[Oasfaa] FW: Legislative Update - April 9, ,2021

[Fair, Bryce]

Following is the weekly legislative update.  You will find the current status of the financial aid bills under the "Scholarships" section.  Two bills are no longer active for the 2021 session - HB 2399 (OKPromise; allowing students with deceased parents to enroll in 11th or 12th grade) and HB 1739 (OKPromise; allowing certain unaccompanied minors participating in a DHS pilot program to enroll in OKPromise).
While the general deadline for committee action was yesterday, April 8, only the House Appropriations and Budget Committee has until next Friday, April 16, to finish hearing bills in committee.  SB 237, one of the two bills (which are identical) making changes to the OTAG program passed the House A&B Subcommittee on Education and is now pending action in the full House A&B Committee.
Also, there is one other bill in the "Higher Education" section of the update related to the Oklahoma College Savings Plan (OCSP).  HB 1962 specifies that the definition of "qualified higher education expenses" authorized for payment from the OCSP will conform with section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code.  This change will incorporate recent federal additions to qualified expenses for 529 plans such as apprenticeship expenses and up to $10,000 for repayment of student loans.
Bryce Fair

From: Johnson, Dr. Glen
Sent: Friday, April 9, 2021 4:07 PM
Subject: Legislative Update - April 9, ,2021

OKLAHOMA STATE REGENTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION



Memo


To:                  Higher Education Network
From:             Chancellor Glen D. Johnson
Date:               Friday, April 9, 2021
      Subject:          Legislative Update - April 9, 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<mailto:lmcnally at osrhe.edu> or (405) 301-0332.

Legislative Report
April 9, 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. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 21-0 on Wednesday, March 31.

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. 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. Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, March 23. Emergency added.

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. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Wednesday, April 7.

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. Passed Senate Finance Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, April 6.

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. Dormant pursuant to the rules.

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. Passed House Banking, Financial Services and Pensions Committee 5-1 on Monday, March 29.

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. Passed House Government Modernization and Efficiency Committee 7-1 on Tuesday, March 30.
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. Passed House Appropriations and Budget General Government Subcommittee on Monday, March 29. Passed Appropriations and Budget Committee 32-0 on Wednesday, March 7.

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. Title Stricken. Passed House General Government Committee 9-2 on Thursday, April 8.

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. Passed House General Government Subcommittee 8-2 on Monday, March 29. Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 32-0 on Wednesday, April 7.

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. Passed House Public Safety Committee 7-2 on Tuesday, March 30.

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. Passed House Business and Commerce Committee 10-0 on Wednesday, April 7.

Senate Bill 627 (Senator David Bullard and Representative Danny Williams) Amended from a Red River Boundary Bill to ban all mandatory gender and sexual diversity training by any state entity.

      Update: Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed House General Government 6-2 on Wednesday, March 31. Emergency removed.

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. Passed House Government Modernization and Efficiency Committee 8-1 on Tuesday, March 30.

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. Assigned to House Appropriations and Budget Committee.

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. Passed House Technology Committee 5-0 on Wednesday, March 31.

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. Laid Over. 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.

            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 due to exemptions granted to veterans and their surviving spouses.

      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. Passed Senate Finance Committee 10-2 on Tuesday, March 30. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 13-6 on Wednesday, April 7.

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. Passed Senate Finance Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, April 6.

House Bill 2776 (Representative John Pfeiffer and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Creates the Protecting Revenues for Oklahoma Teachers, Educators and Students Fund (PROTEST) 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 Stricken. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Wednesday, April 7.

House Bill 2777 (Representative John Pfeiffer and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Requires County Assessors to use current market price determination to establish fair cash value for real property and personal property owned by any wind power 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. Passed Senate Finance Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, April 6.

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. Passed off the Senate floor 39-7 on Thursday, April 8.

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. Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee.

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. Passed House County and Municipal Government Committee 9-0 on Monday, March 29.

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. Dormant pursuant to the rules.

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. Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 30-1 on Wednesday, April 7.
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. Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 11-1 on Monday, April 5.


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. Dormant pursuant to the rules.

