on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1569 (Representative Jacob Rosecrants and Senator Adam Pugh) Creates the Oklahoma Play to Learn Act. States that the intention of the Legislature is to focus on the importance of child-centered, play-based learning. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House Floor 76-16 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1775 (Representative Sherrie Conley and Senator Jessica Garvin) Creates Riley's Rule, a requirement that each athletic and practice facility create an emergency action plan. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Laid Over. Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the House Floor 93-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1882 (Representative Marilyn Stark and Senator Dave Rader) Creates the "Out-of-Schooltime" task force to identify, evaluate and recommend a set of best practices for children, youth and families to improve and increase the number of quality, affordable out-of-school programs in the state. The bill sets the membership of the committee. Update: Passed House Children, Youth and Family Services Committee as amended by Committee Substitute 5-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 82-14 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1963 (Representative Jadine Nollan and Senator Brenda Stanley) If vacancies occur which result in a loss of majority members of the board of education of a school district or technology center school district, the Governor shall appoint a member or members necessary to constitute a quorum to the board of education. Update: Assigned to House Elections and Ethics Committee. Laid Over. Passed House Elections and Ethics Committee 7-0 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the House Floor 80-16 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1968 (Representative Jadine Nollan and Senator Brenda Stanley) Deletes expenditure and program classification reporting requirements for certain gifted and talented programs. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 13-0 on Monday, February 8. Referred to full House Appropriations Committee. Laid Over. Passed House Appropriations Committee 30-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the Senate Floor 80-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2030 (Representative Terry O’Donnell and Senator Adam Pugh) Adds passing the Naturalization test to high school graduation requirements. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 11-3 on Tuesday, February 16. Passed off the House Floor 80-18 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2223 (Representative Randy Randleman and Senator Dewayne Pemberton) Requires the Oklahoma State Department of Education to maintain a dyslexia information handbook. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House Floor 96-0 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2381 (Representative Danny Sterling and Senator Frank Simpson) Directs local school districts to conduct an annual fitness assessment. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 22-9 on Wednesday, February 25. Title Stricken. Passed off the House Floor 57-37 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2388 (Representative John Talley and Senator Tom Dugger) Asks school districts to provide age-appropriate instruction about social-emotional learning. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House Common Education Committee. Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 70-22 on Wednesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2396 (Representative Todd Russ and Senator Brenda Stanley) Asks the board of education to adopt a policy regarding sex trafficking and exploitation prevention. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House Floor 86-6 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2462 (Representative Dick Lowe and Senator Brent Howard) Allows the State Department of Education to enter into contracts and agreements for the payment of food, lodging and other expenses necessary to host or participate in conferences and training sessions. Update: Passed House General Government Committee 7-0 on Wednesday, February 17. Passed off the House Floor 86-5 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2547 (Representative Preston Stinson) Requires media timeouts at high school sporting events which are being broadcast. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Reassigned to House Rules Committee. Passed House Rules Committee 6-0 on Thursday, February 25. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2662 (Representative Dick Lowe and Senator Dave Rader) Creates the Seizure Safe Schools Act requiring each local school district to have at least one school employee at each school who has met certain seizure safe training requirements. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Amended to change from a Shall to a May. Passed House Common Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 16. Author change. Passed off the House Floor 95-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2727 (Representative Ajay Pittman and Senator David Bullard) Requires subject to the availability of funds that there be a basic life skills education curriculum taught in public schools. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 67-26 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2749 (Representative Rhonda Baker and Senator Adam Pugh) Requires schools that receive more than $2,500 from the Reading Proficiency Act to spend at least 10 percent on professional development for Pre-k-5 grade teachers. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday February 16. Passed off the House Floor 90-5 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Joint Resolution 1026 (Representative Anthony Moore) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment that removes debt limits for school districts. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. House Joint Resolution 1029 (Representative Monroe Nichols) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment that authorizes a school district to raise an additional $5 million levy on taxable property within the district if approved by the majority of district voters. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. House Joint Resolution 1033 (Representative Chad Caldwell) Puts to a vote of the people a requirement that a school spends at least 60 percent of its annual budget on instructional expenditures. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Senate Bill 2 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom and Representative Toni Hasenbeck) Clarifies and expands the duties of the School Finance Review Commission to conduct a review of all matters related to school finance, including but not limited to teacher compensation and benefits; administrative costs, including administrative functions that may be shared between districts; opportunities for school districts to be operated in a cost effective manner; variances in per pupil and administrative expenditures among school districts with comparable enrollment, demographics and outcomes on statewide assessments; and expenditures not directly or sufficiently related to improving student outcomes. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 38-8 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 13 (Senator Brenda Stanley and Representative Rhonda Baker) Requires a teacher whose certificate is suspended by the State Board of Education to be placed on suspension while proceedings for revocation or other action are pending before the State Board of Education. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 21 (Senator Kay Floyd and Representative Marcus McEntire) Makes it a requirement, rather than permissive, beginning with the 2021-2022 school year, that district school boards provide schoolwide training to all students in grades seven through twelve and staff addressing suicide awareness and prevention. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee as amended by Committee Substitute 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 54 (Senator John Michael Montgomery and Representative Daniel Pae) Requires the State Department of Education to designate a school district site or charter school site as a Purple Star School. The bill defines applicable terms. It establishes the requirements for a school district site or charter school to be designated as a Purple Star School. It requires the State Board of Education to promulgate necessary rules. Update: Passed Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Committee 10-0 on Thursday, February 11. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 66 (Senator John Haste and Representative Lonnie Sims) Exempts any insurance policy sold to any school district from the surplus lines premium tax. Update: Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to House Senate Bill 68 (Senator Frank Simpson and Representative Max Wolfley) Requires a public school student to be considered in compliance with statutory residency provisions if he or she is a student whose parent or legal guardian is transferred or is pending transfer to a military installation within the state while on active military duty pursuant to an official military order. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 89 (Senator John Haste and Representative Rhonda Baker) Creates the Health Education Act. The bill defines applicable terms. It requires health education to be taught in public schools, including but not limited to physical health, mental health, social and emotional health and intellectual health. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-1 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 128 (Senator Dave Rader and Representative Dick Lowe) Creates the Seizure Safe Schools Act requiring at least one school employee at each school to meet certain training requirements. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Title Stricken, Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 47-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 142 (Senator Roland Pederson) Requires a school district’s board of education to allow a nonresident and non-transferred pupil to determine whether to require a tuition fee equal to the per capita cost of education for a similar period in such district during the preceding year. The bill requires the tuition fee to be paid to the receiving district in advance yearly or by semester as determined by the district board of education of the receiving district. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee as amended by committee substitute 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Failed on the Senate Floor 21-26 on Wednesday, March 1. Motion to reconsider. Senate Bill 157 (Senator J.J. Dossett) Removes language that provides State Board of Education appointees to serve at the pleasure of the Governor. It adds language that permits the Governor to remove members of the board for cause, including being found guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction of a felony or any offense involving moral turpitude; being found guilty of malfeasance, misfeasance or nonfeasance in relation to board duties; being found mentally incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction; or failing to attend three successive meetings of the board without just cause, as determined by the Governor. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Title Stricken. Passed Senate Education Committee 10-2 on Tuesday, February 2. Senate Bill 197 (Senator Tom Dugger) Requires candidates who win board of education elections to be seated at the first meeting following the April election date. It clarifies language related to the April board of education election date. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Laid Over. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 252 (Senator Brenda Stanley and Representative Rhonda Baker) Requires all public schools to begin teaching computer science courses in the 2024-2025 school year. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Title Stricken. Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed off the Senate Floor 41-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 419 (Senator J.J. Dossett and Representative John Waldron) Removes the requirement to administer assessments in U.S. history under the statewide system of student assessments. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 10-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 43-2 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 503 (Senator Nathan Dahm and Representative Ryan Martinez) Adds to required history curriculum, the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, substantive selections from the Federalist Papers the Emancipation Proclamation, the Articles of Confederation, the Gettysburg Address and George Washington’s Farwell Address. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 9-2 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 39-7 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 619 (Senator David Bullard and Representative Kevin West) Allows school districts to obtain liability insurance coverage to protect a student participating in an apprenticeship internship or mentorship program. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Title Stricken Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 20-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Title Restored. Passed off the Senate Floor 47-0 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 634 (Senator Julie Daniels and Representative Terry O’Donnell) Requires an authorization form that has the statement of understanding of the first amendment rights to not be a part of a union for public education employees. Makes that form’s authorization a yearly requirement. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Reassigned to Senate Judiciary Committee. Passed Senate Judiciary 7-4 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 25-21 on Thursday, March 4. Emergency Passed 32-14 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 642 (Senator Adam Pugh and Representative Dustin Roberts) Includes multi-aptitude battery assessments that measure developed abilities and help predict future academic and occupational success in the military. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Title Stricken. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 707 (Senator Greg McCortney) Sets a deadline for parents to present immunization records or exemptions. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 on Tuesday, February 9. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 783 (Senator Adam Pugh and Representative Brad Boles) Requires the Department of Education to publish a list of the capacity for a class in each grade level K-12. Strengthens open transfer policies. Gives OEQA audit authority over transfer Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 9-3 on Tuesday, February 23. Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed off the Senate Floor 32-15 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 807 (Senator Chris Kidd and Representative Rhonda Baker) Entitles support employees to pay for any time lost when a school district is closed because of an epidemic or when an order for such a closing has been issued by a health officer authorized by law to issue the order. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 10-1 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-1 Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Joint Resolution 3 (Senator Carri Hicks) Proposes a vote of the people on a constitutional amendment that allows a member of the Legislature to be employed as a certified teacher with a public school district in this state after he or she completes his or her term in office. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Senate Joint Resolution 9 (Senator Mary Boren) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment that changes the duty of the legislature when it comes to public education. Removes the words “Wherein all the children of the State may be educated”. Instead requires the legislature to “make suitable provision for the support and maintenance of an efficient and equitable system of free public schools”. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. COVID-19 House Bill 2335 (Representative Jay Steagall and Senator Shane Jett) Prohibits compulsory immunization through any state entity via direct or indirect means. Update: Passed House Public Health Committee 7-1 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House floor 71-25 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate, House Joint Resolution 1032 (Representative Chad Caldwell) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment prohibiting a governmental entity from issuing any order or rule that requires closure of any place of worship. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Senate Bill 368 (Senator David Bullard and Representative Brian Hill) Prohibits any governmental declaration of a religious institution as nonessential. Requires that religious institutions be exempt from closure orders for the purpose of health or security that is greater than that imposed on any private entity. Update: Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 6-2 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 37-9 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 835 (Senator Blake Stephens) Bans any discrimination by any public accommodation towards a person on the basis of their vaccination or immunity status. Update: Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 6-2 on Friday, February 19. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Charter Schools House Joint Resolution 1036 (Representative Jon Echols) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment allowing a school district to become indebted after a 3/5ths vote to acquire or improve the school sites or equipment of a charter school. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Senate Bill 69 (Senator Frank Simpson and Representative Max Wolfley) Provides a student will be eligible to enroll in a statewide virtual charter school if the student's parent or legal guardian is transferred or is pending transfer to a military installation within this state while on active military duty pursuant to an official military order. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 222 (Senator Rob Standridge and Representative Daniel Pae) Creates the Hope Scholarship Program to provide a scholarship to an eligible private school of choice for students who have experienced bullying. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 20-0 on Monday, March 1. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-1 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 239 (Senator Dewayne Pemberton and Representative Toni Hasenbeck) Creates a process for the State Board of Education to hear appeals to the charter school sponsorship process. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed off the Senate Floor 30-16 on Wednesday, February 10. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 658 (Senator Nathan Dahm and Representative Kevin West) Requires the State Department of Education to provide any notice or publication on immunization requirements all information on exemptions to such requirements. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Amended to pass Senate Education Committee 8-3 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 35-10 on Thursday, March 4. Emergency Passed 36-9 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. General Government Senate Joint Resolution 1 (Senator Kay Floyd) Proposes a vote of the people on a constitutional amendment that would prohibit members of the Legislature from being appointed or elected to any office or commission during their term; receiving any appointment from the Governor, the Governor and Senate or the Legislature during the term; or being interested in any contract with the state or a political subdivision during the term. It would not prohibit an employee of a school district, a technology center school district or the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education from continuing to serve during the term, or prohibit an appointment to a legislative committee or other legislative position. It also would not prohibit a former member from returning to his or her profession or business. It would permit the Legislature to enact laws to implement these provisions. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Higher Education House Bill 1801 (Representative Nicole Miller and Senator Brenda Stanley) Grants priority enrollment and course registration to all Oklahoma resident members of the Oklahoma National Guard and to students who are eligible to receive educational financial assistance from the Department of Veteran Affairs. Update: Passed House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Amended to allow only Oklahoma residents. Passed off the House Floor as amended 98-1 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1962 (Representative Jadine Nollan and Senator Marty Quinn) Specifies the definition of “qualified higher education expenses” to fall in line with section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code. Update: Passed House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee with a vote of 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the House Floor 95-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1965 (Representative Jadine Nolan and Senator Darrell Weaver) Allows a board of county commissioners to determine the years of service required for full-time county employees to qualify for a continuing education program and allows such programs to include courses offered by a college or university that is a member of the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education as well as any other in-state or out-of-state programs or courses which are relevant to the employee's responsibilities as approved by the county commissioners. Update: Passed House County and Municipal Government Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the House Floor as amended 95-0 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2046 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator Frank Simpson) Creates the Higher Education Institution Local Funding Act. The measure authorizes the board of regents of eligible two-year colleges to adopt a resolution calling for the creation of a higher education funding district, for the purpose of providing additional sources of funding for the institution. If approved by the board of regents, the creation of the funding district and its initial operational millage rate would go to a vote of the people within the established district boundary. Additional bonds may be included in the ballot measure calling for the creation of the district. The ballot measure would require 60 percent approval to pass. Update: Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed House Rules Committee as amended 7-0 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the House Floor 79-18 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2691 (Representative Toni Hasenbeck and Senator Micheal Bergstrom) Requires the Commission for Educational Quality an Accountability to issue a report detailing factors in the public education system that contribute to graduation rates, assessment scores and the state workforce. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 76-18 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2750 (Representative Rhonda Baker and Senator Adam Pugh) States the intent of the Legislature that in establishing minimum required score on AP exams for granting course credit the Regents for Higher Education should not require an AP score above 3. Update: Passed House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 22. Amended to allow the granting of additional credit for higher than 3. Passed off the House Floor 94-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2874 (Representative Kevin Wallace and Senator Roger Thompson) Adds the University Hospitals Trust to those exempt from sales tax. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 26-1 on Wednesday, February 10. Title Stricken. Passed off the House Floor 83-9 on Monday, February 22. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2926 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator Adam Pugh) Requires each institution of higher education to publish a salary report of common occupations and industries in which students are employed upon graduation. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 7-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House Floor 97-1 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Senate Bill 70 (Senator Frank Simpson and Representative Tommy Hardin) Increases the time period before the date of enrollment from five years to 10 years when a person was discharged or released from active military service to qualify for in-state enrollment. Update: Passed Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Education 4-0 on Wednesday, February 10. Referred to Full Appropriations Committee. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Thursday, February 18. Title Stricken. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Senate Bill 139 (Senator Roger Thompson and Representative Kyle Hilbert) Adds the Senate Appropriations Committee Chair and the House Appropriations and Budget Committee Chair to the list of recipients of the annual report submitted by Oklahoma State University Medical Authority. Update: Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. Laid Over. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 20-0 on Wednesday February, 24. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 238 (Senator Dewayne Pemberton and Representative Kyle Hilbert) Creates a task force to study the requirement for high school students to complete the FASFA. Designates the makeup of this task force and the end date for a report. Requires the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the Senate to provide the staff and administrative support for the task force. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 40-5 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 261 (Senator John Michael Montgomery and Representative Melissa Provenzano) Creates the Oklahoma Student Borrower’s Bill of Rights, requiring that student loan servicers not employ any deceptive practices, maintain accurate reporting to consumer credit bureaus, and otherwise accurately inform borrowers of their rights and obligations in public and plain language. Update: Passed Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 11-2 on Thursday, February 11. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 292 (Senator John Haste and Representative Jadine Nollan) Creates a task force to study the concurrent enrollment needs of the State. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-1 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 614 (Senator David Bullard) Enhances higher education students’ First Amendment rights to include the “right to an unbiased education” and freedom from any endorsement, symbolism or propaganda of “socialism, communism, Marxism or anti-American sentiment.” Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 10-2 on Tuesday, February 23. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 893 (Senator Adam Pugh and Representative Scott Fetgatter) Allows the undergraduate and graduate programs of the same discipline of engineering at an institution to be part of the qualified program if either program is ABET accredited. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 11-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-3 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Senate Joint Resolution 15 (Senator Rob Standridge) Puts to a vote of the people a prohibition for higher education from requiring students to enroll in a course that is not a core requirement of their chosen curriculum, a course with no tuition or fee charged, or a course that is not directly relevant to a degree being pursued. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Healthcare House Bill 1006 (Representative Carol Bush and Senator Adam Pugh) Creates the Transparency in Health Care Prices Act. The bill defines applicable terms. It requires healthcare providers make available to the public, in a single document, either electronically or by posting conspicuously on the provider's website if one exists, the health care prices for at least the 20 most common health care services the healthcare provider provides. Update: Passed House Public Health Committee 8-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 92-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2299 (Representative Dustin Roberts and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Creates the Oklahoma Medical Education Protection Act which preserves the supplemental payment programs payable to University Health Science Centers when entering into contractual arrangements with any entity for the management of Medicaid patients. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 8-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 82-3 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to Senate. House Joint Resolution 1041 (Representative Sean Roberts) Puts to a vote of the people an amendment repealing Medicaid expansion. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Senate Bill 4 (Senator Greg McCortney and Representative T.J. Marti) Permits a pharmacist to substitute an interchangeable biological product for a prescribed biological product only if the substituted product has been determined by FDA to be interchangeable with the prescribed biological product; the prescribing physician has permitted substitution; and the pharmacy informs the patient of the substitution. Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services committee 10-0 Wednesday, February 3. Amended by Floor Substitute. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-0 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 100 (Senator Brenda Stanley and Representative Dean Davis) Permits an applicant for a license to practice podiatric medicine to submit an electronic application online. It requires an applicant legally reside in the United States, rather than be loyal to the US. The bill removes the requirement that the applicant be free from contagious or infectious disease. Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 8-3 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 107 (Senator John Michael Montgomery and Representative Todd Russ) Gives the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) the authority, beginning with the Jan. 1, 2022 plan year, to renew vision plan contracts with plan providers for succeeding one-year terms if the provider had a contract for the immediately preceding year. Update: Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off Senate Floor 47-0 on Thursday, February 10. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 164 (Senator Brenda Stanley and Representative Cynthia Roe) Modifies language related to participation in a research program or experimental procedures. It requires human subject research to be approved by an accredited institutional review board rather than a local institutional review board. It requires when the patient is incapable of giving informed consent and is a minor that the consent be given by the parent or legal guardian. Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 10-0 Wednesday, February 3. Passed off the Senate Floor 43-2 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 207 (Senator Jessica Garvin and Senator Marcus McEntire) Authorizes the Oklahoma Health Care Authority Administrator to designate an administrative law judge to perform appeal hearings for those adversely affected by a decision of the authority. Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 11-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed Full Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-0 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 319 (Senator Robert Standridge and Representative Daniel Pae) Exempts from the prohibition furnishing anyone under the age of 21 any cigarettes, cigarette papers, cigars, bidis, snuff, chewing tobacco, or any other form of tobacco product, or vapor products persons performing activities as part of a scientific study being conducted by a research institution for the purpose of medical research to further efforts in cigarette and tobacco use prevention and cessation and tobacco product regulation, provided that such medical research has been approved by a properly accredited institutional review board pursuant to applicable federal regulations. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 11-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Thursday, February 11. Engrossed to House Senate Bill 406 (Senator Jessica Garvin and Representative Marcus McEntire) Modifies the definitions of "University Hospital" and "Oklahoma's Children's Hospital." It authorizes the University Hospital’s authority to assign any inpatient and outpatient hospital and clinical facilities, research buildings, facilities or property and any other buildings, facilities or property under its ownership or management and control to University Hospital, Oklahoma Children's Hospital or any other division or entity which is part of University Hospital. Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 11-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-1 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. OneNet House Bill 1049 (Representative Dell Kerbs) Requires the Department of Public Safety to provide motor license agents with internet services that operate at adequate transmission speeds to allow the agents to efficiently transact business and transmit data to and from the agency. Update: Passed House Technology Committee 5-1 on Wednesday, February 10. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1124 (Representative Logan Phillips and Senator James Leewright) Creates the State Broadband Deployment Grant Program to direct competitive grants to applicants seeking to expand broadband internet services and directs the Corporation Commission to create the Rural Broadband Expansion Council to promulgate rules and procedures for the program. Update: Passed House Technology Committee 5-1 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 91-6 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1132 (Representative Logan Phillips) Deletes the requirement that the Corporation Commission not approve, endorse, forward or file any application for reimbursement submitted pursuant to subsection (h) of Section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, for transmission services requiring a circuit of T-1 or greater capacity unless OneNet is the circuit provider. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House Technology Committee. Passed House Technology Committee 6-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2040 (Speaker Charles McCalle and Senator James Leewright) The measure provides a sales tax exemption, in the form of rebates, on sales of qualifying broadband equipment if the property is directly used or consumed by the provider or subsidiary in or during the distribution of internet services. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 30-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 85-14 on Thursday, March 11, Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2090 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator James Leewright) Expands the Rural Broadband Expansion Council from 14 to 16 members. One of the additional members would represent a wireless internet service provider and be appointed by the Speaker of the House. The other additional member would represent a Native American tribe and be appointed by the Senate President Pro Tem. Update: Passed House Technology Committee 6-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Emergency Added. Passed off the House Floor 97-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2928 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator James Leewright) Directs broadband service providers in the state to submit a report containing their network area coverage map to the Department of Commerce and the Rural Broadband Expansion Council by October 31, 2021. The providers would be required to update this map and report annually. OneNet is also directed to provide mapping of all assets and network coverage. Update: Passed House Technology Committee 6-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 97-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Senate Bill 802 (Senator James Leewright and Representative Logan Phillips) Increases the Rural Broadband Expansion Council by one member to be filled by a tribal leader of this state. Update: Passed Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 12-1 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-2 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Open Meetings/Records House Bill 1876 (Representative Tammy West and Senator Brenda Stanley) Specifies what private employee information is not subject to the Open Meeting Act. Update: Passed House General Government Committee 8-0 On Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 82-0 on Thursday, February 18. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2644 (Representative Jon Echols and Senator Kim David) Extends the provisions that allows for virtual open meetings until March 31, 2024 Update: Assigned to House General Government Committee. Laid Over. Passed House General Government Committee 8-0 on Tuesday, February 24. Title Stricken. Passed off the House Floor 92-6 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Senate Bill 970 (Senator Kay Floyd and Representative Brad Boles) Makes all license or certification public record, excluding an applicant’s personal address, phone number or other personal material. Update: Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 1031 (Senator Greg Treat and Representative Jon Echols) Extends the provisions that allow for virtual open meetings until the Governor declares the state of emergency to have ended. Update: Assigned to Senate General Government Committee. Withdrawn from General Government Committee. Direct to Calendar. Passed off the Senate Floor as amended by Floor Substitute with a vote of 45-0 on Wednesday, February 3. Direct to House Calendar. Passed off the House Floor 88-5 on Monday, February 8. Signed by Governor Stitt on Wednesday, February 10. Senate Bill 1032 (Senator Greg Treat and Speaker Charles McCall) Requires livestreaming for virtual open meetings Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 7-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 47-0 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to House. Scholarships House Bill 1739 (Representative Sheila Dills and Senator Brenda Stanley) Creates the Connecting Futures Act. It allows the Department of Human Services to, subject to available funding, create a pilot program to address needs of any minors who are separated from their parents or legal guardians, are not supported by their parents or legal guardians and are not in the custody of the Department of Human Services or in the custody of any Indian tribe. It requires the pilot program to allow the Department to provide assistance in securing necessary services to allow eligible minors to become self-reliant and productive citizens. Update: Passed House Children Youth and Family Services Committee 5-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House Floor 82-6 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1821 (Representative Toni Hasenbeck and Senator Dewayne Pemberton) Increases flexibility in the use of Tuition Aid Grants, by removing language directing the Regents for Higher Education to direct tuition aid grants to all eligible applicants, and adding factors to the way the awards are prioritized including: Enrollment status, unmet financial need, continuous enrollment, nearness to degree completion or certificate, state employment needs, and eligibility for other State and institutional funds. Update: Passed House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the House Floor 94-2 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2399 (Representative Todd Russ and Senator Marty Quinn) Extends the qualification for Oklahoma’s higher learning access program to those students whose parents died after the students tenth grade year, and meet the other financial requirements. Update: Assigned to House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee. Amended by unanimous consent passed to House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the House Floor 93-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. Senate Bill 132 (Senator David Bullard and Representative Rhonda Baker) Extends application window for Oklahoma’s Promise to the eleventh grade. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Title Stricken. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Title Restored. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 237 (Senator Dewayne Pemberton and Representative Mark McBride) Increases flexibility in the use of Tuition Aid Grants, by removing language directing the Regents for Higher Education to direct tuition aid grants to all eligible applicants, and adding factors to the way the awards are prioritized including: Enrollment status, unmet financial need, continuous enrollment, nearness to degree completion or certificate, state employment needs, and eligibility for other State and institutional funds. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-1 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 639 (Senator Adam Pugh and Representative Rhonda Baker) Extends qualification for Oklahoma’s Promise to those enrolled in an area that has been identifies as a critical occupation area. Requires the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and the State Regents for Higher Education to publish a yearly list between October and June of the critical occupation areas that meet the guidelines. Requires the Regents, in consultation with CareerTech, to identify postsecondary vo-tech programs that correlate to the critical occupation areas. Sets a 6-year completion timeline for a baccalaureate or other postsecondary education credential and requires that the Oklahoma’s Promise scholarship recipient repay the scholarship if the credential is not earned within 6-year time frame. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Amended by Floor Substitute, which provides a 6-year time period to earn a baccalaureate or other postsecondary education credential or requires that the Oklahoma’s Promise recipient enter into a repayment agreement with the institution of higher education or career technology center. Passed off the Senate Floor 36-9 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Teacher Retirement System House Bill 2293 (Representative Dustin Roberts and Senator Lonnie Paxton) modifies the matching of TRS funds to be based only on the member’s regular annual compensation regardless of the source of funds, except federal funding. Update: Passed House Banking Financial Services and Pensions Committee 6-2 on Monday, February 22. Passed off the House Floor 51-38 on Thursday, March 11. Emergency Failed. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2486 (Representative Avery Frix) Terminates the OPERS defined contribution plan created by the Retirement Freedom Act and provides that all state employees will participate in the OPERS defined benefit plan upon November 1, 2022, or the last date required for distribution of the plan account balances. Employees currently participating in the defined contribution plan will be considered 100 percent vested in their account balance as of November 1, 2021, including employer matching amounts and any gains resulting from management of the account, and will have the option to use their account balance to purchase service credit or to transfer their balance to a qualifying retirement plan. Update: Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed House Rules Committee 7-0 on Thursday, February 25. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 267 (Senator Dewayne Pemberton and Representative Jadine Nollan) Allows retired educators who have received benefits for at least one year and who have not been employed by a public school during that time to be eligible to be reemployed as an active classroom teacher in common or career tech school district with no limitation on earnings. Update: Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 9-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the House Floor 36-11 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 683 (Senator Chris Kidd and Representative Mark McBride) Removes the one-year regular employment requirement for full-time non-classified optional personnel to join the TRS. Update: Assigned to Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee. Laid Over. Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 8-1 on Monday, February 22. Passed off the House Floor 41-2 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Senate Joint Resolution 18 (Senator Lonnie Paxton) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment that requires any COLA to include funding. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Teacher Certification House Bill 1593 (Representative Melissa Provenzano and Senator Brenda Stanley) Requires 7th-12th grade teachers to have workplace safety training emphasized into curriculum. The program shall be completed the first year a certified teacher is employed by a school district. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 13-0 Tuesday, February 16. Passed off House Floor 74-19 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1773 (Representative Sherrie Conley and Senator Jessica Garvin) Requires teaching candidates in early childhood elementary, secondary and special education to study the philosophy framework and implementation of a multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) designed to address the core academic and nonacademic needs of all students. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Amended by committee substitute. Passed House Common Education Committee 8-1 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the House Floor 91-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1796 (Representative Nicole Miller and Senator Adam Pugh) Allows the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Commission for Education Quality and Accountability to grant subject area examination exceptions for initial certification in a field that does not require an advanced degree if the candidate already has an advanced degree in the subject essentially comparable to the content assessed in the examination. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 13-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House Floor 91-1 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senator. House Bill 2329 (Representative Mark Lawson and Senator Frank Simpson) Allows the State Board of Education to grant an exception to the certification examination to teacher candidates who are deaf. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 8-0 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the House Floor 97-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2693 (Representative Toni Hasenbeck and Senator Brenda Stanley) Updates the name of the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation to the Office of Educational Quality and Accountability. Rewards teachers who are renewing their National Board Certification by awarding them a portion of the renewal application fee. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House Appropriations Committee. Passed House Appropriations Committee 28-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the House Floor 81-11 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2748 (Representative Rhonda Baker and Senator Brenda Stanley) Requires the State Board of Education to issue one-year alternative teacher certificates renewable for up to 3 years to teach early childhood education or elementary education if the alternative certified teacher meets certain qualifications. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House floor 86-0 on Thursday, February 18. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2752 (Representative Rhonda Baker and Senator Brenda Stanley) Requires the State Department of Education in coordination with the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability to establish a micro-credential programs for teachers who hold a certificate to complete additional coursework and earn STEM credentials. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 93-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Senate Bill 51 (Senator Carri Hicks and Representative Danny Sterling) Removes the requirement to pass the general education portions of the competency examination for an alternative placement teaching certificate or a teacher certificate. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off Senate Floor 33-12 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 67 (Senator Frank Simpson and Speaker Charles McCall) Permits the State Board of Education to grant an exception to the requirements for all certification examinations for teacher candidates who are "deaf." Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 229 (Senator John Michael Montgomery and Representative Kyle Hilbert) Allows the State Board of Education to renew an Emergency or Provisional Teacher Certification for up to five years. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 10-2 on Tuesday, February 23. Title Stricken. Passed off the Senate Floor 37-8 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Weapons on Campus / Gun Laws House Bill 1629 (Representative David Hardin and Senator Micheal Bergstrom) Preempts any federal, state county or municipal law rule or regulation that orders the confiscation of firearms, firearm accessories of ammunition. Update: Passed House Judiciary-Criminal Committee 7-2 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 77-19 Tuesday, March 9. Emergency added. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1630 (Representative David Hardin and Senator Dewayne Pemberton) Modifies the Unlawful Intent to Carry and Penalty Portions of Firearms Act to allow flexibility in punishment upon conviction. Deletes the ability to permanently revoke a handgun license. Amends background checks to remove criminal history records fingerprints and FBI searches on license renewal. Update: Passed House Judiciary-Criminal Committee 8-1 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House floor 78-18 on Monday, February 22. Engrossed to Senate House Bill 1662 (Representative Kevin West and Senator Nathan Dahm) If a defendant claims self-defense the State of Oklahoma must then have to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the defensive force was not justified. Update: Passed House Judiciary-Criminal Committee 7-2 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 77-19 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1898 (Representative Sean Roberts) Adds statutory references to the Oklahoma Self Defense Act. Update: Passed House Judiciary - Criminal Committee 3-1 on Thursday, February 25. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2334 (Representative Jay Steagall and Senator Micheal Bergstrom) Authorizes the possession of firearms on streets, plazas, sidewalks and alleys. Authorizes open carry on property of nonprofit entities and public trusts. Update: Passed House Public Safety Committee 5-2 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 79-18 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2401 (Representative Todd Russ and Senator David Bullard) Changes the ban on all felons from carrying firearms to a ban on anyone convicted of a specifically classified violent felony from carrying firearms for a period of 5 years. Update: Passed House Judiciary-Criminal Committee 7-2 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 77-19 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2588 (Representative Sean Roberts and Senator David Bullard) Allows a board of education of a school district to adopt a policy to authorize the carrying of a handgun onto school property by school personnel if the person possesses a valid handgun license and meets other requirements authorized by the board of education. Update: Assigned to House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee. Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee 3-1 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the House Floor 79-18, Emergency Passed 68-18 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2645 (Representative Jon Echols and Senator David Bullard) Allows the carrying of firearms in bars and restaurants as long as the carrier is not consuming alcoholic beverages. Reduces fines and punishments from $1,000 and two years in prison to $250. Removes the revocation of a handgun license upon violation of this statute. Update: Assigned to House Public Safety Committee. Reassigned to House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee. Passed House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee 3-1 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the House Floor 78-19 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Senate Bill 106 (Senator Mark Allen and Representative Terry O’Donnell) Defines the term "completed application" within the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act to mean all fields are completed, questions answered and contains all required signatures on the Application for Self-Defense Act License and all required documents including legible fingerprints, if applicable. It removes the 90-day grace period for handgun license renewals. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Friday, February 19. Passed off the Senate Floor 35-8 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 186 (Senator David Bullard) Removes language that prohibits a person convicted of a felony from operating a motor vehicle or riding as a passenger in a motor vehicle in which there is any pistol, imitation, or homemade pistol, altered air or toy pistol, machine gun, sawed-off shotgun or sawed-of rifle, or any other firearm. It modifies the qualifications for restoring the right to carry a firearm. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 11-0 on Friday, February 19. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 442 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Makes its unlawful for any person to carry or use shotguns, rifles or pistols in any circumstances while under the influence of medical marijuana obtained under a valid medical marijuana patient license. It exempts an applicant or licensee in legal possession of a medical marijuana patient license from the preclusion for a person from being eligible for a handgun license pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 11-0 on Friday, February 19. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 631 (Senator Warren Hamilton and Representative Sean Roberts) Makes Oklahoma a “Second Amendment Sanctuary State” pre-empting any legislation or rule at any level that would infringe upon the right to bear arms. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Monday, February 22. Passed off the Senate Floor 38-8 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 644 (Senator Blake Stephens and Representative Sean Roberts) Allows municipalities to, by ordinance, authorize all or certain municipal employees to carry concealed firearms. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 10-1 on Friday, February 19. Passed off the Senate Floor 39-8 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 646 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom and Representative Jay Steagall) Allows the carrying of firearms in bars and restaurants as long as the carrier is not consuming alcoholic beverages. Reduces fines and punishments from $1,000 and two years in prison to $250. Removes the revocation of a handgun license upon violation of this statute. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Monday, February 22. Title Stricken. Passed off the Senate Floor 37-9 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 672 (Senator Casey Murdock and Representative Kenton Patzkowsky) Allows unmitigated transport of firearms for any person not otherwise prohibited from purchasing or carrying firearms. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Friday, February 19. Passed off the Senate Floor 39-7 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 711 (Senator John Haste) Adds county owned buildings to the locations a sheriff may authorize certain employees to carry a firearm. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Friday, February 19. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 730 (Senator Nathan Dahm and Representative Jay Steagall) Bans any person, property owner, tenant, employer, or business entity from establishing or enforcing any rule that prohibits transporting carrying or storing firearms. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Monday, February 22. Passed off the Senate Floor 36-8 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 732 (Senator Nathan Dahm and Representative Jim Olsen) Allows anyone whose Second Amendment rights are violated to bring a lawsuit against any order or regulation or other political subdivision of the state. Defines responsibilities of the court in such a case. Update: Assigned to Senate Public Safety Committee. Laid Over. Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Monday February, 22. Passed off the Senate Floor 38-8 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 767 (Senator David Bullard) Allows superintendents to authorize anyone with a valid handgun license and has demonstrated proficiency in handgun training and campus-specific active shooter training to carry weapons on school grounds. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-1 on Monday, February 22. Title Stricken. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 925 (Senator Nathan Dahm and Representative Jay Steagall) Modifies language related to self-defense with a firearm. It adds "occupied premises" to the list of places the Legislature recognizes that the citizens of the State of Oklahoma have a right to expect absolute safety and that a person legally is allowed to defend. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Friday, February 19. Passed off the Senate Floor 36-8 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 926 (Senator Nathan Dahm and Representative Eric Roberts) Extends the firearms law preemption to air powered pistols Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 22. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Joint Resolution 21 (Senator David Bullard) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment prohibiting any future legislation, taxation or rules that would infringe upon Second Amendment rights. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Workforce Development House Bill 1981 (Representative Mark Lepak) Creates a Universal Licensing Recognition Act. Allows a person living in Oklahoma to apply for licensing or certification if there is no conflict with any interstate compact or state-to-state reciprocity or equivalency agreement as determined by the Oklahoma regulatory entity. The bill requires the person to show proof of residency or be married to and accompanying an active duty member of the military stationed in Oklahoma, be currently licensed or certified by another state with a similar scope of work through a substantially similar examination, have minimum education requirement and, if applicable, professional work experience, education training and clinical supervision requirements. Update: Passed House Business and Commerce Committee 9-2 on Wednesday, February 24. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2860 (Representative Kevin Wallace and Senator Roger Thompson) Creates the Oklahoma Remote Quality Jobs Inventive Act. Provides for the Department of Commerce and the Oklahoma Tax Commission to create policy’s attracting growth industries that employ remote workers. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 29-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House floor 96-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2929 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator Greg Treat) Requires the Department of Commerce to post on its website information related to its business recruiting efforts with an emphasis on possible business site locations or relocation decisions within the state. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 9-2 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 68-22 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to the Senate. Senate Bill 71 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom and Representative Kevin McDugle) Modifies language related to the Department of Commerce's requirement to promulgate rules for the administration of the Oklahoma Local Development and Enterprise Zone Incentive Leverage Act. It requires the rules establish reporting requirements for successful applicants which allow data collection and analysis by the department on employment, capital investment, changes in assessed value of a project and other impacts resulting from payments and reporting of data by the department to the Oklahoma Tax Commission. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 10-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 211 (Senator Tom Dugger and Representative Ken Luttrell) Modifies the powers and duties of the Oklahoma Board of Private Vocational Schools. It permits a school to be accredited by an accrediting organization approved by the U.S. Department of Education for multiple years, and to obtain a sustained license annually during the period of the multi-year accreditation. It modifies the fees the board may assess. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Title Stricken. Passed Senate Education Committee 10-2 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 20-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the Senate floor 42-5 on Wednesday. March, 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 587 (Senator Chuck Hall and Representative Brad Boles) Adds the delivery of industry focused instruction from Common Education, CareerTech or Higher Education to the definitions in the Oklahoma Community Economic Development Pooled Finance Act. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-0 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 936 (Senator Chuck Hall and Representative Kevin Wallace) Combines the various quality jobs programs under the Oklahoma Quality Jobs Program Act. Update: Passed Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 11-1 on Thursday, February 11. Passed Senate Appropriations and Budget 20-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 43-2 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Thank you. Glen Glen D. Johnson Chancellor Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education 655 Research Parkway, Suite 200 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104 405.225.9122 gjohnson at osrhe.edu follow us on Twitter @okhighered [cid:image005.jpg at 01D71766.10720590] [cid:image006.jpg at 01D71766.10720590] -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... 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Name: image006.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 1891 bytes Desc: image006.jpg URL: From lori.boyd at okstate.edu Mon Mar 15 08:08:30 2021 From: lori.boyd at okstate.edu (Boyd, Lori) Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2021 13:08:30 +0000 Subject: [Oasfaa] Provision in Latest Covid Package Requires Institutions to Conduct Outreach Regarding Use of Professional Judgment Message-ID: Provision in Latest Covid Package Requires Institutions to Conduct Outreach Regarding Use of Professional Judgment [https://www.nasfaa.org/uploads/images/Logos/Covid_19_tn.png] A provision included in the American Rescue Plan, signed into law on Thursday, requires institutions receiving aid from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) to use a portion to conduct direct outreach to financial aid applicants about the opportunity to receive a financial aid adjustment due to the recent unemployment of a family member, or themselves if they are considered an independent student. The provision follows guidance from the Department of Education (ED) earlier this year encouraging the use of professional judgement (PJ) and reminding institutions of their ability to use documentation of unemployment to reduce or adjust to zero an unemployed individual's income earned from work and adjusted gross income in the federal methodology formula. [cid:image001.png at 01D5373C.65A18FB0] LORI BOYD ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF FISCAL OPERATIONS Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid 405.744.8730 * 119 Student Union * finaid.okstate.edu [cid:image010.png at 01D5373D.52894C00] -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image005.png Type: image/png Size: 61388 bytes Desc: image005.png URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image006.png Type: image/png Size: 26212 bytes Desc: image006.png URL: From Mendy-Schmerer at ouhsc.edu Mon Mar 15 08:13:52 2021 From: Mendy-Schmerer at ouhsc.edu (Schmerer, Mendy M. (HSC)) Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2021 13:13:52 +0000 Subject: [Oasfaa] =?windows-1252?q?=5BEXTERNAL=5D__FW=3A_Legislative_Updat?= =?windows-1252?q?e_=96_March_12=2C_2021_=28please_see_URGENT_information?= =?windows-1252?q?=29?= In-Reply-To: <5af7a9b40e934389942337c0ddc95bf7@osrhe.edu> References: <5af7a9b40e934389942337c0ddc95bf7@osrhe.edu> Message-ID: Bryce, as this is deeply concerning if it gains traction, what legislative advocacy tips can you specifically recommend for us in contacting our legislators? Thanks! Mendy Schmerer, MEd, FAAC® Director, Office of Student Financial Aid | SWASFAA President, 2020 – 2021 University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center 865 University Research Park, Suite 240 | Oklahoma City, OK 73104 O (405) 271-2118, x 48817 | F (405) 271-5446 Mendy-Schmerer at ouhsc.edu https://financialservices.ouhsc.edu/Departments/Student-Financial-Aid www.facebook.com/OUHSCFinancialAid CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE This email, including any attachments, contains information from The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, which may be confidential or privileged. The information is intended to be for the use of the individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, be aware that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the contents of this information is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender immediately by a “reply to sender only” message and destroy all electronic and hard copies of the communication, including attachments. From: OASFAA On Behalf Of Fair, Bryce Sent: Saturday, March 13, 2021 1:02 PM To: oasfaa at lists.onenet.net Subject: [EXTERNAL] [Oasfaa] FW: Legislative Update – March 12, 2021 (please see URGENT information) Below is the legislative update for this past week. Thursday was the deadline for bills to pass off the floor in their house of origin. Six financial-aid-related bills are still alive at this point and are listed in the “Scholarships” section of the legislative update. URGENT Information – (I apologize for the length of the following discussion, but we believe this is a very important issue.) For colleges and career technology centers that serve Oklahoma’s Promise students, I call your attention to SB 639 that could have a dramatic impact on future students in the program. SB 639 (by Sen. Pugh of the Senate and Rep. Baker of the House) – Last Thursday, March 11, a new version of the bill, called a “Floor Substitute” was passed by the Senate. The text of the new version can be found at http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2021-22%20FLOOR%20AMENDMENTS/Senate/SB639%20(3-09-21)%20(PUGH)%20FS%20FA1.PDF [The underlined text is the new language that would be added to current law. In addition, Section 5 of the bill is entirely new law. You can find other information about the SB 639 at http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=sb639&Session=2100]. The bill now contains the following provisions : * For all students applying to the Oklahoma’s Promise program beginning in 2021-22, the scholarship eligibility period would be expanded from 5 years to 6 years. * Students enrolling in the program in 2021-22 and thereafter who do not complete a baccalaureate degree or “postsecondary vocational-technical program” during the 6-year period of scholarship eligibility would be subject to what the Senate author refers to as a “claw back” provision and be required to repay the full amount of Oklahoma’s Promise awards they have received. [It is important to note that Oklahoma’s Promise students complete college degrees at a higher rate than non-Oklahoma’s Promise students. You can find this performance measure and many others in the most recent OKPromise year-end report for 2019-20 at https://www.okhighered.org/okpromise/pdf/okp-report-19-20.pdf. In addition, in a very recent evaluation of Oklahoma Promise by the new Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency, Finding #1 states, “Oklahoma’s Promise Recipients are Earning Critical Workforce Degrees and Remaining in Oklahoma.” Finding #2 states, “Oklahoma’s Promise Exceeds the Legislative Intent to Provide Post-Secondary Opportunities for Oklahoma Students.” You can find the full report at http://www.okloft.gov/Reports/Oklahoma_Promise_Report.pdf.] * Students would be required to enter into a “repayment agreement” with the college or career technology center in which the student was enrolled. The bill further states that, “In determining the repayment amount, the institution of higher education or technology center school in which the student was enrolled may consider hardship circumstances on a case-by-case basis.” * The bill would also authorize use of the Oklahoma’s Promise award for additional career technology programs that are not eligible for federal financial aid but are “identified as a critical occupation” program through a process established in Section 5 of the bill. The State Regents have identified an initial list of serious concerns about the “claw back” requirement: * Oklahoma’s Promise students and families have few financial resources to repay awards: * In 2019-20, the average family income of Oklahoma’s Promise award recipients was about $35,000. * Nearly 90% of Oklahoma’s Promise recipients in 2019-20 met the low-income eligibility criteria for the federal Pell Grant. * The “claw back” potentially adds more student debt for Oklahoma’s Promise students: Each year, nearly one-third of Oklahoma’s Promise recipients take out over $30 million in student loans averaging over $5,000 per borrower to help pay for non-tuition college expenses such as fees, books, and room and board. * The “claw back” provision would require additional administrative responsibilities and costs for colleges and career technology centers: Colleges and career technology centers would be required to administer the repayment requirement. * The “claw back” provision may discourage enrollment in Oklahoma’s Promise: As parents and students have become more cautious of student loan debt, the fear of potential additional debt acquired through Oklahoma’s Promise may create a reluctance to enroll in the program. We realize there are other concerns such as the complicated administrative logistics for students who transfer among institutions. Please forward to me any specific questions or additional concerns that you have. Bryce Fair Associate Vice Chancellor for Scholarships & Grants Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Phone: 405-225-9162 Email: bfair at osrhe.edu From: Johnson, Dr. Glen Sent: Friday, March 12, 2021 5:35 PM To: Subject: Legislative Update – March 12, 2021 OKLAHOMA STATE REGENTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION Memo To: Higher Education Network From: Chancellor Glen D. Johnson Date: Friday, March 12, 2021 Subject: Legislative Update – March 12, 2021 The update below reflects the major legislation concerning Higher Education. If you have any questions, please contact LeeAnna McNally, Vice Chancellor for Governmental Relations, at lmcnally at osrhe.edu or (405) 301-0332. Legislative Report March 12, 2021 Agency Administration House Bill 1090 (Representative Gerrid Kendrix and Senator Brent Howard) Allows the State Auditor and Inspector General to perform audits and inspections of government entities without authorization from the Governor, the Chief Executive Officer of a government entity, or a joint or concurrent resolution of the Legislature. