[Oasfaa] Legislative Update

Fri Apr 17 13:22:43 CDT 2026

Good afternoon,

It was lovely getting to see everyone at the conference this morning! We at the OSRHE are so thankful for the work you all do for Oklahoma students.

Please see the bill list below my signature line. This list reflects the current status of the bills we are tracking. As a reminder, legislation can change quickly, so be sure to check the most up‑to‑date bill status and review full bill language at http://www.oklegislature.gov/BasicSearchForm.aspx.

Colbi Beam, Ph.D.

Associate Vice Chancellor for State Grants and Scholarships

Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education

655 Research Parkway, Suite 200

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104

Cbeam at osrhe.edu<mailto:cbeam at osrhe.edu>

___________________________________________________________________________

The update below reflects the major legislation concerning Higher Education.

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Jarrett Jobe, Vice Chancellor for Governmental Relations, at jjobe at osrhe.edu<mailto:jjobe at osrhe.edu>.

Priority Legislation List
4/17/26
Appropriations
SB1177 by Sen. Chuck Hall and Rep. Trey Caldwell: General Appropriations Bill
Update: Assigned to JCAB Committee(s). Passed senate JCAB18-5 on 4/6. Passed off the Senate floor 28-17 on 4/7. Passed off the House Floor 76-18 on 4/9. Signed By Governor Stitt on 4/15.

Concurrent Enrollment/Oklahomas Promise
HB2950 by Rep Gabe Woolley and Rep. Julie McIntosh: prohibits any postsecondary institution from requiring a homeschool graduate to meet higher standardized test score requirements than those required of graduates of public or private schools for purposes of general undergraduate admission
Update: Assigned to Senate Education then to Appropriations Committee(s). Passed 7-2 on 2/10. Emergency Added. Passed Oversight 7-2 on 2/25. Passed off the House Floor 76-19 on 3/11.

Graduation Requirements
SB1477 by Sen. Ally Seifried and Rep. Chad Caldwell: Puts a cap of 21 years of age for students who are receiving high-school-level instruction at home to enroll in any course otherwise eligible high school student.
Update: Assigned to Postsecondary Education then Education Oversight Committee(s). Passed off the Senate Floor 45-2 on 3/16. Passed 6-0 on 4/7.  Passed oversight 9-0 on 4/13.

Higher Education
HB2398 by Rep. Brian Hill and Sen. Aaron Reinhardt: Defines Credentials of Value in statute.
Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee(s). Passed 8-1 on 2/17. Passed Oversight 7-1 on 3/4. Passed off the House Floor 70-20 on 3/10. Passed 10-0 on 4/7. Passed off the Senate Floor 36-9 on 4/15. Sent to Governor.

HB3132 by Rep. Kevin West and Sen. Randy Grellner: Creates the Selecting Neutral Accreditors Act. Requires each institution to review its accrediting agencies to see if they have adopted or used DEI practices in the last 5 years and report the findings to legislative leadership and change to an accreditor that has not used DEI.
Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee(s). Passed 6-3 on 2/10. Passed Oversight 7-2 on 2/25.  Passed off the House Floor 75-18 on 3/26

HB3134 by Rep. Kevin West and Sen. Randy Grellner: Creates the Keep Accreditation about academics act. Defines and creates civil penealties for violating a framework for basing accredidation decisions.
Update: Assigned to Senate Rules Committee(s). Passed 5-2 on 2/12. Passed Oversight 9-3 on 2/16. Passed off the House Floor 68-18 on 3/26.

HB3315 by Rep. Ryan Eaves and Sen. Julie Daniels: Calls for a Regents for Higher Education feasibility study on implementing a 90 credit hours or 3 year bachelors program
Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee(s). Passed 9-0 on 2/10. Passed Oversight 9-0 on 3/2. Passed off the House Floor 83-10 on 3/24. Passed 8-2 on 3/7.

HB3700 by Rep. Chad Caldwell and Sen. Julie Daniels: Requires the all state educational institutions to create a policy ensuring student grades are evaluated solely on an academic basis. Regents are required to withhold funding from institutions that fail to adopt such a policy.
Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee(s). Passed off the House Floor 80-13 on 3/10. Passed 9-2 on 4/14

HB4344 by Rep. Anthony Moore and Sen. Darcy Jech: Permits the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to reduce allocations in order to make payments for annual obligations.
Update: Assigned to Senate Education Committee(s). Passed 10-0 on 2/16. Passed 27-0 on 3/4. Passed off the Senate Floor 89-6 on 3/23.

SB1593 by Sen. Todd Gollihare and Rep. Anthony Moore: Deletes language regarding the promulgation of rules and the presidential search process for the Board of Trustees for Oklahoma State University/Tulsa.
Update: Assigned to Postsecondary Education then Education Oversight Committee(s). Passed 10-0 on 3/3. Passed off the Senate Floor 43-0 on 3/11. Passed 6-0 on 4/7. Passed Oversight 10-0 on 4/13.

Higher Education Affordability
SB2040 by Sen. Regina Goodwin and Rep. Andy Fugate: Modifies eligibility for the Tulsa Reconciliation Education and Scholarship Program.
Update: Assigned to Appropriations and Budget Committee(s). Passed 18-0 on 3/4. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on 3/26.

SB1272 by Sen. Kelly Hines and Rep. Toni Hasenbeck: increases the student's parent's income level to qualify for the Oklahoma Tuition Equalization Grant to $80,000 from $50,000.
Update: Assigned to Appropriations and Budget Committee(s). Passed off the Senate Floor 40-4 on 3/24.

Oklahomas Promise
HB4326 by Rep. Anthony Moore and Sen. Ally Seifried: modifies the qualifications for the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program to include students in court ordered custody or a federally recognized Indian tribe.
Update: Assigned to Senate Education then to Appropriations Committee(s). Passed as amended off the House Floor 80-15 on 3/25. Passed 6-3 on 4/14 Title stricken.

Teacher Recruitment & Retention
SB1546 by Sen. Adam Pugh and Rep. Chad Caldwell: Renames the Inspired to Teach Program; increasing scholarship amounts
Update: Assigned to Appropriations and Budget Committee(s). Passed off the Senate Floor 37-10 on 3/10. Passed 7-2 on 4/8. Passed full appropriations 25-0 on 4/14.

Workforce and Economic Development
SB1632 by Sen. Jerry Alvord and Rep. Toni Hasenbeck: Recuires the Regents for Higher Education to allow institutions to grant college credit based on assessment-based credentials and scores earned on career-readiness assessments.
Update: Assigned to Appropriations and Budget Committee(s). Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on 3/11.  Passed 9-0 on 4/7.

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