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. Passed Senate Education Committee 7-3 on Tuesday, April 6.

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. Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 Tuesday, March 30. Title Stricken. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Wednesday April, 7.

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. Passed Senate Education Committee 9-1 on Tuesday, April 6. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Wednesday, April 7.

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) Amended by committee substitute to bar any employee of a state agency, teacher administrator, school district or other employee from being required to engage in training orientation or therapy that presents any form of race or sex stereotyping or blame on the basis of sex.

      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. Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed Senate Education Committee 7-4 on Tuesday, April 6.


House Bill 1801 (Representative Nicole Miller and Senator Brenda Stanley) Creates Riley's rule requiring school districts to develop an emergency action plan for all school facilities including athletic practice events or activities.

      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. Passed Senate Education Committee 11-0 on Thursday, April 8.

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. Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 on Tuesday, March 30. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 19-1 on Wednesday, March 31.

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 Passed Senate Education Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee 14-6 on Wednesday, April 7.

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. Passed Senate Education Committee 9-2 on Tuesday, April 6. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 18-1 on Wednesday, April 7.

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. Dormant pursuant to the rules.

House Bill 2396 (Representative Todd Russ and Senator Brenda Stanley) Allows the Regents for Higher 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. Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed Senate Education Committee 11-0 on Thursday, April 8.

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. Passed Senate Education Committee 11-0 on Tuesday, April 6.

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. Title Stricken. Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, March 30. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 20-0 on Wednesday, April 7.

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 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. Passed House Common Education Committee 13-0 on Tuesday, April 7.

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. Passed House Common Education Committee 12-0 Tuesday, April 6.

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. Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, March 30.

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. Passed House Insurance Committee 8-0 on Wednesday, March 31.

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. Passed House Common Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, March 30.

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. Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, March 30.

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. Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, March 30.

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. Passed House Common Education Committee 13-0 on Tuesday, April 6.

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. Passed House Common Education Committee 10-4 on Tuesday, March 30.

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. Passed House Common Education Committee 11-2 on Tuesday, April 6.

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. Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, March 30.

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. Passed House Rules Committee 9-2 on Thursday, April 8.

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. Passed House Common Education Committee 13-2 on Tuesday, April 6.

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. Advanced to General Order. Passed off the House Floor 65-30 on Wednesday, March 31. Emergency passed 68-19. Sent to Governor. Signed by Governor Stitt Wednesday, March 31.

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. Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, March 30.

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. Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 6-5 on Monday, April 5.

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. Passed House States Rights Committee 5-1 on Wednesday, March 31.

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. Creates a metric for when mask mandates are allowed. Higher Education is excluded from the mask mandate portion.

      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. Amended by Committee Substitute. Amended to allow the local health department to set mask rules. Passed House Public Health Committee 9-1 on Wednesday, April, 7.


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. Passed House Common Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, March 30.

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. Passed House Common Education Committee 11-0 on Thursday, April 8.

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. Passed House Common Education Committee 11-3 on Tuesday, March 29.

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 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. Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, March 30.

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. Passed Senate General Government Committee 8-0 on Wednesday, March 31.

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. Passed Senate Education Committee 9-3 on Tuesday, April 6. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Wednesday, April 7.

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. Passed Senate Education Committee 8-3 on Tuesday, April 6.

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. Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, March 30.

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. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Wednesday, April 7.

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. Passed Senate Education Committee 11-1 on Tuesday, March 30.

Senate Bill 2 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom and Representative Toni Hasenbeck)  Amended by Committee Substitute to prohibit anyone of the male sex from playing on athletic teams designated for females, women, or girls. It requires any student who is deprived of an athletic opportunity due to a violation of this rule, to have a cause of action for injunctive relief against the school.

      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. Amended by Committee Substitute. Passed House Common Education Committee 4-1 on Thursday, April 8.

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. Passed Senate Appropriations Budget Education Subcommittee 11-0 on Monday, March 29. Title Restored. Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 32-0 on Wednesday, April 7.

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. Passed House Higher Education and Career Tech Committee 10-0 on Monday, March 29.

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. Passed House Higher Education and Career Tech Committee 10-0 on Monday, March 29.