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House General Government Committee. Passed House General Government Committee 7-0 on Wednesday, February 17. Passed off the House Floor 91-0 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1126 (Representative Logan Phillips) Requires employers who engage in any type of electronic email monitoring of employee accounts to give written notice to all employees prior to any monitoring electronic mail communication. Update: Passed House Business and Commerce Committee 10-0 on Wednesday, February 10. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1146 (Representative Mike Osburn and Senator Greg Treat) Places all state employee positions under the administration of the Human Capital Management Division of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services effective January 1, 2022, except those employed by the Governor, Lt. Governor, Speaker of the House, or President Pro Tempore of the Senate, as well as elected officials, political appointees, and up to 5 percent of an agency's executive management. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Amended by Floor Substitute. Passed off the House floor 93-0 on Tuesday, March 9. House Bill 1602 (Representative Collin Walke and Senator John Michael Montgomery) The bill entitles a consumer to request that a business that collects the consumer's personal information disclose to the consumer the categories and specific items of personal information the business has collected. It establishes a requirement for the consumer to request the information. It establishes procedures for the business to disclose the information. Update: Passed House Technology Committee 6-0 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 85-11 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1787 (Representative Daniel Pae) Authorizes state agencies to pay employees in an on-call status. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 7-0 on Thursday, February 25. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1888 (Representative Danny Williams and Senator David Bullard) Bans all public bodies from conducting any form of gender or sexual diversity training or counseling. Allows for sexual harassment prevention training. Anybody that violates this law will be denied any source of public funding. Update: Passed House General Government Committee 6-2 on Wednesday, February 10. Amended by Committee Substitute. Laid Over. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1875 (Representative Tammy West and Senator Brenda Stanley) Permits each educational institution to choose to designate specific information which will be classified as directory information for students attending the educational institution. Update: Passed House General Government Committee 8-0 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 92-0 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate House Bill 1921 (Representative Ryan Martinez) Modifies the authority of OMES to designate quarters for every department of state government provided no department shall be assigned quarters that results in the relocation of a department’s employees or relocation of the performance of duties imposed upon such department by law. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Laid Over. Passed House Rules Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Emergency added. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1986 (Representative Judd Strom and Senator Bill Coleman) Requires any state agency that owns, operates or leases land in the state that is utilized for livestock grazing to enclose the area with a fence or another suitable means for the portion that contains livestock, as well as maintaining the enclosure. The bill allows the state agency to enter into a labor cost-sharing contract with adjacent landowner provided the landowner is not otherwise responsible for the cost of the enclosure or its maintenance. Update: Passed House Agriculture and Rural Development Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 16. Passed off the House Floor 92-4 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2085 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator David Bullard) Requires the Office of Management and Enterprise Services to display the national motto of the United States in a prominently visible location in all state buildings. The bill authorizes the Oklahoma Attorney General to prepare and present a legal defense of the display. Update: Passed House States’ Rights Committee 5-1 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 81-19 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2088 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator Roger Thompson) Exempts the legislature and judicial branches of state government from any and all fees or costs for services rendered by state agencies. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 16. Passed off the House floor 94-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2180 (Representative Ronny Johns and Senator Greg McCortney) Removes requirements for making payroll deductions for certain insurance premiums with a minimum participation of 500 state employees. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House Insurance Committee. Passed House Insurance Committee 7-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 82-12 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2185 (Representative Ronny Johns and Greg McCortney) Modifies the requirements of publications on contracts awarded by state agencies to include the address of the company and the reason to be awarded the contract. Deletes explanations on the out of state ownership percentage of contracted companies. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House Government Modernization and Efficiency Committee. Passed Government Modernization and Efficiency Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 88-3 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2294 (Representative Dustin Roberts and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Deletes the ability for employees to accumulate more than the maximum annual leave. Update: Passed House General Government Committee 8-0 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 98-0 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to Senate. Senate Bill 41 (Senator Greg McCortney and Representative Ronny Johns) Modifies the requirements for state employee payroll deductions for private insurance organizations and service companies that provide legal services. It removes the requirement that the organizations and service companies that provide legal services be regulated by the State Insurance Commissioner and have a minimum participation of 500 state employees. Update: Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 9-0 on Thursday, February18. Title Restored. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-0 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 63 (Senator John Michael Montgomery and Representative Avery Frix) Removes language related to the State Government Reduction-in-Force and Severance Benefits Act that requires an employee to repay all severance benefits on a proportional basis if an affected employee is reemployed by the agency from which separated as a result of a reduction-in-force Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 9-0 on Thursday, February 11. Passed off the Senate Floor 31-15 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 282 (Senator Frank Simpson and Representative Tommy Hardin) Amends Section 840-2.20 of the Oklahoma Personnel Act to allow for a temporary increase in the accumulation limits for annual leave following an emergency declaration period, which shall carryover to the end of the fiscal year following the year in which the emergency declaration ended. increase and carryover of annual leave time Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 9-0 on Thursday, February 4. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-1 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Senate Bill 299 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom and Representative Mark Lepak) Allows for cooperative “piggybacking” purchase agreements between state agencies including on public construction contracts. Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 7-2 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the Senate Floor 36-8 on Thursday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 333 (Senator Frank Simpson and Representative Tammy Townley) Amends Section 840-2.15 of the Oklahoma Personnel Act to allow for a temporary increase in the accumulation limits for compensatory time following an emergency declaration period, which shall carryover to the end of the fiscal year following the year in which the emergency declaration ended. increase and carryover of annual leave time. Update: Assigned to Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee. Reassigned to House General Government Committee. Passed House General Government Committee 8-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-1 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 403 (Senator Brenda Stanley and Representative Robert Manger) Makes it unlawful for any person, alone or in concert with others and without authorization, to willfully disturb, interfere or disrupt business of any political subdivision, which includes publicly posted meetings, or any political subdivision. Update: Assigned to Senate Public Safety Committee. Amended to make the bill an Emergency. Passed Public Safety Committee with a vote of 11-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the Senate Floor 36-9 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 459 (Senator Lonnie Paxton and Representative Ty Burns) Amends the Standards for Workplace Drug and Alcohol testing in light of medical marijuana. Update: Passed Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 10-3 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 484 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Allows the Legislature to approve or disapprove any agency implementation of a federal rule or law. Requires state agencies to send their interpretation of any rule or regulation before implementation. Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 10-1 on Thursday, February 25. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 650 (Senator Kim David and Representative Jon Echols) Provides a 2 percent increase to the amount of a participant’s benefit allowance from the amount provided in the previous plan year. Update: Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 8-1 on Thursday, February 18. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 18-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the Senate Floor 41-4 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 794 (Senator James Leewright and Representative Kevin Wallace) Requires that if the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission or its representative determines that an individual has been overpaid unemployment benefits to provisions therein relating to administrative overpayment, the individual must be sent a notice of overpayment determination. It allows that if the individual disagrees with this determination, said individual can file an appeal of the determination with the Appeal Tribunal within 10 days after the date of mailing. Update: Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee and Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee. Passed Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 12-0 on Thursday, February 11. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 829 (Senator Casey Murdock and Representative Kevin Wallace) Requires state agencies who have jurisdiction over parcels of land containing 80 or more acres of contiguous land to fence it. Update: Assigned to Senate General Government Committee. Reassigned to Senate Agriculture and Wildlife Committee. Passed Senate Agriculture and Wildlife 12-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 13-7 on Monday, March 1. Title stricken. Failed to pass on the Senate Floor 14-30 on Thursday, March 11. Senate Bill 895 (Senator Paul Rosino and Representative Chris Kannady) Allows state agencies to choose to have required audits performed by a public accountant or certified public accountant registered to do business with the state. Update: Assigned to Senate Finance Committee. Reassigned to House General Government Committee. Passed House General Government Committee 7-2 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 36-9 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 924 (Senator Greg Treat and Representative Kyle Hilbert) Creates a state data definition and gives OMES the authority to determine when state data is allowed to be shared between agencies or with federal entities if a request to share is initially rejected. Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 6-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-1 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 984 (Senator Kim David and Representative Terry O’Donnell) Prohibits an agency or official of the executive branch from entering into a contingency fee contract that provides for the private attorney or firm to receive an aggregate contingency fee that exceeds amounts specified therein. It prohibits the total fee payable to all retained private attorneys in any contingency fee contract from exceeding $50 million exclusive of any costs and expenses provided by the contract and actually incurred by the retained private attorneys, regardless of the number of actions or proceedings or the number of retained private attorneys involved in the matter. Update: Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 7-2 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 38-6 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Concurrent Resolution 2 (Senator Rob Standridge) Requires the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to submit a report to the Legislature and to make the report available on its website by December 31, 2021, that includes a list of all persons employed in a faculty or teaching position including their position rank at their respective institutions within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education and their compensation during the 2020-2021 academic year; a list of the courses taught and the hours taught by persons employed in a faculty or teaching position at institutions within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education during the 2020-2021 academic year; the tenure policy of each institution within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education for the 2020-2021 academic year; and the number of faculty employed by each institution within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education who had tenure during the 2020-2021 academic year. Update: Not assigned to committee. Budget Bills House Bill 1665 (Representative Kevin West and Senator Chuck Hall) Creates a Federal Funds Holding Account within the General Revenue Fund to receive all funds required to be paid to the State of Oklahoma. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 20-10 on Wednesday, February 24, Title Stricken. Passed off the House Floor 86-12 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1990 (Representative Trey Caldwell and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Allows ad valorem reimbursement fund to be used to reimburse counties for loss of revenue. Update: Assigned to House Appropriations and Budget Committee. Direct to Appropriations Committee. Passed House Appropriations Committee 28-0 Thursday, February 18. Passed off the House Floor 65-30 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2086 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator Zack Taylor) Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services to ensure state agencies are charged no more than the actual cost of the services provided by the Office. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 9-0 Tuesday, February 16. Passed off the House Floor 94-0 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2775 (Representative John Pfeiffer and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Adds to the definition of “Cost Approach” in the ad valorem tax code to include physical deterioration, functional or internal obsolescence, and economic or external obsolescence. Update: Passed House County and Municipal Government Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 22. Passed off the House Floor 92-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2776 (Representative John Pfeiffer and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Creates the Ad Valorem School District Support Revolving Fund which shall consist of all ad valorem funds under protest received by the State Department of Education (SDE). The SDE may distribute this money to school districts which are affected by protested ad valorem taxes. Update: Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed House Rules Committee 7-2 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the House Floor 90-0 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2777 (Representative John Pfeiffer and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Allows for wind power valuation for real property and personal property in the ad valorem tax code. Update: Passed House County and Municipal Government Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 22. Title Stricken. Passed off the House Floor 93-0 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2780 (Representative John Pfeiffer and Senator Dave Rader) Allows the Oklahoma Tax Commission to garnish accrued earnings of a delinquent taxpayer by contacting the taxpayer’s employer. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 27-3 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 78-18 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to Senate. House Joint Resolution 1001 (Representative Andy Fugate and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Proposes a vote of the people on a constitutional amendment that changes the way the maximum Constitutional Reserve (Rainy Day) Fund balance amount would be computed. It would require the maximum balance allowed be based on a percentage of total state expenditures instead of using revenue estimates provided by the State Board of Equalization for the annual appropriations process. It would provide that total expenditures include all appropriated monies and federal funds. It would exclude from total expenditures money from revolving funds which are used by state agencies, fees or similar charges that were not derived from tax revenue, and money obtained by issuing state government bonds. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 9-0 Tuesday, February 16. Passed off the House Floor 93-0 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to Senate. Senate Bill 79 (Senator Roger Thompson and Representative Kevin West) Exempts from sales tax the transfer of tangible personal property to or by nonprofit 501(c)(3) entities that have entered into a joint operating agreement with the University Hospitals Trust. Update: Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. Amended to provide an effective date of July 1, 2022. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee as amended 20-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-1 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 181 (Senator Zack Taylor and Representative Brad Boles) Permits more than one-half of ad valorem taxes to be paid by January 1 of each year. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 12-0 Tuesday, February 2. Passed off Senate Floor 46-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 383 (Senator Robert Standridge and Representative Kevin West) Establishes that the owner or operator of a social media website who contracts with users in Oklahoma is subject to a private right of action by a social media website user if the social media website purposely deletes or censors a social media website user’s political speech or religious speech or uses an algorithm to suppress political speech or religious speech. Update: Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 5-3 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 34-12 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 498 (Senator Roger Thompson and Representative Scott Fetgatter) Permits a facility engaged in cement manufacturing to have the payroll requirements of the five-year ad valorem tax exemption waived for tax year 2021, which is based in part on the 2020 calendar year payroll reported to the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission and permits it to continue to receive the exemption for the five-year period only if all other requirements of this section are met. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Referred to Full Appropriations Committee. Laid over. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 18-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-1 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 609 (Senator Chuck Hall and Representative Kyle Hilbert) Extends the ad valorem tax exemption to manufacturing facilities, doubles the acquisition or expansion limit. Adds definitions to manufacturing facilities. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 11-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 33-1 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 753 (Senator Brent Howard) For any property acquired by a governmental entity operating as a trust, after the effective date of this act, the trust shall annually make in lieu of tax payments an amount equal to the ad valorem assessed against the property immediately prior to purchase by the trust. Update: Assigned to Senate Finance Committee. Title Stricken. Passed Senate Finance Committee 10-1 on Tuesday, February 9. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 771 (Senator Blake Stephens) Creates the Tax Collection Modernization Act allowing each county treasurer in their sole discretion to let taxpayers make payments on the total amount of tax due, and holding these payments on trust until the amount is sufficient to pay the total due. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 11-0 on Friday, February 19. Title Stricken. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 906 (Senator Casey Murdock and Representative Todd Russ) Provides allowances for depreciation of value in ad valorem tax consideration. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 9-2 on Friday, February 19. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Joint Resolution 14 (Senator Joe Newhouse) Puts to a vote of the people increasing the cap on the Constitutional Reserve Fund from 15 percent to 30 percent. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Senate Joint Resolution 16 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom) Changes the way maximum balance allowed for the rainy-day fund from using the Board of Equalization estimates to a percentage of a total of the state expenditures for the previous year including all state and federal funds. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. CareerTech House Bill 1026 (Representative Rande Worthen and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Allows CLEET to establish and certify additional law enforcement and criminal justice programs at state-supported technology center schools in the State of Oklahoma operating under the State Board of Career and Technology Education for teaching students between 16 and 19 years of age. Update: Passed House Public Safety Committee 7-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 97-0 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to Senate. Common Education House Bill 1027 (Representative Trish Ranson and Senator Brenda Stanley) Requires de-escalation training for certified teachers, beginning in the 2022-2023 school year. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 13-0 on Tuesday, February 16. Passed off the House Floor 81-11 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1046 (Representative Dell Kerbs and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Requires a copy or a hyperlink to a copy of the most recent audit of the financial statements of a school district to be on the front page of the school district website for public inspection. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor as amended 95-0 on Wednesday, March. 3 Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1073 (Representative Tom Gann and Senator Nathan Dahm) Extends the sunset date for the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness Board until July 1, 2024. Update: Passed House Administrative Rules Committee 10-0 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 89-2 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1103 (Representative Mark Vancuren and Senator John Haste) Directs the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and the State Education Department to create a set of guidelines and provide directions to schools in order to survey every public school student in grades 6,8,10 and 12 with the Oklahoma Prevention Needs Assessment Survey every other year beginning in the 2022-2023 school year. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 16. Amended to remove private schools. Passed off the House Floor 78-19 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1104 (Representative Mark Vancuren and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Requires information on a student's tribal affiliation to be included in student data collected for the state. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee on 12-0 Tuesday, February 16. Passed off the House Floor 94-0 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1568 (Representative Jeff Boatman and Senator John Haste) Creates Maria’s Law requiring collaboration with the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to adopt standards and approve age-appropriate curriculum for K-12 students as a part of normal health education curriculum. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 84-10 with Title Stricken on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1569 (Representative Jacob Rosecrants and Senator Adam Pugh) Creates the Oklahoma Play to Learn Act. States that the intention of the Legislature is to focus on the importance of child-centered, play-based learning. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House Floor 76-16 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1775 (Representative Sherrie Conley and Senator Jessica Garvin) Creates Riley's Rule, a requirement that each athletic and practice facility create an emergency action plan. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Laid Over. Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the House Floor 93-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1882 (Representative Marilyn Stark and Senator Dave Rader) Creates the "Out-of-Schooltime" task force to identify, evaluate and recommend a set of best practices for children, youth and families to improve and increase the number of quality, affordable out-of-school programs in the state. The bill sets the membership of the committee. Update: Passed House Children, Youth and Family Services Committee as amended by Committee Substitute 5-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 82-14 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1963 (Representative Jadine Nollan and Senator Brenda Stanley) If vacancies occur which result in a loss of majority members of the board of education of a school district or technology center school district, the Governor shall appoint a member or members necessary to constitute a quorum to the board of education. Update: Assigned to House Elections and Ethics Committee. Laid Over. Passed House Elections and Ethics Committee 7-0 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the House Floor 80-16 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1968 (Representative Jadine Nollan and Senator Brenda Stanley) Deletes expenditure and program classification reporting requirements for certain gifted and talented programs. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 13-0 on Monday, February 8. Referred to full House Appropriations Committee. Laid Over. Passed House Appropriations Committee 30-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the Senate Floor 80-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2030 (Representative Terry O’Donnell and Senator Adam Pugh) Adds passing the Naturalization test to high school graduation requirements. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 11-3 on Tuesday, February 16. Passed off the House Floor 80-18 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2223 (Representative Randy Randleman and Senator Dewayne Pemberton) Requires the Oklahoma State Department of Education to maintain a dyslexia information handbook. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House Floor 96-0 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2381 (Representative Danny Sterling and Senator Frank Simpson) Directs local school districts to conduct an annual fitness assessment. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 22-9 on Wednesday, February 25. Title Stricken. Passed off the House Floor 57-37 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2388 (Representative John Talley and Senator Tom Dugger) Asks school districts to provide age-appropriate instruction about social-emotional learning. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House Common Education Committee. Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 70-22 on Wednesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2396 (Representative Todd Russ and Senator Brenda Stanley) Asks the board of education to adopt a policy regarding sex trafficking and exploitation prevention. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House Floor 86-6 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2462 (Representative Dick Lowe and Senator Brent Howard) Allows the State Department of Education to enter into contracts and agreements for the payment of food, lodging and other expenses necessary to host or participate in conferences and training sessions. Update: Passed House General Government Committee 7-0 on Wednesday, February 17. Passed off the House Floor 86-5 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2547 (Representative Preston Stinson) Requires media timeouts at high school sporting events which are being broadcast. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Reassigned to House Rules Committee. Passed House Rules Committee 6-0 on Thursday, February 25. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2662 (Representative Dick Lowe and Senator Dave Rader) Creates the Seizure Safe Schools Act requiring each local school district to have at least one school employee at each school who has met certain seizure safe training requirements. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Amended to change from a Shall to a May. Passed House Common Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 16. Author change. Passed off the House Floor 95-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2727 (Representative Ajay Pittman and Senator David Bullard) Requires subject to the availability of funds that there be a basic life skills education curriculum taught in public schools. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 67-26 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2749 (Representative Rhonda Baker and Senator Adam Pugh) Requires schools that receive more than $2,500 from the Reading Proficiency Act to spend at least 10 percent on professional development for Pre-k-5 grade teachers. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday February 16. Passed off the House Floor 90-5 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Joint Resolution 1026 (Representative Anthony Moore) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment that removes debt limits for school districts. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. House Joint Resolution 1029 (Representative Monroe Nichols) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment that authorizes a school district to raise an additional $5 million levy on taxable property within the district if approved by the majority of district voters. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. House Joint Resolution 1033 (Representative Chad Caldwell) Puts to a vote of the people a requirement that a school spends at least 60 percent of its annual budget on instructional expenditures. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Senate Bill 2 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom and Representative Toni Hasenbeck) Clarifies and expands the duties of the School Finance Review Commission to conduct a review of all matters related to school finance, including but not limited to teacher compensation and benefits; administrative costs, including administrative functions that may be shared between districts; opportunities for school districts to be operated in a cost effective manner; variances in per pupil and administrative expenditures among school districts with comparable enrollment, demographics and outcomes on statewide assessments; and expenditures not directly or sufficiently related to improving student outcomes. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 38-8 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 13 (Senator Brenda Stanley and Representative Rhonda Baker) Requires a teacher whose certificate is suspended by the State Board of Education to be placed on suspension while proceedings for revocation or other action are pending before the State Board of Education. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 21 (Senator Kay Floyd and Representative Marcus McEntire) Makes it a requirement, rather than permissive, beginning with the 2021-2022 school year, that district school boards provide schoolwide training to all students in grades seven through twelve and staff addressing suicide awareness and prevention. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee as amended by Committee Substitute 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 54 (Senator John Michael Montgomery and Representative Daniel Pae) Requires the State Department of Education to designate a school district site or charter school site as a Purple Star School. The bill defines applicable terms. It establishes the requirements for a school district site or charter school to be designated as a Purple Star School. It requires the State Board of Education to promulgate necessary rules. Update: Passed Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Committee 10-0 on Thursday, February 11. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 66 (Senator John Haste and Representative Lonnie Sims) Exempts any insurance policy sold to any school district from the surplus lines premium tax. Update: Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to House Senate Bill 68 (Senator Frank Simpson and Representative Max Wolfley) Requires a public school student to be considered in compliance with statutory residency provisions if he or she is a student whose parent or legal guardian is transferred or is pending transfer to a military installation within the state while on active military duty pursuant to an official military order. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 89 (Senator John Haste and Representative Rhonda Baker) Creates the Health Education Act. The bill defines applicable terms. It requires health education to be taught in public schools, including but not limited to physical health, mental health, social and emotional health and intellectual health. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-1 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 128 (Senator Dave Rader and Representative Dick Lowe) Creates the Seizure Safe Schools Act requiring at least one school employee at each school to meet certain training requirements. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Title Stricken, Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 47-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 142 (Senator Roland Pederson) Requires a school district’s board of education to allow a nonresident and non-transferred pupil to determine whether to require a tuition fee equal to the per capita cost of education for a similar period in such district during the preceding year. The bill requires the tuition fee to be paid to the receiving district in advance yearly or by semester as determined by the district board of education of the receiving district. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee as amended by committee substitute 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Failed on the Senate Floor 21-26 on Wednesday, March 1. Motion to reconsider. Senate Bill 157 (Senator J.J. Dossett) Removes language that provides State Board of Education appointees to serve at the pleasure of the Governor. It adds language that permits the Governor to remove members of the board for cause, including being found guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction of a felony or any offense involving moral turpitude; being found guilty of malfeasance, misfeasance or nonfeasance in relation to board duties; being found mentally incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction; or failing to attend three successive meetings of the board without just cause, as determined by the Governor. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Title Stricken. Passed Senate Education Committee 10-2 on Tuesday, February 2. Senate Bill 197 (Senator Tom Dugger) Requires candidates who win board of education elections to be seated at the first meeting following the April election date. It clarifies language related to the April board of education election date. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Laid Over. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 252 (Senator Brenda Stanley and Representative Rhonda Baker) Requires all public schools to begin teaching computer science courses in the 2024-2025 school year. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Title Stricken. Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed off the Senate Floor 41-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 419 (Senator J.J. Dossett and Representative John Waldron) Removes the requirement to administer assessments in U.S. history under the statewide system of student assessments. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 10-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 43-2 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 503 (Senator Nathan Dahm and Representative Ryan Martinez) Adds to required history curriculum, the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, substantive selections from the Federalist Papers the Emancipation Proclamation, the Articles of Confederation, the Gettysburg Address and George Washington’s Farwell Address. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 9-2 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 39-7 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 619 (Senator David Bullard and Representative Kevin West) Allows school districts to obtain liability insurance coverage to protect a student participating in an apprenticeship internship or mentorship program. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Title Stricken Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 20-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Title Restored. Passed off the Senate Floor 47-0 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 634 (Senator Julie Daniels and Representative Terry O’Donnell) Requires an authorization form that has the statement of understanding of the first amendment rights to not be a part of a union for public education employees. Makes that form’s authorization a yearly requirement. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Reassigned to Senate Judiciary Committee. Passed Senate Judiciary 7-4 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 25-21 on Thursday, March 4. Emergency Passed 32-14 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 642 (Senator Adam Pugh and Representative Dustin Roberts) Includes multi-aptitude battery assessments that measure developed abilities and help predict future academic and occupational success in the military. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Title Stricken. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 707 (Senator Greg McCortney) Sets a deadline for parents to present immunization records or exemptions. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 on Tuesday, February 9. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 783 (Senator Adam Pugh and Representative Brad Boles) Requires the Department of Education to publish a list of the capacity for a class in each grade level K-12. Strengthens open transfer policies. Gives OEQA audit authority over transfer Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 9-3 on Tuesday, February 23. Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed off the Senate Floor 32-15 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 807 (Senator Chris Kidd and Representative Rhonda Baker) Entitles support employees to pay for any time lost when a school district is closed because of an epidemic or when an order for such a closing has been issued by a health officer authorized by law to issue the order. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 10-1 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-1 Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Joint Resolution 3 (Senator Carri Hicks) Proposes a vote of the people on a constitutional amendment that allows a member of the Legislature to be employed as a certified teacher with a public school district in this state after he or she completes his or her term in office. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Senate Joint Resolution 9 (Senator Mary Boren) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment that changes the duty of the legislature when it comes to public education. Removes the words “Wherein all the children of the State may be educated”. Instead requires the legislature to “make suitable provision for the support and maintenance of an efficient and equitable system of free public schools”. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. COVID-19 House Bill 2335 (Representative Jay Steagall and Senator Shane Jett) Prohibits compulsory immunization through any state entity via direct or indirect means. Update: Passed House Public Health Committee 7-1 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House floor 71-25 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate, House Joint Resolution 1032 (Representative Chad Caldwell) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment prohibiting a governmental entity from issuing any order or rule that requires closure of any place of worship. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Senate Bill 368 (Senator David Bullard and Representative Brian Hill) Prohibits any governmental declaration of a religious institution as nonessential. Requires that religious institutions be exempt from closure orders for the purpose of health or security that is greater than that imposed on any private entity. Update: Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 6-2 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 37-9 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 835 (Senator Blake Stephens) Bans any discrimination by any public accommodation towards a person on the basis of their vaccination or immunity status. Update: Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 6-2 on Friday, February 19. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Charter Schools House Joint Resolution 1036 (Representative Jon Echols) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment allowing a school district to become indebted after a 3/5ths vote to acquire or improve the school sites or equipment of a charter school. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Senate Bill 69 (Senator Frank Simpson and Representative Max Wolfley) Provides a student will be eligible to enroll in a statewide virtual charter school if the student's parent or legal guardian is transferred or is pending transfer to a military installation within this state while on active military duty pursuant to an official military order. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 222 (Senator Rob Standridge and Representative Daniel Pae) Creates the Hope Scholarship Program to provide a scholarship to an eligible private school of choice for students who have experienced bullying. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 20-0 on Monday, March 1. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-1 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 239 (Senator Dewayne Pemberton and Representative Toni Hasenbeck) Creates a process for the State Board of Education to hear appeals to the charter school sponsorship process. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed off the Senate Floor 30-16 on Wednesday, February 10. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 658 (Senator Nathan Dahm and Representative Kevin West) Requires the State Department of Education to provide any notice or publication on immunization requirements all information on exemptions to such requirements. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Amended to pass Senate Education Committee 8-3 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 35-10 on Thursday, March 4. Emergency Passed 36-9 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. General Government Senate Joint Resolution 1 (Senator Kay Floyd) Proposes a vote of the people on a constitutional amendment that would prohibit members of the Legislature from being appointed or elected to any office or commission during their term; receiving any appointment from the Governor, the Governor and Senate or the Legislature during the term; or being interested in any contract with the state or a political subdivision during the term. It would not prohibit an employee of a school district, a technology center school district or the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education from continuing to serve during the term, or prohibit an appointment to a legislative committee or other legislative position. It also would not prohibit a former member from returning to his or her profession or business. It would permit the Legislature to enact laws to implement these provisions. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Higher Education House Bill 1801 (Representative Nicole Miller and Senator Brenda Stanley) Grants priority enrollment and course registration to all Oklahoma resident members of the Oklahoma National Guard and to students who are eligible to receive educational financial assistance from the Department of Veteran Affairs. Update: Passed House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Amended to allow only Oklahoma residents. Passed off the House Floor as amended 98-1 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1962 (Representative Jadine Nollan and Senator Marty Quinn) Specifies the definition of “qualified higher education expenses” to fall in line with section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code. Update: Passed House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee with a vote of 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the House Floor 95-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1965 (Representative Jadine Nolan and Senator Darrell Weaver) Allows a board of county commissioners to determine the years of service required for full-time county employees to qualify for a continuing education program and allows such programs to include courses offered by a college or university that is a member of the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education as well as any other in-state or out-of-state programs or courses which are relevant to the employee's responsibilities as approved by the county commissioners. Update: Passed House County and Municipal Government Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the House Floor as amended 95-0 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2046 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator Frank Simpson) Creates the Higher Education Institution Local Funding Act. The measure authorizes the board of regents of eligible two-year colleges to adopt a resolution calling for the creation of a higher education funding district, for the purpose of providing additional sources of funding for the institution. If approved by the board of regents, the creation of the funding district and its initial operational millage rate would go to a vote of the people within the established district boundary. Additional bonds may be included in the ballot measure calling for the creation of the district. The ballot measure would require 60 percent approval to pass. Update: Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed House Rules Committee as amended 7-0 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the House Floor 79-18 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2691 (Representative Toni Hasenbeck and Senator Micheal Bergstrom) Requires the Commission for Educational Quality an Accountability to issue a report detailing factors in the public education system that contribute to graduation rates, assessment scores and the state workforce. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 76-18 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2750 (Representative Rhonda Baker and Senator Adam Pugh) States the intent of the Legislature that in establishing minimum required score on AP exams for granting course credit the Regents for Higher Education should not require an AP score above 3. Update: Passed House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 22. Amended to allow the granting of additional credit for higher than 3. Passed off the House Floor 94-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2874 (Representative Kevin Wallace and Senator Roger Thompson) Adds the University Hospitals Trust to those exempt from sales tax. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 26-1 on Wednesday, February 10. Title Stricken. Passed off the House Floor 83-9 on Monday, February 22. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2926 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator Adam Pugh) Requires each institution of higher education to publish a salary report of common occupations and industries in which students are employed upon graduation. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 7-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House Floor 97-1 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Senate Bill 70 (Senator Frank Simpson and Representative Tommy Hardin) Increases the time period before the date of enrollment from five years to 10 years when a person was discharged or released from active military service to qualify for in-state enrollment. Update: Passed Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Education 4-0 on Wednesday, February 10. Referred to Full Appropriations Committee. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Thursday, February 18. Title Stricken. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Senate Bill 139 (Senator Roger Thompson and Representative Kyle Hilbert) Adds the Senate Appropriations Committee Chair and the House Appropriations and Budget Committee Chair to the list of recipients of the annual report submitted by Oklahoma State University Medical Authority. Update: Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. Laid Over. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 20-0 on Wednesday February, 24. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 238 (Senator Dewayne Pemberton and Representative Kyle Hilbert) Creates a task force to study the requirement for high school students to complete the FASFA. Designates the makeup of this task force and the end date for a report. Requires the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the Senate to provide the staff and administrative support for the task force. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 40-5 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 261 (Senator John Michael Montgomery and Representative Melissa Provenzano) Creates the Oklahoma Student Borrower’s Bill of Rights, requiring that student loan servicers not employ any deceptive practices, maintain accurate reporting to consumer credit bureaus, and otherwise accurately inform borrowers of their rights and obligations in public and plain language. Update: Passed Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 11-2 on Thursday, February 11. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 292 (Senator John Haste and Representative Jadine Nollan) Creates a task force to study the concurrent enrollment needs of the State. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-1 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 614 (Senator David Bullard) Enhances higher education students’ First Amendment rights to include the “right to an unbiased education” and freedom from any endorsement, symbolism or propaganda of “socialism, communism, Marxism or anti-American sentiment.” Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 10-2 on Tuesday, February 23. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 893 (Senator Adam Pugh and Representative Scott Fetgatter) Allows the undergraduate and graduate programs of the same discipline of engineering at an institution to be part of the qualified program if either program is ABET accredited. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 11-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-3 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Senate Joint Resolution 15 (Senator Rob Standridge) Puts to a vote of the people a prohibition for higher education from requiring students to enroll in a course that is not a core requirement of their chosen curriculum, a course with no tuition or fee charged, or a course that is not directly relevant to a degree being pursued. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Healthcare House Bill 1006 (Representative Carol Bush and Senator Adam Pugh) Creates the Transparency in Health Care Prices Act. The bill defines applicable terms. It requires healthcare providers make available to the public, in a single document, either electronically or by posting conspicuously on the provider's website if one exists, the health care prices for at least the 20 most common health care services the healthcare provider provides. Update: Passed House Public Health Committee 8-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 92-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2299 (Representative Dustin Roberts and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Creates the Oklahoma Medical Education Protection Act which preserves the supplemental payment programs payable to University Health Science Centers when entering into contractual arrangements with any entity for the management of Medicaid patients. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 8-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 82-3 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to Senate. House Joint Resolution 1041 (Representative Sean Roberts) Puts to a vote of the people an amendment repealing Medicaid expansion. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Senate Bill 4 (Senator Greg McCortney and Representative T.J. Marti) Permits a pharmacist to substitute an interchangeable biological product for a prescribed biological product only if the substituted product has been determined by FDA to be interchangeable with the prescribed biological product; the prescribing physician has permitted substitution; and the pharmacy informs the patient of the substitution. Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services committee 10-0 Wednesday, February 3. Amended by Floor Substitute. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-0 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 100 (Senator Brenda Stanley and Representative Dean Davis) Permits an applicant for a license to practice podiatric medicine to submit an electronic application online. It requires an applicant legally reside in the United States, rather than be loyal to the US. The bill removes the requirement that the applicant be free from contagious or infectious disease. Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 8-3 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 107 (Senator John Michael Montgomery and Representative Todd Russ) Gives the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) the authority, beginning with the Jan. 1, 2022 plan year, to renew vision plan contracts with plan providers for succeeding one-year terms if the provider had a contract for the immediately preceding year. Update: Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off Senate Floor 47-0 on Thursday, February 10. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 164 (Senator Brenda Stanley and Representative Cynthia Roe) Modifies language related to participation in a research program or experimental procedures. It requires human subject research to be approved by an accredited institutional review board rather than a local institutional review board. It requires when the patient is incapable of giving informed consent and is a minor that the consent be given by the parent or legal guardian. Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 10-0 Wednesday, February 3. Passed off the Senate Floor 43-2 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 207 (Senator Jessica Garvin and Senator Marcus McEntire) Authorizes the Oklahoma Health Care Authority Administrator to designate an administrative law judge to perform appeal hearings for those adversely affected by a decision of the authority. Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 11-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed Full Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-0 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 319 (Senator Robert Standridge and Representative Daniel Pae) Exempts from the prohibition furnishing anyone under the age of 21 any cigarettes, cigarette papers, cigars, bidis, snuff, chewing tobacco, or any other form of tobacco product, or vapor products persons performing activities as part of a scientific study being conducted by a research institution for the purpose of medical research to further efforts in cigarette and tobacco use prevention and cessation and tobacco product regulation, provided that such medical research has been approved by a properly accredited institutional review board pursuant to applicable federal regulations. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 11-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Thursday, February 11. Engrossed to House Senate Bill 406 (Senator Jessica Garvin and Representative Marcus McEntire) Modifies the definitions of "University Hospital" and "Oklahoma's Children's Hospital." It authorizes the University Hospital’s authority to assign any inpatient and outpatient hospital and clinical facilities, research buildings, facilities or property and any other buildings, facilities or property under its ownership or management and control to University Hospital, Oklahoma Children's Hospital or any other division or entity which is part of University Hospital. Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 11-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-1 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. OneNet House Bill 1049 (Representative Dell Kerbs) Requires the Department of Public Safety to provide motor license agents with internet services that operate at adequate transmission speeds to allow the agents to efficiently transact business and transmit data to and from the agency. Update: Passed House Technology Committee 5-1 on Wednesday, February 10. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1124 (Representative Logan Phillips and Senator James Leewright) Creates the State Broadband Deployment Grant Program to direct competitive grants to applicants seeking to expand broadband internet services and directs the Corporation Commission to create the Rural Broadband Expansion Council to promulgate rules and procedures for the program. Update: Passed House Technology Committee 5-1 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 91-6 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1132 (Representative Logan Phillips) Deletes the requirement that the Corporation Commission not approve, endorse, forward or file any application for reimbursement submitted pursuant to subsection (h) of Section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, for transmission services requiring a circuit of T-1 or greater capacity unless OneNet is the circuit provider. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House Technology Committee. Passed House Technology Committee 6-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2040 (Speaker Charles McCalle and Senator James Leewright) The measure provides a sales tax exemption, in the form of rebates, on sales of qualifying broadband equipment if the property is directly used or consumed by the provider or subsidiary in or during the distribution of internet services. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 30-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 85-14 on Thursday, March 11, Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2090 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator James Leewright) Expands the Rural Broadband Expansion Council from 14 to 16 members. One of the additional members would represent a wireless internet service provider and be appointed by the Speaker of the House. The other additional member would represent a Native American tribe and be appointed by the Senate President Pro Tem. Update: Passed House Technology Committee 6-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Emergency Added. Passed off the House Floor 97-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2928 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator James Leewright) Directs broadband service providers in the state to submit a report containing their network area coverage map to the Department of Commerce and the Rural Broadband Expansion Council by October 31, 2021. The providers would be required to update this map and report annually. OneNet is also directed to provide mapping of all assets and network coverage. Update: Passed House Technology Committee 6-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 97-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Senate Bill 802 (Senator James Leewright and Representative Logan Phillips) Increases the Rural Broadband Expansion Council by one member to be filled by a tribal leader of this state. Update: Passed Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 12-1 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-2 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Open Meetings/Records House Bill 1876 (Representative Tammy West and Senator Brenda Stanley) Specifies what private employee information is not subject to the Open Meeting Act. Update: Passed House General Government Committee 8-0 On Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 82-0 on Thursday, February 18. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2644 (Representative Jon Echols and Senator Kim David) Extends the provisions that allows for virtual open meetings until March 31, 2024 Update: Assigned to House General Government Committee. Laid Over. Passed House General Government Committee 8-0 on Tuesday, February 24. Title Stricken. Passed off the House Floor 92-6 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Senate Bill 970 (Senator Kay Floyd and Representative Brad Boles) Makes all license or certification public record, excluding an applicant’s personal address, phone number or other personal material. Update: Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 1031 (Senator Greg Treat and Representative Jon Echols) Extends the provisions that allow for virtual open meetings until the Governor declares the state of emergency to have ended. Update: Assigned to Senate General Government Committee. Withdrawn from General Government Committee. Direct to Calendar. Passed off the Senate Floor as amended by Floor Substitute with a vote of 45-0 on Wednesday, February 3. Direct to House Calendar. Passed off the House Floor 88-5 on Monday, February 8. Signed by Governor Stitt on Wednesday, February 10. Senate Bill 1032 (Senator Greg Treat and Speaker Charles McCall) Requires livestreaming for virtual open meetings Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 7-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 47-0 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to House. Scholarships House Bill 1739 (Representative Sheila Dills and Senator Brenda Stanley) Creates the Connecting Futures Act. It allows the Department of Human Services to, subject to available funding, create a pilot program to address needs of any minors who are separated from their parents or legal guardians, are not supported by their parents or legal guardians and are not in the custody of the Department of Human Services or in the custody of any Indian tribe. It requires the pilot program to allow the Department to provide assistance in securing necessary services to allow eligible minors to become self-reliant and productive citizens. Update: Passed House Children Youth and Family Services Committee 5-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House Floor 82-6 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1821 (Representative Toni Hasenbeck and Senator Dewayne Pemberton) Increases flexibility in the use of Tuition Aid Grants, by removing language directing the Regents for Higher Education to direct tuition aid grants to all eligible applicants, and adding factors to the way the awards are prioritized including: Enrollment status, unmet financial need, continuous enrollment, nearness to degree completion or certificate, state employment needs, and eligibility for other State and institutional funds. Update: Passed House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the House Floor 94-2 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2399 (Representative Todd Russ and Senator Marty Quinn) Extends the qualification for Oklahoma’s higher learning access program to those students whose parents died after the students tenth grade year, and meet the other financial requirements. Update: Assigned to House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee. Amended by unanimous consent passed to House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the House Floor 93-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. Senate Bill 132 (Senator David Bullard and Representative Rhonda Baker) Extends application window for Oklahoma’s Promise to the eleventh grade. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Title Stricken. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Title Restored. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 237 (Senator Dewayne Pemberton and Representative Mark McBride) Increases flexibility in the use of Tuition Aid Grants, by removing language directing the Regents for Higher Education to direct tuition aid grants to all eligible applicants, and adding factors to the way the awards are prioritized including: Enrollment status, unmet financial need, continuous enrollment, nearness to degree completion or certificate, state employment needs, and eligibility for other State and institutional funds. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-1 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 639 (Senator Adam Pugh and Representative Rhonda Baker) Extends qualification for Oklahoma’s Promise to those enrolled in an area that has been identifies as a critical occupation area. Requires the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and the State Regents for Higher Education to publish a yearly list between October and June of the critical occupation areas that meet the guidelines. Requires the Regents, in consultation with CareerTech, to identify postsecondary vo-tech programs that correlate to the critical occupation areas. Sets a 6-year completion timeline for a baccalaureate or other postsecondary education credential and requires that the Oklahoma’s Promise scholarship recipient repay the scholarship if the credential is not earned within 6-year time frame. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Amended by Floor Substitute, which provides a 6-year time period to earn a baccalaureate or other postsecondary education credential or requires that the Oklahoma’s Promise recipient enter into a repayment agreement with the institution of higher education or career technology center. Passed off the Senate Floor 36-9 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Teacher Retirement System House Bill 2293 (Representative Dustin Roberts and Senator Lonnie Paxton) modifies the matching of TRS funds to be based only on the member’s regular annual compensation regardless of the source of funds, except federal funding. Update: Passed House Banking Financial Services and Pensions Committee 6-2 on Monday, February 22. Passed off the House Floor 51-38 on Thursday, March 11. Emergency Failed. