[Oasfaa] Legislative Update

[Beam, Colbi]

Good morning,

This year's session is approaching sine die. Both the House and the Senate advanced bills last week, with the House working through Thursday and the Senate working through Tuesday. There are expectations that both bodies will meet to consider overrides of Governor vetoes.

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
5/1/26
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.

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 6-0 on 4/7.  Passed oversight 9-0 on 4/13. Passed off the House Floor 90-2 on 4/28. Sent to Governor.

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 off the Senate Floor 36-9 on 4/15. Signed by Govermor Stitt on 4/17.

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 9-2 on 4/7. Passed off the Senate Floor 38-6 on 4/23. Sent to Governor.

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. Passwd off the Senate floor 38-7 on 4/29. Sent to Governor.

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.

Oklahoma's 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. Passed Appropriations as amended 19-2 on 4/22.

Teacher Recruitment & Retention
SB1546 by Sen. Adam Pugh and Rep. Chad Caldwell: Allows scholarship granting organizations (SGOs) and educational improvement grant organizations (EIGOs) to provide capital improvements grants to help schools increase instructional capacity. The SGOs and EIGOs must include information about any capital grants in their annual reports to the Tax Commission. Further, the measure clarifies that public schools can spend grant money on improving reading and math scores.
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. Amended by floor substitute. Passed off the House Floor 32-12 on 4/30.

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. Passed Oversight 9-0 on 4/13.



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