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. Passed House Higher Education and Career Tech Committee 10-0 on Monday, March 29.

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. Passed House Finance-Revenue and Taxation Committee 8-0 on Monday, March 29.

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. Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 11-0 on Monday, April 5.

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. Passed House Public Health Committee 10-0 on Wednesday, March 31.

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. Passed House Public Health Committee 10-0 on Wednesday, March 31.

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. Passed House Banking, Financial Services and Pensions Committee 6-0 on Monday, March 29.

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. Passed House Public Health Committee 10-0 on Wednesday, March 31.

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. Passed House Health Subcommittee 7-0 on Monday, March 29. Passed Appropriations Committee 32-0 on Wednesday, April 7.

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. Passed House Public Safety Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, March 30.

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. Passed House Higher Education and Career Tech Committee 9-0 on Monday, April 5.


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. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 20-0 on Wednesday, March 31

House Bill 2040 (Speaker Charles McCall 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. Passed Senate Finance Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, March 30. Title Stricken. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 20-0 on Wednesday, April 7.

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. Passed Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 11-1 on Thursday, April 8.

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. Passed Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 12-1 on Tuesday, March 30.

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. Passed House Technology Committee 6-0 on Wednesday, March 31.


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. Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 10-0 on Tuesday, April 6.

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. Laid Over. Dormant pursuant to the rules.


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. Passed House Higher Education and Career Tech Committee 10-0 on Tuesday, March 29.

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. Passed House Education Subcommittee 11-0 on Monday, March 29. Referred to full 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.

      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. Amended to remove the "clawback" repayment requirement. Passed House Higher Education and Career Tech Committee 9-0 on Monday, April 5.



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. Title Stricken. Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 6-3 on Monday, April 5.

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. Passed House Banking, Financial Services and Pensions Committee 7-0 on Monday, April 5.

Senate Bill 683 (Senator Chris Kidd and Representative Mark Lepak) 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. Passed House Banking, Financial Services and Pensions Committee 7-0 on Monday, March 29. Author change Mark Lepak - Principal House Author.

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. Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, March 30. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Wednesday, April 7.

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. Passed Senate Education Committee 9-0 in Tuesday, April 6.

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. Laid Over. Passed Senate Education Committee 11-0 on Thursday, April 8.

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. Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 Tuesday, March 30.

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. Passed Senate Education Committee 8-4 on Tuesday, April 6.

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. Passed Senate Education Committee 12-0 on Tuesday, March 30.

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. Passed Senate Education Committee 10-0 on Tuesday, April 6.

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. Dormant pursuant to the rules.

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. Passed House Rules Committee 11-0 on Thursday, April 8.

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. Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, April 6.


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. Dormant pursuant to the rules.

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. Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Monday, March 29.

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. Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 6-3 on Tuesday, April 6.

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. Dormant pursuant to the rules.

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. Dormant pursuant to the rules.

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. Dormant pursuant to the rules.

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. Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 8-2 on Monday, April 5.

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. Passed House Rules Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, March 30.

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. Passed House Public Safety Committee 7-2 on Tuesday, March 30.

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. Passed House County and Municipal Government Committee 8-2 on Monday, March 29.

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. Passed House Public Safety Committee 7-2 on Tuesday, March 30.

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. Reassigned to House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee. Passed House Criminal Justice Committee 4-1 on Thursday, April 8.

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. Passed House Judiciary - Criminal Committee 8-2 on Wednesday, March 31.

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. Passed House Public Safety Committee 7-2 on Tuesday, April 6.

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. Passed House Judiciary - Criminal Committee 8-2 on Wednesday, March 31.

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. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 18-1 on Wednesday, April 7.

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. Title Stricken. Passed Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 11-3 on Thursday, April 8.

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. Passed House Business and Commerce Committee 8-2 on Wednesday, April 7.

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. Passed House Common Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, April 6.

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. Passed House Select Agencies Subcommittee 6-0 on Monday, April 5. Referred to full House Appropriations Committee.

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. Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 27-1 on Wednesday, March 31.


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<mailto:gjohnson at osrhe.edu>
follow us on Twitter @okhighered







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