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2486 (Representative Avery Frix) Terminates the OPERS defined contribution plan created by the Retirement Freedom Act and provides that all state employees will participate in the OPERS defined benefit plan upon November 1, 2022, or the last date required for distribution of the plan account balances. Employees currently participating in the defined contribution plan will be considered 100 percent vested in their account balance as of November 1, 2021, including employer matching amounts and any gains resulting from management of the account, and will have the option to use their account balance to purchase service credit or to transfer their balance to a qualifying retirement plan. Update: Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed House Rules Committee 7-0 on Thursday, February 25. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 267 (Senator Dewayne Pemberton and Representative Jadine Nollan) Allows retired educators who have received benefits for at least one year and who have not been employed by a public school during that time to be eligible to be reemployed as an active classroom teacher in common or career tech school district with no limitation on earnings. Update: Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 9-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the House Floor 36-11 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 683 (Senator Chris Kidd and Representative Mark McBride) Removes the one-year regular employment requirement for full-time non-classified optional personnel to join the TRS. Update: Assigned to Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee. Laid Over. Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 8-1 on Monday, February 22. Passed off the House Floor 41-2 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Senate Joint Resolution 18 (Senator Lonnie Paxton) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment that requires any COLA to include funding. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Teacher Certification House Bill 1593 (Representative Melissa Provenzano and Senator Brenda Stanley) Requires 7th-12th grade teachers to have workplace safety training emphasized into curriculum. The program shall be completed the first year a certified teacher is employed by a school district. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 13-0 Tuesday, February 16. Passed off House Floor 74-19 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1773 (Representative Sherrie Conley and Senator Jessica Garvin) Requires teaching candidates in early childhood elementary, secondary and special education to study the philosophy framework and implementation of a multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) designed to address the core academic and nonacademic needs of all students. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Amended by committee substitute. Passed House Common Education Committee 8-1 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the House Floor 91-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1796 (Representative Nicole Miller and Senator Adam Pugh) Allows the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Commission for Education Quality and Accountability to grant subject area examination exceptions for initial certification in a field that does not require an advanced degree if the candidate already has an advanced degree in the subject essentially comparable to the content assessed in the examination. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 13-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House Floor 91-1 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senator. House Bill 2329 (Representative Mark Lawson and Senator Frank Simpson) Allows the State Board of Education to grant an exception to the certification examination to teacher candidates who are deaf. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 8-0 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the House Floor 97-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2693 (Representative Toni Hasenbeck and Senator Brenda Stanley) Updates the name of the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation to the Office of Educational Quality and Accountability. Rewards teachers who are renewing their National Board Certification by awarding them a portion of the renewal application fee. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House Appropriations Committee. Passed House Appropriations Committee 28-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the House Floor 81-11 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2748 (Representative Rhonda Baker and Senator Brenda Stanley) Requires the State Board of Education to issue one-year alternative teacher certificates renewable for up to 3 years to teach early childhood education or elementary education if the alternative certified teacher meets certain qualifications. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House floor 86-0 on Thursday, February 18. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2752 (Representative Rhonda Baker and Senator Brenda Stanley) Requires the State Department of Education in coordination with the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability to establish a micro-credential programs for teachers who hold a certificate to complete additional coursework and earn STEM credentials. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 93-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Senate Bill 51 (Senator Carri Hicks and Representative Danny Sterling) Removes the requirement to pass the general education portions of the competency examination for an alternative placement teaching certificate or a teacher certificate. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off Senate Floor 33-12 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 67 (Senator Frank Simpson and Speaker Charles McCall) Permits the State Board of Education to grant an exception to the requirements for all certification examinations for teacher candidates who are "deaf." Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 229 (Senator John Michael Montgomery and Representative Kyle Hilbert) Allows the State Board of Education to renew an Emergency or Provisional Teacher Certification for up to five years. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 10-2 on Tuesday, February 23. Title Stricken. Passed off the Senate Floor 37-8 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Weapons on Campus / Gun Laws House Bill 1629 (Representative David Hardin and Senator Micheal Bergstrom) Preempts any federal, state county or municipal law rule or regulation that orders the confiscation of firearms, firearm accessories of ammunition. Update: Passed House Judiciary-Criminal Committee 7-2 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 77-19 Tuesday, March 9. Emergency added. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1630 (Representative David Hardin and Senator Dewayne Pemberton) Modifies the Unlawful Intent to Carry and Penalty Portions of Firearms Act to allow flexibility in punishment upon conviction. Deletes the ability to permanently revoke a handgun license. Amends background checks to remove criminal history records fingerprints and FBI searches on license renewal. Update: Passed House Judiciary-Criminal Committee 8-1 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House floor 78-18 on Monday, February 22. Engrossed to Senate House Bill 1662 (Representative Kevin West and Senator Nathan Dahm) If a defendant claims self-defense the State of Oklahoma must then have to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the defensive force was not justified. Update: Passed House Judiciary-Criminal Committee 7-2 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 77-19 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1898 (Representative Sean Roberts) Adds statutory references to the Oklahoma Self Defense Act. Update: Passed House Judiciary - Criminal Committee 3-1 on Thursday, February 25. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2334 (Representative Jay Steagall and Senator Micheal Bergstrom) Authorizes the possession of firearms on streets, plazas, sidewalks and alleys. Authorizes open carry on property of nonprofit entities and public trusts. Update: Passed House Public Safety Committee 5-2 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 79-18 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2401 (Representative Todd Russ and Senator David Bullard) Changes the ban on all felons from carrying firearms to a ban on anyone convicted of a specifically classified violent felony from carrying firearms for a period of 5 years. Update: Passed House Judiciary-Criminal Committee 7-2 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 77-19 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2588 (Representative Sean Roberts and Senator David Bullard) Allows a board of education of a school district to adopt a policy to authorize the carrying of a handgun onto school property by school personnel if the person possesses a valid handgun license and meets other requirements authorized by the board of education. Update: Assigned to House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee. Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee 3-1 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the House Floor 79-18, Emergency Passed 68-18 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2645 (Representative Jon Echols and Senator David Bullard) Allows the carrying of firearms in bars and restaurants as long as the carrier is not consuming alcoholic beverages. Reduces fines and punishments from $1,000 and two years in prison to $250. Removes the revocation of a handgun license upon violation of this statute. Update: Assigned to House Public Safety Committee. Reassigned to House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee. Passed House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee 3-1 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the House Floor 78-19 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Senate Bill 106 (Senator Mark Allen and Representative Terry O’Donnell) Defines the term "completed application" within the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act to mean all fields are completed, questions answered and contains all required signatures on the Application for Self-Defense Act License and all required documents including legible fingerprints, if applicable. It removes the 90-day grace period for handgun license renewals. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Friday, February 19. Passed off the Senate Floor 35-8 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 186 (Senator David Bullard) Removes language that prohibits a person convicted of a felony from operating a motor vehicle or riding as a passenger in a motor vehicle in which there is any pistol, imitation, or homemade pistol, altered air or toy pistol, machine gun, sawed-off shotgun or sawed-of rifle, or any other firearm. It modifies the qualifications for restoring the right to carry a firearm. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 11-0 on Friday, February 19. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 442 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Makes its unlawful for any person to carry or use shotguns, rifles or pistols in any circumstances while under the influence of medical marijuana obtained under a valid medical marijuana patient license. It exempts an applicant or licensee in legal possession of a medical marijuana patient license from the preclusion for a person from being eligible for a handgun license pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 11-0 on Friday, February 19. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 631 (Senator Warren Hamilton and Representative Sean Roberts) Makes Oklahoma a “Second Amendment Sanctuary State” pre-empting any legislation or rule at any level that would infringe upon the right to bear arms. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Monday, February 22. Passed off the Senate Floor 38-8 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 644 (Senator Blake Stephens and Representative Sean Roberts) Allows municipalities to, by ordinance, authorize all or certain municipal employees to carry concealed firearms. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 10-1 on Friday, February 19. Passed off the Senate Floor 39-8 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 646 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom and Representative Jay Steagall) Allows the carrying of firearms in bars and restaurants as long as the carrier is not consuming alcoholic beverages. Reduces fines and punishments from $1,000 and two years in prison to $250. Removes the revocation of a handgun license upon violation of this statute. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Monday, February 22. Title Stricken. Passed off the Senate Floor 37-9 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 672 (Senator Casey Murdock and Representative Kenton Patzkowsky) Allows unmitigated transport of firearms for any person not otherwise prohibited from purchasing or carrying firearms. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Friday, February 19. Passed off the Senate Floor 39-7 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 711 (Senator John Haste) Adds county owned buildings to the locations a sheriff may authorize certain employees to carry a firearm. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Friday, February 19. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 730 (Senator Nathan Dahm and Representative Jay Steagall) Bans any person, property owner, tenant, employer, or business entity from establishing or enforcing any rule that prohibits transporting carrying or storing firearms. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Monday, February 22. Passed off the Senate Floor 36-8 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 732 (Senator Nathan Dahm and Representative Jim Olsen) Allows anyone whose Second Amendment rights are violated to bring a lawsuit against any order or regulation or other political subdivision of the state. Defines responsibilities of the court in such a case. Update: Assigned to Senate Public Safety Committee. Laid Over. Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Monday February, 22. Passed off the Senate Floor 38-8 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 767 (Senator David Bullard) Allows superintendents to authorize anyone with a valid handgun license and has demonstrated proficiency in handgun training and campus-specific active shooter training to carry weapons on school grounds. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-1 on Monday, February 22. Title Stricken. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 925 (Senator Nathan Dahm and Representative Jay Steagall) Modifies language related to self-defense with a firearm. It adds "occupied premises" to the list of places the Legislature recognizes that the citizens of the State of Oklahoma have a right to expect absolute safety and that a person legally is allowed to defend. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Friday, February 19. Passed off the Senate Floor 36-8 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 926 (Senator Nathan Dahm and Representative Eric Roberts) Extends the firearms law preemption to air powered pistols Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 22. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Joint Resolution 21 (Senator David Bullard) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment prohibiting any future legislation, taxation or rules that would infringe upon Second Amendment rights. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Workforce Development House Bill 1981 (Representative Mark Lepak) Creates a Universal Licensing Recognition Act. Allows a person living in Oklahoma to apply for licensing or certification if there is no conflict with any interstate compact or state-to-state reciprocity or equivalency agreement as determined by the Oklahoma regulatory entity. The bill requires the person to show proof of residency or be married to and accompanying an active duty member of the military stationed in Oklahoma, be currently licensed or certified by another state with a similar scope of work through a substantially similar examination, have minimum education requirement and, if applicable, professional work experience, education training and clinical supervision requirements. Update: Passed House Business and Commerce Committee 9-2 on Wednesday, February 24. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2860 (Representative Kevin Wallace and Senator Roger Thompson) Creates the Oklahoma Remote Quality Jobs Inventive Act. Provides for the Department of Commerce and the Oklahoma Tax Commission to create policy’s attracting growth industries that employ remote workers. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 29-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House floor 96-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2929 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator Greg Treat) Requires the Department of Commerce to post on its website information related to its business recruiting efforts with an emphasis on possible business site locations or relocation decisions within the state. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 9-2 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 68-22 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to the Senate. Senate Bill 71 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom and Representative Kevin McDugle) Modifies language related to the Department of Commerce's requirement to promulgate rules for the administration of the Oklahoma Local Development and Enterprise Zone Incentive Leverage Act. It requires the rules establish reporting requirements for successful applicants which allow data collection and analysis by the department on employment, capital investment, changes in assessed value of a project and other impacts resulting from payments and reporting of data by the department to the Oklahoma Tax Commission. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 10-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 211 (Senator Tom Dugger and Representative Ken Luttrell) Modifies the powers and duties of the Oklahoma Board of Private Vocational Schools. It permits a school to be accredited by an accrediting organization approved by the U.S. Department of Education for multiple years, and to obtain a sustained license annually during the period of the multi-year accreditation. It modifies the fees the board may assess. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Title Stricken. Passed Senate Education Committee 10-2 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 20-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the Senate floor 42-5 on Wednesday. March, 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 587 (Senator Chuck Hall and Representative Brad Boles) Adds the delivery of industry focused instruction from Common Education, CareerTech or Higher Education to the definitions in the Oklahoma Community Economic Development Pooled Finance Act. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-0 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 936 (Senator Chuck Hall and Representative Kevin Wallace) Combines the various quality jobs programs under the Oklahoma Quality Jobs Program Act. Update: Passed Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 11-1 on Thursday, February 11. Passed Senate Appropriations and Budget 20-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 43-2 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Thank you. Glen Glen D. Johnson Chancellor Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education 655 Research Parkway, Suite 200 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104 405.225.9122 gjohnson at osrhe.edu follow us on Twitter @okhighered [cid:image005.jpg at 01D71766.10720590] [cid:image006.jpg at 01D71766.10720590] -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 2048 bytes Desc: image001.jpg URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image002.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 1891 bytes Desc: image002.jpg URL: From susan.dale at okstate.edu Mon Mar 15 16:05:04 2021 From: susan.dale at okstate.edu (Dale, Susan) Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2021 21:05:04 +0000 Subject: [Oasfaa] OSU Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid Position Listing Message-ID: [cid:image001.png at 01D719B4.F3E1ACE0] Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid Sr. Financial Aid Counselor I Job Summary: * Through in-person contact, telephone and email communication, provide information to prospective and continuing students regarding applying for financial assistance and the availability of federal, state and institutional aid. * Use professional judgment in determining whether student has unusual circumstances that would affect financial aid eligibility. Work with the student and parents to ensure all documentation requirements are met. * Provide guidance and information to students regarding maintaining and/or regaining eligibility for federal, state and institutional assistance. * Review aid applications to verify accuracy and determine need for additional information. * Work with assigned Undergraduate Admissions counselors to ensure prospective students have accurate financial aid and scholarship information. * Act as a financial aid liaison for assigned college or other campus offices outside the Enrollment Management division so that the university community is educated regarding financial aid programs, policies and procedures. Qualifications: Required: * Bachelor's Degree * Sociology, Counseling, Psychology, Education or degree as determined by the department. * Two years' experience related to financial aid counseling. * Customer service experience working with students in a collegiate setting. * Experience working with the financial aid process or experience in personal finance. * Experience working in an online computer environment or with personal computer applications. * Strong interpersonal skills and excellent listening, verbal and written communication skills. * Ability to identify issues, investigate possible reasons/solutions, evaluate possible outcomes, and develop the most efficient and effective plan of action for each individual situation. * Sensitivity to the emotional nature of discussions related to finances, and the ability to balance requirements of federal, state, and institutional programs with concepts of customer service. * Because of the nature of the information available to this staff member, the employee must be able to incorporate the need for confidentiality of information into every aspect of the job. * Ability to work effectively with students who become angry or upset. * Must display a consistent attitude of customer service. Preferred: * Master's Degree * Counseling, Student Development or Higher Education * Three years' experience related to financial aid counseling. * Customer service experience working with students in a collegiate setting. * Experience working with the financial aid process or experience in personal finance. * Experience working in an online computer environment or with personal computer applications. * Public speaking experience. Application Procedure: * Qualified applicants please apply online at http://hr.okstate.edu/employment-opportunities * Contact Human Resources Staff for assistance at (405) 744-2909, email osu-hr at okstate.edu. * Attach a Resume, Cover Letter, and a List of Professional References. * Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a pre-employment background investigations. * Position open until filled. [cid:image011.jpg at 01D719B4.F54A8BB0] [cid:image004.jpg at 01D719B4.F3E1ACE0] Thank you, [cid:image001.png at 01D5373C.65A18FB0] SUSAN DALE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid 405.744.7440 * 119 Student Union * finaid.okstate.edu [cid:image009.png at 01D5373C.65A18FB0][cid:image010.png at 01D5373C.65A18FB0][cid:image011.png at 01D5373C.65A18FB0][cid:image012.png at 01D5373C.65A18FB0] [cid:image010.png at 01D5373D.52894C00] -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 9713 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image002.png Type: image/png Size: 234099 bytes Desc: image002.png URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... 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Name: image010.png Type: image/png Size: 4982 bytes Desc: image010.png URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image011.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 33244 bytes Desc: image011.jpg URL: From bfair at osrhe.edu Mon Mar 15 22:12:48 2021 From: bfair at osrhe.edu (Fair, Bryce) Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2021 03:12:48 +0000 Subject: [Oasfaa] =?windows-1252?q?=5BEXTERNAL=5D__FW=3A_Legislative_Updat?= =?windows-1252?q?e_=96_March_12=2C_2021_=28please_see_URGENT_information?= =?windows-1252?q?=29?= In-Reply-To: References: <5af7a9b40e934389942337c0ddc95bf7@osrhe.edu> Message-ID: Hi Mendy, My primary role in this OASFAA forum is to provide information about legislation that affects our state financial aid programs. For those institutions potentially impacted by SB 639, it is important that the institution’s administration be aware of the current language in the bill and consider how it might affect the institution and its future Oklahoma’s Promise students. Any legislative advocacy on behalf of the institution needs to be coordinated with the institution’s administration. Bryce From: OASFAA On Behalf Of Schmerer, Mendy M. (HSC) Sent: Monday, March 15, 2021 8:14 AM To: oasfaa at lists.onenet.net Subject: Re: [Oasfaa] [EXTERNAL] FW: Legislative Update – March 12, 2021 (please see URGENT information) Bryce, as this is deeply concerning if it gains traction, what legislative advocacy tips can you specifically recommend for us in contacting our legislators? Thanks! Mendy Schmerer, MEd, FAAC® Director, Office of Student Financial Aid | SWASFAA President, 2020 – 2021 University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center 865 University Research Park, Suite 240 | Oklahoma City, OK 73104 O (405) 271-2118, x 48817 | F (405) 271-5446 Mendy-Schmerer at ouhsc.edu https://financialservices.ouhsc.edu/Departments/Student-Financial-Aid www.facebook.com/OUHSCFinancialAid CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE This email, including any attachments, contains information from The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, which may be confidential or privileged. The information is intended to be for the use of the individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, be aware that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the contents of this information is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender immediately by a “reply to sender only” message and destroy all electronic and hard copies of the communication, including attachments. From: OASFAA > On Behalf Of Fair, Bryce Sent: Saturday, March 13, 2021 1:02 PM To: oasfaa at lists.onenet.net Subject: [EXTERNAL] [Oasfaa] FW: Legislative Update – March 12, 2021 (please see URGENT information) Below is the legislative update for this past week. Thursday was the deadline for bills to pass off the floor in their house of origin. Six financial-aid-related bills are still alive at this point and are listed in the “Scholarships” section of the legislative update. URGENT Information – (I apologize for the length of the following discussion, but we believe this is a very important issue.) For colleges and career technology centers that serve Oklahoma’s Promise students, I call your attention to SB 639 that could have a dramatic impact on future students in the program. SB 639 (by Sen. Pugh of the Senate and Rep. Baker of the House) – Last Thursday, March 11, a new version of the bill, called a “Floor Substitute” was passed by the Senate. The text of the new version can be found at http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2021-22%20FLOOR%20AMENDMENTS/Senate/SB639%20(3-09-21)%20(PUGH)%20FS%20FA1.PDF [The underlined text is the new language that would be added to current law. In addition, Section 5 of the bill is entirely new law. You can find other information about the SB 639 at http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=sb639&Session=2100]. The bill now contains the following provisions : * For all students applying to the Oklahoma’s Promise program beginning in 2021-22, the scholarship eligibility period would be expanded from 5 years to 6 years. * Students enrolling in the program in 2021-22 and thereafter who do not complete a baccalaureate degree or “postsecondary vocational-technical program” during the 6-year period of scholarship eligibility would be subject to what the Senate author refers to as a “claw back” provision and be required to repay the full amount of Oklahoma’s Promise awards they have received. [It is important to note that Oklahoma’s Promise students complete college degrees at a higher rate than non-Oklahoma’s Promise students. You can find this performance measure and many others in the most recent OKPromise year-end report for 2019-20 at https://www.okhighered.org/okpromise/pdf/okp-report-19-20.pdf. In addition, in a very recent evaluation of Oklahoma Promise by the new Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency, Finding #1 states, “Oklahoma’s Promise Recipients are Earning Critical Workforce Degrees and Remaining in Oklahoma.” Finding #2 states, “Oklahoma’s Promise Exceeds the Legislative Intent to Provide Post-Secondary Opportunities for Oklahoma Students.” You can find the full report at http://www.okloft.gov/Reports/Oklahoma_Promise_Report.pdf.] * Students would be required to enter into a “repayment agreement” with the college or career technology center in which the student was enrolled. The bill further states that, “In determining the repayment amount, the institution of higher education or technology center school in which the student was enrolled may consider hardship circumstances on a case-by-case basis.” * The bill would also authorize use of the Oklahoma’s Promise award for additional career technology programs that are not eligible for federal financial aid but are “identified as a critical occupation” program through a process established in Section 5 of the bill. The State Regents have identified an initial list of serious concerns about the “claw back” requirement: * Oklahoma’s Promise students and families have few financial resources to repay awards: * In 2019-20, the average family income of Oklahoma’s Promise award recipients was about $35,000. * Nearly 90% of Oklahoma’s Promise recipients in 2019-20 met the low-income eligibility criteria for the federal Pell Grant. * The “claw back” potentially adds more student debt for Oklahoma’s Promise students: Each year, nearly one-third of Oklahoma’s Promise recipients take out over $30 million in student loans averaging over $5,000 per borrower to help pay for non-tuition college expenses such as fees, books, and room and board. * The “claw back” provision would require additional administrative responsibilities and costs for colleges and career technology centers: Colleges and career technology centers would be required to administer the repayment requirement. * The “claw back” provision may discourage enrollment in Oklahoma’s Promise: As parents and students have become more cautious of student loan debt, the fear of potential additional debt acquired through Oklahoma’s Promise may create a reluctance to enroll in the program. We realize there are other concerns such as the complicated administrative logistics for students who transfer among institutions. Please forward to me any specific questions or additional concerns that you have. Bryce Fair Associate Vice Chancellor for Scholarships & Grants Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Phone: 405-225-9162 Email: bfair at osrhe.edu From: Johnson, Dr. Glen Sent: Friday, March 12, 2021 5:35 PM To: Subject: Legislative Update – March 12, 2021 OKLAHOMA STATE REGENTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION Memo To: Higher Education Network From: Chancellor Glen D. Johnson Date: Friday, March 12, 2021 Subject: Legislative Update – March 12, 2021 The update below reflects the major legislation concerning Higher Education. If you have any questions, please contact LeeAnna McNally, Vice Chancellor for Governmental Relations, at lmcnally at osrhe.edu or (405) 301-0332. Legislative Report March 12, 2021 Agency Administration House Bill 1090 (Representative Gerrid Kendrix and Senator Brent Howard) Allows the State Auditor and Inspector General to perform audits and inspections of government entities without authorization from the Governor, the Chief Executive Officer of a government entity, or a joint or concurrent resolution of the Legislature. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House General Government Committee. Passed House General Government Committee 7-0 on Wednesday, February 17. Passed off the House Floor 91-0 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1126 (Representative Logan Phillips) Requires employers who engage in any type of electronic email monitoring of employee accounts to give written notice to all employees prior to any monitoring electronic mail communication. Update: Passed House Business and Commerce Committee 10-0 on Wednesday, February 10. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1146 (Representative Mike Osburn and Senator Greg Treat) Places all state employee positions under the administration of the Human Capital Management Division of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services effective January 1, 2022, except those employed by the Governor, Lt. Governor, Speaker of the House, or President Pro Tempore of the Senate, as well as elected officials, political appointees, and up to 5 percent of an agency's executive management. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Amended by Floor Substitute. Passed off the House floor 93-0 on Tuesday, March 9. House Bill 1602 (Representative Collin Walke and Senator John Michael Montgomery) The bill entitles a consumer to request that a business that collects the consumer's personal information disclose to the consumer the categories and specific items of personal information the business has collected. It establishes a requirement for the consumer to request the information. It establishes procedures for the business to disclose the information. Update: Passed House Technology Committee 6-0 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 85-11 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1787 (Representative Daniel Pae) Authorizes state agencies to pay employees in an on-call status. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 7-0 on Thursday, February 25. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1888 (Representative Danny Williams and Senator David Bullard) Bans all public bodies from conducting any form of gender or sexual diversity training or counseling. Allows for sexual harassment prevention training. Anybody that violates this law will be denied any source of public funding. Update: Passed House General Government Committee 6-2 on Wednesday, February 10. Amended by Committee Substitute. Laid Over. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1875 (Representative Tammy West and Senator Brenda Stanley) Permits each educational institution to choose to designate specific information which will be classified as directory information for students attending the educational institution. Update: Passed House General Government Committee 8-0 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 92-0 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate House Bill 1921 (Representative Ryan Martinez) Modifies the authority of OMES to designate quarters for every department of state government provided no department shall be assigned quarters that results in the relocation of a department’s employees or relocation of the performance of duties imposed upon such department by law. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Laid Over. Passed House Rules Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Emergency added. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1986 (Representative Judd Strom and Senator Bill Coleman) Requires any state agency that owns, operates or leases land in the state that is utilized for livestock grazing to enclose the area with a fence or another suitable means for the portion that contains livestock, as well as maintaining the enclosure. The bill allows the state agency to enter into a labor cost-sharing contract with adjacent landowner provided the landowner is not otherwise responsible for the cost of the enclosure or its maintenance. Update: Passed House Agriculture and Rural Development Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 16. Passed off the House Floor 92-4 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2085 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator David Bullard) Requires the Office of Management and Enterprise Services to display the national motto of the United States in a prominently visible location in all state buildings. The bill authorizes the Oklahoma Attorney General to prepare and present a legal defense of the display. Update: Passed House States’ Rights Committee 5-1 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 81-19 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2088 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator Roger Thompson) Exempts the legislature and judicial branches of state government from any and all fees or costs for services rendered by state agencies. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 16. Passed off the House floor 94-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2180 (Representative Ronny Johns and Senator Greg McCortney) Removes requirements for making payroll deductions for certain insurance premiums with a minimum participation of 500 state employees. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House Insurance Committee. Passed House Insurance Committee 7-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 82-12 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2185 (Representative Ronny Johns and Greg McCortney) Modifies the requirements of publications on contracts awarded by state agencies to include the address of the company and the reason to be awarded the contract. Deletes explanations on the out of state ownership percentage of contracted companies. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House Government Modernization and Efficiency Committee. Passed Government Modernization and Efficiency Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 88-3 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2294 (Representative Dustin Roberts and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Deletes the ability for employees to accumulate more than the maximum annual leave. Update: Passed House General Government Committee 8-0 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 98-0 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to Senate. Senate Bill 41 (Senator Greg McCortney and Representative Ronny Johns) Modifies the requirements for state employee payroll deductions for private insurance organizations and service companies that provide legal services. It removes the requirement that the organizations and service companies that provide legal services be regulated by the State Insurance Commissioner and have a minimum participation of 500 state employees. Update: Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 9-0 on Thursday, February18. Title Restored. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-0 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 63 (Senator John Michael Montgomery and Representative Avery Frix) Removes language related to the State Government Reduction-in-Force and Severance Benefits Act that requires an employee to repay all severance benefits on a proportional basis if an affected employee is reemployed by the agency from which separated as a result of a reduction-in-force Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 9-0 on Thursday, February 11. Passed off the Senate Floor 31-15 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 282 (Senator Frank Simpson and Representative Tommy Hardin) Amends Section 840-2.20 of the Oklahoma Personnel Act to allow for a temporary increase in the accumulation limits for annual leave following an emergency declaration period, which shall carryover to the end of the fiscal year following the year in which the emergency declaration ended. increase and carryover of annual leave time Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 9-0 on Thursday, February 4. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-1 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Senate Bill 299 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom and Representative Mark Lepak) Allows for cooperative “piggybacking” purchase agreements between state agencies including on public construction contracts. Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 7-2 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the Senate Floor 36-8 on Thursday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 333 (Senator Frank Simpson and Representative Tammy Townley) Amends Section 840-2.15 of the Oklahoma Personnel Act to allow for a temporary increase in the accumulation limits for compensatory time following an emergency declaration period, which shall carryover to the end of the fiscal year following the year in which the emergency declaration ended. increase and carryover of annual leave time. Update: Assigned to Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee. Reassigned to House General Government Committee. Passed House General Government Committee 8-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-1 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 403 (Senator Brenda Stanley and Representative Robert Manger) Makes it unlawful for any person, alone or in concert with others and without authorization, to willfully disturb, interfere or disrupt business of any political subdivision, which includes publicly posted meetings, or any political subdivision. Update: Assigned to Senate Public Safety Committee. Amended to make the bill an Emergency. Passed Public Safety Committee with a vote of 11-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the Senate Floor 36-9 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 459 (Senator Lonnie Paxton and Representative Ty Burns) Amends the Standards for Workplace Drug and Alcohol testing in light of medical marijuana. Update: Passed Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 10-3 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 484 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Allows the Legislature to approve or disapprove any agency implementation of a federal rule or law. Requires state agencies to send their interpretation of any rule or regulation before implementation. Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 10-1 on Thursday, February 25. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 650 (Senator Kim David and Representative Jon Echols) Provides a 2 percent increase to the amount of a participant’s benefit allowance from the amount provided in the previous plan year. Update: Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 8-1 on Thursday, February 18. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 18-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the Senate Floor 41-4 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 794 (Senator James Leewright and Representative Kevin Wallace) Requires that if the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission or its representative determines that an individual has been overpaid unemployment benefits to provisions therein relating to administrative overpayment, the individual must be sent a notice of overpayment determination. It allows that if the individual disagrees with this determination, said individual can file an appeal of the determination with the Appeal Tribunal within 10 days after the date of mailing. Update: Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee and Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee. Passed Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 12-0 on Thursday, February 11. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 829 (Senator Casey Murdock and Representative Kevin Wallace) Requires state agencies who have jurisdiction over parcels of land containing 80 or more acres of contiguous land to fence it. Update: Assigned to Senate General Government Committee. Reassigned to Senate Agriculture and Wildlife Committee. Passed Senate Agriculture and Wildlife 12-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 13-7 on Monday, March 1. Title stricken. Failed to pass on the Senate Floor 14-30 on Thursday, March 11. Senate Bill 895 (Senator Paul Rosino and Representative Chris Kannady) Allows state agencies to choose to have required audits performed by a public accountant or certified public accountant registered to do business with the state. Update: Assigned to Senate Finance Committee. Reassigned to House General Government Committee. Passed House General Government Committee 7-2 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 36-9 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 924 (Senator Greg Treat and Representative Kyle Hilbert) Creates a state data definition and gives OMES the authority to determine when state data is allowed to be shared between agencies or with federal entities if a request to share is initially rejected. Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 6-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-1 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 984 (Senator Kim David and Representative Terry O’Donnell) Prohibits an agency or official of the executive branch from entering into a contingency fee contract that provides for the private attorney or firm to receive an aggregate contingency fee that exceeds amounts specified therein. It prohibits the total fee payable to all retained private attorneys in any contingency fee contract from exceeding $50 million exclusive of any costs and expenses provided by the contract and actually incurred by the retained private attorneys, regardless of the number of actions or proceedings or the number of retained private attorneys involved in the matter. Update: Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 7-2 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 38-6 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Concurrent Resolution 2 (Senator Rob Standridge) Requires the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to submit a report to the Legislature and to make the report available on its website by December 31, 2021, that includes a list of all persons employed in a faculty or teaching position including their position rank at their respective institutions within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education and their compensation during the 2020-2021 academic year; a list of the courses taught and the hours taught by persons employed in a faculty or teaching position at institutions within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education during the 2020-2021 academic year; the tenure policy of each institution within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education for the 2020-2021 academic year; and the number of faculty employed by each institution within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education who had tenure during the 2020-2021 academic year. Update: Not assigned to committee. Budget Bills House Bill 1665 (Representative Kevin West and Senator Chuck Hall) Creates a Federal Funds Holding Account within the General Revenue Fund to receive all funds required to be paid to the State of Oklahoma. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 20-10 on Wednesday, February 24, Title Stricken. Passed off the House Floor 86-12 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1990 (Representative Trey Caldwell and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Allows ad valorem reimbursement fund to be used to reimburse counties for loss of revenue. Update: Assigned to House Appropriations and Budget Committee. Direct to Appropriations Committee. Passed House Appropriations Committee 28-0 Thursday, February 18. Passed off the House Floor 65-30 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2086 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator Zack Taylor) Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services to ensure state agencies are charged no more than the actual cost of the services provided by the Office. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 9-0 Tuesday, February 16. Passed off the House Floor 94-0 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2775 (Representative John Pfeiffer and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Adds to the definition of “Cost Approach” in the ad valorem tax code to include physical deterioration, functional or internal obsolescence, and economic or external obsolescence. Update: Passed House County and Municipal Government Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 22. Passed off the House Floor 92-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2776 (Representative John Pfeiffer and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Creates the Ad Valorem School District Support Revolving Fund which shall consist of all ad valorem funds under protest received by the State Department of Education (SDE). The SDE may distribute this money to school districts which are affected by protested ad valorem taxes. Update: Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed House Rules Committee 7-2 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the House Floor 90-0 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2777 (Representative John Pfeiffer and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Allows for wind power valuation for real property and personal property in the ad valorem tax code. Update: Passed House County and Municipal Government Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 22. Title Stricken. Passed off the House Floor 93-0 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2780 (Representative John Pfeiffer and Senator Dave Rader) Allows the Oklahoma Tax Commission to garnish accrued earnings of a delinquent taxpayer by contacting the taxpayer’s employer. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 27-3 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 78-18 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to Senate. House Joint Resolution 1001 (Representative Andy Fugate and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Proposes a vote of the people on a constitutional amendment that changes the way the maximum Constitutional Reserve (Rainy Day) Fund balance amount would be computed. It would require the maximum balance allowed be based on a percentage of total state expenditures instead of using revenue estimates provided by the State Board of Equalization for the annual appropriations process. It would provide that total expenditures include all appropriated monies and federal funds. It would exclude from total expenditures money from revolving funds which are used by state agencies, fees or similar charges that were not derived from tax revenue, and money obtained by issuing state government bonds. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 9-0 Tuesday, February 16. Passed off the House Floor 93-0 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to Senate. Senate Bill 79 (Senator Roger Thompson and Representative Kevin West) Exempts from sales tax the transfer of tangible personal property to or by nonprofit 501(c)(3) entities that have entered into a joint operating agreement with the University Hospitals Trust. Update: Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. Amended to provide an effective date of July 1, 2022. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee as amended 20-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-1 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 181 (Senator Zack Taylor and Representative Brad Boles) Permits more than one-half of ad valorem taxes to be paid by January 1 of each year. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 12-0 Tuesday, February 2. Passed off Senate Floor 46-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 383 (Senator Robert Standridge and Representative Kevin West) Establishes that the owner or operator of a social media website who contracts with users in Oklahoma is subject to a private right of action by a social media website user if the social media website purposely deletes or censors a social media website user’s political speech or religious speech or uses an algorithm to suppress political speech or religious speech. Update: Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 5-3 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 34-12 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 498 (Senator Roger Thompson and Representative Scott Fetgatter) Permits a facility engaged in cement manufacturing to have the payroll requirements of the five-year ad valorem tax exemption waived for tax year 2021, which is based in part on the 2020 calendar year payroll reported to the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission and permits it to continue to receive the exemption for the five-year period only if all other requirements of this section are met. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Referred to Full Appropriations Committee. Laid over. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 18-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-1 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 609 (Senator Chuck Hall and Representative Kyle Hilbert) Extends the ad valorem tax exemption to manufacturing facilities, doubles the acquisition or expansion limit. Adds definitions to manufacturing facilities. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 11-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 33-1 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 753 (Senator Brent Howard) For any property acquired by a governmental entity operating as a trust, after the effective date of this act, the trust shall annually make in lieu of tax payments an amount equal to the ad valorem assessed against the property immediately prior to purchase by the trust. Update: Assigned to Senate Finance Committee. Title Stricken. Passed Senate Finance Committee 10-1 on Tuesday, February 9. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 771 (Senator Blake Stephens) Creates the Tax Collection Modernization Act allowing each county treasurer in their sole discretion to let taxpayers make payments on the total amount of tax due, and holding these payments on trust until the amount is sufficient to pay the total due. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 11-0 on Friday, February 19. Title Stricken. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 906 (Senator Casey Murdock and Representative Todd Russ) Provides allowances for depreciation of value in ad valorem tax consideration. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 9-2 on Friday, February 19. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Joint Resolution 14 (Senator Joe Newhouse) Puts to a vote of the people increasing the cap on the Constitutional Reserve Fund from 15 percent to 30 percent. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Senate Joint Resolution 16 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom) Changes the way maximum balance allowed for the rainy-day fund from using the Board of Equalization estimates to a percentage of a total of the state expenditures for the previous year including all state and federal funds. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. CareerTech House Bill 1026 (Representative Rande Worthen and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Allows CLEET to establish and certify additional law enforcement and criminal justice programs at state-supported technology center schools in the State of Oklahoma operating under the State Board of Career and Technology Education for teaching students between 16 and 19 years of age. Update: Passed House Public Safety Committee 7-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 97-0 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to Senate. Common Education House Bill 1027 (Representative Trish Ranson and Senator Brenda Stanley) Requires de-escalation training for certified teachers, beginning in the 2022-2023 school year. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 13-0 on Tuesday, February 16. Passed off the House Floor 81-11 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1046 (Representative Dell Kerbs and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Requires a copy or a hyperlink to a copy of the most recent audit of the financial statements of a school district to be on the front page of the school district website for public inspection. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor as amended 95-0 on Wednesday, March. 3 Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1073 (Representative Tom Gann and Senator Nathan Dahm) Extends the sunset date for the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness Board until July 1, 2024. Update: Passed House Administrative Rules Committee 10-0 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 89-2 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1103 (Representative Mark Vancuren and Senator John Haste) Directs the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and the State Education Department to create a set of guidelines and provide directions to schools in order to survey every public school student in grades 6,8,10 and 12 with the Oklahoma Prevention Needs Assessment Survey every other year beginning in the 2022-2023 school year. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 16. Amended to remove private schools. Passed off the House Floor 78-19 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1104 (Representative Mark Vancuren and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Requires information on a student's tribal affiliation to be included in student data collected for the state. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee on 12-0 Tuesday, February 16. Passed off the House Floor 94-0 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1568 (Representative Jeff Boatman and Senator John Haste) Creates Maria’s Law requiring collaboration with the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to adopt standards and approve age-appropriate curriculum for K-12 students as a part of normal health education curriculum. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 84-10 with Title Stricken on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1569 (Representative Jacob Rosecrants and Senator Adam Pugh) Creates the Oklahoma Play to Learn Act. States that the intention of the Legislature is to focus on the importance of child-centered, play-based learning. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House Floor 76-16 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1775 (Representative Sherrie Conley and Senator Jessica Garvin) Creates Riley's Rule, a requirement that each athletic and practice facility create an emergency action plan. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Laid Over. Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the House Floor 93-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1882 (Representative Marilyn Stark and Senator Dave Rader) Creates the "Out-of-Schooltime" task force to identify, evaluate and recommend a set of best practices for children, youth and families to improve and increase the number of quality, affordable out-of-school programs in the state. The bill sets the membership of the committee. Update: Passed House Children, Youth and Family Services Committee as amended by Committee Substitute 5-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 82-14 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1963 (Representative Jadine Nollan and Senator Brenda Stanley) If vacancies occur which result in a loss of majority members of the board of education of a school district or technology center school district, the Governor shall appoint a member or members necessary to constitute a quorum to the board of education. Update: Assigned to House Elections and Ethics Committee. Laid Over. Passed House Elections and Ethics Committee 7-0 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the House Floor 80-16 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1968 (Representative Jadine Nollan and Senator Brenda Stanley) Deletes expenditure and program classification reporting requirements for certain gifted and talented programs. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 13-0 on Monday, February 8. Referred to full House Appropriations Committee. Laid Over. Passed House Appropriations Committee 30-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the Senate Floor 80-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2030 (Representative Terry O’Donnell and Senator Adam Pugh) Adds passing the Naturalization test to high school graduation requirements. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 11-3 on Tuesday, February 16. Passed off the House Floor 80-18 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2223 (Representative Randy Randleman and Senator Dewayne Pemberton) Requires the Oklahoma State Department of Education to maintain a dyslexia information handbook. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House Floor 96-0 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2381 (Representative Danny Sterling and Senator Frank Simpson) Directs local school districts to conduct an annual fitness assessment. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 22-9 on Wednesday, February 25. Title Stricken. Passed off the House Floor 57-37 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2388 (Representative John Talley and Senator Tom Dugger) Asks school districts to provide age-appropriate instruction about social-emotional learning. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House Common Education Committee. Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 70-22 on Wednesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2396 (Representative Todd Russ and Senator Brenda Stanley) Asks the board of education to adopt a policy regarding sex trafficking and exploitation prevention. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House Floor 86-6 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2462 (Representative Dick Lowe and Senator Brent Howard) Allows the State Department of Education to enter into contracts and agreements for the payment of food, lodging and other expenses necessary to host or participate in conferences and training sessions. Update: Passed House General Government Committee 7-0 on Wednesday, February 17. Passed off the House Floor 86-5 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2547 (Representative Preston Stinson) Requires media timeouts at high school sporting events which are being broadcast. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Reassigned to House Rules Committee. Passed House Rules Committee 6-0 on Thursday, February 25. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2662 (Representative Dick Lowe and Senator Dave Rader) Creates the Seizure Safe Schools Act requiring each local school district to have at least one school employee at each school who has met certain seizure safe training requirements. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Amended to change from a Shall to a May. Passed House Common Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 16. Author change. Passed off the House Floor 95-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2727 (Representative Ajay Pittman and Senator David Bullard) Requires subject to the availability of funds that there be a basic life skills education curriculum taught in public schools. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 67-26 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2749 (Representative Rhonda Baker and Senator Adam Pugh) Requires schools that receive more than $2,500 from the Reading Proficiency Act to spend at least 10 percent on professional development for Pre-k-5 grade teachers. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday February 16. Passed off the House Floor 90-5 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Joint Resolution 1026 (Representative Anthony Moore) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment that removes debt limits for school districts. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. House Joint Resolution 1029 (Representative Monroe Nichols) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment that authorizes a school district to raise an additional $5 million levy on taxable property within the district if approved by the majority of district voters. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. House Joint Resolution 1033 (Representative Chad Caldwell) Puts to a vote of the people a requirement that a school spends at least 60 percent of its annual budget on instructional expenditures. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Senate Bill 2 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom and Representative Toni Hasenbeck) Clarifies and expands the duties of the School Finance Review Commission to conduct a review of all matters related to school finance, including but not limited to teacher compensation and benefits; administrative costs, including administrative functions that may be shared between districts; opportunities for school districts to be operated in a cost effective manner; variances in per pupil and administrative expenditures among school districts with comparable enrollment, demographics and outcomes on statewide assessments; and expenditures not directly or sufficiently related to improving student outcomes. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 38-8 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 13 (Senator Brenda Stanley and Representative Rhonda Baker) Requires a teacher whose certificate is suspended by the State Board of Education to be placed on suspension while proceedings for revocation or other action are pending before the State Board of Education. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 21 (Senator Kay Floyd and Representative Marcus McEntire) Makes it a requirement, rather than permissive, beginning with the 2021-2022 school year, that district school boards provide schoolwide training to all students in grades seven through twelve and staff addressing suicide awareness and prevention. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee as amended by Committee Substitute 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 54 (Senator John Michael Montgomery and Representative Daniel Pae) Requires the State Department of Education to designate a school district site or charter school site as a Purple Star School. The bill defines applicable terms. It establishes the requirements for a school district site or charter school to be designated as a Purple Star School. It requires the State Board of Education to promulgate necessary rules. Update: Passed Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Committee 10-0 on Thursday, February 11. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 66 (Senator John Haste and Representative Lonnie Sims) Exempts any insurance policy sold to any school district from the surplus lines premium tax. Update: Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to House Senate Bill 68 (Senator Frank Simpson and Representative Max Wolfley) Requires a public school student to be considered in compliance with statutory residency provisions if he or she is a student whose parent or legal guardian is transferred or is pending transfer to a military installation within the state while on active military duty pursuant to an official military order. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 89 (Senator John Haste and Representative Rhonda Baker) Creates the Health Education Act. The bill defines applicable terms. It requires health education to be taught in public schools, including but not limited to physical health, mental health, social and emotional health and intellectual health. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-1 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 128 (Senator Dave Rader and Representative Dick Lowe) Creates the Seizure Safe Schools Act requiring at least one school employee at each school to meet certain training requirements. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Title Stricken, Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 47-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 142 (Senator Roland Pederson) Requires a school district’s board of education to allow a nonresident and non-transferred pupil to determine whether to require a tuition fee equal to the per capita cost of education for a similar period in such district during the preceding year. The bill requires the tuition fee to be paid to the receiving district in advance yearly or by semester as determined by the district board of education of the receiving district. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee as amended by committee substitute 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Failed on the Senate Floor 21-26 on Wednesday, March 1. Motion to reconsider. Senate Bill 157 (Senator J.J. Dossett) Removes language that provides State Board of Education appointees to serve at the pleasure of the Governor. It adds language that permits the Governor to remove members of the board for cause, including being found guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction of a felony or any offense involving moral turpitude; being found guilty of malfeasance, misfeasance or nonfeasance in relation to board duties; being found mentally incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction; or failing to attend three successive meetings of the board without just cause, as determined by the Governor. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Title Stricken. Passed Senate Education Committee 10-2 on Tuesday, February 2. Senate Bill 197 (Senator Tom Dugger) Requires candidates who win board of education elections to be seated at the first meeting following the April election date. It clarifies language related to the April board of education election date. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Laid Over. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 252 (Senator Brenda Stanley and Representative Rhonda Baker) Requires all public schools to begin teaching computer science courses in the 2024-2025 school year. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Title Stricken. Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed off the Senate Floor 41-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 419 (Senator J.J. Dossett and Representative John Waldron) Removes the requirement to administer assessments in U.S. history under the statewide system of student assessments. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 10-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 43-2 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 503 (Senator Nathan Dahm and Representative Ryan Martinez) Adds to required history curriculum, the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, substantive selections from the Federalist Papers the Emancipation Proclamation, the Articles of Confederation, the Gettysburg Address and George Washington’s Farwell Address. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 9-2 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 39-7 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 619 (Senator David Bullard and Representative Kevin West) Allows school districts to obtain liability insurance coverage to protect a student participating in an apprenticeship internship or mentorship program. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Title Stricken Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 20-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Title Restored. Passed off the Senate Floor 47-0 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 634 (Senator Julie Daniels and Representative Terry O’Donnell) Requires an authorization form that has the statement of understanding of the first amendment rights to not be a part of a union for public education employees. Makes that form’s authorization a yearly requirement. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Reassigned to Senate Judiciary Committee. Passed Senate Judiciary 7-4 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 25-21 on Thursday, March 4. Emergency Passed 32-14 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 642 (Senator Adam Pugh and Representative Dustin Roberts) Includes multi-aptitude battery assessments that measure developed abilities and help predict future academic and occupational success in the military. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Title Stricken. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 707 (Senator Greg McCortney) Sets a deadline for parents to present immunization records or exemptions. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 on Tuesday, February 9. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 783 (Senator Adam Pugh and Representative Brad Boles) Requires the Department of Education to publish a list of the capacity for a class in each grade level K-12. Strengthens open transfer policies. Gives OEQA audit authority over transfer Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 9-3 on Tuesday, February 23. Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed off the Senate Floor 32-15 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 807 (Senator Chris Kidd and Representative Rhonda Baker) Entitles support employees to pay for any time lost when a school district is closed because of an epidemic or when an order for such a closing has been issued by a health officer authorized by law to issue the order. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 10-1 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-1 Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Joint Resolution 3 (Senator Carri Hicks) Proposes a vote of the people on a constitutional amendment that allows a member of the Legislature to be employed as a certified teacher with a public school district in this state after he or she completes his or her term in office. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Senate Joint Resolution 9 (Senator Mary Boren) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment that changes the duty of the legislature when it comes to public education. Removes the words “Wherein all the children of the State may be educated”. Instead requires the legislature to “make suitable provision for the support and maintenance of an efficient and equitable system of free public schools”. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. COVID-19 House Bill 2335 (Representative Jay Steagall and Senator Shane Jett) Prohibits compulsory immunization through any state entity via direct or indirect means. Update: Passed House Public Health Committee 7-1 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House floor 71-25 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate, House Joint Resolution 1032 (Representative Chad Caldwell) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment prohibiting a governmental entity from issuing any order or rule that requires closure of any place of worship. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Senate Bill 368 (Senator David Bullard and Representative Brian Hill) Prohibits any governmental declaration of a religious institution as nonessential. Requires that religious institutions be exempt from closure orders for the purpose of health or security that is greater than that imposed on any private entity. Update: Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 6-2 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 37-9 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 835 (Senator Blake Stephens) Bans any discrimination by any public accommodation towards a person on the basis of their vaccination or immunity status. Update: Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 6-2 on Friday, February 19. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Charter Schools House Joint Resolution 1036 (Representative Jon Echols) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment allowing a school district to become indebted after a 3/5ths vote to acquire or improve the school sites or equipment of a charter school. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Senate Bill 69 (Senator Frank Simpson and Representative Max Wolfley) Provides a student will be eligible to enroll in a statewide virtual charter school if the student's parent or legal guardian is transferred or is pending transfer to a military installation within this state while on active military duty pursuant to an official military order. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 222 (Senator Rob Standridge and Representative Daniel Pae) Creates the Hope Scholarship Program to provide a scholarship to an eligible private school of choice for students who have experienced bullying. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 20-0 on Monday, March 1. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-1 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 239 (Senator Dewayne Pemberton and Representative Toni Hasenbeck) Creates a process for the State Board of Education to hear appeals to the charter school sponsorship process. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed off the Senate Floor 30-16 on Wednesday, February 10. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 658 (Senator Nathan Dahm and Representative Kevin West) Requires the State Department of Education to provide any notice or publication on immunization requirements all information on exemptions to such requirements. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Amended to pass Senate Education Committee 8-3 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 35-10 on Thursday, March 4. Emergency Passed 36-9 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. General Government Senate Joint Resolution 1 (Senator Kay Floyd) Proposes a vote of the people on a constitutional amendment that would prohibit members of the Legislature from being appointed or elected to any office or commission during their term; receiving any appointment from the Governor, the Governor and Senate or the Legislature during the term; or being interested in any contract with the state or a political subdivision during the term. It would not prohibit an employee of a school district, a technology center school district or the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education from continuing to serve during the term, or prohibit an appointment to a legislative committee or other legislative position. It also would not prohibit a former member from returning to his or her profession or business. It would permit the Legislature to enact laws to implement these provisions. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Higher Education House Bill 1801 (Representative Nicole Miller and Senator Brenda Stanley) Grants priority enrollment and course registration to all Oklahoma resident members of the Oklahoma National Guard and to students who are eligible to receive educational financial assistance from the Department of Veteran Affairs. Update: Passed House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Amended to allow only Oklahoma residents. Passed off the House Floor as amended 98-1 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1962 (Representative Jadine Nollan and Senator Marty Quinn) Specifies the definition of “qualified higher education expenses” to fall in line with section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code. Update: Passed House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee with a vote of 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the House Floor 95-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1965 (Representative Jadine Nolan and Senator Darrell Weaver) Allows a board of county commissioners to determine the years of service required for full-time county employees to qualify for a continuing education program and allows such programs to include courses offered by a college or university that is a member of the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education as well as any other in-state or out-of-state programs or courses which are relevant to the employee's responsibilities as approved by the county commissioners. Update: Passed House County and Municipal Government Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the House Floor as amended 95-0 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2046 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator Frank Simpson) Creates the Higher Education Institution Local Funding Act. The measure authorizes the board of regents of eligible two-year colleges to adopt a resolution calling for the creation of a higher education funding district, for the purpose of providing additional sources of funding for the institution. If approved by the board of regents, the creation of the funding district and its initial operational millage rate would go to a vote of the people within the established district boundary. Additional bonds may be included in the ballot measure calling for the creation of the district. The ballot measure would require 60 percent approval to pass. Update: Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed House Rules Committee as amended 7-0 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the House Floor 79-18 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2691 (Representative Toni Hasenbeck and Senator Micheal Bergstrom) Requires the Commission for Educational Quality an Accountability to issue a report detailing factors in the public education system that contribute to graduation rates, assessment scores and the state workforce. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 76-18 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2750 (Representative Rhonda Baker and Senator Adam Pugh) States the intent of the Legislature that in establishing minimum required score on AP exams for granting course credit the Regents for Higher Education should not require an AP score above 3. Update: Passed House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 22. Amended to allow the granting of additional credit for higher than 3. Passed off the House Floor 94-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2874 (Representative Kevin Wallace and Senator Roger Thompson) Adds the University Hospitals Trust to those exempt from sales tax. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 26-1 on Wednesday, February 10. Title Stricken. Passed off the House Floor 83-9 on Monday, February 22. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2926 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator Adam Pugh) Requires each institution of higher education to publish a salary report of common occupations and industries in which students are employed upon graduation. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 7-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House Floor 97-1 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Senate Bill 70 (Senator Frank Simpson and Representative Tommy Hardin) Increases the time period before the date of enrollment from five years to 10 years when a person was discharged or released from active military service to qualify for in-state enrollment. Update: Passed Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Education 4-0 on Wednesday, February 10. Referred to Full Appropriations Committee. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Thursday, February 18. Title Stricken. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Senate Bill 139 (Senator Roger Thompson and Representative Kyle Hilbert) Adds the Senate Appropriations Committee Chair and the House Appropriations and Budget Committee Chair to the list of recipients of the annual report submitted by Oklahoma State University Medical Authority. Update: Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. Laid Over. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 20-0 on Wednesday February, 24. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 238 (Senator Dewayne Pemberton and Representative Kyle Hilbert) Creates a task force to study the requirement for high school students to complete the FASFA. Designates the makeup of this task force and the end date for a report. Requires the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the Senate to provide the staff and administrative support for the task force. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 40-5 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 261 (Senator John Michael Montgomery and Representative Melissa Provenzano) Creates the Oklahoma Student Borrower’s Bill of Rights, requiring that student loan servicers not employ any deceptive practices, maintain accurate reporting to consumer credit bureaus, and otherwise accurately inform borrowers of their rights and obligations in public and plain language. Update: Passed Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 11-2 on Thursday, February 11. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 292 (Senator John Haste and Representative Jadine Nollan) Creates a task force to study the concurrent enrollment needs of the State. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-1 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 614 (Senator David Bullard) Enhances higher education students’ First Amendment rights to include the “right to an unbiased education” and freedom from any endorsement, symbolism or propaganda of “socialism, communism, Marxism or anti-American sentiment.” Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 10-2 on Tuesday, February 23. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 893 (Senator Adam Pugh and Representative Scott Fetgatter) Allows the undergraduate and graduate programs of the same discipline of engineering at an institution to be part of the qualified program if either program is ABET accredited. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 11-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-3 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Senate Joint Resolution 15 (Senator Rob Standridge) Puts to a vote of the people a prohibition for higher education from requiring students to enroll in a course that is not a core requirement of their chosen curriculum, a course with no tuition or fee charged, or a course that is not directly relevant to a degree being pursued. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Healthcare House Bill 1006 (Representative Carol Bush and Senator Adam Pugh) Creates the Transparency in Health Care Prices Act. The bill defines applicable terms. It requires healthcare providers make available to the public, in a single document, either electronically or by posting conspicuously on the provider's website if one exists, the health care prices for at least the 20 most common health care services the healthcare provider provides. Update: Passed House Public Health Committee 8-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 92-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2299 (Representative Dustin Roberts and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Creates the Oklahoma Medical Education Protection Act which preserves the supplemental payment programs payable to University Health Science Centers when entering into contractual arrangements with any entity for the management of Medicaid patients. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 8-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 82-3 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to Senate. House Joint Resolution 1041 (Representative Sean Roberts) Puts to a vote of the people an amendment repealing Medicaid expansion. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Senate Bill 4 (Senator Greg McCortney and Representative T.J. Marti) Permits a pharmacist to substitute an interchangeable biological product for a prescribed biological product only if the substituted product has been determined by FDA to be interchangeable with the prescribed biological product; the prescribing physician has permitted substitution; and the pharmacy informs the patient of the substitution. Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services committee 10-0 Wednesday, February 3. Amended by Floor Substitute. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-0 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 100 (Senator Brenda Stanley and Representative Dean Davis) Permits an applicant for a license to practice podiatric medicine to submit an electronic application online. It requires an applicant legally reside in the United States, rather than be loyal to the US. The bill removes the requirement that the applicant be free from contagious or infectious disease. Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 8-3 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 107 (Senator John Michael Montgomery and Representative Todd Russ) Gives the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) the authority, beginning with the Jan. 1, 2022 plan year, to renew vision plan contracts with plan providers for succeeding one-year terms if the provider had a contract for the immediately preceding year. Update: Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off Senate Floor 47-0 on Thursday, February 10. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 164 (Senator Brenda Stanley and Representative Cynthia Roe) Modifies language related to participation in a research program or experimental procedures. It requires human subject research to be approved by an accredited institutional review board rather than a local institutional review board. It requires when the patient is incapable of giving informed consent and is a minor that the consent be given by the parent or legal guardian. Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 10-0 Wednesday, February 3. Passed off the Senate Floor 43-2 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 207 (Senator Jessica Garvin and Senator Marcus McEntire) Authorizes the Oklahoma Health Care Authority Administrator to designate an administrative law judge to perform appeal hearings for those adversely affected by a decision of the authority. Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 11-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed Full Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-0 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 319 (Senator Robert Standridge and Representative Daniel Pae) Exempts from the prohibition furnishing anyone under the age of 21 any cigarettes, cigarette papers, cigars, bidis, snuff, chewing tobacco, or any other form of tobacco product, or vapor products persons performing activities as part of a scientific study being conducted by a research institution for the purpose of medical research to further efforts in cigarette and tobacco use prevention and cessation and tobacco product regulation, provided that such medical research has been approved by a properly accredited institutional review board pursuant to applicable federal regulations. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 11-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Thursday, February 11. Engrossed to House Senate Bill 406 (Senator Jessica Garvin and Representative Marcus McEntire) Modifies the definitions of "University Hospital" and "Oklahoma's Children's Hospital." It authorizes the University Hospital’s authority to assign any inpatient and outpatient hospital and clinical facilities, research buildings, facilities or property and any other buildings, facilities or property under its ownership or management and control to University Hospital, Oklahoma Children's Hospital or any other division or entity which is part of University Hospital. Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 11-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-1 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. OneNet House Bill 1049 (Representative Dell Kerbs) Requires the Department of Public Safety to provide motor license agents with internet services that operate at adequate transmission speeds to allow the agents to efficiently transact business and transmit data to and from the agency. Update: Passed House Technology Committee 5-1 on Wednesday, February 10. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1124 (Representative Logan Phillips and Senator James Leewright) Creates the State Broadband Deployment Grant Program to direct competitive grants to applicants seeking to expand broadband internet services and directs the Corporation Commission to create the Rural Broadband Expansion Council to promulgate rules and procedures for the program. Update: Passed House Technology Committee 5-1 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 91-6 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1132 (Representative Logan Phillips) Deletes the requirement that the Corporation Commission not approve, endorse, forward or file any application for reimbursement submitted pursuant to subsection (h) of Section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, for transmission services requiring a circuit of T-1 or greater capacity unless OneNet is the circuit provider. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House Technology Committee. Passed House Technology Committee 6-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2040 (Speaker Charles McCalle and Senator James Leewright) The measure provides a sales tax exemption, in the form of rebates, on sales of qualifying broadband equipment if the property is directly used or consumed by the provider or subsidiary in or during the distribution of internet services. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 30-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 85-14 on Thursday, March 11, Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2090 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator James Leewright) Expands the Rural Broadband Expansion Council from 14 to 16 members. One of the additional members would represent a wireless internet service provider and be appointed by the Speaker of the House. The other additional member would represent a Native American tribe and be appointed by the Senate President Pro Tem. Update: Passed House Technology Committee 6-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Emergency Added. Passed off the House Floor 97-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2928 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator James Leewright) Directs broadband service providers in the state to submit a report containing their network area coverage map to the Department of Commerce and the Rural Broadband Expansion Council by October 31, 2021. The providers would be required to update this map and report annually. OneNet is also directed to provide mapping of all assets and network coverage. Update: Passed House Technology Committee 6-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 97-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Senate Bill 802 (Senator James Leewright and Representative Logan Phillips) Increases the Rural Broadband Expansion Council by one member to be filled by a tribal leader of this state. Update: Passed Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 12-1 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-2 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Open Meetings/Records House Bill 1876 (Representative Tammy West and Senator Brenda Stanley) Specifies what private employee information is not subject to the Open Meeting Act. Update: Passed House General Government Committee 8-0 On Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 82-0 on Thursday, February 18. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2644 (Representative Jon Echols and Senator Kim David) Extends the provisions that allows for virtual open meetings until March 31, 2024 Update: Assigned to House General Government Committee. Laid Over. Passed House General Government Committee 8-0 on Tuesday, February 24. Title Stricken. Passed off the House Floor 92-6 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Senate Bill 970 (Senator Kay Floyd and Representative Brad Boles) Makes all license or certification public record, excluding an applicant’s personal address, phone number or other personal material. Update: Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 1031 (Senator Greg Treat and Representative Jon Echols) Extends the provisions that allow for virtual open meetings until the Governor declares the state of emergency to have ended. Update: Assigned to Senate General Government Committee. Withdrawn from General Government Committee. Direct to Calendar. Passed off the Senate Floor as amended by Floor Substitute with a vote of 45-0 on Wednesday, February 3. Direct to House Calendar. Passed off the House Floor 88-5 on Monday, February 8. Signed by Governor Stitt on Wednesday, February 10. Senate Bill 1032 (Senator Greg Treat and Speaker Charles McCall) Requires livestreaming for virtual open meetings Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 7-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 47-0 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to House. Scholarships House Bill 1739 (Representative Sheila Dills and Senator Brenda Stanley) Creates the Connecting Futures Act. It allows the Department of Human Services to, subject to available funding, create a pilot program to address needs of any minors who are separated from their parents or legal guardians, are not supported by their parents or legal guardians and are not in the custody of the Department of Human Services or in the custody of any Indian tribe. It requires the pilot program to allow the Department to provide assistance in securing necessary services to allow eligible minors to become self-reliant and productive citizens. Update: Passed House Children Youth and Family Services Committee 5-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House Floor 82-6 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1821 (Representative Toni Hasenbeck and Senator Dewayne Pemberton) Increases flexibility in the use of Tuition Aid Grants, by removing language directing the Regents for Higher Education to direct tuition aid grants to all eligible applicants, and adding factors to the way the awards are prioritized including: Enrollment status, unmet financial need, continuous enrollment, nearness to degree completion or certificate, state employment needs, and eligibility for other State and institutional funds. Update: Passed House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the House Floor 94-2 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2399 (Representative Todd Russ and Senator Marty Quinn) Extends the qualification for Oklahoma’s higher learning access program to those students whose parents died after the students tenth grade year, and meet the other financial requirements. Update: Assigned to House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee. Amended by unanimous consent passed to House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the House Floor 93-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. Senate Bill 132 (Senator David Bullard and Representative Rhonda Baker) Extends application window for Oklahoma’s Promise to the eleventh grade. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Title Stricken. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Title Restored. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 237 (Senator Dewayne Pemberton and Representative Mark McBride) Increases flexibility in the use of Tuition Aid Grants, by removing language directing the Regents for Higher Education to direct tuition aid grants to all eligible applicants, and adding factors to the way the awards are prioritized including: Enrollment status, unmet financial need, continuous enrollment, nearness to degree completion or certificate, state employment needs, and eligibility for other State and institutional funds. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-1 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 639 (Senator Adam Pugh and Representative Rhonda Baker) Extends qualification for Oklahoma’s Promise to those enrolled in an area that has been identifies as a critical occupation area. Requires the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and the State Regents for Higher Education to publish a yearly list between October and June of the critical occupation areas that meet the guidelines. Requires the Regents, in consultation with CareerTech, to identify postsecondary vo-tech programs that correlate to the critical occupation areas. Sets a 6-year completion timeline for a baccalaureate or other postsecondary education credential and requires that the Oklahoma’s Promise scholarship recipient repay the scholarship if the credential is not earned within 6-year time frame. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Amended by Floor Substitute, which provides a 6-year time period to earn a baccalaureate or other postsecondary education credential or requires that the Oklahoma’s Promise recipient enter into a repayment agreement with the institution of higher education or career technology center. Passed off the Senate Floor 36-9 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Teacher Retirement System House Bill 2293 (Representative Dustin Roberts and Senator Lonnie Paxton) modifies the matching of TRS funds to be based only on the member’s regular annual compensation regardless of the source of funds, except federal funding. Update: Passed House Banking Financial Services and Pensions Committee 6-2 on Monday, February 22. Passed off the House Floor 51-38 on Thursday, March 11. Emergency Failed. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2486 (Representative Avery Frix) Terminates the OPERS defined contribution plan created by the Retirement Freedom Act and provides that all state employees will participate in the OPERS defined benefit plan upon November 1, 2022, or the last date required for distribution of the plan account balances. Employees currently participating in the defined contribution plan will be considered 100 percent vested in their account balance as of November 1, 2021, including employer matching amounts and any gains resulting from management of the account, and will have the option to use their account balance to purchase service credit or to transfer their balance to a qualifying retirement plan. Update: Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed House Rules Committee 7-0 on Thursday, February 25. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 267 (Senator Dewayne Pemberton and Representative Jadine Nollan) Allows retired educators who have received benefits for at least one year and who have not been employed by a public school during that time to be eligible to be reemployed as an active classroom teacher in common or career tech school district with no limitation on earnings. Update: Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 9-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the House Floor 36-11 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 683 (Senator Chris Kidd and Representative Mark McBride) Removes the one-year regular employment requirement for full-time non-classified optional personnel to join the TRS. Update: Assigned to Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee. Laid Over. Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 8-1 on Monday, February 22. Passed off the House Floor 41-2 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Senate Joint Resolution 18 (Senator Lonnie Paxton) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment that requires any COLA to include funding. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Teacher Certification House Bill 1593 (Representative Melissa Provenzano and Senator Brenda Stanley) Requires 7th-12th grade teachers to have workplace safety training emphasized into curriculum. The program shall be completed the first year a certified teacher is employed by a school district. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 13-0 Tuesday, February 16. Passed off House Floor 74-19 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1773 (Representative Sherrie Conley and Senator Jessica Garvin) Requires teaching candidates in early childhood elementary, secondary and special education to study the philosophy framework and implementation of a multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) designed to address the core academic and nonacademic needs of all students. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Amended by committee substitute. Passed House Common Education Committee 8-1 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the House Floor 91-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1796 (Representative Nicole Miller and Senator Adam Pugh) Allows the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Commission for Education Quality and Accountability to grant subject area examination exceptions for initial certification in a field that does not require an advanced degree if the candidate already has an advanced degree in the subject essentially comparable to the content assessed in the examination. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 13-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House Floor 91-1 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senator. House Bill 2329 (Representative Mark Lawson and Senator Frank Simpson) Allows the State Board of Education to grant an exception to the certification examination to teacher candidates who are deaf. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 8-0 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the House Floor 97-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2693 (Representative Toni Hasenbeck and Senator Brenda Stanley) Updates the name of the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation to the Office of Educational Quality and Accountability. Rewards teachers who are renewing their National Board Certification by awarding them a portion of the renewal application fee. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House Appropriations Committee. Passed House Appropriations Committee 28-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the House Floor 81-11 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2748 (Representative Rhonda Baker and Senator Brenda Stanley) Requires the State Board of Education to issue one-year alternative teacher certificates renewable for up to 3 years to teach early childhood education or elementary education if the alternative certified teacher meets certain qualifications. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House floor 86-0 on Thursday, February 18. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2752 (Representative Rhonda Baker and Senator Brenda Stanley) Requires the State Department of Education in coordination with the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability to establish a micro-credential programs for teachers who hold a certificate to complete additional coursework and earn STEM credentials. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 93-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Senate Bill 51 (Senator Carri Hicks and Representative Danny Sterling) Removes the requirement to pass the general education portions of the competency examination for an alternative placement teaching certificate or a teacher certificate. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off Senate Floor 33-12 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 67 (Senator Frank Simpson and Speaker Charles McCall) Permits the State Board of Education to grant an exception to the requirements for all certification examinations for teacher candidates who are "deaf." Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 229 (Senator John Michael Montgomery and Representative Kyle Hilbert) Allows the State Board of Education to renew an Emergency or Provisional Teacher Certification for up to five years. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 10-2 on Tuesday, February 23. Title Stricken. Passed off the Senate Floor 37-8 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Weapons on Campus / Gun Laws House Bill 1629 (Representative David Hardin and Senator Micheal Bergstrom) Preempts any federal, state county or municipal law rule or regulation that orders the confiscation of firearms, firearm accessories of ammunition. Update: Passed House Judiciary-Criminal Committee 7-2 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 77-19 Tuesday, March 9. Emergency added. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1630 (Representative David Hardin and Senator Dewayne Pemberton) Modifies the Unlawful Intent to Carry and Penalty Portions of Firearms Act to allow flexibility in punishment upon conviction. Deletes the ability to permanently revoke a handgun license. Amends background checks to remove criminal history records fingerprints and FBI searches on license renewal. Update: Passed House Judiciary-Criminal Committee 8-1 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House floor 78-18 on Monday, February 22. Engrossed to Senate House Bill 1662 (Representative Kevin West and Senator Nathan Dahm) If a defendant claims self-defense the State of Oklahoma must then have to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the defensive force was not justified. Update: Passed House Judiciary-Criminal Committee 7-2 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 77-19 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1898 (Representative Sean Roberts) Adds statutory references to the Oklahoma Self Defense Act. Update: Passed House Judiciary - Criminal Committee 3-1 on Thursday, February 25. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2334 (Representative Jay Steagall and Senator Micheal Bergstrom) Authorizes the possession of firearms on streets, plazas, sidewalks and alleys. Authorizes open carry on property of nonprofit entities and public trusts. Update: Passed House Public Safety Committee 5-2 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 79-18 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2401 (Representative Todd Russ and Senator David Bullard) Changes the ban on all felons from carrying firearms to a ban on anyone convicted of a specifically classified violent felony from carrying firearms for a period of 5 years. Update: Passed House Judiciary-Criminal Committee 7-2 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 77-19 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2588 (Representative Sean Roberts and Senator David Bullard) Allows a board of education of a school district to adopt a policy to authorize the carrying of a handgun onto school property by school personnel if the person possesses a valid handgun license and meets other requirements authorized by the board of education. Update: Assigned to House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee. Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee 3-1 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the House Floor 79-18, Emergency Passed 68-18 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2645 (Representative Jon Echols and Senator David Bullard) Allows the carrying of firearms in bars and restaurants as long as the carrier is not consuming alcoholic beverages. Reduces fines and punishments from $1,000 and two years in prison to $250. Removes the revocation of a handgun license upon violation of this statute. Update: Assigned to House Public Safety Committee. Reassigned to House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee. Passed House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee 3-1 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the House Floor 78-19 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Senate Bill 106 (Senator Mark Allen and Representative Terry O’Donnell) Defines the term "completed application" within the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act to mean all fields are completed, questions answered and contains all required signatures on the Application for Self-Defense Act License and all required documents including legible fingerprints, if applicable. It removes the 90-day grace period for handgun license renewals. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Friday, February 19. Passed off the Senate Floor 35-8 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 186 (Senator David Bullard) Removes language that prohibits a person convicted of a felony from operating a motor vehicle or riding as a passenger in a motor vehicle in which there is any pistol, imitation, or homemade pistol, altered air or toy pistol, machine gun, sawed-off shotgun or sawed-of rifle, or any other firearm. It modifies the qualifications for restoring the right to carry a firearm. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 11-0 on Friday, February 19. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 442 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Makes its unlawful for any person to carry or use shotguns, rifles or pistols in any circumstances while under the influence of medical marijuana obtained under a valid medical marijuana patient license. It exempts an applicant or licensee in legal possession of a medical marijuana patient license from the preclusion for a person from being eligible for a handgun license pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 11-0 on Friday, February 19. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 631 (Senator Warren Hamilton and Representative Sean Roberts) Makes Oklahoma a “Second Amendment Sanctuary State” pre-empting any legislation or rule at any level that would infringe upon the right to bear arms. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Monday, February 22. Passed off the Senate Floor 38-8 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 644 (Senator Blake Stephens and Representative Sean Roberts) Allows municipalities to, by ordinance, authorize all or certain municipal employees to carry concealed firearms. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 10-1 on Friday, February 19. Passed off the Senate Floor 39-8 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 646 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom and Representative Jay Steagall) Allows the carrying of firearms in bars and restaurants as long as the carrier is not consuming alcoholic beverages. Reduces fines and punishments from $1,000 and two years in prison to $250. Removes the revocation of a handgun license upon violation of this statute. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Monday, February 22. Title Stricken. Passed off the Senate Floor 37-9 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 672 (Senator Casey Murdock and Representative Kenton Patzkowsky) Allows unmitigated transport of firearms for any person not otherwise prohibited from purchasing or carrying firearms. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Friday, February 19. Passed off the Senate Floor 39-7 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 711 (Senator John Haste) Adds county owned buildings to the locations a sheriff may authorize certain employees to carry a firearm. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Friday, February 19. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 730 (Senator Nathan Dahm and Representative Jay Steagall) Bans any person, property owner, tenant, employer, or business entity from establishing or enforcing any rule that prohibits transporting carrying or storing firearms. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Monday, February 22. Passed off the Senate Floor 36-8 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 732 (Senator Nathan Dahm and Representative Jim Olsen) Allows anyone whose Second Amendment rights are violated to bring a lawsuit against any order or regulation or other political subdivision of the state. Defines responsibilities of the court in such a case. Update: Assigned to Senate Public Safety Committee. Laid Over. Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Monday February, 22. Passed off the Senate Floor 38-8 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 767 (Senator David Bullard) Allows superintendents to authorize anyone with a valid handgun license and has demonstrated proficiency in handgun training and campus-specific active shooter training to carry weapons on school grounds. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-1 on Monday, February 22. Title Stricken. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 925 (Senator Nathan Dahm and Representative Jay Steagall) Modifies language related to self-defense with a firearm. It adds "occupied premises" to the list of places the Legislature recognizes that the citizens of the State of Oklahoma have a right to expect absolute safety and that a person legally is allowed to defend. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Friday, February 19. Passed off the Senate Floor 36-8 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 926 (Senator Nathan Dahm and Representative Eric Roberts) Extends the firearms law preemption to air powered pistols Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 22. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Joint Resolution 21 (Senator David Bullard) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment prohibiting any future legislation, taxation or rules that would infringe upon Second Amendment rights. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Workforce Development House Bill 1981 (Representative Mark Lepak) Creates a Universal Licensing Recognition Act. Allows a person living in Oklahoma to apply for licensing or certification if there is no conflict with any interstate compact or state-to-state reciprocity or equivalency agreement as determined by the Oklahoma regulatory entity. The bill requires the person to show proof of residency or be married to and accompanying an active duty member of the military stationed in Oklahoma, be currently licensed or certified by another state with a similar scope of work through a substantially similar examination, have minimum education requirement and, if applicable, professional work experience, education training and clinical supervision requirements. Update: Passed House Business and Commerce Committee 9-2 on Wednesday, February 24. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2860 (Representative Kevin Wallace and Senator Roger Thompson) Creates the Oklahoma Remote Quality Jobs Inventive Act. Provides for the Department of Commerce and the Oklahoma Tax Commission to create policy’s attracting growth industries that employ remote workers. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 29-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House floor 96-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2929 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator Greg Treat) Requires the Department of Commerce to post on its website information related to its business recruiting efforts with an emphasis on possible business site locations or relocation decisions within the state. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 9-2 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 68-22 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to the Senate. Senate Bill 71 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom and Representative Kevin McDugle) Modifies language related to the Department of Commerce's requirement to promulgate rules for the administration of the Oklahoma Local Development and Enterprise Zone Incentive Leverage Act. It requires the rules establish reporting requirements for successful applicants which allow data collection and analysis by the department on employment, capital investment, changes in assessed value of a project and other impacts resulting from payments and reporting of data by the department to the Oklahoma Tax Commission. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 10-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 211 (Senator Tom Dugger and Representative Ken Luttrell) Modifies the powers and duties of the Oklahoma Board of Private Vocational Schools. It permits a school to be accredited by an accrediting organization approved by the U.S. Department of Education for multiple years, and to obtain a sustained license annually during the period of the multi-year accreditation. It modifies the fees the board may assess. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Title Stricken. Passed Senate Education Committee 10-2 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 20-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the Senate floor 42-5 on Wednesday. March, 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 587 (Senator Chuck Hall and Representative Brad Boles) Adds the delivery of industry focused instruction from Common Education, CareerTech or Higher Education to the definitions in the Oklahoma Community Economic Development Pooled Finance Act. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-0 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 936 (Senator Chuck Hall and Representative Kevin Wallace) Combines the various quality jobs programs under the Oklahoma Quality Jobs Program Act. Update: Passed Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 11-1 on Thursday, February 11. Passed Senate Appropriations and Budget 20-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 43-2 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Thank you. Glen Glen D. Johnson Chancellor Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education 655 Research Parkway, Suite 200 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104 405.225.9122 gjohnson at osrhe.edu follow us on Twitter @okhighered [cid:image005.jpg at 01D71766.10720590] [cid:image006.jpg at 01D71766.10720590] -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 2048 bytes Desc: image001.jpg URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image002.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 1891 bytes Desc: image002.jpg URL: From lcoponiti at usao.edu Tue Mar 16 08:34:31 2021 From: lcoponiti at usao.edu (Laura Coponiti) Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2021 13:34:31 +0000 Subject: [Oasfaa] Repeat Classes In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Good Morning All, I thought I would give you all a quick update on the responses I received in case anyone else was wondering. The consensus I received from the group is that I could not pay the student aid for that class again. Once the student passes the class they are only eligible to receive aid for it again one time. Thanks to all of you that responded to me. Have a great day! Laura Coponiti Dean of Enrollment Management Troutt 112 University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma 1727 West Alabama Chickasha, OK 73018 405-574-1350 (office) 405-574-1220 (fax) [cid:16D7802A-BD66-411D-B03E-8C59B4BF1350] From: OASFAA On Behalf Of Laura Coponiti Sent: Friday, March 12, 2021 2:48 PM To: oasfaa at lists.onenet.net Subject: [Oasfaa] Repeat Classes Happy Friday Everyone, I have a quick question that I hope someone can help me with regarding repeating a class. We have a student who took a class and eared a D then retook the class and earned an F. We paid for the class the first time and the second time per regs but since she earned an F the second time can we pay for the class the third time? I know if she would have earned a passing grade the second time we could not pay for it again but I am not sure since she didn't pass it if we can again. Thanks for your help in advance. Laura Coponiti Dean of Enrollment Management Troutt 112 University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma 1727 West Alabama Chickasha, OK 73018 405-574-1350 (office) 405-574-1220 (fax) [cid:16D7802A-BD66-411D-B03E-8C59B4BF1350] -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 10002 bytes Desc: image001.jpg URL: From Mendy-Schmerer at ouhsc.edu Thu Mar 18 08:20:00 2021 From: Mendy-Schmerer at ouhsc.edu (Schmerer, Mendy M. (HSC)) Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2021 13:20:00 +0000 Subject: [Oasfaa] =?windows-1252?q?=5BEXTERNAL=5D__FW=3A_Legislative_Updat?= =?windows-1252?q?e_=96_March_12=2C_2021_=28please_see_URGENT_information?= =?windows-1252?q?=29?= In-Reply-To: References: <5af7a9b40e934389942337c0ddc95bf7@osrhe.edu> Message-ID: For those of you who have never had a chance to advocate for a student aid issue with a legislator, it can be an impactful and unique opportunity to make your voice heard on behalf of your students. Over the years, I have had more opportunities at the federal level than at the state level to do advocacy work, but I can speak from experience that it is worth it. If you feel like this legislation could be harmful for students and would like to present your view to your legislator who would vote for this if it gets that far in the process, I urge you to consider doing some advocacy work. If I may, I’d like to make a few suggestions. First, talk to your administration at your institution. Each institution is different – some have state and/or federal liaisons employed at the institution, and some do not, and those roles vary. If your institution has someone in this role, it’s entirely likely that you will want to talk to them, filling them in on these potential changes, how it would impact your students, and why you are opposed to it. If you don’t, you may be keeping your supervisor current on this situation. If your administration approves the idea of your advocacy, you’ll then need to know if you are acting as a representative of your institution or as yourself as a concerned citizen. Are you going to contact the legislator for where you live? Or for where your institution is located? Or for the sponsoring author(s) of the bill? Keep in mind that, while someone may not serve on the relevant committee from where the legislation originates, they’ll still get a vote if the legislation moves to that point in the process. Once you have your case outlined – with data regarding your students, not just anecdotal stories – then your administration and/or liaison will then give you some suggestions in terms of whether you can contact the legislator yourself or whether you’ll be working with the liaison. In pre-COVID times (the good old days, in my mind), you could then arrange for the possibility of an in-person visit, which requires the planning of a whole set of logistics. However, in these virtual times, any meeting you set up will likely be virtual. Contact the legislator’s office and ask to speak with the staff member who handles higher education issues. That will likely lead to either an email correspondence or setting up a meeting. This could mean time with a staff member who will report to their boss (the legislator), or the legislator themselves. It all depends on how that office is structured. If you get to have a meeting, 1) remember if you’re representing your school (or not), as that will dictate the way you say some things, 2) have your talking points organized, 3) have data available at the ready (your school’s total OKP recipients through the years, the graduation rate for recipients by year, the debt levels for these recipients compared to non-recipients, etc.), 4) be prepared for the fact that you may have a limited amount of time to talk in a meeting, as they do have busy days, so stay on point, 5) follow up with a thank you and provide the data you’ve collected, 6) offer yourself as a resource if they have additional questions, you are a subject-matter expert on this!, and 7) relax. I was super intimidated the first time I got to do this, but they are our elected representatives and it is their responsibility to listen to the voice of the people who elected them. Have a great Thursday! Mendy Schmerer, MEd, FAAC® Director, Office of Student Financial Aid | SWASFAA President, 2020 – 2021 University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center 865 University Research Park, Suite 240 | Oklahoma City, OK 73104 O (405) 271-2118, x 48817 | F (405) 271-5446 Mendy-Schmerer at ouhsc.edu https://financialservices.ouhsc.edu/Departments/Student-Financial-Aid www.facebook.com/OUHSCFinancialAid CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE This email, including any attachments, contains information from The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, which may be confidential or privileged. The information is intended to be for the use of the individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, be aware that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the contents of this information is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender immediately by a “reply to sender only” message and destroy all electronic and hard copies of the communication, including attachments. From: Fair, Bryce Sent: Monday, March 15, 2021 10:13 PM To: Schmerer, Mendy M. (HSC) ; oasfaa at lists.onenet.net Subject: RE: [Oasfaa] [EXTERNAL] FW: Legislative Update – March 12, 2021 (please see URGENT information) Hi Mendy, My primary role in this OASFAA forum is to provide information about legislation that affects our state financial aid programs. For those institutions potentially impacted by SB 639, it is important that the institution’s administration be aware of the current language in the bill and consider how it might affect the institution and its future Oklahoma’s Promise students. Any legislative advocacy on behalf of the institution needs to be coordinated with the institution’s administration. Bryce From: OASFAA > On Behalf Of Schmerer, Mendy M. (HSC) Sent: Monday, March 15, 2021 8:14 AM To: oasfaa at lists.onenet.net Subject: Re: [Oasfaa] [EXTERNAL] FW: Legislative Update – March 12, 2021 (please see URGENT information) Bryce, as this is deeply concerning if it gains traction, what legislative advocacy tips can you specifically recommend for us in contacting our legislators? Thanks! Mendy Schmerer, MEd, FAAC® Director, Office of Student Financial Aid | SWASFAA President, 2020 – 2021 University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center 865 University Research Park, Suite 240 | Oklahoma City, OK 73104 O (405) 271-2118, x 48817 | F (405) 271-5446 Mendy-Schmerer at ouhsc.edu https://financialservices.ouhsc.edu/Departments/Student-Financial-Aid www.facebook.com/OUHSCFinancialAid CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE This email, including any attachments, contains information from The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, which may be confidential or privileged. The information is intended to be for the use of the individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, be aware that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the contents of this information is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender immediately by a “reply to sender only” message and destroy all electronic and hard copies of the communication, including attachments. From: OASFAA > On Behalf Of Fair, Bryce Sent: Saturday, March 13, 2021 1:02 PM To: oasfaa at lists.onenet.net Subject: [EXTERNAL] [Oasfaa] FW: Legislative Update – March 12, 2021 (please see URGENT information) Below is the legislative update for this past week. Thursday was the deadline for bills to pass off the floor in their house of origin. Six financial-aid-related bills are still alive at this point and are listed in the “Scholarships” section of the legislative update. URGENT Information – (I apologize for the length of the following discussion, but we believe this is a very important issue.) For colleges and career technology centers that serve Oklahoma’s Promise students, I call your attention to SB 639 that could have a dramatic impact on future students in the program. SB 639 (by Sen. Pugh of the Senate and Rep. Baker of the House) – Last Thursday, March 11, a new version of the bill, called a “Floor Substitute” was passed by the Senate. The text of the new version can be found at http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2021-22%20FLOOR%20AMENDMENTS/Senate/SB639%20(3-09-21)%20(PUGH)%20FS%20FA1.PDF [The underlined text is the new language that would be added to current law. In addition, Section 5 of the bill is entirely new law. You can find other information about the SB 639 at http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=sb639&Session=2100]. The bill now contains the following provisions : * For all students applying to the Oklahoma’s Promise program beginning in 2021-22, the scholarship eligibility period would be expanded from 5 years to 6 years. * Students enrolling in the program in 2021-22 and thereafter who do not complete a baccalaureate degree or “postsecondary vocational-technical program” during the 6-year period of scholarship eligibility would be subject to what the Senate author refers to as a “claw back” provision and be required to repay the full amount of Oklahoma’s Promise awards they have received. [It is important to note that Oklahoma’s Promise students complete college degrees at a higher rate than non-Oklahoma’s Promise students. You can find this performance measure and many others in the most recent OKPromise year-end report for 2019-20 at https://www.okhighered.org/okpromise/pdf/okp-report-19-20.pdf. In addition, in a very recent evaluation of Oklahoma Promise by the new Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency, Finding #1 states, “Oklahoma’s Promise Recipients are Earning Critical Workforce Degrees and Remaining in Oklahoma.” Finding #2 states, “Oklahoma’s Promise Exceeds the Legislative Intent to Provide Post-Secondary Opportunities for Oklahoma Students.” You can find the full report at http://www.okloft.gov/Reports/Oklahoma_Promise_Report.pdf.] * Students would be required to enter into a “repayment agreement” with the college or career technology center in which the student was enrolled. The bill further states that, “In determining the repayment amount, the institution of higher education or technology center school in which the student was enrolled may consider hardship circumstances on a case-by-case basis.” * The bill would also authorize use of the Oklahoma’s Promise award for additional career technology programs that are not eligible for federal financial aid but are “identified as a critical occupation” program through a process established in Section 5 of the bill. The State Regents have identified an initial list of serious concerns about the “claw back” requirement: * Oklahoma’s Promise students and families have few financial resources to repay awards: * In 2019-20, the average family income of Oklahoma’s Promise award recipients was about $35,000. * Nearly 90% of Oklahoma’s Promise recipients in 2019-20 met the low-income eligibility criteria for the federal Pell Grant. * The “claw back” potentially adds more student debt for Oklahoma’s Promise students: Each year, nearly one-third of Oklahoma’s Promise recipients take out over $30 million in student loans averaging over $5,000 per borrower to help pay for non-tuition college expenses such as fees, books, and room and board. * The “claw back” provision would require additional administrative responsibilities and costs for colleges and career technology centers: Colleges and career technology centers would be required to administer the repayment requirement. * The “claw back” provision may discourage enrollment in Oklahoma’s Promise: As parents and students have become more cautious of student loan debt, the fear of potential additional debt acquired through Oklahoma’s Promise may create a reluctance to enroll in the program. We realize there are other concerns such as the complicated administrative logistics for students who transfer among institutions. Please forward to me any specific questions or additional concerns that you have. Bryce Fair Associate Vice Chancellor for Scholarships & Grants Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Phone: 405-225-9162 Email: bfair at osrhe.edu From: Johnson, Dr. Glen Sent: Friday, March 12, 2021 5:35 PM To: Subject: Legislative Update – March 12, 2021 OKLAHOMA STATE REGENTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION Memo To: Higher Education Network From: Chancellor Glen D. Johnson Date: Friday, March 12, 2021 Subject: Legislative Update – March 12, 2021 The update below reflects the major legislation concerning Higher Education. If you have any questions, please contact LeeAnna McNally, Vice Chancellor for Governmental Relations, at lmcnally at osrhe.edu or (405) 301-0332. Legislative Report March 12, 2021 Agency Administration House Bill 1090 (Representative Gerrid Kendrix and Senator Brent Howard) Allows the State Auditor and Inspector General to perform audits and inspections of government entities without authorization from the Governor, the Chief Executive Officer of a government entity, or a joint or concurrent resolution of the Legislature. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House General Government Committee. Passed House General Government Committee 7-0 on Wednesday, February 17. Passed off the House Floor 91-0 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1126 (Representative Logan Phillips) Requires employers who engage in any type of electronic email monitoring of employee accounts to give written notice to all employees prior to any monitoring electronic mail communication. Update: Passed House Business and Commerce Committee 10-0 on Wednesday, February 10. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1146 (Representative Mike Osburn and Senator Greg Treat) Places all state employee positions under the administration of the Human Capital Management Division of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services effective January 1, 2022, except those employed by the Governor, Lt. Governor, Speaker of the House, or President Pro Tempore of the Senate, as well as elected officials, political appointees, and up to 5 percent of an agency's executive management. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Amended by Floor Substitute. Passed off the House floor 93-0 on Tuesday, March 9. House Bill 1602 (Representative Collin Walke and Senator John Michael Montgomery) The bill entitles a consumer to request that a business that collects the consumer's personal information disclose to the consumer the categories and specific items of personal information the business has collected. It establishes a requirement for the consumer to request the information. It establishes procedures for the business to disclose the information. Update: Passed House Technology Committee 6-0 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 85-11 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1787 (Representative Daniel Pae) Authorizes state agencies to pay employees in an on-call status. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 7-0 on Thursday, February 25. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1888 (Representative Danny Williams and Senator David Bullard) Bans all public bodies from conducting any form of gender or sexual diversity training or counseling. Allows for sexual harassment prevention training. Anybody that violates this law will be denied any source of public funding. Update: Passed House General Government Committee 6-2 on Wednesday, February 10. Amended by Committee Substitute. Laid Over. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1875 (Representative Tammy West and Senator Brenda Stanley) Permits each educational institution to choose to designate specific information which will be classified as directory information for students attending the educational institution. Update: Passed House General Government Committee 8-0 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 92-0 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate House Bill 1921 (Representative Ryan Martinez) Modifies the authority of OMES to designate quarters for every department of state government provided no department shall be assigned quarters that results in the relocation of a department’s employees or relocation of the performance of duties imposed upon such department by law. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Laid Over. Passed House Rules Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Emergency added. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1986 (Representative Judd Strom and Senator Bill Coleman) Requires any state agency that owns, operates or leases land in the state that is utilized for livestock grazing to enclose the area with a fence or another suitable means for the portion that contains livestock, as well as maintaining the enclosure. The bill allows the state agency to enter into a labor cost-sharing contract with adjacent landowner provided the landowner is not otherwise responsible for the cost of the enclosure or its maintenance. Update: Passed House Agriculture and Rural Development Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 16. Passed off the House Floor 92-4 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2085 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator David Bullard) Requires the Office of Management and Enterprise Services to display the national motto of the United States in a prominently visible location in all state buildings. The bill authorizes the Oklahoma Attorney General to prepare and present a legal defense of the display. Update: Passed House States’ Rights Committee 5-1 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 81-19 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2088 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator Roger Thompson) Exempts the legislature and judicial branches of state government from any and all fees or costs for services rendered by state agencies. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 16. Passed off the House floor 94-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2180 (Representative Ronny Johns and Senator Greg McCortney) Removes requirements for making payroll deductions for certain insurance premiums with a minimum participation of 500 state employees. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House Insurance Committee. Passed House Insurance Committee 7-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 82-12 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2185 (Representative Ronny Johns and Greg McCortney) Modifies the requirements of publications on contracts awarded by state agencies to include the address of the company and the reason to be awarded the contract. Deletes explanations on the out of state ownership percentage of contracted companies. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House Government Modernization and Efficiency Committee. Passed Government Modernization and Efficiency Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 88-3 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2294 (Representative Dustin Roberts and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Deletes the ability for employees to accumulate more than the maximum annual leave. Update: Passed House General Government Committee 8-0 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 98-0 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to Senate. Senate Bill 41 (Senator Greg McCortney and Representative Ronny Johns) Modifies the requirements for state employee payroll deductions for private insurance organizations and service companies that provide legal services. It removes the requirement that the organizations and service companies that provide legal services be regulated by the State Insurance Commissioner and have a minimum participation of 500 state employees. Update: Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 9-0 on Thursday, February18. Title Restored. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-0 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 63 (Senator John Michael Montgomery and Representative Avery Frix) Removes language related to the State Government Reduction-in-Force and Severance Benefits Act that requires an employee to repay all severance benefits on a proportional basis if an affected employee is reemployed by the agency from which separated as a result of a reduction-in-force Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 9-0 on Thursday, February 11. Passed off the Senate Floor 31-15 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 282 (Senator Frank Simpson and Representative Tommy Hardin) Amends Section 840-2.20 of the Oklahoma Personnel Act to allow for a temporary increase in the accumulation limits for annual leave following an emergency declaration period, which shall carryover to the end of the fiscal year following the year in which the emergency declaration ended. increase and carryover of annual leave time Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 9-0 on Thursday, February 4. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-1 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Senate Bill 299 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom and Representative Mark Lepak) Allows for cooperative “piggybacking” purchase agreements between state agencies including on public construction contracts. Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 7-2 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the Senate Floor 36-8 on Thursday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 333 (Senator Frank Simpson and Representative Tammy Townley) Amends Section 840-2.15 of the Oklahoma Personnel Act to allow for a temporary increase in the accumulation limits for compensatory time following an emergency declaration period, which shall carryover to the end of the fiscal year following the year in which the emergency declaration ended. increase and carryover of annual leave time. Update: Assigned to Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee. Reassigned to House General Government Committee. Passed House General Government Committee 8-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-1 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 403 (Senator Brenda Stanley and Representative Robert Manger) Makes it unlawful for any person, alone or in concert with others and without authorization, to willfully disturb, interfere or disrupt business of any political subdivision, which includes publicly posted meetings, or any political subdivision. Update: Assigned to Senate Public Safety Committee. Amended to make the bill an Emergency. Passed Public Safety Committee with a vote of 11-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the Senate Floor 36-9 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 459 (Senator Lonnie Paxton and Representative Ty Burns) Amends the Standards for Workplace Drug and Alcohol testing in light of medical marijuana. Update: Passed Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 10-3 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 484 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Allows the Legislature to approve or disapprove any agency implementation of a federal rule or law. Requires state agencies to send their interpretation of any rule or regulation before implementation. Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 10-1 on Thursday, February 25. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 650 (Senator Kim David and Representative Jon Echols) Provides a 2 percent increase to the amount of a participant’s benefit allowance from the amount provided in the previous plan year. Update: Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 8-1 on Thursday, February 18. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 18-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the Senate Floor 41-4 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 794 (Senator James Leewright and Representative Kevin Wallace) Requires that if the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission or its representative determines that an individual has been overpaid unemployment benefits to provisions therein relating to administrative overpayment, the individual must be sent a notice of overpayment determination. It allows that if the individual disagrees with this determination, said individual can file an appeal of the determination with the Appeal Tribunal within 10 days after the date of mailing. Update: Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee and Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee. Passed Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 12-0 on Thursday, February 11. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 829 (Senator Casey Murdock and Representative Kevin Wallace) Requires state agencies who have jurisdiction over parcels of land containing 80 or more acres of contiguous land to fence it. Update: Assigned to Senate General Government Committee. Reassigned to Senate Agriculture and Wildlife Committee. Passed Senate Agriculture and Wildlife 12-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 13-7 on Monday, March 1. Title stricken. Failed to pass on the Senate Floor 14-30 on Thursday, March 11. Senate Bill 895 (Senator Paul Rosino and Representative Chris Kannady) Allows state agencies to choose to have required audits performed by a public accountant or certified public accountant registered to do business with the state. Update: Assigned to Senate Finance Committee. Reassigned to House General Government Committee. Passed House General Government Committee 7-2 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 36-9 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 924 (Senator Greg Treat and Representative Kyle Hilbert) Creates a state data definition and gives OMES the authority to determine when state data is allowed to be shared between agencies or with federal entities if a request to share is initially rejected. Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 6-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-1 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 984 (Senator Kim David and Representative Terry O’Donnell) Prohibits an agency or official of the executive branch from entering into a contingency fee contract that provides for the private attorney or firm to receive an aggregate contingency fee that exceeds amounts specified therein. It prohibits the total fee payable to all retained private attorneys in any contingency fee contract from exceeding $50 million exclusive of any costs and expenses provided by the contract and actually incurred by the retained private attorneys, regardless of the number of actions or proceedings or the number of retained private attorneys involved in the matter. Update: Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 7-2 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 38-6 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Concurrent Resolution 2 (Senator Rob Standridge) Requires the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to submit a report to the Legislature and to make the report available on its website by December 31, 2021, that includes a list of all persons employed in a faculty or teaching position including their position rank at their respective institutions within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education and their compensation during the 2020-2021 academic year; a list of the courses taught and the hours taught by persons employed in a faculty or teaching position at institutions within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education during the 2020-2021 academic year; the tenure policy of each institution within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education for the 2020-2021 academic year; and the number of faculty employed by each institution within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education who had tenure during the 2020-2021 academic year. Update: Not assigned to committee. Budget Bills House Bill 1665 (Representative Kevin West and Senator Chuck Hall) Creates a Federal Funds Holding Account within the General Revenue Fund to receive all funds required to be paid to the State of Oklahoma. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 20-10 on Wednesday, February 24, Title Stricken. Passed off the House Floor 86-12 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1990 (Representative Trey Caldwell and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Allows ad valorem reimbursement fund to be used to reimburse counties for loss of revenue. Update: Assigned to House Appropriations and Budget Committee. Direct to Appropriations Committee. Passed House Appropriations Committee 28-0 Thursday, February 18. Passed off the House Floor 65-30 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2086 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator Zack Taylor) Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services to ensure state agencies are charged no more than the actual cost of the services provided by the Office. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 9-0 Tuesday, February 16. Passed off the House Floor 94-0 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2775 (Representative John Pfeiffer and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Adds to the definition of “Cost Approach” in the ad valorem tax code to include physical deterioration, functional or internal obsolescence, and economic or external obsolescence. Update: Passed House County and Municipal Government Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 22. Passed off the House Floor 92-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2776 (Representative John Pfeiffer and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Creates the Ad Valorem School District Support Revolving Fund which shall consist of all ad valorem funds under protest received by the State Department of Education (SDE). The SDE may distribute this money to school districts which are affected by protested ad valorem taxes. Update: Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed House Rules Committee 7-2 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the House Floor 90-0 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2777 (Representative John Pfeiffer and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Allows for wind power valuation for real property and personal property in the ad valorem tax code. Update: Passed House County and Municipal Government Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 22. Title Stricken. Passed off the House Floor 93-0 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2780 (Representative John Pfeiffer and Senator Dave Rader) Allows the Oklahoma Tax Commission to garnish accrued earnings of a delinquent taxpayer by contacting the taxpayer’s employer. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 27-3 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 78-18 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to Senate. House Joint Resolution 1001 (Representative Andy Fugate and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Proposes a vote of the people on a constitutional amendment that changes the way the maximum Constitutional Reserve (Rainy Day) Fund balance amount would be computed. It would require the maximum balance allowed be based on a percentage of total state expenditures instead of using revenue estimates provided by the State Board of Equalization for the annual appropriations process. It would provide that total expenditures include all appropriated monies and federal funds. It would exclude from total expenditures money from revolving funds which are used by state agencies, fees or similar charges that were not derived from tax revenue, and money obtained by issuing state government bonds. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 9-0 Tuesday, February 16. Passed off the House Floor 93-0 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to Senate. Senate Bill 79 (Senator Roger Thompson and Representative Kevin West) Exempts from sales tax the transfer of tangible personal property to or by nonprofit 501(c)(3) entities that have entered into a joint operating agreement with the University Hospitals Trust. Update: Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. Amended to provide an effective date of July 1, 2022. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee as amended 20-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-1 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 181 (Senator Zack Taylor and Representative Brad Boles) Permits more than one-half of ad valorem taxes to be paid by January 1 of each year. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 12-0 Tuesday, February 2. Passed off Senate Floor 46-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 383 (Senator Robert Standridge and Representative Kevin West) Establishes that the owner or operator of a social media website who contracts with users in Oklahoma is subject to a private right of action by a social media website user if the social media website purposely deletes or censors a social media website user’s political speech or religious speech or uses an algorithm to suppress political speech or religious speech. Update: Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 5-3 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 34-12 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 498 (Senator Roger Thompson and Representative Scott Fetgatter) Permits a facility engaged in cement manufacturing to have the payroll requirements of the five-year ad valorem tax exemption waived for tax year 2021, which is based in part on the 2020 calendar year payroll reported to the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission and permits it to continue to receive the exemption for the five-year period only if all other requirements of this section are met. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Referred to Full Appropriations Committee. Laid over. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 18-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-1 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 609 (Senator Chuck Hall and Representative Kyle Hilbert) Extends the ad valorem tax exemption to manufacturing facilities, doubles the acquisition or expansion limit. Adds definitions to manufacturing facilities. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 11-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 33-1 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 753 (Senator Brent Howard) For any property acquired by a governmental entity operating as a trust, after the effective date of this act, the trust shall annually make in lieu of tax payments an amount equal to the ad valorem assessed against the property immediately prior to purchase by the trust. Update: Assigned to Senate Finance Committee. Title Stricken. Passed Senate Finance Committee 10-1 on Tuesday, February 9. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 771 (Senator Blake Stephens) Creates the Tax Collection Modernization Act allowing each county treasurer in their sole discretion to let taxpayers make payments on the total amount of tax due, and holding these payments on trust until the amount is sufficient to pay the total due. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 11-0 on Friday, February 19. Title Stricken. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 906 (Senator Casey Murdock and Representative Todd Russ) Provides allowances for depreciation of value in ad valorem tax consideration. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 9-2 on Friday, February 19. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Joint Resolution 14 (Senator Joe Newhouse) Puts to a vote of the people increasing the cap on the Constitutional Reserve Fund from 15 percent to 30 percent. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Senate Joint Resolution 16 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom) Changes the way maximum balance allowed for the rainy-day fund from using the Board of Equalization estimates to a percentage of a total of the state expenditures for the previous year including all state and federal funds. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. CareerTech House Bill 1026 (Representative Rande Worthen and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Allows CLEET to establish and certify additional law enforcement and criminal justice programs at state-supported technology center schools in the State of Oklahoma operating under the State Board of Career and Technology Education for teaching students between 16 and 19 years of age. Update: Passed House Public Safety Committee 7-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 97-0 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to Senate. Common Education House Bill 1027 (Representative Trish Ranson and Senator Brenda Stanley) Requires de-escalation training for certified teachers, beginning in the 2022-2023 school year. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 13-0 on Tuesday, February 16. Passed off the House Floor 81-11 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1046 (Representative Dell Kerbs and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Requires a copy or a hyperlink to a copy of the most recent audit of the financial statements of a school district to be on the front page of the school district website for public inspection. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor as amended 95-0 on Wednesday, March. 3 Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1073 (Representative Tom Gann and Senator Nathan Dahm) Extends the sunset date for the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness Board until July 1, 2024. Update: Passed House Administrative Rules Committee 10-0 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 89-2 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1103 (Representative Mark Vancuren and Senator John Haste) Directs the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and the State Education Department to create a set of guidelines and provide directions to schools in order to survey every public school student in grades 6,8,10 and 12 with the Oklahoma Prevention Needs Assessment Survey every other year beginning in the 2022-2023 school year. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 16. Amended to remove private schools. Passed off the House Floor 78-19 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1104 (Representative Mark Vancuren and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Requires information on a student's tribal affiliation to be included in student data collected for the state. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee on 12-0 Tuesday, February 16. Passed off the House Floor 94-0 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1568 (Representative Jeff Boatman and Senator John Haste) Creates Maria’s Law requiring collaboration with the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to adopt standards and approve age-appropriate curriculum for K-12 students as a part of normal health education curriculum. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 84-10 with Title Stricken on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1569 (Representative Jacob Rosecrants and Senator Adam Pugh) Creates the Oklahoma Play to Learn Act. States that the intention of the Legislature is to focus on the importance of child-centered, play-based learning. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House Floor 76-16 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1775 (Representative Sherrie Conley and Senator Jessica Garvin) Creates Riley's Rule, a requirement that each athletic and practice facility create an emergency action plan. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Laid Over. Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the House Floor 93-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1882 (Representative Marilyn Stark and Senator Dave Rader) Creates the "Out-of-Schooltime" task force to identify, evaluate and recommend a set of best practices for children, youth and families to improve and increase the number of quality, affordable out-of-school programs in the state. The bill sets the membership of the committee. Update: Passed House Children, Youth and Family Services Committee as amended by Committee Substitute 5-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 82-14 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1963 (Representative Jadine Nollan and Senator Brenda Stanley) If vacancies occur which result in a loss of majority members of the board of education of a school district or technology center school district, the Governor shall appoint a member or members necessary to constitute a quorum to the board of education. Update: Assigned to House Elections and Ethics Committee. Laid Over. Passed House Elections and Ethics Committee 7-0 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the House Floor 80-16 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1968 (Representative Jadine Nollan and Senator Brenda Stanley) Deletes expenditure and program classification reporting requirements for certain gifted and talented programs. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 13-0 on Monday, February 8. Referred to full House Appropriations Committee. Laid Over. Passed House Appropriations Committee 30-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the Senate Floor 80-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2030 (Representative Terry O’Donnell and Senator Adam Pugh) Adds passing the Naturalization test to high school graduation requirements. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 11-3 on Tuesday, February 16. Passed off the House Floor 80-18 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2223 (Representative Randy Randleman and Senator Dewayne Pemberton) Requires the Oklahoma State Department of Education to maintain a dyslexia information handbook. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House Floor 96-0 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2381 (Representative Danny Sterling and Senator Frank Simpson) Directs local school districts to conduct an annual fitness assessment. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 22-9 on Wednesday, February 25. Title Stricken. Passed off the House Floor 57-37 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2388 (Representative John Talley and Senator Tom Dugger) Asks school districts to provide age-appropriate instruction about social-emotional learning. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House Common Education Committee. Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 70-22 on Wednesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2396 (Representative Todd Russ and Senator Brenda Stanley) Asks the board of education to adopt a policy regarding sex trafficking and exploitation prevention. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House Floor 86-6 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2462 (Representative Dick Lowe and Senator Brent Howard) Allows the State Department of Education to enter into contracts and agreements for the payment of food, lodging and other expenses necessary to host or participate in conferences and training sessions. Update: Passed House General Government Committee 7-0 on Wednesday, February 17. Passed off the House Floor 86-5 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2547 (Representative Preston Stinson) Requires media timeouts at high school sporting events which are being broadcast. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Reassigned to House Rules Committee. Passed House Rules Committee 6-0 on Thursday, February 25. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2662 (Representative Dick Lowe and Senator Dave Rader) Creates the Seizure Safe Schools Act requiring each local school district to have at least one school employee at each school who has met certain seizure safe training requirements. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Amended to change from a Shall to a May. Passed House Common Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 16. Author change. Passed off the House Floor 95-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2727 (Representative Ajay Pittman and Senator David Bullard) Requires subject to the availability of funds that there be a basic life skills education curriculum taught in public schools. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 67-26 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2749 (Representative Rhonda Baker and Senator Adam Pugh) Requires schools that receive more than $2,500 from the Reading Proficiency Act to spend at least 10 percent on professional development for Pre-k-5 grade teachers. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday February 16. Passed off the House Floor 90-5 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Joint Resolution 1026 (Representative Anthony Moore) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment that removes debt limits for school districts. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. House Joint Resolution 1029 (Representative Monroe Nichols) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment that authorizes a school district to raise an additional $5 million levy on taxable property within the district if approved by the majority of district voters. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. House Joint Resolution 1033 (Representative Chad Caldwell) Puts to a vote of the people a requirement that a school spends at least 60 percent of its annual budget on instructional expenditures. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Senate Bill 2 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom and Representative Toni Hasenbeck) Clarifies and expands the duties of the School Finance Review Commission to conduct a review of all matters related to school finance, including but not limited to teacher compensation and benefits; administrative costs, including administrative functions that may be shared between districts; opportunities for school districts to be operated in a cost effective manner; variances in per pupil and administrative expenditures among school districts with comparable enrollment, demographics and outcomes on statewide assessments; and expenditures not directly or sufficiently related to improving student outcomes. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 38-8 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 13 (Senator Brenda Stanley and Representative Rhonda Baker) Requires a teacher whose certificate is suspended by the State Board of Education to be placed on suspension while proceedings for revocation or other action are pending before the State Board of Education. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 21 (Senator Kay Floyd and Representative Marcus McEntire) Makes it a requirement, rather than permissive, beginning with the 2021-2022 school year, that district school boards provide schoolwide training to all students in grades seven through twelve and staff addressing suicide awareness and prevention. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee as amended by Committee Substitute 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 54 (Senator John Michael Montgomery and Representative Daniel Pae) Requires the State Department of Education to designate a school district site or charter school site as a Purple Star School. The bill defines applicable terms. It establishes the requirements for a school district site or charter school to be designated as a Purple Star School. It requires the State Board of Education to promulgate necessary rules. Update: Passed Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Committee 10-0 on Thursday, February 11. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 66 (Senator John Haste and Representative Lonnie Sims) Exempts any insurance policy sold to any school district from the surplus lines premium tax. Update: Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to House Senate Bill 68 (Senator Frank Simpson and Representative Max Wolfley) Requires a public school student to be considered in compliance with statutory residency provisions if he or she is a student whose parent or legal guardian is transferred or is pending transfer to a military installation within the state while on active military duty pursuant to an official military order. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 89 (Senator John Haste and Representative Rhonda Baker) Creates the Health Education Act. The bill defines applicable terms. It requires health education to be taught in public schools, including but not limited to physical health, mental health, social and emotional health and intellectual health. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-1 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 128 (Senator Dave Rader and Representative Dick Lowe) Creates the Seizure Safe Schools Act requiring at least one school employee at each school to meet certain training requirements. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Title Stricken, Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 47-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 142 (Senator Roland Pederson) Requires a school district’s board of education to allow a nonresident and non-transferred pupil to determine whether to require a tuition fee equal to the per capita cost of education for a similar period in such district during the preceding year. The bill requires the tuition fee to be paid to the receiving district in advance yearly or by semester as determined by the district board of education of the receiving district. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee as amended by committee substitute 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Failed on the Senate Floor 21-26 on Wednesday, March 1. Motion to reconsider. Senate Bill 157 (Senator J.J. Dossett) Removes language that provides State Board of Education appointees to serve at the pleasure of the Governor. It adds language that permits the Governor to remove members of the board for cause, including being found guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction of a felony or any offense involving moral turpitude; being found guilty of malfeasance, misfeasance or nonfeasance in relation to board duties; being found mentally incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction; or failing to attend three successive meetings of the board without just cause, as determined by the Governor. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Title Stricken. Passed Senate Education Committee 10-2 on Tuesday, February 2. Senate Bill 197 (Senator Tom Dugger) Requires candidates who win board of education elections to be seated at the first meeting following the April election date. It clarifies language related to the April board of education election date. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Laid Over. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 252 (Senator Brenda Stanley and Representative Rhonda Baker) Requires all public schools to begin teaching computer science courses in the 2024-2025 school year. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Title Stricken. Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed off the Senate Floor 41-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 419 (Senator J.J. Dossett and Representative John Waldron) Removes the requirement to administer assessments in U.S. history under the statewide system of student assessments. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 10-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 43-2 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 503 (Senator Nathan Dahm and Representative Ryan Martinez) Adds to required history curriculum, the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, substantive selections from the Federalist Papers the Emancipation Proclamation, the Articles of Confederation, the Gettysburg Address and George Washington’s Farwell Address. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 9-2 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 39-7 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 619 (Senator David Bullard and Representative Kevin West) Allows school districts to obtain liability insurance coverage to protect a student participating in an apprenticeship internship or mentorship program. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Title Stricken Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 20-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Title Restored. Passed off the Senate Floor 47-0 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 634 (Senator Julie Daniels and Representative Terry O’Donnell) Requires an authorization form that has the statement of understanding of the first amendment rights to not be a part of a union for public education employees. Makes that form’s authorization a yearly requirement. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Reassigned to Senate Judiciary Committee. Passed Senate Judiciary 7-4 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 25-21 on Thursday, March 4. Emergency Passed 32-14 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 642 (Senator Adam Pugh and Representative Dustin Roberts) Includes multi-aptitude battery assessments that measure developed abilities and help predict future academic and occupational success in the military. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Title Stricken. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 707 (Senator Greg McCortney) Sets a deadline for parents to present immunization records or exemptions. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 on Tuesday, February 9. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 783 (Senator Adam Pugh and Representative Brad Boles) Requires the Department of Education to publish a list of the capacity for a class in each grade level K-12. Strengthens open transfer policies. Gives OEQA audit authority over transfer Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 9-3 on Tuesday, February 23. Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed off the Senate Floor 32-15 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 807 (Senator Chris Kidd and Representative Rhonda Baker) Entitles support employees to pay for any time lost when a school district is closed because of an epidemic or when an order for such a closing has been issued by a health officer authorized by law to issue the order. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 10-1 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-1 Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Joint Resolution 3 (Senator Carri Hicks) Proposes a vote of the people on a constitutional amendment that allows a member of the Legislature to be employed as a certified teacher with a public school district in this state after he or she completes his or her term in office. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Senate Joint Resolution 9 (Senator Mary Boren) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment that changes the duty of the legislature when it comes to public education. Removes the words “Wherein all the children of the State may be educated”. Instead requires the legislature to “make suitable provision for the support and maintenance of an efficient and equitable system of free public schools”. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. COVID-19 House Bill 2335 (Representative Jay Steagall and Senator Shane Jett) Prohibits compulsory immunization through any state entity via direct or indirect means. Update: Passed House Public Health Committee 7-1 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House floor 71-25 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate, House Joint Resolution 1032 (Representative Chad Caldwell) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment prohibiting a governmental entity from issuing any order or rule that requires closure of any place of worship. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Senate Bill 368 (Senator David Bullard and Representative Brian Hill) Prohibits any governmental declaration of a religious institution as nonessential. Requires that religious institutions be exempt from closure orders for the purpose of health or security that is greater than that imposed on any private entity. Update: Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 6-2 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 37-9 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 835 (Senator Blake Stephens) Bans any discrimination by any public accommodation towards a person on the basis of their vaccination or immunity status. Update: Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 6-2 on Friday, February 19. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Charter Schools House Joint Resolution 1036 (Representative Jon Echols) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment allowing a school district to become indebted after a 3/5ths vote to acquire or improve the school sites or equipment of a charter school. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Senate Bill 69 (Senator Frank Simpson and Representative Max Wolfley) Provides a student will be eligible to enroll in a statewide virtual charter school if the student's parent or legal guardian is transferred or is pending transfer to a military installation within this state while on active military duty pursuant to an official military order. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 222 (Senator Rob Standridge and Representative Daniel Pae) Creates the Hope Scholarship Program to provide a scholarship to an eligible private school of choice for students who have experienced bullying. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 20-0 on Monday, March 1. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-1 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 239 (Senator Dewayne Pemberton and Representative Toni Hasenbeck) Creates a process for the State Board of Education to hear appeals to the charter school sponsorship process. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed off the Senate Floor 30-16 on Wednesday, February 10. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 658 (Senator Nathan Dahm and Representative Kevin West) Requires the State Department of Education to provide any notice or publication on immunization requirements all information on exemptions to such requirements. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Amended to pass Senate Education Committee 8-3 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 35-10 on Thursday, March 4. Emergency Passed 36-9 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. General Government Senate Joint Resolution 1 (Senator Kay Floyd) Proposes a vote of the people on a constitutional amendment that would prohibit members of the Legislature from being appointed or elected to any office or commission during their term; receiving any appointment from the Governor, the Governor and Senate or the Legislature during the term; or being interested in any contract with the state or a political subdivision during the term. It would not prohibit an employee of a school district, a technology center school district or the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education from continuing to serve during the term, or prohibit an appointment to a legislative committee or other legislative position. It also would not prohibit a former member from returning to his or her profession or business. It would permit the Legislature to enact laws to implement these provisions. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Higher Education House Bill 1801 (Representative Nicole Miller and Senator Brenda Stanley) Grants priority enrollment and course registration to all Oklahoma resident members of the Oklahoma National Guard and to students who are eligible to receive educational financial assistance from the Department of Veteran Affairs. Update: Passed House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Amended to allow only Oklahoma residents. Passed off the House Floor as amended 98-1 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1962 (Representative Jadine Nollan and Senator Marty Quinn) Specifies the definition of “qualified higher education expenses” to fall in line with section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code. Update: Passed House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee with a vote of 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the House Floor 95-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1965 (Representative Jadine Nolan and Senator Darrell Weaver) Allows a board of county commissioners to determine the years of service required for full-time county employees to qualify for a continuing education program and allows such programs to include courses offered by a college or university that is a member of the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education as well as any other in-state or out-of-state programs or courses which are relevant to the employee's responsibilities as approved by the county commissioners. Update: Passed House County and Municipal Government Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the House Floor as amended 95-0 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2046 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator Frank Simpson) Creates the Higher Education Institution Local Funding Act. The measure authorizes the board of regents of eligible two-year colleges to adopt a resolution calling for the creation of a higher education funding district, for the purpose of providing additional sources of funding for the institution. If approved by the board of regents, the creation of the funding district and its initial operational millage rate would go to a vote of the people within the established district boundary. Additional bonds may be included in the ballot measure calling for the creation of the district. The ballot measure would require 60 percent approval to pass. Update: Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed House Rules Committee as amended 7-0 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the House Floor 79-18 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2691 (Representative Toni Hasenbeck and Senator Micheal Bergstrom) Requires the Commission for Educational Quality an Accountability to issue a report detailing factors in the public education system that contribute to graduation rates, assessment scores and the state workforce. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 76-18 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2750 (Representative Rhonda Baker and Senator Adam Pugh) States the intent of the Legislature that in establishing minimum required score on AP exams for granting course credit the Regents for Higher Education should not require an AP score above 3. Update: Passed House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 22. Amended to allow the granting of additional credit for higher than 3. Passed off the House Floor 94-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2874 (Representative Kevin Wallace and Senator Roger Thompson) Adds the University Hospitals Trust to those exempt from sales tax. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 26-1 on Wednesday, February 10. Title Stricken. Passed off the House Floor 83-9 on Monday, February 22. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2926 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator Adam Pugh) Requires each institution of higher education to publish a salary report of common occupations and industries in which students are employed upon graduation. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 7-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House Floor 97-1 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Senate Bill 70 (Senator Frank Simpson and Representative Tommy Hardin) Increases the time period before the date of enrollment from five years to 10 years when a person was discharged or released from active military service to qualify for in-state enrollment. Update: Passed Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Education 4-0 on Wednesday, February 10. Referred to Full Appropriations Committee. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Thursday, February 18. Title Stricken. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Senate Bill 139 (Senator Roger Thompson and Representative Kyle Hilbert) Adds the Senate Appropriations Committee Chair and the House Appropriations and Budget Committee Chair to the list of recipients of the annual report submitted by Oklahoma State University Medical Authority. Update: Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. Laid Over. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 20-0 on Wednesday February, 24. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 238 (Senator Dewayne Pemberton and Representative Kyle Hilbert) Creates a task force to study the requirement for high school students to complete the FASFA. Designates the makeup of this task force and the end date for a report. Requires the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the Senate to provide the staff and administrative support for the task force. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 40-5 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 261 (Senator John Michael Montgomery and Representative Melissa Provenzano) Creates the Oklahoma Student Borrower’s Bill of Rights, requiring that student loan servicers not employ any deceptive practices, maintain accurate reporting to consumer credit bureaus, and otherwise accurately inform borrowers of their rights and obligations in public and plain language. Update: Passed Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 11-2 on Thursday, February 11. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 292 (Senator John Haste and Representative Jadine Nollan) Creates a task force to study the concurrent enrollment needs of the State. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-1 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 614 (Senator David Bullard) Enhances higher education students’ First Amendment rights to include the “right to an unbiased education” and freedom from any endorsement, symbolism or propaganda of “socialism, communism, Marxism or anti-American sentiment.” Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 10-2 on Tuesday, February 23. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 893 (Senator Adam Pugh and Representative Scott Fetgatter) Allows the undergraduate and graduate programs of the same discipline of engineering at an institution to be part of the qualified program if either program is ABET accredited. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 11-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-3 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Senate Joint Resolution 15 (Senator Rob Standridge) Puts to a vote of the people a prohibition for higher education from requiring students to enroll in a course that is not a core requirement of their chosen curriculum, a course with no tuition or fee charged, or a course that is not directly relevant to a degree being pursued. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Healthcare House Bill 1006 (Representative Carol Bush and Senator Adam Pugh) Creates the Transparency in Health Care Prices Act. The bill defines applicable terms. It requires healthcare providers make available to the public, in a single document, either electronically or by posting conspicuously on the provider's website if one exists, the health care prices for at least the 20 most common health care services the healthcare provider provides. Update: Passed House Public Health Committee 8-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 92-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2299 (Representative Dustin Roberts and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Creates the Oklahoma Medical Education Protection Act which preserves the supplemental payment programs payable to University Health Science Centers when entering into contractual arrangements with any entity for the management of Medicaid patients. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 8-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 82-3 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to Senate. House Joint Resolution 1041 (Representative Sean Roberts) Puts to a vote of the people an amendment repealing Medicaid expansion. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Senate Bill 4 (Senator Greg McCortney and Representative T.J. Marti) Permits a pharmacist to substitute an interchangeable biological product for a prescribed biological product only if the substituted product has been determined by FDA to be interchangeable with the prescribed biological product; the prescribing physician has permitted substitution; and the pharmacy informs the patient of the substitution. Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services committee 10-0 Wednesday, February 3. Amended by Floor Substitute. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-0 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 100 (Senator Brenda Stanley and Representative Dean Davis) Permits an applicant for a license to practice podiatric medicine to submit an electronic application online. It requires an applicant legally reside in the United States, rather than be loyal to the US. The bill removes the requirement that the applicant be free from contagious or infectious disease. Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 8-3 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 107 (Senator John Michael Montgomery and Representative Todd Russ) Gives the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) the authority, beginning with the Jan. 1, 2022 plan year, to renew vision plan contracts with plan providers for succeeding one-year terms if the provider had a contract for the immediately preceding year. Update: Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off Senate Floor 47-0 on Thursday, February 10. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 164 (Senator Brenda Stanley and Representative Cynthia Roe) Modifies language related to participation in a research program or experimental procedures. It requires human subject research to be approved by an accredited institutional review board rather than a local institutional review board. It requires when the patient is incapable of giving informed consent and is a minor that the consent be given by the parent or legal guardian. Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 10-0 Wednesday, February 3. Passed off the Senate Floor 43-2 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 207 (Senator Jessica Garvin and Senator Marcus McEntire) Authorizes the Oklahoma Health Care Authority Administrator to designate an administrative law judge to perform appeal hearings for those adversely affected by a decision of the authority. Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 11-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed Full Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-0 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 319 (Senator Robert Standridge and Representative Daniel Pae) Exempts from the prohibition furnishing anyone under the age of 21 any cigarettes, cigarette papers, cigars, bidis, snuff, chewing tobacco, or any other form of tobacco product, or vapor products persons performing activities as part of a scientific study being conducted by a research institution for the purpose of medical research to further efforts in cigarette and tobacco use prevention and cessation and tobacco product regulation, provided that such medical research has been approved by a properly accredited institutional review board pursuant to applicable federal regulations. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 11-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Thursday, February 11. Engrossed to House Senate Bill 406 (Senator Jessica Garvin and Representative Marcus McEntire) Modifies the definitions of "University Hospital" and "Oklahoma's Children's Hospital." It authorizes the University Hospital’s authority to assign any inpatient and outpatient hospital and clinical facilities, research buildings, facilities or property and any other buildings, facilities or property under its ownership or management and control to University Hospital, Oklahoma Children's Hospital or any other division or entity which is part of University Hospital. Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 11-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-1 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. OneNet House Bill 1049 (Representative Dell Kerbs) Requires the Department of Public Safety to provide motor license agents with internet services that operate at adequate transmission speeds to allow the agents to efficiently transact business and transmit data to and from the agency. Update: Passed House Technology Committee 5-1 on Wednesday, February 10. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 1124 (Representative Logan Phillips and Senator James Leewright) Creates the State Broadband Deployment Grant Program to direct competitive grants to applicants seeking to expand broadband internet services and directs the Corporation Commission to create the Rural Broadband Expansion Council to promulgate rules and procedures for the program. Update: Passed House Technology Committee 5-1 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 91-6 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1132 (Representative Logan Phillips) Deletes the requirement that the Corporation Commission not approve, endorse, forward or file any application for reimbursement submitted pursuant to subsection (h) of Section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, for transmission services requiring a circuit of T-1 or greater capacity unless OneNet is the circuit provider. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House Technology Committee. Passed House Technology Committee 6-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2040 (Speaker Charles McCalle and Senator James Leewright) The measure provides a sales tax exemption, in the form of rebates, on sales of qualifying broadband equipment if the property is directly used or consumed by the provider or subsidiary in or during the distribution of internet services. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 30-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 85-14 on Thursday, March 11, Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2090 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator James Leewright) Expands the Rural Broadband Expansion Council from 14 to 16 members. One of the additional members would represent a wireless internet service provider and be appointed by the Speaker of the House. The other additional member would represent a Native American tribe and be appointed by the Senate President Pro Tem. Update: Passed House Technology Committee 6-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Emergency Added. Passed off the House Floor 97-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2928 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator James Leewright) Directs broadband service providers in the state to submit a report containing their network area coverage map to the Department of Commerce and the Rural Broadband Expansion Council by October 31, 2021. The providers would be required to update this map and report annually. OneNet is also directed to provide mapping of all assets and network coverage. Update: Passed House Technology Committee 6-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 97-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Senate Bill 802 (Senator James Leewright and Representative Logan Phillips) Increases the Rural Broadband Expansion Council by one member to be filled by a tribal leader of this state. Update: Passed Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 12-1 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-2 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Open Meetings/Records House Bill 1876 (Representative Tammy West and Senator Brenda Stanley) Specifies what private employee information is not subject to the Open Meeting Act. Update: Passed House General Government Committee 8-0 On Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 82-0 on Thursday, February 18. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2644 (Representative Jon Echols and Senator Kim David) Extends the provisions that allows for virtual open meetings until March 31, 2024 Update: Assigned to House General Government Committee. Laid Over. Passed House General Government Committee 8-0 on Tuesday, February 24. Title Stricken. Passed off the House Floor 92-6 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Senate Bill 970 (Senator Kay Floyd and Representative Brad Boles) Makes all license or certification public record, excluding an applicant’s personal address, phone number or other personal material. Update: Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 1031 (Senator Greg Treat and Representative Jon Echols) Extends the provisions that allow for virtual open meetings until the Governor declares the state of emergency to have ended. Update: Assigned to Senate General Government Committee. Withdrawn from General Government Committee. Direct to Calendar. Passed off the Senate Floor as amended by Floor Substitute with a vote of 45-0 on Wednesday, February 3. Direct to House Calendar. Passed off the House Floor 88-5 on Monday, February 8. Signed by Governor Stitt on Wednesday, February 10. Senate Bill 1032 (Senator Greg Treat and Speaker Charles McCall) Requires livestreaming for virtual open meetings Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 7-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 47-0 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to House. Scholarships House Bill 1739 (Representative Sheila Dills and Senator Brenda Stanley) Creates the Connecting Futures Act. It allows the Department of Human Services to, subject to available funding, create a pilot program to address needs of any minors who are separated from their parents or legal guardians, are not supported by their parents or legal guardians and are not in the custody of the Department of Human Services or in the custody of any Indian tribe. It requires the pilot program to allow the Department to provide assistance in securing necessary services to allow eligible minors to become self-reliant and productive citizens. Update: Passed House Children Youth and Family Services Committee 5-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House Floor 82-6 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1821 (Representative Toni Hasenbeck and Senator Dewayne Pemberton) Increases flexibility in the use of Tuition Aid Grants, by removing language directing the Regents for Higher Education to direct tuition aid grants to all eligible applicants, and adding factors to the way the awards are prioritized including: Enrollment status, unmet financial need, continuous enrollment, nearness to degree completion or certificate, state employment needs, and eligibility for other State and institutional funds. Update: Passed House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the House Floor 94-2 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2399 (Representative Todd Russ and Senator Marty Quinn) Extends the qualification for Oklahoma’s higher learning access program to those students whose parents died after the students tenth grade year, and meet the other financial requirements. Update: Assigned to House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee. Amended by unanimous consent passed to House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the House Floor 93-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. Senate Bill 132 (Senator David Bullard and Representative Rhonda Baker) Extends application window for Oklahoma’s Promise to the eleventh grade. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Title Stricken. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Title Restored. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 237 (Senator Dewayne Pemberton and Representative Mark McBride) Increases flexibility in the use of Tuition Aid Grants, by removing language directing the Regents for Higher Education to direct tuition aid grants to all eligible applicants, and adding factors to the way the awards are prioritized including: Enrollment status, unmet financial need, continuous enrollment, nearness to degree completion or certificate, state employment needs, and eligibility for other State and institutional funds. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-1 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 639 (Senator Adam Pugh and Representative Rhonda Baker) Extends qualification for Oklahoma’s Promise to those enrolled in an area that has been identifies as a critical occupation area. Requires the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and the State Regents for Higher Education to publish a yearly list between October and June of the critical occupation areas that meet the guidelines. Requires the Regents, in consultation with CareerTech, to identify postsecondary vo-tech programs that correlate to the critical occupation areas. Sets a 6-year completion timeline for a baccalaureate or other postsecondary education credential and requires that the Oklahoma’s Promise scholarship recipient repay the scholarship if the credential is not earned within 6-year time frame. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Amended by Floor Substitute, which provides a 6-year time period to earn a baccalaureate or other postsecondary education credential or requires that the Oklahoma’s Promise recipient enter into a repayment agreement with the institution of higher education or career technology center. Passed off the Senate Floor 36-9 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Teacher Retirement System House Bill 2293 (Representative Dustin Roberts and Senator Lonnie Paxton) modifies the matching of TRS funds to be based only on the member’s regular annual compensation regardless of the source of funds, except federal funding. Update: Passed House Banking Financial Services and Pensions Committee 6-2 on Monday, February 22. Passed off the House Floor 51-38 on Thursday, March 11. Emergency Failed. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2486 (Representative Avery Frix) Terminates the OPERS defined contribution plan created by the Retirement Freedom Act and provides that all state employees will participate in the OPERS defined benefit plan upon November 1, 2022, or the last date required for distribution of the plan account balances. Employees currently participating in the defined contribution plan will be considered 100 percent vested in their account balance as of November 1, 2021, including employer matching amounts and any gains resulting from management of the account, and will have the option to use their account balance to purchase service credit or to transfer their balance to a qualifying retirement plan. Update: Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed House Rules Committee 7-0 on Thursday, February 25. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 267 (Senator Dewayne Pemberton and Representative Jadine Nollan) Allows retired educators who have received benefits for at least one year and who have not been employed by a public school during that time to be eligible to be reemployed as an active classroom teacher in common or career tech school district with no limitation on earnings. Update: Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 9-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the House Floor 36-11 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 683 (Senator Chris Kidd and Representative Mark McBride) Removes the one-year regular employment requirement for full-time non-classified optional personnel to join the TRS. Update: Assigned to Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee. Laid Over. Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 8-1 on Monday, February 22. Passed off the House Floor 41-2 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Senate Joint Resolution 18 (Senator Lonnie Paxton) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment that requires any COLA to include funding. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Teacher Certification House Bill 1593 (Representative Melissa Provenzano and Senator Brenda Stanley) Requires 7th-12th grade teachers to have workplace safety training emphasized into curriculum. The program shall be completed the first year a certified teacher is employed by a school district. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 13-0 Tuesday, February 16. Passed off House Floor 74-19 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1773 (Representative Sherrie Conley and Senator Jessica Garvin) Requires teaching candidates in early childhood elementary, secondary and special education to study the philosophy framework and implementation of a multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) designed to address the core academic and nonacademic needs of all students. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Amended by committee substitute. Passed House Common Education Committee 8-1 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the House Floor 91-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1796 (Representative Nicole Miller and Senator Adam Pugh) Allows the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Commission for Education Quality and Accountability to grant subject area examination exceptions for initial certification in a field that does not require an advanced degree if the candidate already has an advanced degree in the subject essentially comparable to the content assessed in the examination. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 13-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House Floor 91-1 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senator. House Bill 2329 (Representative Mark Lawson and Senator Frank Simpson) Allows the State Board of Education to grant an exception to the certification examination to teacher candidates who are deaf. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 8-0 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the House Floor 97-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2693 (Representative Toni Hasenbeck and Senator Brenda Stanley) Updates the name of the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation to the Office of Educational Quality and Accountability. Rewards teachers who are renewing their National Board Certification by awarding them a portion of the renewal application fee. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House Appropriations Committee. Passed House Appropriations Committee 28-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the House Floor 81-11 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2748 (Representative Rhonda Baker and Senator Brenda Stanley) Requires the State Board of Education to issue one-year alternative teacher certificates renewable for up to 3 years to teach early childhood education or elementary education if the alternative certified teacher meets certain qualifications. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House floor 86-0 on Thursday, February 18. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2752 (Representative Rhonda Baker and Senator Brenda Stanley) Requires the State Department of Education in coordination with the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability to establish a micro-credential programs for teachers who hold a certificate to complete additional coursework and earn STEM credentials. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 93-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Senate Bill 51 (Senator Carri Hicks and Representative Danny Sterling) Removes the requirement to pass the general education portions of the competency examination for an alternative placement teaching certificate or a teacher certificate. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off Senate Floor 33-12 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 67 (Senator Frank Simpson and Speaker Charles McCall) Permits the State Board of Education to grant an exception to the requirements for all certification examinations for teacher candidates who are "deaf." Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 229 (Senator John Michael Montgomery and Representative Kyle Hilbert) Allows the State Board of Education to renew an Emergency or Provisional Teacher Certification for up to five years. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 10-2 on Tuesday, February 23. Title Stricken. Passed off the Senate Floor 37-8 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Weapons on Campus / Gun Laws House Bill 1629 (Representative David Hardin and Senator Micheal Bergstrom) Preempts any federal, state county or municipal law rule or regulation that orders the confiscation of firearms, firearm accessories of ammunition. Update: Passed House Judiciary-Criminal Committee 7-2 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 77-19 Tuesday, March 9. Emergency added. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1630 (Representative David Hardin and Senator Dewayne Pemberton) Modifies the Unlawful Intent to Carry and Penalty Portions of Firearms Act to allow flexibility in punishment upon conviction. Deletes the ability to permanently revoke a handgun license. Amends background checks to remove criminal history records fingerprints and FBI searches on license renewal. Update: Passed House Judiciary-Criminal Committee 8-1 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House floor 78-18 on Monday, February 22. Engrossed to Senate House Bill 1662 (Representative Kevin West and Senator Nathan Dahm) If a defendant claims self-defense the State of Oklahoma must then have to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the defensive force was not justified. Update: Passed House Judiciary-Criminal Committee 7-2 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 77-19 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1898 (Representative Sean Roberts) Adds statutory references to the Oklahoma Self Defense Act. Update: Passed House Judiciary - Criminal Committee 3-1 on Thursday, February 25. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2334 (Representative Jay Steagall and Senator Micheal Bergstrom) Authorizes the possession of firearms on streets, plazas, sidewalks and alleys. Authorizes open carry on property of nonprofit entities and public trusts. Update: Passed House Public Safety Committee 5-2 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 79-18 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2401 (Representative Todd Russ and Senator David Bullard) Changes the ban on all felons from carrying firearms to a ban on anyone convicted of a specifically classified violent felony from carrying firearms for a period of 5 years. Update: Passed House Judiciary-Criminal Committee 7-2 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 77-19 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2588 (Representative Sean Roberts and Senator David Bullard) Allows a board of education of a school district to adopt a policy to authorize the carrying of a handgun onto school property by school personnel if the person possesses a valid handgun license and meets other requirements authorized by the board of education. Update: Assigned to House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee. Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee 3-1 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the House Floor 79-18, Emergency Passed 68-18 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2645 (Representative Jon Echols and Senator David Bullard) Allows the carrying of firearms in bars and restaurants as long as the carrier is not consuming alcoholic beverages. Reduces fines and punishments from $1,000 and two years in prison to $250. Removes the revocation of a handgun license upon violation of this statute. Update: Assigned to House Public Safety Committee. Reassigned to House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee. Passed House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee 3-1 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the House Floor 78-19 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Senate Bill 106 (Senator Mark Allen and Representative Terry O’Donnell) Defines the term "completed application" within the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act to mean all fields are completed, questions answered and contains all required signatures on the Application for Self-Defense Act License and all required documents including legible fingerprints, if applicable. It removes the 90-day grace period for handgun license renewals. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Friday, February 19. Passed off the Senate Floor 35-8 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 186 (Senator David Bullard) Removes language that prohibits a person convicted of a felony from operating a motor vehicle or riding as a passenger in a motor vehicle in which there is any pistol, imitation, or homemade pistol, altered air or toy pistol, machine gun, sawed-off shotgun or sawed-of rifle, or any other firearm. It modifies the qualifications for restoring the right to carry a firearm. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 11-0 on Friday, February 19. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 442 (Senator Nathan Dahm) Makes its unlawful for any person to carry or use shotguns, rifles or pistols in any circumstances while under the influence of medical marijuana obtained under a valid medical marijuana patient license. It exempts an applicant or licensee in legal possession of a medical marijuana patient license from the preclusion for a person from being eligible for a handgun license pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 11-0 on Friday, February 19. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 631 (Senator Warren Hamilton and Representative Sean Roberts) Makes Oklahoma a “Second Amendment Sanctuary State” pre-empting any legislation or rule at any level that would infringe upon the right to bear arms. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Monday, February 22. Passed off the Senate Floor 38-8 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 644 (Senator Blake Stephens and Representative Sean Roberts) Allows municipalities to, by ordinance, authorize all or certain municipal employees to carry concealed firearms. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 10-1 on Friday, February 19. Passed off the Senate Floor 39-8 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 646 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom and Representative Jay Steagall) Allows the carrying of firearms in bars and restaurants as long as the carrier is not consuming alcoholic beverages. Reduces fines and punishments from $1,000 and two years in prison to $250. Removes the revocation of a handgun license upon violation of this statute. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Monday, February 22. Title Stricken. Passed off the Senate Floor 37-9 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 672 (Senator Casey Murdock and Representative Kenton Patzkowsky) Allows unmitigated transport of firearms for any person not otherwise prohibited from purchasing or carrying firearms. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Friday, February 19. Passed off the Senate Floor 39-7 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 711 (Senator John Haste) Adds county owned buildings to the locations a sheriff may authorize certain employees to carry a firearm. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Friday, February 19. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 730 (Senator Nathan Dahm and Representative Jay Steagall) Bans any person, property owner, tenant, employer, or business entity from establishing or enforcing any rule that prohibits transporting carrying or storing firearms. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Monday, February 22. Passed off the Senate Floor 36-8 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 732 (Senator Nathan Dahm and Representative Jim Olsen) Allows anyone whose Second Amendment rights are violated to bring a lawsuit against any order or regulation or other political subdivision of the state. Defines responsibilities of the court in such a case. Update: Assigned to Senate Public Safety Committee. Laid Over. Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Monday February, 22. Passed off the Senate Floor 38-8 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 767 (Senator David Bullard) Allows superintendents to authorize anyone with a valid handgun license and has demonstrated proficiency in handgun training and campus-specific active shooter training to carry weapons on school grounds. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-1 on Monday, February 22. Title Stricken. Dormant pursuant to the rules. Senate Bill 925 (Senator Nathan Dahm and Representative Jay Steagall) Modifies language related to self-defense with a firearm. It adds "occupied premises" to the list of places the Legislature recognizes that the citizens of the State of Oklahoma have a right to expect absolute safety and that a person legally is allowed to defend. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Friday, February 19. Passed off the Senate Floor 36-8 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 926 (Senator Nathan Dahm and Representative Eric Roberts) Extends the firearms law preemption to air powered pistols Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 22. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Joint Resolution 21 (Senator David Bullard) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment prohibiting any future legislation, taxation or rules that would infringe upon Second Amendment rights. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Workforce Development House Bill 1981 (Representative Mark Lepak) Creates a Universal Licensing Recognition Act. Allows a person living in Oklahoma to apply for licensing or certification if there is no conflict with any interstate compact or state-to-state reciprocity or equivalency agreement as determined by the Oklahoma regulatory entity. The bill requires the person to show proof of residency or be married to and accompanying an active duty member of the military stationed in Oklahoma, be currently licensed or certified by another state with a similar scope of work through a substantially similar examination, have minimum education requirement and, if applicable, professional work experience, education training and clinical supervision requirements. Update: Passed House Business and Commerce Committee 9-2 on Wednesday, February 24. Dormant pursuant to the rules. House Bill 2860 (Representative Kevin Wallace and Senator Roger Thompson) Creates the Oklahoma Remote Quality Jobs Inventive Act. Provides for the Department of Commerce and the Oklahoma Tax Commission to create policy’s attracting growth industries that employ remote workers. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 29-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House floor 96-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 2929 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator Greg Treat) Requires the Department of Commerce to post on its website information related to its business recruiting efforts with an emphasis on possible business site locations or relocation decisions within the state. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 9-2 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 68-22 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to the Senate. Senate Bill 71 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom and Representative Kevin McDugle) Modifies language related to the Department of Commerce's requirement to promulgate rules for the administration of the Oklahoma Local Development and Enterprise Zone Incentive Leverage Act. It requires the rules establish reporting requirements for successful applicants which allow data collection and analysis by the department on employment, capital investment, changes in assessed value of a project and other impacts resulting from payments and reporting of data by the department to the Oklahoma Tax Commission. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 10-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 211 (Senator Tom Dugger and Representative Ken Luttrell) Modifies the powers and duties of the Oklahoma Board of Private Vocational Schools. It permits a school to be accredited by an accrediting organization approved by the U.S. Department of Education for multiple years, and to obtain a sustained license annually during the period of the multi-year accreditation. It modifies the fees the board may assess. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Title Stricken. Passed Senate Education Committee 10-2 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 20-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the Senate floor 42-5 on Wednesday. March, 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 587 (Senator Chuck Hall and Representative Brad Boles) Adds the delivery of industry focused instruction from Common Education, CareerTech or Higher Education to the definitions in the Oklahoma Community Economic Development Pooled Finance Act. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-0 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 936 (Senator Chuck Hall and Representative Kevin Wallace) Combines the various quality jobs programs under the Oklahoma Quality Jobs Program Act. Update: Passed Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 11-1 on Thursday, February 11. Passed Senate Appropriations and Budget 20-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 43-2 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Thank you. Glen Glen D. Johnson Chancellor Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education 655 Research Parkway, Suite 200 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104 405.225.9122 gjohnson at osrhe.edu follow us on Twitter @okhighered [cid:image005.jpg at 01D71766.10720590] [cid:image006.jpg at 01D71766.10720590] -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 2048 bytes Desc: image001.jpg URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image002.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 1891 bytes Desc: image002.jpg URL: From msimpson at matech.edu Mon Mar 22 08:33:39 2021 From: msimpson at matech.edu (Melinda Simpson) Date: Mon, 22 Mar 2021 13:33:39 +0000 Subject: [Oasfaa] Kevin Campbell's New Role - Congratulations! Message-ID: March 16, 2021 Greetings OASFAA Members! I hope this finds you all safe, healthy and happy. I am both happy and sad to report that I have been reassigned to a new position within the Department of Education. I am sad because I have been providing training, Title IV guidance and FSA/ED updates to your association for over twenty years. I started attending state and regional conferences as an Institutional Improvement Specialist between 1999 and 2006. I continued to attend and present at conferences, including the annual NASFAA and FSA Training Conferences, as a Training Officer between 2006 and 2021. I will miss being a trainer and having the opportunity to interact with all of you more than I can convey in words. I am happy because my reassignment will present new opportunities to assist students and families pursue financial well being in their lives. I am being assigned to Federal Student Aid's Office of Strategy and Innovation (S&I). There I will work for ET Winzer, a name some of the more experienced financial aid administrators may recognize as a former Financial Aid Director from Louisiana. In S&I, we are focusing on increasing student financial empowerment (SFE). That may be a new term to some, so I will include the official definition, recently drafted: Federal Student Aid (FSA) Student Financial Empowerment (SFE) is a series of engagements with students, families, and educators that collectively support a student's ability and confidence to make financially informed decisions toward attaining financial well-being as an adult, regardless of career or educational journey. The SFE initiative will equip students with knowledge and tools to support their ability to make financially informed decisions toward attaining financial well-being regardless of career or educational journey. As part of my new duties, the team I am joining will be working on ways to partner with schools, organizations, government agencies and other entities to promote ED's tools and resources that can promote student empowerment. These resources include things like FSAID, the FAFSA and the College Scorecard. We are looking at new tools that are not yet developed. We are looking at ways to increase awareness about these tools to students at a much younger age than we have in the past, starting in middle school. We also want to focus on older adult students who may be returning to postsecondary school or attending for the first time. Perhaps these efforts will allow our professional paths to cross in the future. FSA has always committed to support state and regional associations and will continue to do so. We value the opportunity to be a part of your conference and training efforts. When the occasion arises for either in-person or virtual training opportunities, please reach out to Mr. Scott Prince at scott.prince at ed.gov. Scott is a manager in the Training and Information Services Group and will do his best to accommodate your training requests. Please know that it has been a privilege and honor to be able to serve the Oklahoma financial aid community for the past two decades. You have always made me very welcome. I have always been, and remain, in awe of the work you perform including the impossible tasks that fall to you and which you complete with professionalism and compassion. I am amazed at the number of lives that you are personally responsible for having changed for the better. You all are amazing! So, I will close with not good-bye, but until we meet again! Wishing you all the very best in your personal and professional endeavors. Kevin Campbell United States Department of Education Federal Student Aid Strategy and Innovation Strategic Outreach and Engagement 214-661-9488 kevin.campbell at ed.gov -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bfair at osrhe.edu Mon Mar 22 10:35:13 2021 From: bfair at osrhe.edu (Fair, Bryce) Date: Mon, 22 Mar 2021 15:35:13 +0000 Subject: [Oasfaa] =?windows-1252?q?FW=3A_Legislative_Update_=96_March_19?= =?windows-1252?q?=2C_2021?= In-Reply-To: <2530ace93b374f1ab13aca6c89f1b413@osrhe.edu> References: <2530ace93b374f1ab13aca6c89f1b413@osrhe.edu> Message-ID: <9529d1d521d64c6cb5222400c0ea8dfe@osrhe.edu> Following is the legislative update for last week. SB 639, which would require OKPromise students who do not complete a degree or certificate during their period of scholarship eligibility to repay their OKPromise awards (“claw back” requirement) has not yet been assigned to a committee in the House. Immediately below I have pulled out 8 bills from the list that are related to financial aid programs. We’ll try to keep you apprised of any significant developments. Bryce Fair House Bill 1739 (Representative Sheila Dills and Senator Brenda Stanley) Creates the Connecting Futures Act. It allows the Department of Human Services to, subject to available funding, create a pilot program to address needs of any minors who are separated from their parents or legal guardians, are not supported by their parents or legal guardians and are not in the custody of the Department of Human Services or in the custody of any Indian tribe. It requires the pilot program to allow the Department to provide assistance in securing necessary services to allow eligible minors to become self-reliant and productive citizens. The bill would allow students participating in the program to be enrolled in Oklahoma’s Promise without consideration of income. Update: Passed House Children Youth and Family Services Committee 5-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House Floor 82-6 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate. Dual Assigned to Senate Health and Human Services Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee. House Bill 1821 (Representative Toni Hasenbeck and Senator Dewayne Pemberton) Increases flexibility in the use of Tuition Aid Grants, by removing language directing the Regents for Higher Education to direct tuition aid grants to all eligible applicants, and adding factors to the way the awards are prioritized including: Enrollment status, unmet financial need, continuous enrollment, nearness to degree completion or certificate, state employment needs, and eligibility for other State and institutional funds. Update: Passed House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the House Floor 94-2 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Education Committee. House Bill 1962 (Representative Jadine Nollan and Senator Marty Quinn) Specifies the definition of “qualified higher education expenses” to fall in line with section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code [This bill would allow expenditures from the Oklahoma College Savings Plan for items recently authorized by the federal government for 529 plans such as apprenticeship expenses and up to $10,000 in student loan payments]. Update: Passed House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee with a vote of 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the House Floor 95-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Education Committee. House Bill 2399 (Representative Todd Russ and Senator Marty Quinn) Extends the qualification for Oklahoma’s higher learning access program to those students whose parents died after the students tenth grade year, and meet the other financial requirements. Update: Assigned to House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee. Amended by unanimous consent passed to House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the House Floor 93-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. Dual assigned to Senate Education Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee. Senate Bill 132 (Senator David Bullard and Representative Rhonda Baker) Extends application window for Oklahoma’s Promise to the eleventh grade. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Title Stricken. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Title Restored. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 237 (Senator Dewayne Pemberton and Representative Mark McBride) Increases flexibility in the use of Tuition Aid Grants, by removing language directing the Regents for Higher Education to direct tuition aid grants to all eligible applicants, and adding factors to the way the awards are prioritized including: Enrollment status, unmet financial need, continuous enrollment, nearness to degree completion or certificate, state employment needs, and eligibility for other State and institutional funds. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-1 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 238 (Senator Dewayne Pemberton and Representative Kyle Hilbert) Creates a task force to study the requirement for high school students to complete the FASFA. Designates the makeup of this task force and the end date for a report. Requires the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the Senate to provide the staff and administrative support for the task force. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 40-5 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 639 (Senator Adam Pugh and Representative Rhonda Baker) Extends qualification for Oklahoma’s Promise to those enrolled in an area that has been identified as a critical occupation area. Requires the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and the State Regents for Higher Education to publish a yearly list between October and June of the critical occupation areas that meet the guidelines. Requires the Regents, in consultation with CareerTech, to identify postsecondary vo-tech programs that correlate to the critical occupation areas. Sets a 6-year completion timeline for a baccalaureate or other postsecondary education credential and requires that the Oklahoma’s Promise scholarship recipient repay the scholarship if the credential is not earned within 6-year time frame. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Amended by Floor Substitute, which provides a 6-year time period to earn a baccalaureate or other postsecondary education credential or requires that the Oklahoma’s Promise recipient enter into a repayment agreement with the institution of higher education or career technology center. Passed off the Senate Floor 36-9 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. From: Johnson, Dr. Glen Sent: Friday, March 19, 2021 5:35 PM To: Subject: Legislative Update – March 19, 2021 OKLAHOMA STATE REGENTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION Memo To: Higher Education Network From: Chancellor Glen D. Johnson Date: Friday, March 19, 2021 Subject: Legislative Update – March 19, 2021 The update below reflects the major legislation concerning Higher Education. If you have any questions, please contact LeeAnna McNally, Vice Chancellor for Governmental Relations, at lmcnally at osrhe.edu or (405) 301-0332. Legislative Report March 19, 2021 Agency Administration House Bill 1090 (Representative Gerrid Kendrix and Senator Brent Howard) Allows the State Auditor and Inspector General to perform audits and inspections of government entities without authorization from the Governor, the Chief Executive Officer of a government entity, or a joint or concurrent resolution of the Legislature. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House General Government Committee. Passed House General Government Committee 7-0 on Wednesday, February 17. Passed off the House Floor 91-0 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Finance Committee. House Bill 1146 (Representative Mike Osburn and Senator Greg Treat) Places all state employee positions under the administration of the Human Capital Management Division of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services effective January 1, 2022, except those employed by the Governor, Lt. Governor, Speaker of the House, or President Pro Tempore of the Senate, as well as elected officials, political appointees, and up to 5 percent of an agency's executive management. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Amended by Floor Substitute. Passed off the House floor 93-0 on Tuesday, March 9. House Bill 1602 (Representative Collin Walke and Senator John Michael Montgomery) The bill entitles a consumer to request that a business that collects the consumer's personal information disclose to the consumer the categories and specific items of personal information the business has collected. It establishes a requirement for the consumer to request the information. It establishes procedures for the business to disclose the information. Update: Passed House Technology Committee 6-0 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 85-11 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to Senate. House Bill 1875 (Representative Tammy West and Senator Brenda Stanley) Permits each educational institution to choose to designate specific information which will be classified as directory information for students attending the educational institution. Update: Passed House General Government Committee 8-0 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 92-0 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Judiciary Committee. House Bill 1986 (Representative Judd Strom and Senator Bill Coleman) Requires any state agency that owns, operates or leases land in the state that is utilized for livestock grazing to enclose the area with a fence or another suitable means for the portion that contains livestock, as well as maintaining the enclosure. The bill allows the state agency to enter into a labor cost-sharing contract with adjacent landowner provided the landowner is not otherwise responsible for the cost of the enclosure or its maintenance. Update: Passed House Agriculture and Rural Development Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 16. Passed off the House Floor 92-4 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Dual Assigned to Senate Agriculture and Wildlife Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee. House Bill 2085 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator David Bullard) Requires the Office of Management and Enterprise Services to display the national motto of the United States in a prominently visible location in all state buildings. The bill authorizes the Oklahoma Attorney General to prepare and present a legal defense of the display. Update: Passed House States’ Rights Committee 5-1 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 81-19 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate General Government Committee. House Bill 2088 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator Roger Thompson) Exempts the legislature and judicial branches of state government from any and all fees or costs for services rendered by state agencies. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 16. Passed off the House floor 94-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. House Bill 2180 (Representative Ronny Johns and Senator Greg McCortney) Removes requirements for making payroll deductions for certain insurance premiums with a minimum participation of 500 state employees. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House Insurance Committee. Passed House Insurance Committee 7-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 82-12 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Finance Committee. House Bill 2185 (Representative Ronny Johns and Greg McCortney) Modifies the requirements of publications on contracts awarded by state agencies to include the address of the company and the reason to be awarded the contract. Deletes explanations on the out of state ownership percentage of contracted companies. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House Government Modernization and Efficiency Committee. Passed Government Modernization and Efficiency Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 88-3 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate General Government Committee. House Bill 2294 (Representative Dustin Roberts and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Deletes the ability for employees to accumulate more than the maximum annual leave. Update: Passed House General Government Committee 8-0 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 98-0 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to Senate. Dual Assigned to Senate General Government Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee. House Bill 2350 (Representative Jeff Boatman and Senator James Leewright) Creates a task force with the goal of creating a single repository of data for state agencies that currently have multiple data streams with redundancies. A goal of the task force would be to create a five-year digital infrastructure plan. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 10-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off House Floor 85-10 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to Senate. Dual assigned to Senate General Government Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee. Senate Bill 41 (Senator Greg McCortney and Representative Ronny Johns) Modifies the requirements for state employee payroll deductions for private insurance organizations and service companies that provide legal services. It removes the requirement that the organizations and service companies that provide legal services be regulated by the State Insurance Commissioner and have a minimum participation of 500 state employees. Update: Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 9-0 on Thursday, February18. Title Restored. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-0 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 63 (Senator John Michael Montgomery and Representative Avery Frix) Removes language related to the State Government Reduction-in-Force and Severance Benefits Act that requires an employee to repay all severance benefits on a proportional basis if an affected employee is reemployed by the agency from which separated as a result of a reduction-in-force Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 9-0 on Thursday, February 11. Passed off the Senate Floor 31-15 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 282 (Senator Frank Simpson and Representative Tommy Hardin) Amends Section 840-2.20 of the Oklahoma Personnel Act to allow for a temporary increase in the accumulation limits for annual leave following an emergency declaration period, which shall carryover to the end of the fiscal year following the year in which the emergency declaration ended. increase and carryover of annual leave time Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 9-0 on Thursday, February 4. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-1 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Senate Bill 299 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom and Representative Mark Lepak) Allows for cooperative “piggybacking” purchase agreements between state agencies including on public construction contracts. Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 7-2 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the Senate Floor 36-8 on Thursday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 333 (Senator Frank Simpson and Representative Tammy Townley) Amends Section 840-2.15 of the Oklahoma Personnel Act to allow for a temporary increase in the accumulation limits for compensatory time following an emergency declaration period, which shall carryover to the end of the fiscal year following the year in which the emergency declaration ended. increase and carryover of annual leave time. Update: Assigned to Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee. Reassigned to House General Government Committee. Passed House General Government Committee 8-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-1 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 403 (Senator Brenda Stanley and Representative Robert Manger) Makes it unlawful for any person, alone or in concert with others and without authorization, to willfully disturb, interfere or disrupt business of any political subdivision, which includes publicly posted meetings, or any political subdivision. Update: Assigned to Senate Public Safety Committee. Amended to make the bill an Emergency. Passed Public Safety Committee with a vote of 11-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the Senate Floor 36-9 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 459 (Senator Lonnie Paxton and Representative Ty Burns) Amends the Standards for Workplace Drug and Alcohol testing in light of medical marijuana. Update: Passed Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 10-3 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 650 (Senator Kim David and Representative Jon Echols) Provides a 2 percent increase to the amount of a participant’s benefit allowance from the amount provided in the previous plan year. Update: Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 8-1 on Thursday, February 18. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 18-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the Senate Floor 41-4 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 794 (Senator James Leewright and Representative Kevin Wallace) Requires that if the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission or its representative determines that an individual has been overpaid unemployment benefits to provisions therein relating to administrative overpayment, the individual must be sent a notice of overpayment determination. It allows that if the individual disagrees with this determination, said individual can file an appeal of the determination with the Appeal Tribunal within 10 days after the date of mailing. Update: Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee and Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee. Passed Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 12-0 on Thursday, February 11. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 829 (Senator Casey Murdock and Representative Kevin Wallace) Requires state agencies who have jurisdiction over parcels of land containing 80 or more acres of contiguous land to fence it. Update: Assigned to Senate General Government Committee. Reassigned to Senate Agriculture and Wildlife Committee. Passed Senate Agriculture and Wildlife 12-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 13-7 on Monday, March 1. Title stricken. Failed to pass on the Senate Floor 14-30 on Thursday, March 11. Senate Bill 895 (Senator Paul Rosino and Representative Chris Kannady) Allows state agencies to choose to have required audits performed by a public accountant or certified public accountant registered to do business with the state. Update: Assigned to Senate Finance Committee. Reassigned to House General Government Committee. Passed House General Government Committee 7-2 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 36-9 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 924 (Senator Greg Treat and Representative Kyle Hilbert) Creates a state data definition and gives OMES the authority to determine when state data is allowed to be shared between agencies or with federal entities if a request to share is initially rejected. Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 6-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-1 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 984 (Senator Kim David and Representative Terry O’Donnell) Prohibits an agency or official of the executive branch from entering into a contingency fee contract that provides for the private attorney or firm to receive an aggregate contingency fee that exceeds amounts specified therein. It prohibits the total fee payable to all retained private attorneys in any contingency fee contract from exceeding $50 million exclusive of any costs and expenses provided by the contract and actually incurred by the retained private attorneys, regardless of the number of actions or proceedings or the number of retained private attorneys involved in the matter. Update: Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 7-2 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 38-6 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Concurrent Resolution 2 (Senator Rob Standridge) Requires the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to submit a report to the Legislature and to make the report available on its website by December 31, 2021, that includes a list of all persons employed in a faculty or teaching position including their position rank at their respective institutions within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education and their compensation during the 2020-2021 academic year; a list of the courses taught and the hours taught by persons employed in a faculty or teaching position at institutions within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education during the 2020-2021 academic year; the tenure policy of each institution within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education for the 2020-2021 academic year; and the number of faculty employed by each institution within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education who had tenure during the 2020-2021 academic year. Update: Not assigned to committee. Budget Bills House Bill 1665 (Representative Kevin West and Senator Chuck Hall) Creates a Federal Funds Holding Account within the General Revenue Fund to receive all funds required to be paid to the State of Oklahoma. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 20-10 on Wednesday, February 24, Title Stricken. Passed off the House Floor 86-12 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. House Bill 1990 (Representative Trey Caldwell and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Allows ad valorem reimbursement fund to be used to reimburse counties for loss of revenue. Update: Assigned to House Appropriations and Budget Committee. Direct to Appropriations Committee. Passed House Appropriations Committee 28-0 Thursday, February 18. Passed off the House Floor 65-30 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. Dual Assigned to Senate Finance Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee. House Bill 2086 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator Zack Taylor) Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services to ensure state agencies are charged no more than the actual cost of the services provided by the Office. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 9-0 Tuesday, February 16. Passed off the House Floor 94-0 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. House Bill 2775 (Representative John Pfeiffer and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Adds to the definition of “Cost Approach” in the ad valorem tax code to include physical deterioration, functional or internal obsolescence, and economic or external obsolescence. Update: Passed House County and Municipal Government Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 22. Passed off the House Floor 92-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Finance Committee. House Bill 2776 (Representative John Pfeiffer and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Creates the Ad Valorem School District Support Revolving Fund which shall consist of all ad valorem funds under protest received by the State Department of Education (SDE). The SDE may distribute this money to school districts which are affected by protested ad valorem taxes. Update: Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed House Rules Committee 7-2 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the House Floor 90-0 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. House Bill 2777 (Representative John Pfeiffer and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Allows for wind power valuation for real property and personal property in the ad valorem tax code. Update: Passed House County and Municipal Government Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 22. Title Stricken. Passed off the House Floor 93-0 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Finance Committee. House Bill 2780 (Representative John Pfeiffer and Senator Dave Rader) Allows the Oklahoma Tax Commission to garnish accrued earnings of a delinquent taxpayer by contacting the taxpayer’s employer. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 27-3 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 78-18 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. House Joint Resolution 1001 (Representative Andy Fugate and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Proposes a vote of the people on a constitutional amendment that changes the way the maximum Constitutional Reserve (Rainy Day) Fund balance amount would be computed. It would require the maximum balance allowed be based on a percentage of total state expenditures instead of using revenue estimates provided by the State Board of Equalization for the annual appropriations process. It would provide that total expenditures include all appropriated monies and federal funds. It would exclude from total expenditures money from revolving funds which are used by state agencies, fees or similar charges that were not derived from tax revenue, and money obtained by issuing state government bonds. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 9-0 Tuesday, February 16. Passed off the House Floor 93-0 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to Senate. Senate Bill 79 (Senator Roger Thompson and Representative Kevin West) Exempts from sales tax the transfer of tangible personal property to or by nonprofit 501(c)(3) entities that have entered into a joint operating agreement with the University Hospitals Trust. Update: Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. Amended to provide an effective date of July 1, 2022. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee as amended 20-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-1 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 181 (Senator Zack Taylor and Representative Brad Boles) Permits more than one-half of ad valorem taxes to be paid by January 1 of each year. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 12-0 Tuesday, February 2. Passed off Senate Floor 46-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 383 (Senator Robert Standridge and Representative Kevin West) Establishes that the owner or operator of a social media website who contracts with users in Oklahoma is subject to a private right of action by a social media website user if the social media website purposely deletes or censors a social media website user’s political speech or religious speech or uses an algorithm to suppress political speech or religious speech. Update: Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 5-3 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 34-12 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 498 (Senator Roger Thompson and Representative Scott Fetgatter) Permits a facility engaged in cement manufacturing to have the payroll requirements of the five-year ad valorem tax exemption waived for tax year 2021, which is based in part on the 2020 calendar year payroll reported to the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission and permits it to continue to receive the exemption for the five-year period only if all other requirements of this section are met. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Referred to Full Appropriations Committee. Laid over. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 18-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-1 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 609 (Senator Chuck Hall and Representative Kyle Hilbert) Extends the ad valorem tax exemption to manufacturing facilities, doubles the acquisition or expansion limit. Adds definitions to manufacturing facilities. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 11-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 33-1 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 906 (Senator Casey Murdock and Representative Todd Russ) Provides allowances for depreciation of value in ad valorem tax consideration. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 9-2 on Friday, February 19. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Joint Resolution 14 (Senator Joe Newhouse) Puts to a vote of the people increasing the cap on the Constitutional Reserve Fund from 15 percent to 30 percent. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Senate Joint Resolution 16 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom) Changes the way maximum balance allowed for the rainy-day fund from using the Board of Equalization estimates to a percentage of a total of the state expenditures for the previous year including all state and federal funds. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. CareerTech House Bill 1026 (Representative Rande Worthen and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Allows CLEET to establish and certify additional law enforcement and criminal justice programs at state-supported technology center schools in the State of Oklahoma operating under the State Board of Career and Technology Education for teaching students between 16 and 19 years of age. Update: Passed House Public Safety Committee 7-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 97-0 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Public Safety Committee. Common Education House Bill 1027 (Representative Trish Ranson and Senator Brenda Stanley) Requires de-escalation training for certified teachers, beginning in the 2022-2023 school year. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 13-0 on Tuesday, February 16. Passed off the House Floor 81-11 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Education Committee. House Bill 1046 (Representative Dell Kerbs and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Requires a copy or a hyperlink to a copy of the most recent audit of the financial statements of a school district to be on the front page of the school district website for public inspection. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor as amended 95-0 on Wednesday, March. 3 Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Education Committee. House Bill 1073 (Representative Tom Gann and Senator Nathan Dahm) Extends the sunset date for the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness Board until July 1, 2024. Update: Passed House Administrative Rules Committee 10-0 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 89-2 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Education Committee. House Bill 1103 (Representative Mark Vancuren and Senator John Haste) Directs the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and the State Education Department to create a set of guidelines and provide directions to schools in order to survey every public school student in grades 6,8,10 and 12 with the Oklahoma Prevention Needs Assessment Survey every other year beginning in the 2022-2023 school year. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 16. Amended to remove private schools. Passed off the House Floor 78-19 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Dual Assigned to Senate Education Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee. House Bill 1104 (Representative Mark Vancuren and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Requires information on a student's tribal affiliation to be included in student data collected for the state. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee on 12-0 Tuesday, February 16. Passed off the House Floor 94-0 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Education Committee. House Bill 1568 (Representative Jeff Boatman and Senator John Haste) Creates Maria’s Law requiring collaboration with the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to adopt standards and approve age-appropriate curriculum for K-12 students as a part of normal health education curriculum. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 84-10 with Title Stricken on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. Dual Assigned to Senate Education Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee. House Bill 1569 (Representative Jacob Rosecrants and Senator Adam Pugh) Creates the Oklahoma Play to Learn Act. States that the intention of the Legislature is to focus on the importance of child-centered, play-based learning. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House Floor 76-16 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Education Committee. House Bill 1775 (Representative Sherrie Conley and Senator Jessica Garvin) Creates Riley's Rule, a requirement that each athletic and practice facility create an emergency action plan. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Laid Over. Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the House Floor 93-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Education Committee. House Bill 1882 (Representative Marilyn Stark and Senator Dave Rader) Creates the "Out-of-Schooltime" task force to identify, evaluate and recommend a set of best practices for children, youth and families to improve and increase the number of quality, affordable out-of-school programs in the state. The bill sets the membership of the committee. Update: Passed House Children, Youth and Family Services Committee as amended by Committee Substitute 5-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 82-14 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Dual Assigned to Senate Education Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee. House Bill 1963 (Representative Jadine Nollan and Senator Brenda Stanley) If vacancies occur which result in a loss of majority members of the board of education of a school district or technology center school district, the Governor shall appoint a member or members necessary to constitute a quorum to the board of education. Update: Assigned to House Elections and Ethics Committee. Laid Over. Passed House Elections and Ethics Committee 7-0 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the House Floor 80-16 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. House Bill 1968 (Representative Jadine Nollan and Senator Brenda Stanley) Deletes expenditure and program classification reporting requirements for certain gifted and talented programs. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 13-0 on Monday, February 8. Referred to full House Appropriations Committee. Laid Over. Passed House Appropriations Committee 30-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the Senate Floor 80-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Education Committee. House Bill 2030 (Representative Terry O’Donnell and Senator Adam Pugh) Adds passing the Naturalization test to high school graduation requirements. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 11-3 on Tuesday, February 16. Passed off the House Floor 80-18 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to Senate. Dual Assigned to Senate Education Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee. House Bill 2223 (Representative Randy Randleman and Senator Dewayne Pemberton) Requires the Oklahoma State Department of Education to maintain a dyslexia information handbook. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House Floor 96-0 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Education Committee. House Bill 2381 (Representative Danny Sterling and Senator Frank Simpson) Directs local school districts to conduct an annual fitness assessment. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 22-9 on Wednesday, February 25. Title Stricken. Passed off the House Floor 57-37 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. Dual Assigned to Senate Education Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee. House Bill 2388 (Representative John Talley and Senator Tom Dugger) Asks school districts to provide age-appropriate instruction about social-emotional learning. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House Common Education Committee. Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 70-22 on Wednesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Education Committee. House Bill 2396 (Representative Todd Russ and Senator Brenda Stanley) Asks the board of education to adopt a policy regarding sex trafficking and exploitation prevention. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House Floor 86-6 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Education Committee. House Bill 2462 (Representative Dick Lowe and Senator Brent Howard) Allows the State Department of Education to enter into contracts and agreements for the payment of food, lodging and other expenses necessary to host or participate in conferences and training sessions. Update: Passed House General Government Committee 7-0 on Wednesday, February 17. Passed off the House Floor 86-5 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate. Dual Assigned to Senate Education Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee. House Bill 2662 (Representative Dick Lowe and Senator Dave Rader) Creates the Seizure Safe Schools Act requiring each local school district to have at least one school employee at each school who has met certain seizure safe training requirements. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Amended to change from a Shall to a May. Passed House Common Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 16. Author change. Passed off the House Floor 95-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. Dual Assigned to Senate Education Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee. House Bill 2727 (Representative Ajay Pittman and Senator David Bullard) Requires subject to the availability of funds that there be a basic life skills education curriculum taught in public schools. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 67-26 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to Senate. Dual Assigned to Senate Education Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee. House Bill 2749 (Representative Rhonda Baker and Senator Adam Pugh) Requires schools that receive more than $2,500 from the Reading Proficiency Act to spend at least 10 percent on professional development for Pre-k-5 grade teachers. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday February 16. Passed off the House Floor 90-5 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. Dual Assigned to Senate Education Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee. House Joint Resolution 1026 (Representative Anthony Moore) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment that removes debt limits for school districts. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. House Joint Resolution 1029 (Representative Monroe Nichols) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment that authorizes a school district to raise an additional $5 million levy on taxable property within the district if approved by the majority of district voters. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. House Joint Resolution 1033 (Representative Chad Caldwell) Puts to a vote of the people a requirement that a school spends at least 60 percent of its annual budget on instructional expenditures. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Senate Bill 2 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom and Representative Toni Hasenbeck) Clarifies and expands the duties of the School Finance Review Commission to conduct a review of all matters related to school finance, including but not limited to teacher compensation and benefits; administrative costs, including administrative functions that may be shared between districts; opportunities for school districts to be operated in a cost effective manner; variances in per pupil and administrative expenditures among school districts with comparable enrollment, demographics and outcomes on statewide assessments; and expenditures not directly or sufficiently related to improving student outcomes. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 38-8 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 13 (Senator Brenda Stanley and Representative Rhonda Baker) Requires a teacher whose certificate is suspended by the State Board of Education to be placed on suspension while proceedings for revocation or other action are pending before the State Board of Education. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 21 (Senator Kay Floyd and Representative Marcus McEntire) Makes it a requirement, rather than permissive, beginning with the 2021-2022 school year, that district school boards provide schoolwide training to all students in grades seven through twelve and staff addressing suicide awareness and prevention. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee as amended by Committee Substitute 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 54 (Senator John Michael Montgomery and Representative Daniel Pae) Requires the State Department of Education to designate a school district site or charter school site as a Purple Star School. The bill defines applicable terms. It establishes the requirements for a school district site or charter school to be designated as a Purple Star School. It requires the State Board of Education to promulgate necessary rules. Update: Passed Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Committee 10-0 on Thursday, February 11. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 66 (Senator John Haste and Representative Lonnie Sims) Exempts any insurance policy sold to any school district from the surplus lines premium tax. Update: Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to House Senate Bill 68 (Senator Frank Simpson and Representative Max Wolfley) Requires a public school student to be considered in compliance with statutory residency provisions if he or she is a student whose parent or legal guardian is transferred or is pending transfer to a military installation within the state while on active military duty pursuant to an official military order. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 89 (Senator John Haste and Representative Rhonda Baker) Creates the Health Education Act. The bill defines applicable terms. It requires health education to be taught in public schools, including but not limited to physical health, mental health, social and emotional health and intellectual health. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-1 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 128 (Senator Dave Rader and Representative Dick Lowe) Creates the Seizure Safe Schools Act requiring at least one school employee at each school to meet certain training requirements. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Title Stricken, Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 47-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 142 (Senator Roland Pederson) Requires a school district’s board of education to allow a nonresident and non-transferred pupil to determine whether to require a tuition fee equal to the per capita cost of education for a similar period in such district during the preceding year. The bill requires the tuition fee to be paid to the receiving district in advance yearly or by semester as determined by the district board of education of the receiving district. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee as amended by committee substitute 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Failed on the Senate Floor 21-26 on Wednesday, March 1. Motion to reconsider. Senate Bill 157 (Senator J.J. Dossett) Removes language that provides State Board of Education appointees to serve at the pleasure of the Governor. It adds language that permits the Governor to remove members of the board for cause, including being found guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction of a felony or any offense involving moral turpitude; being found guilty of malfeasance, misfeasance or nonfeasance in relation to board duties; being found mentally incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction; or failing to attend three successive meetings of the board without just cause, as determined by the Governor. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Title Stricken. Passed Senate Education Committee 10-2 on Tuesday, February 2. Senate Bill 252 (Senator Brenda Stanley and Representative Rhonda Baker) Requires all public schools to begin teaching computer science courses in the 2024-2025 school year. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Title Stricken. Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed off the Senate Floor 41-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 419 (Senator J.J. Dossett and Representative John Waldron) Removes the requirement to administer assessments in U.S. history under the statewide system of student assessments. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 10-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 43-2 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 503 (Senator Nathan Dahm and Representative Ryan Martinez) Adds to required history curriculum, the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, substantive selections from the Federalist Papers, the Emancipation Proclamation, the Articles of Confederation, the Gettysburg Address and George Washington’s Farewell Address. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 9-2 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 39-7 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 619 (Senator David Bullard and Representative Kevin West) Allows school districts to obtain liability insurance coverage to protect a student participating in an apprenticeship internship or mentorship program. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Title Stricken Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 20-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Title Restored. Passed off the Senate Floor 47-0 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 634 (Senator Julie Daniels and Representative Terry O’Donnell) Requires an authorization form that has the statement of understanding of the first amendment rights to not be a part of a union for public education employees. Makes that form’s authorization a yearly requirement. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Reassigned to Senate Judiciary Committee. Passed Senate Judiciary 7-4 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 25-21 on Thursday, March 4. Emergency Passed 32-14 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 642 (Senator Adam Pugh and Representative Dustin Roberts) Includes multi-aptitude battery assessments that measure developed abilities and help predict future academic and occupational success in the military. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Title Stricken. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 783 (Senator Adam Pugh and Representative Brad Boles) Requires the Department of Education to publish a list of the capacity for a class in each grade level K-12. Strengthens open transfer policies. Gives OEQA audit authority over transfer Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 9-3 on Tuesday, February 23. Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed off the Senate Floor 32-15 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 807 (Senator Chris Kidd and Representative Rhonda Baker) Entitles support employees to pay for any time lost when a school district is closed because of an epidemic or when an order for such a closing has been issued by a health officer authorized by law to issue the order. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 10-1 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-1 Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Joint Resolution 3 (Senator Carri Hicks) Proposes a vote of the people on a constitutional amendment that allows a member of the Legislature to be employed as a certified teacher with a public school district in this state after he or she completes his or her term in office. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Senate Joint Resolution 9 (Senator Mary Boren) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment that changes the duty of the legislature when it comes to public education. Removes the words “Wherein all the children of the State may be educated”. Instead requires the legislature to “make suitable provision for the support and maintenance of an efficient and equitable system of free public schools”. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. COVID-19 House Bill 2335 (Representative Jay Steagall and Senator Shane Jett) Prohibits compulsory immunization through any state entity via direct or indirect means. Update: Passed House Public Health Committee 7-1 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House floor 71-25 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Health and Human Services Committee. House Joint Resolution 1032 (Representative Chad Caldwell) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment prohibiting a governmental entity from issuing any order or rule that requires closure of any place of worship. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Senate Bill 368 (Senator David Bullard and Representative Brian Hill) Prohibits any governmental declaration of a religious institution as nonessential. Requires that religious institutions be exempt from closure orders for the purpose of health or security that is greater than that imposed on any private entity. Update: Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 6-2 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 37-9 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Charter Schools House Joint Resolution 1036 (Representative Jon Echols) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment allowing a school district to become indebted after a 3/5ths vote to acquire or improve the school sites or equipment of a charter school. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Senate Bill 69 (Senator Frank Simpson and Representative Max Wolfley) Provides a student will be eligible to enroll in a statewide virtual charter school if the student's parent or legal guardian is transferred or is pending transfer to a military installation within this state while on active military duty pursuant to an official military order. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 222 (Senator Rob Standridge and Representative Daniel Pae) Creates the Hope Scholarship Program to provide a scholarship to an eligible private school of choice for students who have experienced bullying. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 20-0 on Monday, March 1. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-1 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 239 (Senator Dewayne Pemberton and Representative Toni Hasenbeck) Creates a process for the State Board of Education to hear appeals to the charter school sponsorship process. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed off the Senate Floor 30-16 on Wednesday, February 10. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 658 (Senator Nathan Dahm and Representative Kevin West) Requires the State Department of Education to provide any notice or publication on immunization requirements all information on exemptions to such requirements. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Amended to pass Senate Education Committee 8-3 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 35-10 on Thursday, March 4. Emergency Passed 36-9 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. General Government Senate Joint Resolution 1 (Senator Kay Floyd) Proposes a vote of the people on a constitutional amendment that would prohibit members of the Legislature from being appointed or elected to any office or commission during their term; receiving any appointment from the Governor, the Governor and Senate or the Legislature during the term; or being interested in any contract with the state or a political subdivision during the term. It would not prohibit an employee of a school district, a technology center school district or the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education from continuing to serve during the term, or prohibit an appointment to a legislative committee or other legislative position. It also would not prohibit a former member from returning to his or her profession or business. It would permit the Legislature to enact laws to implement these provisions. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Higher Education House Bill 1801 (Representative Nicole Miller and Senator Brenda Stanley) Grants priority enrollment and course registration to all Oklahoma resident members of the Oklahoma National Guard and to students who are eligible to receive educational financial assistance from the Department of Veteran Affairs. Update: Passed House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Amended to allow only Oklahoma residents. Passed off the House Floor as amended 98-1 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Education Committee. House Bill 1962 (Representative Jadine Nollan and Senator Marty Quinn) Specifies the definition of “qualified higher education expenses” to fall in line with section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code. Update: Passed House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee with a vote of 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the House Floor 95-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Education Committee. House Bill 1965 (Representative Jadine Nolan and Senator Darrell Weaver) Allows a board of county commissioners to determine the years of service required for full-time county employees to qualify for a continuing education program and allows such programs to include courses offered by a college or university that is a member of the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education as well as any other in-state or out-of-state programs or courses which are relevant to the employee's responsibilities as approved by the county commissioners. Update: Passed House County and Municipal Government Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the House Floor as amended 95-0 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate General Government Committee. House Bill 2046 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator Frank Simpson) Creates the Higher Education Institution Local Funding Act. The measure authorizes the board of regents of eligible two-year colleges to adopt a resolution calling for the creation of a higher education funding district, for the purpose of providing additional sources of funding for the institution. If approved by the board of regents, the creation of the funding district and its initial operational millage rate would go to a vote of the people within the established district boundary. Additional bonds may be included in the ballot measure calling for the creation of the district. The ballot measure would require 60 percent approval to pass. Update: Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed House Rules Committee as amended 7-0 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the House Floor 79-18 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Dual Assigned to Senate Education Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee. House Bill 2691 (Representative Toni Hasenbeck and Senator Micheal Bergstrom) Requires the Commission for Educational Quality an Accountability to issue a report detailing factors in the public education system that contribute to graduation rates, assessment scores and the state workforce. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 76-18 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Education Committee. House Bill 2750 (Representative Rhonda Baker and Senator Adam Pugh) States the intent of the Legislature that in establishing minimum required score on AP exams for granting course credit the Regents for Higher Education should not require an AP score above 3. Update: Passed House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 22. Amended to allow the granting of additional credit for higher than 3. Passed off the House Floor 94-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Education Committee. House Bill 2874 (Representative Kevin Wallace and Senator Roger Thompson) Adds the University Hospitals Trust to those exempt from sales tax. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 26-1 on Wednesday, February 10. Title Stricken. Passed off the House Floor 83-9 on Monday, February 22. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. House Bill 2926 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator Adam Pugh) Requires each institution of higher education to publish a salary report of common occupations and industries in which students are employed upon graduation. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 7-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House Floor 97-1 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Senate Bill 70 (Senator Frank Simpson and Representative Tommy Hardin) Increases the time period before the date of enrollment from five years to 10 years when a person was discharged or released from active military service to qualify for in-state enrollment. Update: Passed Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Education 4-0 on Wednesday, February 10. Referred to Full Appropriations Committee. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Thursday, February 18. Title Stricken. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Senate Bill 139 (Senator Roger Thompson and Representative Kyle Hilbert) Adds the Senate Appropriations Committee Chair and the House Appropriations and Budget Committee Chair to the list of recipients of the annual report submitted by Oklahoma State University Medical Authority. Update: Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. Laid Over. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 20-0 on Wednesday February, 24. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 238 (Senator Dewayne Pemberton and Representative Kyle Hilbert) Creates a task force to study the requirement for high school students to complete the FASFA. Designates the makeup of this task force and the end date for a report. Requires the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the Senate to provide the staff and administrative support for the task force. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 40-5 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 261 (Senator John Michael Montgomery and Representative Melissa Provenzano) Creates the Oklahoma Student Borrower’s Bill of Rights, requiring that student loan servicers not employ any deceptive practices, maintain accurate reporting to consumer credit bureaus, and otherwise accurately inform borrowers of their rights and obligations in public and plain language. Update: Passed Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 11-2 on Thursday, February 11. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 292 (Senator John Haste and Representative Jadine Nollan) Creates a task force to study the concurrent enrollment needs of the State. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-1 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 893 (Senator Adam Pugh and Representative Scott Fetgatter) Allows the undergraduate and graduate programs of the same discipline of engineering at an institution to be part of the qualified program if either program is ABET accredited. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 11-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-3 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Senate Joint Resolution 15 (Senator Rob Standridge) Puts to a vote of the people a prohibition for higher education from requiring students to enroll in a course that is not a core requirement of their chosen curriculum, a course with no tuition or fee charged, or a course that is not directly relevant to a degree being pursued. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Healthcare House Bill 1006 (Representative Carol Bush and Senator Adam Pugh) Creates the Transparency in Health Care Prices Act. The bill defines applicable terms. It requires healthcare providers make available to the public, in a single document, either electronically or by posting conspicuously on the provider's website if one exists, the health care prices for at least the 20 most common health care services the healthcare provider provides. Update: Passed House Public Health Committee 8-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 92-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Health and Human Services Committee. House Bill 2299 (Representative Dustin Roberts and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Creates the Oklahoma Medical Education Protection Act which preserves the supplemental payment programs payable to University Health Science Centers when entering into contractual arrangements with any entity for the management of Medicaid patients. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 8-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 82-3 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. House Joint Resolution 1041 (Representative Sean Roberts) Puts to a vote of the people an amendment repealing Medicaid expansion. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Senate Bill 4 (Senator Greg McCortney and Representative T.J. Marti) Permits a pharmacist to substitute an interchangeable biological product for a prescribed biological product only if the substituted product has been determined by FDA to be interchangeable with the prescribed biological product; the prescribing physician has permitted substitution; and the pharmacy informs the patient of the substitution. Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services committee 10-0 Wednesday, February 3. Amended by Floor Substitute. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-0 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 100 (Senator Brenda Stanley and Representative Dean Davis) Permits an applicant for a license to practice podiatric medicine to submit an electronic application online. It requires an applicant legally reside in the United States, rather than be loyal to the US. The bill removes the requirement that the applicant be free from contagious or infectious disease. Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 8-3 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 107 (Senator John Michael Montgomery and Representative Todd Russ) Gives the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) the authority, beginning with the Jan. 1, 2022 plan year, to renew vision plan contracts with plan providers for succeeding one-year terms if the provider had a contract for the immediately preceding year. Update: Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off Senate Floor 47-0 on Thursday, February 10. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 164 (Senator Brenda Stanley and Representative Cynthia Roe) Modifies language related to participation in a research program or experimental procedures. It requires human subject research to be approved by an accredited institutional review board rather than a local institutional review board. It requires when the patient is incapable of giving informed consent and is a minor that the consent be given by the parent or legal guardian. Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 10-0 Wednesday, February 3. Passed off the Senate Floor 43-2 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 207 (Senator Jessica Garvin and Senator Marcus McEntire) Authorizes the Oklahoma Health Care Authority Administrator to designate an administrative law judge to perform appeal hearings for those adversely affected by a decision of the authority. Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 11-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed Full Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-0 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 319 (Senator Robert Standridge and Representative Daniel Pae) Exempts from the prohibition furnishing anyone under the age of 21 any cigarettes, cigarette papers, cigars, bidis, snuff, chewing tobacco, or any other form of tobacco product, or vapor products persons performing activities as part of a scientific study being conducted by a research institution for the purpose of medical research to further efforts in cigarette and tobacco use prevention and cessation and tobacco product regulation, provided that such medical research has been approved by a properly accredited institutional review board pursuant to applicable federal regulations. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 11-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Thursday, February 11. Engrossed to House Senate Bill 406 (Senator Jessica Garvin and Representative Marcus McEntire) Modifies the definitions of "University Hospital" and "Oklahoma's Children's Hospital." It authorizes the University Hospital’s authority to assign any inpatient and outpatient hospital and clinical facilities, research buildings, facilities or property and any other buildings, facilities or property under its ownership or management and control to University Hospital, Oklahoma Children's Hospital or any other division or entity which is part of University Hospital. Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 11-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-1 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. OneNet House Bill 1124 (Representative Logan Phillips and Senator James Leewright) Creates the State Broadband Deployment Grant Program to direct competitive grants to applicants seeking to expand broadband internet services and directs the Corporation Commission to create the Rural Broadband Expansion Council to promulgate rules and procedures for the program. Update: Passed House Technology Committee 5-1 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 91-6 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee. House Bill 2040 (Speaker Charles McCalle and Senator James Leewright) The measure provides a sales tax exemption, in the form of rebates, on sales of qualifying broadband equipment if the property is directly used or consumed by the provider or subsidiary in or during the distribution of internet services. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 30-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 85-14 on Thursday, March 11, Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Finance Committee. House Bill 2090 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator James Leewright) Expands the Rural Broadband Expansion Council from 14 to 16 members. One of the additional members would represent a wireless internet service provider and be appointed by the Speaker of the House. The other additional member would represent a Native American tribe and be appointed by the Senate President Pro Tem. Update: Passed House Technology Committee 6-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Emergency Added. Passed off the House Floor 97-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee. House Bill 2928 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator James Leewright) Directs broadband service providers in the state to submit a report containing their network area coverage map to the Department of Commerce and the Rural Broadband Expansion Council by October 31, 2021. The providers would be required to update this map and report annually. OneNet is also directed to provide mapping of all assets and network coverage. Update: Passed House Technology Committee 6-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 97-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee. Senate Bill 802 (Senator James Leewright and Representative Logan Phillips) Increases the Rural Broadband Expansion Council by one member to be filled by a tribal leader of this state. Update: Passed Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 12-1 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-2 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Open Meetings/Records House Bill 1876 (Representative Tammy West and Senator Brenda Stanley) Specifies what private employee information is not subject to the Open Meeting Act. Update: Passed House General Government Committee 8-0 On Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 82-0 on Thursday, February 18. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Judiciary Committee. House Bill 2644 (Representative Jon Echols and Senator Kim David) Extends the provisions that allows for virtual open meetings until March 31, 2024 Update: Assigned to House General Government Committee. Laid Over. Passed House General Government Committee 8-0 on Tuesday, February 24. Title Stricken. Passed off the House Floor 92-6 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Judiciary Committee. Senate Bill 970 (Senator Kay Floyd and Representative Brad Boles) Makes all license or certification public record, excluding an applicant’s personal address, phone number or other personal material. Update: Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 1031 (Senator Greg Treat and Representative Jon Echols) Extends the provisions that allow for virtual open meetings until the Governor declares the state of emergency to have ended. Update: Assigned to Senate General Government Committee. Withdrawn from General Government Committee. Direct to Calendar. Passed off the Senate Floor as amended by Floor Substitute with a vote of 45-0 on Wednesday, February 3. Direct to House Calendar. Passed off the House Floor 88-5 on Monday, February 8. Signed by Governor Stitt on Wednesday, February 10. Senate Bill 1032 (Senator Greg Treat and Speaker Charles McCall) Requires livestreaming for virtual open meetings Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 7-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 47-0 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to House. Scholarships House Bill 1739 (Representative Sheila Dills and Senator Brenda Stanley) Creates the Connecting Futures Act. It allows the Department of Human Services to, subject to available funding, create a pilot program to address needs of any minors who are separated from their parents or legal guardians, are not supported by their parents or legal guardians and are not in the custody of the Department of Human Services or in the custody of any Indian tribe. It requires the pilot program to allow the Department to provide assistance in securing necessary services to allow eligible minors to become self-reliant and productive citizens. Update: Passed House Children Youth and Family Services Committee 5-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House Floor 82-6 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate. Dual Assigned to Senate Health and Human Services Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee. House Bill 1821 (Representative Toni Hasenbeck and Senator Dewayne Pemberton) Increases flexibility in the use of Tuition Aid Grants, by removing language directing the Regents for Higher Education to direct tuition aid grants to all eligible applicants, and adding factors to the way the awards are prioritized including: Enrollment status, unmet financial need, continuous enrollment, nearness to degree completion or certificate, state employment needs, and eligibility for other State and institutional funds. Update: Passed House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the House Floor 94-2 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Education Committee. House Bill 2399 (Representative Todd Russ and Senator Marty Quinn) Extends the qualification for Oklahoma’s higher learning access program to those students whose parents died after the students tenth grade year, and meet the other financial requirements. Update: Assigned to House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee. Amended by unanimous consent passed to House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the House Floor 93-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. Dual assigned to Senate Education Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee. Senate Bill 132 (Senator David Bullard and Representative Rhonda Baker) Extends application window for Oklahoma’s Promise to the eleventh grade. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Title Stricken. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Title Restored. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 237 (Senator Dewayne Pemberton and Representative Mark McBride) Increases flexibility in the use of Tuition Aid Grants, by removing language directing the Regents for Higher Education to direct tuition aid grants to all eligible applicants, and adding factors to the way the awards are prioritized including: Enrollment status, unmet financial need, continuous enrollment, nearness to degree completion or certificate, state employment needs, and eligibility for other State and institutional funds. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-1 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 639 (Senator Adam Pugh and Representative Rhonda Baker) Extends qualification for Oklahoma’s Promise to those enrolled in an area that has been identified as a critical occupation area. Requires the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and the State Regents for Higher Education to publish a yearly list between October and June of the critical occupation areas that meet the guidelines. Requires the Regents, in consultation with CareerTech, to identify postsecondary vo-tech programs that correlate to the critical occupation areas. Sets a 6-year completion timeline for a baccalaureate or other postsecondary education credential and requires that the Oklahoma’s Promise scholarship recipient repay the scholarship if the credential is not earned within 6-year time frame. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Amended by Floor Substitute, which provides a 6-year time period to earn a baccalaureate or other postsecondary education credential or requires that the Oklahoma’s Promise recipient enter into a repayment agreement with the institution of higher education or career technology center. Passed off the Senate Floor 36-9 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Teacher Retirement System House Bill 2293 (Representative Dustin Roberts and Senator Lonnie Paxton) modifies the matching of TRS funds to be based only on the member’s regular annual compensation regardless of the source of funds, except federal funding. Update: Passed House Banking Financial Services and Pensions Committee 6-2 on Monday, February 22. Passed off the House Floor 51-38 on Thursday, March 11. Emergency Failed. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee. Senate Bill 267 (Senator Dewayne Pemberton and Representative Jadine Nollan) Allows retired educators who have received benefits for at least one year and who have not been employed by a public school during that time to be eligible to be reemployed as an active classroom teacher in common or career tech school district with no limitation on earnings. Update: Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 9-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the House Floor 36-11 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 683 (Senator Chris Kidd and Representative Mark McBride) Removes the one-year regular employment requirement for full-time non-classified optional personnel to join the TRS. Update: Assigned to Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee. Laid Over. Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 8-1 on Monday, February 22. Passed off the House Floor 41-2 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Senate Joint Resolution 18 (Senator Lonnie Paxton) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment that requires any COLA to include funding. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Teacher Certification House Bill 1593 (Representative Melissa Provenzano and Senator Brenda Stanley) Requires 7th-12th grade teachers to have workplace safety training emphasized into curriculum. The program shall be completed the first year a certified teacher is employed by a school district. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 13-0 Tuesday, February 16. Passed off House Floor 74-19 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Education Committee. House Bill 1773 (Representative Sherrie Conley and Senator Jessica Garvin) Requires teaching candidates in early childhood elementary, secondary and special education to study the philosophy framework and implementation of a multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) designed to address the core academic and nonacademic needs of all students. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Amended by committee substitute. Passed House Common Education Committee 8-1 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the House Floor 91-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Education Committee. House Bill 1796 (Representative Nicole Miller and Senator Adam Pugh) Allows the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Commission for Education Quality and Accountability to grant subject area examination exceptions for initial certification in a field that does not require an advanced degree if the candidate already has an advanced degree in the subject essentially comparable to the content assessed in the examination. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 13-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House Floor 91-1 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senator. Assigned to Senate Education Committee. House Bill 2329 (Representative Mark Lawson and Senator Frank Simpson) Allows the State Board of Education to grant an exception to the certification examination to teacher candidates who are deaf. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 8-0 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the House Floor 97-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Dual assigned to Senate Education Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee. House Bill 2693 (Representative Toni Hasenbeck and Senator Brenda Stanley) Updates the name of the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation to the Office of Educational Quality and Accountability. Rewards teachers who are renewing their National Board Certification by awarding them a portion of the renewal application fee. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House Appropriations Committee. Passed House Appropriations Committee 28-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the House Floor 81-11 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to Senate. Dual assigned to Senate Education Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee. House Bill 2748 (Representative Rhonda Baker and Senator Brenda Stanley) Requires the State Board of Education to issue one-year alternative teacher certificates renewable for up to 3 years to teach early childhood education or elementary education if the alternative certified teacher meets certain qualifications. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House floor 86-0 on Thursday, February 18. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Education Committee. House Bill 2752 (Representative Rhonda Baker and Senator Brenda Stanley) Requires the State Department of Education in coordination with the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability to establish a micro-credential programs for teachers who hold a certificate to complete additional coursework and earn STEM credentials. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 93-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Senate Bill 51 (Senator Carri Hicks and Representative Danny Sterling) Removes the requirement to pass the general education portions of the competency examination for an alternative placement teaching certificate or a teacher certificate. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off Senate Floor 33-12 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 67 (Senator Frank Simpson and Speaker Charles McCall) Permits the State Board of Education to grant an exception to the requirements for all certification examinations for teacher candidates who are "deaf." Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 229 (Senator John Michael Montgomery and Representative Kyle Hilbert) Allows the State Board of Education to renew an Emergency or Provisional Teacher Certification for up to five years. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 10-2 on Tuesday, February 23. Title Stricken. Passed off the Senate Floor 37-8 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Weapons on Campus / Gun Laws House Bill 1629 (Representative David Hardin and Senator Micheal Bergstrom) Preempts any federal, state county or municipal law rule or regulation that orders the confiscation of firearms, firearm accessories of ammunition. Update: Passed House Judiciary-Criminal Committee 7-2 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 77-19 Tuesday, March 9. Emergency added. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Public Safety Committee. House Bill 1630 (Representative David Hardin and Senator Dewayne Pemberton) Modifies the Unlawful Intent to Carry and Penalty Portions of Firearms Act to allow flexibility in punishment upon conviction. Deletes the ability to permanently revoke a handgun license. Amends background checks to remove criminal history records fingerprints and FBI searches on license renewal. Update: Passed House Judiciary-Criminal Committee 8-1 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House floor 78-18 on Monday, February 22. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Public Safety Committee. House Bill 1662 (Representative Kevin West and Senator Nathan Dahm) If a defendant claims self-defense the State of Oklahoma must then have to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the defensive force was not justified. Update: Passed House Judiciary-Criminal Committee 7-2 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 77-19 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Judiciary Committee. House Bill 2334 (Representative Jay Steagall and Senator Micheal Bergstrom) Authorizes the possession of firearms on streets, plazas, sidewalks and alleys. Authorizes open carry on property of nonprofit entities and public trusts. Update: Passed House Public Safety Committee 5-2 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 79-18 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Public Safety Committee. House Bill 2401 (Representative Todd Russ and Senator David Bullard) Changes the ban on all felons from carrying firearms to a ban on anyone convicted of a specifically classified violent felony from carrying firearms for a period of 5 years. Update: Passed House Judiciary-Criminal Committee 7-2 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 77-19 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Public Safety Committee. House Bill 2588 (Representative Sean Roberts and Senator David Bullard) Allows a board of education of a school district to adopt a policy to authorize the carrying of a handgun onto school property by school personnel if the person possesses a valid handgun license and meets other requirements authorized by the board of education. Update: Assigned to House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee. Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee 3-1 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the House Floor 79-18, Emergency Passed 68-18 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Public Safety Committee. House Bill 2645 (Representative Jon Echols and Senator David Bullard) Allows the carrying of firearms in bars and restaurants as long as the carrier is not consuming alcoholic beverages. Reduces fines and punishments from $1,000 and two years in prison to $250. Removes the revocation of a handgun license upon violation of this statute. Update: Assigned to House Public Safety Committee. Reassigned to House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee. Passed House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee 3-1 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the House Floor 78-19 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Public Safety Committee. Senate Bill 106 (Senator Mark Allen and Representative Terry O’Donnell) Defines the term "completed application" within the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act to mean all fields are completed, questions answered and contains all required signatures on the Application for Self-Defense Act License and all required documents including legible fingerprints, if applicable. It removes the 90-day grace period for handgun license renewals. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Friday, February 19. Passed off the Senate Floor 35-8 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 631 (Senator Warren Hamilton and Representative Sean Roberts) Makes Oklahoma a “Second Amendment Sanctuary State” pre-empting any legislation or rule at any level that would infringe upon the right to bear arms. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Monday, February 22. Passed off the Senate Floor 38-8 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 644 (Senator Blake Stephens and Representative Sean Roberts) Allows municipalities to, by ordinance, authorize all or certain municipal employees to carry concealed firearms. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 10-1 on Friday, February 19. Passed off the Senate Floor 39-8 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 646 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom and Representative Jay Steagall) Allows the carrying of firearms in bars and restaurants as long as the carrier is not consuming alcoholic beverages. Reduces fines and punishments from $1,000 and two years in prison to $250. Removes the revocation of a handgun license upon violation of this statute. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Monday, February 22. Title Stricken. Passed off the Senate Floor 37-9 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 672 (Senator Casey Murdock and Representative Kenton Patzkowsky) Allows unmitigated transport of firearms for any person not otherwise prohibited from purchasing or carrying firearms. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Friday, February 19. Passed off the Senate Floor 39-7 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 730 (Senator Nathan Dahm and Representative Jay Steagall) Bans any person, property owner, tenant, employer, or business entity from establishing or enforcing any rule that prohibits transporting carrying or storing firearms. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Monday, February 22. Passed off the Senate Floor 36-8 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 732 (Senator Nathan Dahm and Representative Jim Olsen) Allows anyone whose Second Amendment rights are violated to bring a lawsuit against any order or regulation or other political subdivision of the state. Defines responsibilities of the court in such a case. Update: Assigned to Senate Public Safety Committee. Laid Over. Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Monday February, 22. Passed off the Senate Floor 38-8 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 925 (Senator Nathan Dahm and Representative Jay Steagall) Modifies language related to self-defense with a firearm. It adds "occupied premises" to the list of places the Legislature recognizes that the citizens of the State of Oklahoma have a right to expect absolute safety and that a person legally is allowed to defend. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Friday, February 19. Passed off the Senate Floor 36-8 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 926 (Senator Nathan Dahm and Representative Eric Roberts) Extends the firearms law preemption to air powered pistols Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 22. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Joint Resolution 21 (Senator David Bullard) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment prohibiting any future legislation, taxation or rules that would infringe upon Second Amendment rights. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Workforce Development House Bill 2860 (Representative Kevin Wallace and Senator Roger Thompson) Creates the Oklahoma Remote Quality Jobs Inventive Act. Provides for the Department of Commerce and the Oklahoma Tax Commission to create policy’s attracting growth industries that employ remote workers. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 29-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House floor 96-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. House Bill 2929 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator Greg Treat) Requires the Department of Commerce to post on its website information related to its business recruiting efforts with an emphasis on possible business site locations or relocation decisions within the state. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 9-2 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 68-22 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to the Senate. Assigned to Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee. Senate Bill 71 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom and Representative Kevin McDugle) Modifies language related to the Department of Commerce's requirement to promulgate rules for the administration of the Oklahoma Local Development and Enterprise Zone Incentive Leverage Act. It requires the rules establish reporting requirements for successful applicants which allow data collection and analysis by the department on employment, capital investment, changes in assessed value of a project and other impacts resulting from payments and reporting of data by the department to the Oklahoma Tax Commission. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 10-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 211 (Senator Tom Dugger and Representative Ken Luttrell) Modifies the powers and duties of the Oklahoma Board of Private Vocational Schools. It permits a school to be accredited by an accrediting organization approved by the U.S. Department of Education for multiple years, and to obtain a sustained license annually during the period of the multi-year accreditation. It modifies the fees the board may assess. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Title Stricken. Passed Senate Education Committee 10-2 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 20-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the Senate floor 42-5 on Wednesday. March, 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 587 (Senator Chuck Hall and Representative Brad Boles) Adds the delivery of industry focused instruction from Common Education, CareerTech or Higher Education to the definitions in the Oklahoma Community Economic Development Pooled Finance Act. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-0 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 936 (Senator Chuck Hall and Representative Kevin Wallace) Combines the various quality jobs programs under the Oklahoma Quality Jobs Program Act. Update: Passed Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 11-1 on Thursday, February 11. Passed Senate Appropriations and Budget 20-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 43-2 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Thank you. Glen Glen D. Johnson Chancellor Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education 655 Research Parkway, Suite 200 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104 405.225.9122 gjohnson at osrhe.edu follow us on Twitter @okhighered [cid:image005.jpg at 01D71CE6.32904350] [cid:image006.jpg at 01D71CE6.32904350] -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image005.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 2046 bytes Desc: image005.jpg URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image006.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 1887 bytes Desc: image006.jpg URL: From lori.boyd at okstate.edu Tue Mar 23 08:21:29 2021 From: lori.boyd at okstate.edu (Boyd, Lori) Date: Tue, 23 Mar 2021 13:21:29 +0000 Subject: [Oasfaa] ED Provides Additional Flexibilities to HEERF Grants Message-ID: ED Provides Additional Flexibilities to HEERF Grants [https://www.nasfaa.org/uploads/images/Logos/Covid_19_tn.png] On Friday, the Department of Education (ED) released new guidance on the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) grants authorized by Congress in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and later supplemented in the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA) and in the American Rescue Plan (ARP). The department addresses three significant outstanding questions in the guidance. First, it clarifies that HEERF grants may be used for institutional coronavirus-related costs and student expenses dating back to March 13, 2020, a change from previous guidance. Second, it clarifies that qualified aliens are eligible to receive HEERF emergency grants. Third, it addresses issues surrounding lost revenue as an allowable use of institutional funds. [cid:image001.png at 01D5373C.65A18FB0] LORI BOYD ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF FISCAL OPERATIONS Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid 405.744.8730 * 119 Student Union * finaid.okstate.edu [cid:image010.png at 01D5373D.52894C00] -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 11714 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image002.png Type: image/png Size: 4958 bytes Desc: image002.png URL: From donnab at gctech.edu Tue Mar 23 09:07:45 2021 From: donnab at gctech.edu (Donna Barton) Date: Tue, 23 Mar 2021 09:07:45 -0500 Subject: [Oasfaa] Disbursement Companies Message-ID: We are looking into using an outside disbursement company. Do any of you currently use one that you are pleased with and wouldn't mind sharing their information? Thanks in advance Donna *Donna Barton* Financial Aid Coordinator Gordon Cooper Technology Center One John C. Bruton Blvd. Shawnee, OK 74804 (405)273-7493 ext.2212 FAX (405)878-5733 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From cochrant at nsuok.edu Tue Mar 23 11:13:48 2021 From: cochrant at nsuok.edu (Teri Cochran) Date: Tue, 23 Mar 2021 11:13:48 -0500 Subject: [Oasfaa] SNAP and FWS Eligible Message-ID: Hello fellow financial aid folk. I have a questions about SNAP eligibility. It says zero EFC or FWS eligible. I am curious to know what your definition of eligible for FWS is. Would you say eligible only if the award had been offered, or if it fit within COA minus other aid, etc? What about those that took out loans and would have been eligible of work study had requested it, but no room in current budget with the loans. All thoughts and suggestions are appreciated. Thanks Teri -- Teri Cochran, Ed.D Director of Student Financial Services Northeastern State University 715 N Grand Ave Tahlequah, OK 74464 918-444-3456 *NEVER SEND SENSITIVE INFORMATION SUCH AS SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS VIA EMAIL*. This electronic mail transmission ("EMT") and any attached documents may contain confidential and privileged information. Such information is intended solely for the use of the individual(s) to whom this EMT was intended to be sent. Any printing, disclosure, reproduction, distribution or taking of action based on the information herein by other than the intended recipient(s) is strictly prohibited. If you believe you have received this EMT in error, please notify me the sender by telephone or via return e-mail and delete this e-mail from your system. Thank You. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bfair at osrhe.edu Tue Mar 23 18:50:42 2021 From: bfair at osrhe.edu (Fair, Bryce) Date: Tue, 23 Mar 2021 23:50:42 +0000 Subject: [Oasfaa] SB 639 status update Message-ID: <55700d15f81247b6b0242e859bf8b882@osrhe.edu> SB 639, which contains the "claw back" requirement for Oklahoma's Promise, has now been assigned to the House Higher Education and Career Tech Committee. Information about the House Higher Education and Career Tech Committee is available at: https://www.okhouse.gov/Committees/CommitteeMembers.aspx?CommID=431&SubCommID=0 The current text of the bill, called the "Engrossed" version, is available at http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2021-22%20ENGR/SB/SB639%20ENGR.PDF Other information about SB 639, including roll call votes on the bill, is available at http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=sb639&Session=2100 The deadline for action on bills in House committees is Thursday, April 8. Bryce Fair Associate Vice Chancellor for Scholarships & Grants Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Phone: 405-225-9162 Email: bfair at osrhe.edu -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bfair at osrhe.edu Fri Mar 26 16:44:51 2021 From: bfair at osrhe.edu (Fair, Bryce) Date: Fri, 26 Mar 2021 21:44:51 +0000 Subject: [Oasfaa] FW: Legislative Update - March 26, 2021 In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: The only financial aid bill acted upon this week was HB 1821, which would make changes to the Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant (OTAG; see bill information immediately below). The bill was approved in the Senate Education Committee. The bill will next move to the Senate floor from where, if passed, it will head to the Governor for consideration. SB 639, related to a proposed "claw back" requirement for Oklahoma's Promise, is still pending in the House Higher Education and Career Tech Committee. It has not been scheduled for a committee hearing yet. Bryce Fair House Bill 1821 (Representative Toni Hasenbeck and Senator Dewayne Pemberton) Increases flexibility in the use of Tuition Aid Grants, by removing language directing the Regents for Higher Education to direct tuition aid grants to all eligible applicants, and adding factors to the way the awards are prioritized including: Enrollment status, unmet financial need, continuous enrollment, nearness to degree completion or certificate, state employment needs, and eligibility for other State and institutional funds. Update: Passed House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the House Floor 94-2 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 on Tuesday, March 23. Subject: Legislative Update - March 26, 2021 OKLAHOMA STATE REGENTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION Memo To: Higher Education Network From: Chancellor Glen D. Johnson Date: Friday, March 26, 2021 Subject: Legislative Update - March 26, 2021 The update below reflects the major legislation concerning Higher Education. If you have any questions, please contact LeeAnna McNally, Vice Chancellor for Governmental Relations, at lmcnally at osrhe.edu or (405) 301-0332. Legislative Report March 26, 2021 Agency Administration House Bill 1090 (Representative Gerrid Kendrix and Senator Brent Howard) Allows the State Auditor and Inspector General to perform audits and inspections of government entities without authorization from the Governor, the Chief Executive Officer of a government entity, or a joint or concurrent resolution of the Legislature. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House General Government Committee. Passed House General Government Committee 7-0 on Wednesday, February 17. Passed off the House Floor 91-0 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate. Passed Senate Finance Committee 10-1 on Tuesday, March 23. House Bill 1146 (Representative Mike Osburn and Senator Greg Treat) Places all state employee positions under the administration of the Human Capital Management Division of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services effective January 1, 2022, except those employed by the Governor, Lt. Governor, Speaker of the House, or President Pro Tempore of the Senate, as well as elected officials, political appointees, and up to 5 percent of an agency's executive management. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Amended by Floor Substitute. Passed off the House floor 93-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. House Bill 1602 (Representative Collin Walke and Senator John Michael Montgomery) The bill entitles a consumer to request that a business that collects the consumer's personal information disclose to the consumer the categories and specific items of personal information the business has collected. It establishes a requirement for the consumer to request the information. It establishes procedures for the business to disclose the information. Update: Passed House Technology Committee 6-0 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 85-11 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Judiciary Committee. House Bill 1875 (Representative Tammy West and Senator Brenda Stanley) Permits each educational institution to choose to designate specific information which will be classified as directory information for students attending the educational institution. Update: Passed House General Government Committee 8-0 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 92-0 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate. Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, March 23. House Bill 1986 (Representative Judd Strom and Senator Bill Coleman) Requires any state agency that owns, operates or leases land in the state that is utilized for livestock grazing to enclose the area with a fence or another suitable means for the portion that contains livestock, as well as maintaining the enclosure. The bill allows the state agency to enter into a labor cost-sharing contract with adjacent landowner provided the landowner is not otherwise responsible for the cost of the enclosure or its maintenance. Update: Passed House Agriculture and Rural Development Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 16. Passed off the House Floor 92-4 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Dual Assigned to Senate Agriculture and Wildlife Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee. House Bill 2085 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator David Bullard) Requires the Office of Management and Enterprise Services to display the national motto of the United States in a prominently visible location in all state buildings. The bill authorizes the Oklahoma Attorney General to prepare and present a legal defense of the display. Update: Passed House States' Rights Committee 5-1 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 81-19 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate. Passed Senate General Government Committee 6-2 on Thursday, March 25. House Bill 2088 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator Roger Thompson) Exempts the legislature and judicial branches of state government from any and all fees or costs for services rendered by state agencies. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 16. Passed off the House floor 94-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. House Bill 2180 (Representative Ronny Johns and Senator Greg McCortney) Removes requirements for making payroll deductions for certain insurance premiums with a minimum participation of 500 state employees. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House Insurance Committee. Passed House Insurance Committee 7-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 82-12 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Finance Committee. House Bill 2185 (Representative Ronny Johns and Greg McCortney) Modifies the requirements of publications on contracts awarded by state agencies to include the address of the company and the reason to be awarded the contract. Deletes explanations on the out of state ownership percentage of contracted companies. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House Government Modernization and Efficiency Committee. Passed Government Modernization and Efficiency Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 88-3 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate General Government Committee. House Bill 2294 (Representative Dustin Roberts and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Deletes the ability for employees to accumulate more than the maximum annual leave. Update: Passed House General Government Committee 8-0 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 98-0 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to Senate. Dual Assigned to Senate General Government Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee. House Bill 2350 (Representative Jeff Boatman and Senator James Leewright) Creates a task force with the goal of creating a single repository of data for state agencies that currently have multiple data streams with redundancies. A goal of the task force would be to create a five-year digital infrastructure plan. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 10-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off House Floor 85-10 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to Senate. Dual assigned to Senate General Government Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee. Senate Bill 41 (Senator Greg McCortney and Representative Ronny Johns) Modifies the requirements for state employee payroll deductions for private insurance organizations and service companies that provide legal services. It removes the requirement that the organizations and service companies that provide legal services be regulated by the State Insurance Commissioner and have a minimum participation of 500 state employees. Update: Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 9-0 on Thursday, February18. Title Restored. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-0 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Banking, Financial Services and Pensions Committee. Senate Bill 63 (Senator John Michael Montgomery and Representative Avery Frix) Removes language related to the State Government Reduction-in-Force and Severance Benefits Act that requires an employee to repay all severance benefits on a proportional basis if an affected employee is reemployed by the agency from which separated as a result of a reduction-in-force Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 9-0 on Thursday, February 11. Passed off the Senate Floor 31-15 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Government Modernization and Efficiency Committee. Senate Bill 282 (Senator Frank Simpson and Representative Tommy Hardin) Amends Section 840-2.20 of the Oklahoma Personnel Act to allow for a temporary increase in the accumulation limits for annual leave following an emergency declaration period, which shall carryover to the end of the fiscal year following the year in which the emergency declaration ended. increase and carryover of annual leave time Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 9-0 on Thursday, February 4. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-1 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to House Appropriations and Budget General Government Subcommittee then to Appropriations and Budget Committee. Senate Bill 299 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom and Representative Mark Lepak) Allows for cooperative "piggybacking" purchase agreements between state agencies including on public construction contracts. Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 7-2 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the Senate Floor 36-8 on Thursday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House General Government Committee. Senate Bill 333 (Senator Frank Simpson and Representative Tammy Townley) Amends Section 840-2.15 of the Oklahoma Personnel Act to allow for a temporary increase in the accumulation limits for compensatory time following an emergency declaration period, which shall carryover to the end of the fiscal year following the year in which the emergency declaration ended. increase and carryover of annual leave time. Update: Assigned to Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee. Reassigned to House General Government Committee. Passed House General Government Committee 8-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-1 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Appropriations and Budget General Government Subcommittee then to Appropriations and Budget Committee. Senate Bill 403 (Senator Brenda Stanley and Representative Robert Manger) Makes it unlawful for any person, alone or in concert with others and without authorization, to willfully disturb, interfere or disrupt business of any political subdivision, which includes publicly posted meetings, or any political subdivision. Update: Assigned to Senate Public Safety Committee. Amended to make the bill an Emergency. Passed Public Safety Committee with a vote of 11-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the Senate Floor 36-9 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Public Safety Committee. Senate Bill 459 (Senator Lonnie Paxton and Representative Ty Burns) Amends the Standards for Workplace Drug and Alcohol testing in light of medical marijuana. Update: Passed Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 10-3 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Business and Commerce Committee. Senate Bill 650 (Senator Kim David and Representative Jon Echols) Provides a 2 percent increase to the amount of a participant's benefit allowance from the amount provided in the previous plan year. Update: Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 8-1 on Thursday, February 18. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 18-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the Senate Floor 41-4 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to House. Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 26-0 on Wednesday, March 24. Title Stricken. Senate Bill 794 (Senator James Leewright and Representative Kevin Wallace) Requires that if the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission or its representative determines that an individual has been overpaid unemployment benefits to provisions therein relating to administrative overpayment, the individual must be sent a notice of overpayment determination. It allows that if the individual disagrees with this determination, said individual can file an appeal of the determination with the Appeal Tribunal within 10 days after the date of mailing. Update: Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee and Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee. Passed Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 12-0 on Thursday, February 11. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Government Modernization and Efficiency Committee. Senate Bill 895 (Senator Paul Rosino and Representative Chris Kannady) Allows state agencies to choose to have required audits performed by a public accountant or certified public accountant registered to do business with the state. Update: Assigned to Senate Finance Committee. Reassigned to House General Government Committee. Passed House General Government Committee 7-2 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 36-9 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 924 (Senator Greg Treat and Representative Kyle Hilbert) Creates a state data definition and gives OMES the authority to determine when state data is allowed to be shared between agencies or with federal entities if a request to share is initially rejected. Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 6-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-1 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Technology Committee. Senate Bill 984 (Senator Kim David and Representative Terry O'Donnell) Prohibits an agency or official of the executive branch from entering into a contingency fee contract that provides for the private attorney or firm to receive an aggregate contingency fee that exceeds amounts specified therein. It prohibits the total fee payable to all retained private attorneys in any contingency fee contract from exceeding $50 million exclusive of any costs and expenses provided by the contract and actually incurred by the retained private attorneys, regardless of the number of actions or proceedings or the number of retained private attorneys involved in the matter. Update: Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 7-2 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 38-6 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Rules Committee. Senate Concurrent Resolution 2 (Senator Rob Standridge) Requires the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to submit a report to the Legislature and to make the report available on its website by December 31, 2021, that includes a list of all persons employed in a faculty or teaching position including their position rank at their respective institutions within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education and their compensation during the 2020-2021 academic year; a list of the courses taught and the hours taught by persons employed in a faculty or teaching position at institutions within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education during the 2020-2021 academic year; the tenure policy of each institution within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education for the 2020-2021 academic year; and the number of faculty employed by each institution within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education who had tenure during the 2020-2021 academic year. Update: Not assigned to committee. Budget Bills House Bill 1665 (Representative Kevin West and Senator Chuck Hall) Creates a Federal Funds Holding Account within the General Revenue Fund to receive all funds required to be paid to the State of Oklahoma. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 20-10 on Wednesday, February 24, Title Stricken. Passed off the House Floor 86-12 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. House Bill 1990 (Representative Trey Caldwell and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Allows ad valorem reimbursement fund to be used to reimburse counties for loss of revenue. Update: Assigned to House Appropriations and Budget Committee. Direct to Appropriations Committee. Passed House Appropriations Committee 28-0 Thursday, February 18. Passed off the House Floor 65-30 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. Dual Assigned to Senate Finance Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee. House Bill 2086 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator Zack Taylor) Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services to ensure state agencies are charged no more than the actual cost of the services provided by the Office. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 9-0 Tuesday, February 16. Passed off the House Floor 94-0 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. House Bill 2775 (Representative John Pfeiffer and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Adds to the definition of "Cost Approach" in the ad valorem tax code to include physical deterioration, functional or internal obsolescence, and economic or external obsolescence. Update: Passed House County and Municipal Government Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 22. Passed off the House Floor 92-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Finance Committee. House Bill 2776 (Representative John Pfeiffer and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Creates the Ad Valorem School District Support Revolving Fund which shall consist of all ad valorem funds under protest received by the State Department of Education (SDE). The SDE may distribute this money to school districts which are affected by protested ad valorem taxes. Update: Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed House Rules Committee 7-2 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the House Floor 90-0 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to Senate. Passed Education Subcommittee 6-0 on Wednesday, March 24. Title StrickenReferred to full Senate Appropriations Committee. House Bill 2777 (Representative John Pfeiffer and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Allows for wind power valuation for real property and personal property in the ad valorem tax code. Update: Passed House County and Municipal Government Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 22. Title Stricken. Passed off the House Floor 93-0 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Finance Committee. House Bill 2780 (Representative John Pfeiffer and Senator Dave Rader) Allows the Oklahoma Tax Commission to garnish accrued earnings of a delinquent taxpayer by contacting the taxpayer's employer. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 27-3 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 78-18 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to Senate. Passed Senate Finance Committee 11-0 on Tuesday, March 23. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Wednesday, March 24. House Joint Resolution 1001 (Representative Andy Fugate and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Proposes a vote of the people on a constitutional amendment that changes the way the maximum Constitutional Reserve (Rainy Day) Fund balance amount would be computed. It would require the maximum balance allowed be based on a percentage of total state expenditures instead of using revenue estimates provided by the State Board of Equalization for the annual appropriations process. It would provide that total expenditures include all appropriated monies and federal funds. It would exclude from total expenditures money from revolving funds which are used by state agencies, fees or similar charges that were not derived from tax revenue, and money obtained by issuing state government bonds. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 9-0 Tuesday, February 16. Passed off the House Floor 93-0 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to Senate. Senate Bill 79 (Senator Roger Thompson and Representative Kevin West) Exempts from sales tax the transfer of tangible personal property to or by nonprofit 501(c)(3) entities that have entered into a joint operating agreement with the University Hospitals Trust. Update: Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. Amended to provide an effective date of July 1, 2022. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee as amended 20-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-1 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 28-0 on Wednesday, March 24. Senate Bill 181 (Senator Zack Taylor and Representative Brad Boles) Permits more than one-half of ad valorem taxes to be paid by January 1 of each year. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 12-0 Tuesday, February 2. Passed off Senate Floor 46-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House County and Municipal Government Committee. Senate Bill 383 (Senator Robert Standridge and Representative Kevin West) Establishes that the owner or operator of a social media website who contracts with users in Oklahoma is subject to a private right of action by a social media website user if the social media website purposely deletes or censors a social media website user's political speech or religious speech or uses an algorithm to suppress political speech or religious speech. Update: Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 5-3 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 34-12 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Technology Committee. Senate Bill 498 (Senator Roger Thompson and Representative Scott Fetgatter) Permits a facility engaged in cement manufacturing to have the payroll requirements of the five-year ad valorem tax exemption waived for tax year 2021, which is based in part on the 2020 calendar year payroll reported to the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission and permits it to continue to receive the exemption for the five-year period only if all other requirements of this section are met. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Referred to Full Appropriations Committee. Laid over. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 18-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-1 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Revenue and Taxation Subcommittee then House Appropriations and Budget Committee. Senate Bill 609 (Senator Chuck Hall and Representative Kyle Hilbert) Extends the ad valorem tax exemption to manufacturing facilities, doubles the acquisition or expansion limit. Adds definitions to manufacturing facilities. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 11-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 33-1 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Appropriations and Budget Committee. Senate Bill 906 (Senator Casey Murdock and Representative Todd Russ) Provides allowances for depreciation of value in ad valorem tax consideration. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 9-2 on Friday, February 19. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Revenue and Taxation Subcommittee then to House Appropriations and Budget Committee. Senate Joint Resolution 14 (Senator Joe Newhouse) Puts to a vote of the people increasing the cap on the Constitutional Reserve Fund from 15 percent to 30 percent. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Senate Joint Resolution 16 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom) Changes the way maximum balance allowed for the rainy-day fund from using the Board of Equalization estimates to a percentage of a total of the state expenditures for the previous year including all state and federal funds. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. CareerTech House Bill 1026 (Representative Rande Worthen and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Allows CLEET to establish and certify additional law enforcement and criminal justice programs at state-supported technology center schools in the State of Oklahoma operating under the State Board of Career and Technology Education for teaching students between 16 and 19 years of age. Update: Passed House Public Safety Committee 7-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 97-0 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Public Safety Committee. Common Education House Bill 1027 (Representative Trish Ranson and Senator Brenda Stanley) Requires de-escalation training for certified teachers, beginning in the 2022-2023 school year. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 13-0 on Tuesday, February 16. Passed off the House Floor 81-11 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Education Committee. House Bill 1046 (Representative Dell Kerbs and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Requires a copy or a hyperlink to a copy of the most recent audit of the financial statements of a school district to be on the front page of the school district website for public inspection. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor as amended 95-0 on Wednesday, March. 3 Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Education Committee. House Bill 1073 (Representative Tom Gann and Senator Nathan Dahm) Extends the sunset date for the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness Board until July 1, 2024. Update: Passed House Administrative Rules Committee 10-0 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 89-2 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, March 23. House Bill 1103 (Representative Mark Vancuren and Senator John Haste) Directs the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and the State Education Department to create a set of guidelines and provide directions to schools in order to survey every public school student in grades 6,8,10 and 12 with the Oklahoma Prevention Needs Assessment Survey every other year beginning in the 2022-2023 school year. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 16. Amended to remove private schools. Passed off the House Floor 78-19 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Dual Assigned to Senate Education Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee. House Bill 1104 (Representative Mark Vancuren and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Requires information on a student's tribal affiliation to be included in student data collected for the state. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee on 12-0 Tuesday, February 16. Passed off the House Floor 94-0 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate. Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 on Tuesday, March 23. House Bill 1568 (Representative Jeff Boatman and Senator John Haste) Creates Maria's Law requiring collaboration with the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to adopt standards and approve age-appropriate curriculum for K-12 students as a part of normal health education curriculum. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 84-10 with Title Stricken on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. Dual Assigned to Senate Education Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee. House Bill 1569 (Representative Jacob Rosecrants and Senator Adam Pugh) Creates the Oklahoma Play to Learn Act. States that the intention of the Legislature is to focus on the importance of child-centered, play-based learning. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House Floor 76-16 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Passed Senate Education Committee 10-2 on Tuesday, March 23. House Bill 1775 (Representative Sherrie Conley and Senator Jessica Garvin) Creates Riley's Rule, a requirement that each athletic and practice facility create an emergency action plan. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Laid Over. Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the House Floor 93-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Education Committee. House Bill 1882 (Representative Marilyn Stark and Senator Dave Rader) Creates the "Out-of-Schooltime" task force to identify, evaluate and recommend a set of best practices for children, youth and families to improve and increase the number of quality, affordable out-of-school programs in the state. The bill sets the membership of the committee. Update: Passed House Children, Youth and Family Services Committee as amended by Committee Substitute 5-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 82-14 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Dual Assigned to Senate Education Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee. House Bill 1963 (Representative Jadine Nollan and Senator Brenda Stanley) If vacancies occur which result in a loss of majority members of the board of education of a school district or technology center school district, the Governor shall appoint a member or members necessary to constitute a quorum to the board of education. Update: Assigned to House Elections and Ethics Committee. Laid Over. Passed House Elections and Ethics Committee 7-0 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the House Floor 80-16 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. Passed Senate Rules Committee 9-1 on Wednesday, March 24. House Bill 1968 (Representative Jadine Nollan and Senator Brenda Stanley) Deletes expenditure and program classification reporting requirements for certain gifted and talented programs. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 13-0 on Monday, February 8. Referred to full House Appropriations Committee. Laid Over. Passed House Appropriations Committee 30-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the Senate Floor 80-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, March 23. House Bill 2030 (Representative Terry O'Donnell and Senator Adam Pugh) Adds passing the Naturalization test to high school graduation requirements. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 11-3 on Tuesday, February 16. Passed off the House Floor 80-18 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to Senate. Dual Assigned to Senate Education Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee. House Bill 2223 (Representative Randy Randleman and Senator Dewayne Pemberton) Requires the Oklahoma State Department of Education to maintain a dyslexia information handbook. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House Floor 96-0 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to Senate. Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, March 23. House Bill 2381 (Representative Danny Sterling and Senator Frank Simpson) Directs local school districts to conduct an annual fitness assessment. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 22-9 on Wednesday, February 25. Title Stricken. Passed off the House Floor 57-37 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. Dual Assigned to Senate Education Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee. House Bill 2388 (Representative John Talley and Senator Tom Dugger) Asks school districts to provide age-appropriate instruction about social-emotional learning. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House Common Education Committee. Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 70-22 on Wednesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Education Committee. House Bill 2396 (Representative Todd Russ and Senator Brenda Stanley) Asks the board of education to adopt a policy regarding sex trafficking and exploitation prevention. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House Floor 86-6 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Education Committee. House Bill 2462 (Representative Dick Lowe and Senator Brent Howard) Allows the State Department of Education to enter into contracts and agreements for the payment of food, lodging and other expenses necessary to host or participate in conferences and training sessions. Update: Passed House General Government Committee 7-0 on Wednesday, February 17. Passed off the House Floor 86-5 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate. Dual Assigned to Senate Education Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee. Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 on Tuesday, March 23. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 20-0 on Wednesday, March 24. House Bill 2662 (Representative Dick Lowe and Senator Dave Rader) Creates the Seizure Safe Schools Act requiring each local school district to have at least one school employee at each school who has met certain seizure safe training requirements. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Amended to change from a Shall to a May. Passed House Common Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 16. Author change. Passed off the House Floor 95-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. Dual Assigned to Senate Education Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee. Withdrawn from Appropriations Committee. House Bill 2727 (Representative Ajay Pittman and Senator David Bullard) Requires subject to the availability of funds that there be a basic life skills education curriculum taught in public schools. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 67-26 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to Senate. Dual Assigned to Senate Education Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee. House Bill 2749 (Representative Rhonda Baker and Senator Adam Pugh) Requires schools that receive more than $2,500 from the Reading Proficiency Act to spend at least 10 percent on professional development for Pre-k-5 grade teachers. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday February 16. Passed off the House Floor 90-5 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. Dual Assigned to Senate Education Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee. House Joint Resolution 1026 (Representative Anthony Moore) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment that removes debt limits for school districts. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. House Joint Resolution 1029 (Representative Monroe Nichols) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment that authorizes a school district to raise an additional $5 million levy on taxable property within the district if approved by the majority of district voters. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. House Joint Resolution 1033 (Representative Chad Caldwell) Puts to a vote of the people a requirement that a school spends at least 60 percent of its annual budget on instructional expenditures. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Senate Bill 2 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom and Representative Toni Hasenbeck) Clarifies and expands the duties of the School Finance Review Commission to conduct a review of all matters related to school finance, including but not limited to teacher compensation and benefits; administrative costs, including administrative functions that may be shared between districts; opportunities for school districts to be operated in a cost effective manner; variances in per pupil and administrative expenditures among school districts with comparable enrollment, demographics and outcomes on statewide assessments; and expenditures not directly or sufficiently related to improving student outcomes. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 38-8 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Senate Bill 13 (Senator Brenda Stanley and Representative Rhonda Baker) Requires a teacher whose certificate is suspended by the State Board of Education to be placed on suspension while proceedings for revocation or other action are pending before the State Board of Education. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Senate Bill 21 (Senator Kay Floyd and Representative Marcus McEntire) Makes it a requirement, rather than permissive, beginning with the 2021-2022 school year, that district school boards provide schoolwide training to all students in grades seven through twelve and staff addressing suicide awareness and prevention. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee as amended by Committee Substitute 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Senate Bill 54 (Senator John Michael Montgomery and Representative Daniel Pae) Requires the State Department of Education to designate a school district site or charter school site as a Purple Star School. The bill defines applicable terms. It establishes the requirements for a school district site or charter school to be designated as a Purple Star School. It requires the State Board of Education to promulgate necessary rules. Update: Passed Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Committee 10-0 on Thursday, February 11. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Senate Bill 66 (Senator John Haste and Representative Lonnie Sims) Exempts any insurance policy sold to any school district from the surplus lines premium tax. Update: Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Insurance Committee. Senate Bill 68 (Senator Frank Simpson and Representative Max Wolfley) Requires a public school student to be considered in compliance with statutory residency provisions if he or she is a student whose parent or legal guardian is transferred or is pending transfer to a military installation within the state while on active military duty pursuant to an official military order. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Senate Bill 89 (Senator John Haste and Representative Rhonda Baker) Creates the Health Education Act. The bill defines applicable terms. It requires health education to be taught in public schools, including but not limited to physical health, mental health, social and emotional health and intellectual health. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-1 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Senate Bill 128 (Senator Dave Rader and Representative Dick Lowe) Creates the Seizure Safe Schools Act requiring at least one school employee at each school to meet certain training requirements. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Title Stricken, Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 47-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Senate Bill 252 (Senator Brenda Stanley and Representative Rhonda Baker) Requires all public schools to begin teaching computer science courses in the 2024-2025 school year. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Title Stricken. Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed off the Senate Floor 41-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Senate Bill 419 (Senator J.J. Dossett and Representative John Waldron) Removes the requirement to administer assessments in U.S. history under the statewide system of student assessments. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 10-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 43-2 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Senate Bill 503 (Senator Nathan Dahm and Representative Ryan Martinez) Adds to required history curriculum, the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, substantive selections from the Federalist Papers, the Emancipation Proclamation, the Articles of Confederation, the Gettysburg Address and George Washington's Farewell Address. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 9-2 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 39-7 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 619 (Senator David Bullard and Representative Kevin West) Allows school districts to obtain liability insurance coverage to protect a student participating in an apprenticeship internship or mentorship program. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Title Stricken Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 20-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Title Restored. Passed off the Senate Floor 47-0 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Senate Bill 634 (Senator Julie Daniels and Representative Terry O'Donnell) Requires an authorization form that has the statement of understanding of the first amendment rights to not be a part of a union for public education employees. Makes that form's authorization a yearly requirement. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Reassigned to Senate Judiciary Committee. Passed Senate Judiciary 7-4 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 25-21 on Thursday, March 4. Emergency Passed 32-14 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Rules Committee. Senate Bill 642 (Senator Adam Pugh and Representative Dustin Roberts) Includes multi-aptitude battery assessments that measure developed abilities and help predict future academic and occupational success in the military. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Title Stricken. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Senate Bill 783 (Senator Adam Pugh and Representative Brad Boles) Requires the Department of Education to publish a list of the capacity for a class in each grade level K-12. Strengthens open transfer policies. Gives OEQA audit authority over transfer Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 9-3 on Tuesday, February 23. Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed off the Senate Floor 32-15 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 807 (Senator Chris Kidd and Representative Rhonda Baker) Entitles support employees to pay for any time lost when a school district is closed because of an epidemic or when an order for such a closing has been issued by a health officer authorized by law to issue the order. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 10-1 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-1 Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Senate Joint Resolution 3 (Senator Carri Hicks) Proposes a vote of the people on a constitutional amendment that allows a member of the Legislature to be employed as a certified teacher with a public school district in this state after he or she completes his or her term in office. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Senate Joint Resolution 9 (Senator Mary Boren) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment that changes the duty of the legislature when it comes to public education. Removes the words "Wherein all the children of the State may be educated". Instead requires the legislature to "make suitable provision for the support and maintenance of an efficient and equitable system of free public schools". Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. COVID-19 House Bill 2335 (Representative Jay Steagall and Senator Shane Jett) Prohibits compulsory immunization through any state entity via direct or indirect means. Update: Passed House Public Health Committee 7-1 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House floor 71-25 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Health and Human Services Committee. House Joint Resolution 1032 (Representative Chad Caldwell) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment prohibiting a governmental entity from issuing any order or rule that requires closure of any place of worship. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Senate Bill 368 (Senator David Bullard and Representative Brian Hill) Prohibits any governmental declaration of a religious institution as nonessential. Requires that religious institutions be exempt from closure orders for the purpose of health or security that is greater than that imposed on any private entity. Update: Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 6-2 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 37-9 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House States Rights Committee. Charter Schools House Joint Resolution 1036 (Representative Jon Echols) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment allowing a school district to become indebted after a 3/5ths vote to acquire or improve the school sites or equipment of a charter school. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Senate Bill 69 (Senator Frank Simpson and Representative Max Wolfley) Provides a student will be eligible to enroll in a statewide virtual charter school if the student's parent or legal guardian is transferred or is pending transfer to a military installation within this state while on active military duty pursuant to an official military order. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Senate Bill 222 (Senator Rob Standridge and Representative Daniel Pae) Creates the Hope Scholarship Program to provide a scholarship to an eligible private school of choice for students who have experienced bullying. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 20-0 on Monday, March 1. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-1 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Senate Bill 239 (Senator Dewayne Pemberton and Representative Toni Hasenbeck) Creates a process for the State Board of Education to hear appeals to the charter school sponsorship process. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed off the Senate Floor 30-16 on Wednesday, February 10. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Common Education Committee Senate Bill 658 (Senator Nathan Dahm and Representative Kevin West) Requires the State Department of Education to provide any notice or publication on immunization requirements all information on exemptions to such requirements. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Amended to pass Senate Education Committee 8-3 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 35-10 on Thursday, March 4. Emergency Passed 36-9 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Withdrawn from Common Education Committee. Assigned to House Public Health Committee. General Government Senate Joint Resolution 1 (Senator Kay Floyd) Proposes a vote of the people on a constitutional amendment that would prohibit members of the Legislature from being appointed or elected to any office or commission during their term; receiving any appointment from the Governor, the Governor and Senate or the Legislature during the term; or being interested in any contract with the state or a political subdivision during the term. It would not prohibit an employee of a school district, a technology center school district or the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education from continuing to serve during the term, or prohibit an appointment to a legislative committee or other legislative position. It also would not prohibit a former member from returning to his or her profession or business. It would permit the Legislature to enact laws to implement these provisions. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Higher Education House Bill 1801 (Representative Nicole Miller and Senator Brenda Stanley) Grants priority enrollment and course registration to all Oklahoma resident members of the Oklahoma National Guard and to students who are eligible to receive educational financial assistance from the Department of Veteran Affairs. Update: Passed House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Amended to allow only Oklahoma residents. Passed off the House Floor as amended 98-1 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Education Committee. House Bill 1962 (Representative Jadine Nollan and Senator Marty Quinn) Specifies the definition of "qualified higher education expenses" to fall in line with section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code. Update: Passed House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee with a vote of 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the House Floor 95-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Education Committee. House Bill 1965 (Representative Jadine Nolan and Senator Darrell Weaver) Allows a board of county commissioners to determine the years of service required for full-time county employees to qualify for a continuing education program and allows such programs to include courses offered by a college or university that is a member of the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education as well as any other in-state or out-of-state programs or courses which are relevant to the employee's responsibilities as approved by the county commissioners. Update: Passed House County and Municipal Government Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the House Floor as amended 95-0 on Monday, March 8. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate General Government Committee. House Bill 2046 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator Frank Simpson) Creates the Higher Education Institution Local Funding Act. The measure authorizes the board of regents of eligible two-year colleges to adopt a resolution calling for the creation of a higher education funding district, for the purpose of providing additional sources of funding for the institution. If approved by the board of regents, the creation of the funding district and its initial operational millage rate would go to a vote of the people within the established district boundary. Additional bonds may be included in the ballot measure calling for the creation of the district. The ballot measure would require 60 percent approval to pass. Update: Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed House Rules Committee as amended 7-0 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the House Floor 79-18 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Dual Assigned to Senate Education Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee. House Bill 2691 (Representative Toni Hasenbeck and Senator Micheal Bergstrom) Requires the Commission for Educational Quality an Accountability to issue a report detailing factors in the public education system that contribute to graduation rates, assessment scores and the state workforce. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 76-18 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Education Committee. House Bill 2750 (Representative Rhonda Baker and Senator Adam Pugh) States the intent of the Legislature that in establishing minimum required score on AP exams for granting course credit the Regents for Higher Education should not require an AP score above 3. Update: Passed House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 22. Amended to allow the granting of additional credit for higher than 3. Passed off the House Floor 94-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Education Committee. House Bill 2874 (Representative Kevin Wallace and Senator Roger Thompson) Adds the University Hospitals Trust to those exempt from sales tax. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 26-1 on Wednesday, February 10. Title Stricken. Passed off the House Floor 83-9 on Monday, February 22. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. House Bill 2926 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator Adam Pugh) Requires each institution of higher education to publish a salary report of common occupations and industries in which students are employed upon graduation. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 7-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House Floor 97-1 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Senate Bill 70 (Senator Frank Simpson and Representative Tommy Hardin) Increases the time period before the date of enrollment from five years to 10 years when a person was discharged or released from active military service to qualify for in-state enrollment. Update: Passed Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Education 4-0 on Wednesday, February 10. Referred to Full Appropriations Committee. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Thursday, February 18. Title Stricken. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Assigned to Senate Appropriations and Budget Committee. Senate Bill 139 (Senator Roger Thompson and Representative Kyle Hilbert) Adds the Senate Appropriations Committee Chair and the House Appropriations and Budget Committee Chair to the list of recipients of the annual report submitted by Oklahoma State University Medical Authority. Update: Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. Laid Over. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 20-0 on Wednesday February, 24. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Appropriations and Budget Committee. Laid Over. Senate Bill 238 (Senator Dewayne Pemberton and Representative Kyle Hilbert) Creates a task force to study the requirement for high school students to complete the FASFA. Designates the makeup of this task force and the end date for a report. Requires the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the Senate to provide the staff and administrative support for the task force. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 40-5 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Higher Education and Career Tech Committee. Senate Bill 261 (Senator John Michael Montgomery and Representative Melissa Provenzano) Creates the Oklahoma Student Borrower's Bill of Rights, requiring that student loan servicers not employ any deceptive practices, maintain accurate reporting to consumer credit bureaus, and otherwise accurately inform borrowers of their rights and obligations in public and plain language. Update: Passed Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 11-2 on Thursday, February 11. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Higher Education and Career Tech Committee. Senate Bill 292 (Senator John Haste and Representative Jadine Nollan) Creates a task force to study the concurrent enrollment needs of the State. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-1 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Higher Education and Career Tech Committee. Senate Bill 893 (Senator Adam Pugh and Representative Scott Fetgatter) Allows the undergraduate and graduate programs of the same discipline of engineering at an institution to be part of the qualified program if either program is ABET accredited. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 11-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-3 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Assigned to Finance- Revenue and Taxation Subcommittee then to Appropriations and Budget Committee. Senate Joint Resolution 15 (Senator Rob Standridge) Puts to a vote of the people a prohibition for higher education from requiring students to enroll in a course that is not a core requirement of their chosen curriculum, a course with no tuition or fee charged, or a course that is not directly relevant to a degree being pursued. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Healthcare House Bill 1006 (Representative Carol Bush and Senator Adam Pugh) Creates the Transparency in Health Care Prices Act. The bill defines applicable terms. It requires healthcare providers make available to the public, in a single document, either electronically or by posting conspicuously on the provider's website if one exists, the health care prices for at least the 20 most common health care services the healthcare provider provides. Update: Passed House Public Health Committee 8-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 92-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Health and Human Services Committee. House Bill 2299 (Representative Dustin Roberts and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Creates the Oklahoma Medical Education Protection Act which preserves the supplemental payment programs payable to University Health Science Centers when entering into contractual arrangements with any entity for the management of Medicaid patients. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 8-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 82-3 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. House Joint Resolution 1041 (Representative Sean Roberts) Puts to a vote of the people an amendment repealing Medicaid expansion. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Senate Bill 4 (Senator Greg McCortney and Representative T.J. Marti) Permits a pharmacist to substitute an interchangeable biological product for a prescribed biological product only if the substituted product has been determined by FDA to be interchangeable with the prescribed biological product; the prescribing physician has permitted substitution; and the pharmacy informs the patient of the substitution. Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services committee 10-0 Wednesday, February 3. Amended by Floor Substitute. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-0 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Public Health Committee. Senate Bill 100 (Senator Brenda Stanley and Representative Dean Davis) Permits an applicant for a license to practice podiatric medicine to submit an electronic application online. It requires an applicant legally reside in the United States, rather than be loyal to the US. The bill removes the requirement that the applicant be free from contagious or infectious disease. Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 8-3 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Public Health Committee. Senate Bill 107 (Senator John Michael Montgomery and Representative Todd Russ) Gives the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) the authority, beginning with the Jan. 1, 2022 plan year, to renew vision plan contracts with plan providers for succeeding one-year terms if the provider had a contract for the immediately preceding year. Update: Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off Senate Floor 47-0 on Thursday, February 10. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Banking, Financial Services and Pensions Committee. Senate Bill 164 (Senator Brenda Stanley and Representative Cynthia Roe) Modifies language related to participation in a research program or experimental procedures. It requires human subject research to be approved by an accredited institutional review board rather than a local institutional review board. It requires when the patient is incapable of giving informed consent and is a minor that the consent be given by the parent or legal guardian. Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 10-0 Wednesday, February 3. Passed off the Senate Floor 43-2 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Public Health Committee. Senate Bill 207 (Senator Jessica Garvin and Senator Marcus McEntire) Authorizes the Oklahoma Health Care Authority Administrator to designate an administrative law judge to perform appeal hearings for those adversely affected by a decision of the authority. Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 11-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed Full Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-0 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Health Subcommittee then to Appropriations and Budget Committee. Senate Bill 319 (Senator Robert Standridge and Representative Daniel Pae) Exempts from the prohibition furnishing anyone under the age of 21 any cigarettes, cigarette papers, cigars, bidis, snuff, chewing tobacco, or any other form of tobacco product, or vapor products persons performing activities as part of a scientific study being conducted by a research institution for the purpose of medical research to further efforts in cigarette and tobacco use prevention and cessation and tobacco product regulation, provided that such medical research has been approved by a properly accredited institutional review board pursuant to applicable federal regulations. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 11-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Thursday, February 11. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Public Safety Committee. Senate Bill 406 (Senator Jessica Garvin and Representative Marcus McEntire) Modifies the definitions of "University Hospital" and "Oklahoma's Children's Hospital." It authorizes the University Hospital's authority to assign any inpatient and outpatient hospital and clinical facilities, research buildings, facilities or property and any other buildings, facilities or property under its ownership or management and control to University Hospital, Oklahoma Children's Hospital or any other division or entity which is part of University Hospital. Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 11-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-1 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Higher Education and Career Tech Committee. OneNet House Bill 1124 (Representative Logan Phillips and Senator James Leewright) Creates the State Broadband Deployment Grant Program to direct competitive grants to applicants seeking to expand broadband internet services and directs the Corporation Commission to create the Rural Broadband Expansion Council to promulgate rules and procedures for the program. Update: Passed House Technology Committee 5-1 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 91-6 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Passed Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 11-1 on Thursday, March 25. Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. House Bill 2040 (Speaker Charles McCalle and Senator James Leewright) The measure provides a sales tax exemption, in the form of rebates, on sales of qualifying broadband equipment if the property is directly used or consumed by the provider or subsidiary in or during the distribution of internet services. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 30-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 85-14 on Thursday, March 11, Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Finance Committee. House Bill 2090 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator James Leewright) Expands the Rural Broadband Expansion Council from 14 to 16 members. One of the additional members would represent a wireless internet service provider and be appointed by the Speaker of the House. The other additional member would represent a Native American tribe and be appointed by the Senate President Pro Tem. Update: Passed House Technology Committee 6-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Emergency Added. Passed off the House Floor 97-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee. House Bill 2928 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator James Leewright) Directs broadband service providers in the state to submit a report containing their network area coverage map to the Department of Commerce and the Rural Broadband Expansion Council by October 31, 2021. The providers would be required to update this map and report annually. OneNet is also directed to provide mapping of all assets and network coverage. Update: Passed House Technology Committee 6-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 97-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee. Senate Bill 802 (Senator James Leewright and Representative Logan Phillips) Increases the Rural Broadband Expansion Council by one member to be filled by a tribal leader of this state. Update: Passed Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 12-1 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-2 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Technology Committee. Open Meetings/Records House Bill 1876 (Representative Tammy West and Senator Brenda Stanley) Specifies what private employee information is not subject to the Open Meeting Act. Update: Passed House General Government Committee 8-0 On Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 82-0 on Thursday, February 18. Engrossed to Senate. Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, March 23. House Bill 2644 (Representative Jon Echols and Senator Kim David) Extends the provisions that allows for virtual open meetings until March 31, 2024 Update: Assigned to House General Government Committee. Laid Over. Passed House General Government Committee 8-0 on Tuesday, February 24. Title Stricken. Passed off the House Floor 92-6 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Judiciary Committee. Senate Bill 970 (Senator Kay Floyd and Representative Brad Boles) Makes all license or certification public record, excluding an applicant's personal address, phone number or other personal material. Update: Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to House. Passed House General Government Committee 8-0 on Wednesday, March 24. Senate Bill 1031 (Senator Greg Treat and Representative Jon Echols) Extends the provisions that allow for virtual open meetings until the Governor declares the state of emergency to have ended. Update: Assigned to Senate General Government Committee. Withdrawn from General Government Committee. Direct to Calendar. Passed off the Senate Floor as amended by Floor Substitute with a vote of 45-0 on Wednesday, February 3. Direct to House Calendar. Passed off the House Floor 88-5 on Monday, February 8. Signed by Governor Stitt on Wednesday, February 10. Senate Bill 1032 (Senator Greg Treat and Speaker Charles McCall) Requires livestreaming for virtual open meetings Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 7-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 47-0 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Rules Committee. Scholarships House Bill 1739 (Representative Sheila Dills and Senator Brenda Stanley) Creates the Connecting Futures Act. It allows the Department of Human Services to, subject to available funding, create a pilot program to address needs of any minors who are separated from their parents or legal guardians, are not supported by their parents or legal guardians and are not in the custody of the Department of Human Services or in the custody of any Indian tribe. It requires the pilot program to allow the Department to provide assistance in securing necessary services to allow eligible minors to become self-reliant and productive citizens. Update: Passed House Children Youth and Family Services Committee 5-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House Floor 82-6 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate. Dual Assigned to Senate Health and Human Services Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee. House Bill 1821 (Representative Toni Hasenbeck and Senator Dewayne Pemberton) Increases flexibility in the use of Tuition Aid Grants, by removing language directing the Regents for Higher Education to direct tuition aid grants to all eligible applicants, and adding factors to the way the awards are prioritized including: Enrollment status, unmet financial need, continuous enrollment, nearness to degree completion or certificate, state employment needs, and eligibility for other State and institutional funds. Update: Passed House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the House Floor 94-2 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 on Tuesday, March 23. House Bill 2399 (Representative Todd Russ and Senator Marty Quinn) Extends the qualification for Oklahoma's higher learning access program to those students whose parents died after the students tenth grade year, and meet the other financial requirements. Update: Assigned to House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee. Amended by unanimous consent passed to House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the House Floor 93-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. Dual assigned to Senate Education Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee. Senate Bill 132 (Senator David Bullard and Representative Rhonda Baker) Extends application window for Oklahoma's Promise to the eleventh grade. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Title Stricken. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Title Restored. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Higher Education and Career Tech Committee. Senate Bill 237 (Senator Dewayne Pemberton and Representative Mark McBride) Increases flexibility in the use of Tuition Aid Grants, by removing language directing the Regents for Higher Education to direct tuition aid grants to all eligible applicants, and adding factors to the way the awards are prioritized including: Enrollment status, unmet financial need, continuous enrollment, nearness to degree completion or certificate, state employment needs, and eligibility for other State and institutional funds. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-1 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Education Subcommittee then to Appropriations and Budget Committee. Senate Bill 639 (Senator Adam Pugh and Representative Rhonda Baker) Extends qualification for Oklahoma's Promise to those enrolled in an area that has been identified as a critical occupation area. Requires the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and the State Regents for Higher Education to publish a yearly list between October and June of the critical occupation areas that meet the guidelines. Requires the Regents, in consultation with CareerTech, to identify postsecondary vo-tech programs that correlate to the critical occupation areas. Sets a 6-year completion timeline for a baccalaureate or other postsecondary education credential and requires that the Oklahoma's Promise scholarship recipient repay the scholarship if the credential is not earned within 6-year time frame. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Amended by Floor Substitute, which provides a 6-year time period to earn a baccalaureate or other postsecondary education credential or requires that the Oklahoma's Promise recipient enter into a repayment agreement with the institution of higher education or career technology center. Passed off the Senate Floor 36-9 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Higher Education and Career Tech Committee. Teacher Retirement System House Bill 2293 (Representative Dustin Roberts and Senator Lonnie Paxton) modifies the matching of TRS funds to be based only on the member's regular annual compensation regardless of the source of funds, except federal funding. Update: Passed House Banking Financial Services and Pensions Committee 6-2 on Monday, February 22. Passed off the House Floor 51-38 on Thursday, March 11. Emergency Failed. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee. Senate Bill 267 (Senator Dewayne Pemberton and Representative Jadine Nollan) Allows retired educators who have received benefits for at least one year and who have not been employed by a public school during that time to be eligible to be reemployed as an active classroom teacher in common or career tech school district with no limitation on earnings. Update: Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 9-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the House Floor 36-11 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Banking, Financial Services and Pensions Committee. Senate Bill 683 (Senator Chris Kidd and Representative Mark McBride) Removes the one-year regular employment requirement for full-time non-classified optional personnel to join the TRS. Update: Assigned to Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee. Laid Over. Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 8-1 on Monday, February 22. Passed off the House Floor 41-2 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Banking, Financial Services and Pensions Committee. Senate Joint Resolution 18 (Senator Lonnie Paxton) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment that requires any COLA to include funding. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Teacher Certification House Bill 1593 (Representative Melissa Provenzano and Senator Brenda Stanley) Requires 7th-12th grade teachers to have workplace safety training emphasized into curriculum. The program shall be completed the first year a certified teacher is employed by a school district. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 13-0 Tuesday, February 16. Passed off House Floor 74-19 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Education Committee. House Bill 1773 (Representative Sherrie Conley and Senator Jessica Garvin) Requires teaching candidates in early childhood elementary, secondary and special education to study the philosophy framework and implementation of a multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) designed to address the core academic and nonacademic needs of all students. Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Amended by committee substitute. Passed House Common Education Committee 8-1 on Monday, February 8. Passed off the House Floor 91-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Education Committee. House Bill 1796 (Representative Nicole Miller and Senator Adam Pugh) Allows the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Commission for Education Quality and Accountability to grant subject area examination exceptions for initial certification in a field that does not require an advanced degree if the candidate already has an advanced degree in the subject essentially comparable to the content assessed in the examination. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 13-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House Floor 91-1 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to Senator. Assigned to Senate Education Committee. House Bill 2329 (Representative Mark Lawson and Senator Frank Simpson) Allows the State Board of Education to grant an exception to the certification examination to teacher candidates who are deaf. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 8-0 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the House Floor 97-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Dual assigned to Senate Education Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee. House Bill 2693 (Representative Toni Hasenbeck and Senator Brenda Stanley) Updates the name of the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation to the Office of Educational Quality and Accountability. Rewards teachers who are renewing their National Board Certification by awarding them a portion of the renewal application fee. Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Reassigned to House Appropriations Committee. Passed House Appropriations Committee 28-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the House Floor 81-11 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to Senate. Dual assigned to Senate Education Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee. House Bill 2748 (Representative Rhonda Baker and Senator Brenda Stanley) Requires the State Board of Education to issue one-year alternative teacher certificates renewable for up to 3 years to teach early childhood education or elementary education if the alternative certified teacher meets certain qualifications. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the House floor 86-0 on Thursday, February 18. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Education Committee. House Bill 2752 (Representative Rhonda Baker and Senator Brenda Stanley) Requires the State Department of Education in coordination with the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability to establish a micro-credential programs for teachers who hold a certificate to complete additional coursework and earn STEM credentials. Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 93-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Senate Bill 51 (Senator Carri Hicks and Representative Danny Sterling) Removes the requirement to pass the general education portions of the competency examination for an alternative placement teaching certificate or a teacher certificate. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 11-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off Senate Floor 33-12 on Monday, March 1. Engrossed to House. Assigned to Senate Common Education Committee. Senate Bill 67 (Senator Frank Simpson and Speaker Charles McCall) Permits the State Board of Education to grant an exception to the requirements for all certification examinations for teacher candidates who are "deaf." Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Thursday, March 4. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Rules Committee. Senate Bill 229 (Senator John Michael Montgomery and Representative Kyle Hilbert) Allows the State Board of Education to renew an Emergency or Provisional Teacher Certification for up to five years. Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 10-2 on Tuesday, February 23. Title Stricken. Passed off the Senate Floor 37-8 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Weapons on Campus / Gun Laws House Bill 1629 (Representative David Hardin and Senator Micheal Bergstrom) Preempts any federal, state county or municipal law rule or regulation that orders the confiscation of firearms, firearm accessories of ammunition. Update: Passed House Judiciary-Criminal Committee 7-2 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House Floor 77-19 Tuesday, March 9. Emergency added. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Public Safety Committee. House Bill 1630 (Representative David Hardin and Senator Dewayne Pemberton) Modifies the Unlawful Intent to Carry and Penalty Portions of Firearms Act to allow flexibility in punishment upon conviction. Deletes the ability to permanently revoke a handgun license. Amends background checks to remove criminal history records fingerprints and FBI searches on license renewal. Update: Passed House Judiciary-Criminal Committee 8-1 on Wednesday, February 10. Passed off the House floor 78-18 on Monday, February 22. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Public Safety Committee. House Bill 1662 (Representative Kevin West and Senator Nathan Dahm) If a defendant claims self-defense the State of Oklahoma must then have to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the defensive force was not justified. Update: Passed House Judiciary-Criminal Committee 7-2 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 77-19 on Thursday, March 11. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Judiciary Committee. House Bill 2334 (Representative Jay Steagall and Senator Micheal Bergstrom) Authorizes the possession of firearms on streets, plazas, sidewalks and alleys. Authorizes open carry on property of nonprofit entities and public trusts. Update: Passed House Public Safety Committee 5-2 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the House Floor 79-18 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Public Safety Committee. House Bill 2401 (Representative Todd Russ and Senator David Bullard) Changes the ban on all felons from carrying firearms to a ban on anyone convicted of a specifically classified violent felony from carrying firearms for a period of 5 years. Update: Passed House Judiciary-Criminal Committee 7-2 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 77-19 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Public Safety Committee. House Bill 2588 (Representative Sean Roberts and Senator David Bullard) Allows a board of education of a school district to adopt a policy to authorize the carrying of a handgun onto school property by school personnel if the person possesses a valid handgun license and meets other requirements authorized by the board of education. Update: Assigned to House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee. Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee 3-1 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the House Floor 79-18, Emergency Passed 68-18 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Public Safety Committee. House Bill 2645 (Representative Jon Echols and Senator David Bullard) Allows the carrying of firearms in bars and restaurants as long as the carrier is not consuming alcoholic beverages. Reduces fines and punishments from $1,000 and two years in prison to $250. Removes the revocation of a handgun license upon violation of this statute. Update: Assigned to House Public Safety Committee. Reassigned to House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee. Passed House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee 3-1 on Thursday, February 25. Passed off the House Floor 78-19 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Public Safety Committee. Senate Bill 106 (Senator Mark Allen and Representative Terry O'Donnell) Defines the term "completed application" within the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act to mean all fields are completed, questions answered and contains all required signatures on the Application for Self-Defense Act License and all required documents including legible fingerprints, if applicable. It removes the 90-day grace period for handgun license renewals. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Friday, February 19. Passed off the Senate Floor 35-8 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Rules Committee. Senate Bill 631 (Senator Warren Hamilton and Representative Sean Roberts) Makes Oklahoma a "Second Amendment Sanctuary State" pre-empting any legislation or rule at any level that would infringe upon the right to bear arms. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Monday, February 22. Passed off the Senate Floor 38-8 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Public Safety Committee. Senate Bill 644 (Senator Blake Stephens and Representative Sean Roberts) Allows municipalities to, by ordinance, authorize all or certain municipal employees to carry concealed firearms. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 10-1 on Friday, February 19. Passed off the Senate Floor 39-8 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House County and Municipal Government Committee. Senate Bill 646 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom and Representative Jay Steagall) Allows the carrying of firearms in bars and restaurants as long as the carrier is not consuming alcoholic beverages. Reduces fines and punishments from $1,000 and two years in prison to $250. Removes the revocation of a handgun license upon violation of this statute. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Monday, February 22. Title Stricken. Passed off the Senate Floor 37-9 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Public Safety Committee. Senate Bill 672 (Senator Casey Murdock and Representative Kenton Patzkowsky) Allows unmitigated transport of firearms for any person not otherwise prohibited from purchasing or carrying firearms. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Friday, February 19. Passed off the Senate Floor 39-7 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Public Safety Committee. Senate Bill 730 (Senator Nathan Dahm and Representative Jay Steagall) Bans any person, property owner, tenant, employer, or business entity from establishing or enforcing any rule that prohibits transporting carrying or storing firearms. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Monday, February 22. Passed off the Senate Floor 36-8 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Judiciary - Criminal Committee. Senate Bill 732 (Senator Nathan Dahm and Representative Jim Olsen) Allows anyone whose Second Amendment rights are violated to bring a lawsuit against any order or regulation or other political subdivision of the state. Defines responsibilities of the court in such a case. Update: Assigned to Senate Public Safety Committee. Laid Over. Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Monday February, 22. Passed off the Senate Floor 38-8 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Public Safety Committee. Senate Bill 925 (Senator Nathan Dahm and Representative Jay Steagall) Modifies language related to self-defense with a firearm. It adds "occupied premises" to the list of places the Legislature recognizes that the citizens of the State of Oklahoma have a right to expect absolute safety and that a person legally is allowed to defend. Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Friday, February 19. Passed off the Senate Floor 36-8 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Judiciary - Criminal Committee. Senate Bill 926 (Senator Nathan Dahm and Representative Eric Roberts) Extends the firearms law preemption to air powered pistols Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-0 on Monday, February 22. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Passed House Judiciary - Criminal Committee 6-2 on Wednesday, March 24. Senate Joint Resolution 21 (Senator David Bullard) Puts to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment prohibiting any future legislation, taxation or rules that would infringe upon Second Amendment rights. Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee. Workforce Development House Bill 2860 (Representative Kevin Wallace and Senator Roger Thompson) Creates the Oklahoma Remote Quality Jobs Inventive Act. Provides for the Department of Commerce and the Oklahoma Tax Commission to create policy's attracting growth industries that employ remote workers. Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 29-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House floor 96-0 on Wednesday, March 3. Engrossed to Senate. Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee. House Bill 2929 (Speaker Charles McCall and Senator Greg Treat) Requires the Department of Commerce to post on its website information related to its business recruiting efforts with an emphasis on possible business site locations or relocation decisions within the state. Update: Passed House Rules Committee 9-2 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the House Floor 68-22 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to the Senate. Assigned to Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee. Senate Bill 71 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom and Representative Kevin McDugle) Modifies language related to the Department of Commerce's requirement to promulgate rules for the administration of the Oklahoma Local Development and Enterprise Zone Incentive Leverage Act. It requires the rules establish reporting requirements for successful applicants which allow data collection and analysis by the department on employment, capital investment, changes in assessed value of a project and other impacts resulting from payments and reporting of data by the department to the Oklahoma Tax Commission. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 10-0 on Tuesday, February 9. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Tuesday, March 2. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Business and Commerce Committee. Senate Bill 211 (Senator Tom Dugger and Representative Ken Luttrell) Modifies the powers and duties of the Oklahoma Board of Private Vocational Schools. It permits a school to be accredited by an accrediting organization approved by the U.S. Department of Education for multiple years, and to obtain a sustained license annually during the period of the multi-year accreditation. It modifies the fees the board may assess. Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Title Stricken. Passed Senate Education Committee 10-2 on Tuesday, February 2. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 20-0 on Wednesday, February 24. Passed off the Senate floor 42-5 on Wednesday. March, 3. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Senate Bill 587 (Senator Chuck Hall and Representative Brad Boles) Adds the delivery of industry focused instruction from Common Education, CareerTech or Higher Education to the definitions in the Oklahoma Community Economic Development Pooled Finance Act. Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, February 23. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-0 on Wednesday, March 10. Engrossed to House. Senate Bill 936 (Senator Chuck Hall and Representative Kevin Wallace) Combines the various quality jobs programs under the Oklahoma Quality Jobs Program Act. Update: Passed Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 11-1 on Thursday, February 11. Passed Senate Appropriations and Budget 20-0 on Thursday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 43-2 on Tuesday, March 9. Engrossed to House. Assigned to House Appropriations and Budget Committee. Thank you. Glen Glen D. Johnson Chancellor Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education 655 Research Parkway, Suite 200 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104 405.225.9122 gjohnson at osrhe.edu follow us on Twitter @okhighered [cid:image001.jpg at 01D72257.482E6C20] [cid:image002.jpg at 01D72257.482E6C20] -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 2046 bytes Desc: image001.jpg URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image002.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 1887 bytes Desc: image002.jpg URL: From lori.boyd at okstate.edu Tue Mar 30 08:08:09 2021 From: lori.boyd at okstate.edu (Boyd, Lori) Date: Tue, 30 Mar 2021 13:08:09 +0000 Subject: [Oasfaa] FSA Unveils New Portal for Aid Programs Message-ID: FSA Unveils New Portal for Aid Programs Over the weekend the Department of Education's (ED) Federal Student Aid (FSA) launched its Partner Connect website. The portal, which was previewed during FSA's most recent annual conference, is meant to streamline existing operations and put them all in one place for institutions, loan servicers, state agencies, and essentially anyone interacting with FSA. FSA also noted that the Information for Financial Aid Professionals (IFAP) website has been retired and said that users visiting the IFAP website home page will be redirected to Knowledge Center Home. Users can also access a set of training resources about FSA Partner Connect, including webinars, tutorials, and quick reference job aids, on the Federal Student Aid E-Training website. [cid:image001.png at 01D5373C.65A18FB0] LORI BOYD ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF FISCAL OPERATIONS Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid 405.744.8730 * 119 Student Union * finaid.okstate.edu [cid:image010.png at 01D5373D.52894C00] -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 11714 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image002.png Type: image/png Size: 4958 bytes Desc: image002.png URL: From Audra.Main at mntc.edu Tue Mar 30 10:19:37 2021 From: Audra.Main at mntc.edu (Audra Main) Date: Tue, 30 Mar 2021 15:19:37 +0000 Subject: [Oasfaa] OASFAA Conference Service Project Message-ID: Greetings OASFAA! Every year, the OASFAA Board approves a conference service project in an effort to bring attention to a local cause, requesting contributions from conference attendees. For 2021, due to the increased food insecurities being felt during the pandemic, The Regional Food Bank is this year's chosen service project. Learn more about their efforts HERE. Audra Main, MLS Financial Aid Coordinator Moore Norman Technology Center (405) 801-5046 (405) 561-4167 www.mntc.edu [mntc_4c_sec_rgb] -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 11154 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: From cochrant at nsuok.edu Tue Mar 30 10:52:44 2021 From: cochrant at nsuok.edu (Teri Cochran) Date: Tue, 30 Mar 2021 10:52:44 -0500 Subject: [Oasfaa] Job Opportunity Message-ID: Northeastern State University is now accepting applications for a Financial Aid Counselor. The job description and application are available at https://nsuok.csod.com/ ux/ats/careersite/4/home/requisition/510?c=nsuok Regards, Teri Cochran, Ed.D Director of Student Financial Services Northeastern State University 715 N Grand Ave Tahlequah, OK 74464 918-444-3456 *NEVER SEND SENSITIVE INFORMATION SUCH AS SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS VIA EMAIL*. This electronic mail transmission ("EMT") and any attached documents may contain confidential and privileged information. Such information is intended solely for the use of the individual(s) to whom this EMT was intended to be sent. Any printing, disclosure, reproduction, distribution or taking of action based on the information herein by other than the intended recipient(s) is strictly prohibited. If you believe you have received this EMT in error, please notify me the sender by telephone or via return e-mail and delete this e-mail from your system. Thank You. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From lori.boyd at okstate.edu Wed Mar 31 08:26:54 2021 From: lori.boyd at okstate.edu (Boyd, Lori) Date: Wed, 31 Mar 2021 13:26:54 +0000 Subject: [Oasfaa] Email Scam Impersonating IRS Is Targeting College Students and Staff, Agency Warns Message-ID: Email Scam Impersonating IRS Is Targeting College Students and Staff, Agency Warns The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued a warning this week notifying those affiliated with higher education institutions of an ongoing email scam that appears to be primarily targeting those who have “.edu” email addresses. The agency, in a release posted Tuesday, said it has received numerous complaints about the scam in recent weeks, noting that the emails to those with addresses ending in “.edu” have been targeting staff and students from both public and private, for-profit and nonprofit institutions. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From diana.sanders at okstate.edu Wed Mar 31 08:28:22 2021 From: diana.sanders at okstate.edu (Sanders, Diana) Date: Wed, 31 Mar 2021 13:28:22 +0000 Subject: [Oasfaa] Corporate Sponsor Webinars In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hello OASFAA- With April being Financial Literacy Month, Citizens has put together a webinar series with the four basic tenets of Personal Finance: Savings, Budgeting, Credit and Investing. These sessions will cover the fundamentals of each and are intended as a general overview for FA professionals and as content that offers the essentials of financial education to students. CLICK HERE to register for our complimentary webinar series: April 6, 12pm EST– Personal Finance – Banking Basics Learn the basics of banking, from products and services to opening and managing an account April 8, 3pm EST– Personal Finance – Budgeting 101 Discover the importance of tracking income and expenses, and how to set up a spending and savings plan April 13, 12pm EST– Personal Finance – Understanding Credit Building and maintaining credit is critical to achieving financial wellness and keeping the cost of education down. Learn how to build, maintain and protect your credit in order to reach your financial goals April 15, 3pm EST– Personal Finance – Intro to Investing Explore the fundamentals of investing, including the value of long-term financial planning April 20, 12pm EST– Personal Finance – Intro to Investing Explore the fundamentals of investing, including the value of long-term financial planning April 22, 3pm EST– Personal Finance – Understanding Credit Building and maintaining credit is critical to achieving financial wellness and keeping the cost of education down. Learn how to build, maintain and protect your credit in order to reach your financial goals April 27, 12pm EST– Personal Finance – Budgeting 101 Discover the importance of tracking income and expenses, and how to set up a spending and savings plan April 29, 13pm EST– Personal Finance – Banking Basics Learn the basics of banking, from products and services to opening and managing an account Best regards for your safety and health, Michelle Enriquez VP, Relationship Manager Citizens Direct – 512-514-5423 mariemichelle.enriquez at citizensbank.com Citizensbank.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bisaacs at ecok.edu Wed Mar 31 13:54:25 2021 From: bisaacs at ecok.edu (Isaacs, Rebecca Ann) Date: Wed, 31 Mar 2021 18:54:25 +0000 Subject: [Oasfaa] Request for Award Nominations Message-ID: Greetings OASFAA members, I am asking again for nominations to honor those who have made contributions to the association and to the profession. Please review the award criteria below and submit nominations for each award to me by April 9, 2021. The recipients will be announced at the Spring 2021 conference! Philo Brasher Emerging Leadership Award: This award was established by SWASFAA in honor of Philo Brasher who served many years in the association. The OASFAA Board of Directors selects a member, which is announced at the spring conference. The recipient should be an individual that has served OASFAA and made a contribution to the Association. OASFAA will pay the registration fee to the SWASFAA annual conference on behalf of the Oklahoma award winner. OASFAA will also match the $250 that SWASFAA donates to the general scholarship fund of the recipients' school. Honorary Membership Award: Honorary Membership in OASFAA is the highest honor that the Association can bestow on a person who is neither a member nor affiliated with a member organization. Since this is the highest award that OASFAA can give, the individual receiving it must have made truly outstanding contributions to the Association and to the profession over a sustained period of time. It is not expected that honorary membership will be granted in recognition of a single accomplishment, but for continued efforts over a period of time. Honorary membership will be conferred only with the approval of the majority of the Board of Directors. Honorary members are extended the same membership privileges as Associate members. Distinguished Service Award: This award is intended to recognize a practicing student financial aid professional at an institution. He/she should have contributed unique and long lasting efforts to the association, the profession, or the cause of financial aid in Oklahoma. In general, presentation of the awards will occur at the spring conference of the association. Partner Award - The Partner Award may be made by the Association to another individual, not a practicing aid administrator, whose efforts are important to advancing the profession or the needs of students in Oklahoma. The following guidelines should be observed in selecting recipients of the award: 1. A solicitation for nominees for the award should be made to all members through a posting on the OASFAA website and through the listserv. 2. Nominations must be made by active members and must be supported by two other members of the association. 3. Only active members of the association are eligible for nomination. 4. The Advisory Committee shall evaluate nominations for the award and make a recommendation to the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors has the final decision regarding the selection of recipients. 5. No current member of the Advisory Committee or voting member of the Board of Directors is eligible for the award. Please e-mail your nominees for the Philo Brasher, Honorary Membership, Distinguished Service, and Partner Awards, to me with the reasons you believe the person should be chosen to receive the award by Friday, March 12, 2021. Thank you for your continued support of OASFAA. If you have any questions, please let me know. Becky Isaacs Becky Isaacs, M.S.A. Director of Financial Aid East Central University Financial Aid Office 1100 E. 14th Street Ada, OK 74820 580-559-5242 FAX - 580-559-5638 We educate and empower students to understand and transform our world -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: