2021 Oklahoma Legislative Guide
This guide contains information about 149 lawmakers, including voting records, committee membership, and other key information. To download and print this guide, click on the embedded document, and then click the cloud icon in the lower right corner.
2021 Education Legislation
Oklahoma lawmakers filed more than 3,000 bills for the 2021 legislative session. The OEA legislative team read all the bills to determine which ones affect OEA members — whether it’s funding, pay, retirement, health insurance, curriculum, or one of any number of topics. We are tracking several hundred of those bills. Below is a look at the most recent bill update or for a more in-depth look at some of the big issues facing education this session.
Education Bills Passed in 2021
More than 80 education-related bills made it through the legislative process in 2021. Here are short descriptions of each, sorted by topic, with House and Senate authors listed in parentheses.
Certification and Professional Development for Teachers
HB1593 (Rep. Provenzano, Sen. Stanley) Lessens the frequency of several required professional development courses for teachers, including digital teaching and learning standards, recognizing and addressing student mental health needs, incorporating workplace safety into curriculum, and in-service training on alcohol and drug abuse.
HB1773 (Rep. Conley, Sen. Garvin) Requires teacher candidates in early childhood, elementary, secondary, and special education to study multi-tiered systems of support designed to address the core needs of all students.
HB1796 (Rep. Miller, Sen. Pugh) The SBE may grant an exception to the requirement to complete a subject area examination if the candidate has an advanced degree in a subject substantially comparable to the content of the exam and the certification does not require an advanced degree.
HB2329 (Rep. Lawson, Sen. Simpson) The SBE may grant an exception to the certification exam requirement if an applicant is deaf, ASL fluent, demonstrates competency in the subject area in some way other than an exam, and sponsored by a deaf ed mentor teacher.
HB2748 (Rep. Baker, Sen. Stanley) One year alt-cert (renewable up to 3 years) in early childhood education or elementary ed if someone has a graduate degree or bachelors with 2 years relevant work experience, takes 6 hours of required courses each year, and passes tests in years 2 and 3.
HB2752 (Rep. Baker, Sen. Stanley) SDE and OEQA must establish a microcredentialing program for STEM areas by 11/1/21 to permit any teacher candidate or teacher who holds a certificate to teach to complete additional coursework and earn micro-credentials in science, technology, engineering and mathematics endorsement areas including computer science.
SB13 (Sen. Stanley, Rep. Baker) A teacher whose certificate is suspended by the SBE shall be placed on suspension while proceedings for revocation or other action are pending before the SBE.
Curriculum
HB1569 (Rep. Rosecrants, Sen. Pugh) encourages school districts to implement professional development programs to provide for student play-based learning and prohibits districts from forbidding such practices.
HB1775 (Rep. K. West, Sen. Bullard) Prohibits higher ed from requiring a student to engage in mandatory gender or sexual diversity training or counseling. Bans PK-12 educators from teaching ideas that individuals are inherently racist or sexist or that they are superior because of their gender or skin color. Specifies that teaching concepts that align with the Oklahoma Academic Standards is not prohibited.
SB89 (Sen. Haste, Rep. Baker) Creates new health education standards that all PK-12 students will receive instruction on beginning in SY23-24 and creates professional development programs to help teachers provide health education instruction.
SB252 (Sen. Stanley, Rep. Baker) Requires the development of computer science curriculum in public school districts and establishes related reporting to the Board of Education by school districts. by SY24-25. All public high schools must offer a minimum of one computer class, computer science, and computational thinking. Can be virtual or in person.
Funding
HB2078 (Rep. Hilbert, Sen. Taylor) Beginning SY22-23 state aid allocation will be based on the highest between the first nine weeks of the current year or the preceding school year, removing the option of basing it on two years prior. It also increases the amount of carryover a district is allowed to have each year. Also see HB2890 that addresses some inaccurate language in this bill.
HB2890 (Rep. Wallace, Sen. Thompson) A district won’t be assessed a financial penalty if it exceeds its carryover limits for any school year from now to the end of SY23-24. Cleans up inaccurate language in HB2078.
HB2900 (Rep. Wallace, Sen. Thompson) Makes general appropriations to state entities for FY22.
SB229 (Sen. Montgomery, Rep. Hilbert) Creates a new, dedicated state funding source for over 300 school districts, including charters, that have little or no access to ad valorem funding.
SB1037 (Sen. Thompson, Rep. Wallace) Permits school building funds to consist of money allocated to the district through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 (CRRSAS) and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP).
SB1067 (Sen. Thompson, Rep. Wallace) Sets budget limits and uses on FY22 funds directed to the SBE in the general revenue bill, HB2900.
Health
HB1103 (Rep. Vancuren, Sen. Haste) Beginning in SY22-23, and biennially thereafter, public schools shall administer the Oklahoma Prevention Needs Assessment Survey to grades 6, 8, 10, and 12. The survey will provide direction to improve the lives of students with a focus on alcohol, tobacco, other drug use, mental health, academic failure and violence.
HB1568 (Rep. Boatman, Sen. Haste) Beginning with SY22-23, the SBE shall require that all schools, as part of any health education curriculum, include instruction in mental health, with an emphasis on the interrelation of physical and mental well-being. SBE shall develop standards and age-appropriate curriculum for students. Schools may work with approved non-profits and community partners.
SB658 (Sen. Standridge, Rep. Kevin West) Requires the SDE and school districts to provide information on exemptions in any notice or publication regarding immunization requirements. Higher Ed, the SBE or the State Board of Career and Technology Education shall not require a vaccination against Covid-19 or implement a mask mandate for students who have not been vaccinated. A local board of education of a public school district or a technology center school district may only implement a mandate to wear a mask or any other medical device after consultation with the local county health department or city-county health department. Any mandate to implement wearing a mask or any other medical device shall be reconsidered at each regularly scheduled board meeting.
Higher Education & Career Tech
HB1962 (Rep. Nollan, Sen. Quinn) Aligns the state definition for “qualified higher education expenses” with the federal definition outlined in Section 529 of the IRS Code.
HB2396 (Rep. Russ, Sen. Stanley) Higher ed institutions shall provide all freshmen the opportunity to attend a series of education programs on sex trafficking and exploitation prevention, with materials provided at no cost to the school.
HB2750 (Rep. Baker, Sen. Pugh) States legislative intent that higher ed institutions not require a score higher than 3 on an AP exam for a student to qualify for class credit. Credit policy regarding all AP exams shall be posted on campus websites starting SY21-22.
Mandates on School Districts
HB1046 (Rep. Kerbs, Sen. Montgomery) Requires every school district to have a copy or a hyperlink to a copy of the most recent audit on the front page of the school district website for public inspection. All records shall be kept at least five years.
HB1104 (Rep. Vancuren, Sen. Montgomery) Requires districts to include tribal affiliation data in a student’s records.
HB1967 (Rep. Nollan, Sen. Pemberton) Directs school bus drivers to report instances of cars illegally passing school buses while loading and unloading children.
HB1968 (Rep. Nollan, Sen. Stanley) Each local board shall prepare a report which outlines the expenditures made by the district during that year for gifted child educational programs.
HB2749 (Rep. Baker, Sen. Pugh) A district receiving at least $2,500 in Reading Sufficiency Act remediation funds must spend at least 10% on PD for teachers by SY22-23. By June 2022, the SDE will publish a list of evidence-based PD programs that address the science of how students learn to read.
SB21 (Sen. Floyd, Rep. McEntire) Requires local boards of education to adopt policies for suicide awareness and training for staff and, beginning in SY22-23, for students in grades seven through twelve.
SB121 (Sen. Hicks, Rep. Hasenbeck) Directs each school district to provide a sanitary location and paid breaks for lactating employees for the purpose of expressing breast milk.
SB128 (Sen. Rader, Rep. D. Lowe) Requires a school district that has a student with a seizure disorder to have at least one school employee who has met the necessary training requirements. Every public school district shall provide an age-appropriate seizure education program to all students on seizures and seizure disorders.
Miscellaneous
HB1783 (Rep. Miller, Sen. Pugh) Permits the Oklahoma State Athletic Commission to assume jurisdiction over amateur kickboxing.
HB1875 (Rep. T. West, Sen. Stanley) Each educational institution may designate information as directory information for students, in accordance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act. All agencies or institutions that use the information are prohibited from sharing it.
HB1876 (Rep. T. West, Sen. Stanley) The home addresses, home and personal mobile phone numbers, Social Security numbers, and private email of current and former public employees shall not be open to public inspection or disclosure.
HB1882 (Rep. Stark, Sen. Rader) Creates the Out-of-Schooltime Task Force to study and make recommendations for out-of-school programs available to parents and children in the state.
HB2465 (Rep. D. Lowe, Sen. Paxton) Permits cooperation between school district driving instructors and the Dept. of Public Safety to conduct driving examinations.
HB 2565 (Rep. Chad Caldwell, Sen. Daniels) Excludes certain actions from the definition of parental neglect, including allowing children of sufficient capacity to avoid harm to travel to and from school and engage in outdoor play.
HB2691 (Rep. Hasenbeck, Sen. Bergstrom) By 10/31/21, OEQA must issue a report detailing factors in public ed that contribute to high school & college graduation rates, career tech scores, reduced remediation in higher ed and career tech, career readiness, and ability for new graduates to find in-state employment.
SB261 (Sen. Montgomery, Rep. Provenzano) Creates the Oklahoma Student
Borrower’s Bill of Rights Act which provides protections for students who take out loans intended to purchase education services.
SB302 (Sen. Coleman, Rep. Kannady) Affords visiting high school sports teams the same rights to radio broadcast, video stream and telegraphic play-by-play as the home team.
SB403 (Sen. Stanley, Rep. Manger) Makes it illegal for someone to willfully disturb, interfere or disrupt the business of political subdivisions, which includes school districts. Makes it illegal for said persons to refuse to disperse or leave any property owned by a political subdivision.
SB487 (Sen. Pugh, Rep. Nollan) Makes changes to the membership of the Oklahoma Science and Technology Research and Development Board of Directors, which oversees the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology.
SB619 (Sen. Bullard, Rep. K. West) Permits school districts to provide insurance coverage for students participating in internships and apprenticeships. Allows the SBE to develop rules determining whether such internships or apprenticeships are eligible for academic credit that would meet graduation requirements.
SB 705 (Sen. Dahm, Rep. Gann) Repeals language relating to the Oklahoma Center for Rural Development Act.
SB1013 (Sen. Treat, Rep. Echols) Extends certain virtual meeting provisions established in response to the COVID-19 health emergency to until 30 days after the termination of the health emergency order.
OHLAP & Concurrent Enrollment
HB1821 (Rep. McBride, Sen. Pemberton) Sets new parameters for how the regents will determine OHLAP scholarships. State regents will be permitted to increase the annual maximum award amount and a student may be denied additional awards due to lack of financial need.
SB132 (Sen. Bullard, Rep. Baker) Extends OHLAP eligibility from ninth to eleventh grade students up to the age of 16.
SB292 (Sen. Haste, Rep. Nollan) Creates a task force to study concurrent enrollment and make related recommendations to the Governor and Legislature by November 30, 2022.
SB639 (Sen. Pugh, Rep. Baker) Directs the State Regents to administer a survey to OHLAP students who withdraw from an institution of higher ed without obtaining a degree regarding the reasons for withdrawal, barriers to completion, and future plans of the student.
Pay and Compensation
SB267 (Sen. Pemberton, Rep. Nollan) For a period of three years beginning July 1, 2021, members who have retired as of July 1, 2020, who have been retired and receiving a benefit for at least one year, and who have not been employed by any public school during that one-year period, shall be eligible to be reemployed as an active classroom teacher in common or career tech school districts, with no limitations on earnings.
SB807 (Sen. Kidd, Rep. Baker) Support employees shall be entitled to pay for any time lost when school is closed on account of epidemics or otherwise when an order for such closing has been issued by an authorized health officer.
SB1038 (Sen. Thompson, Rep. Wallace) Permits participants in student teacher internship programs to receive compensation for up to one full school year during their internship but excludes such payment from salary schedule and retirement calculations.
Retirement
HB2293 (Rep. D. Roberts, Sen. Paxton) Reduces the required contribution to TRS by grantors funding summer teaching positions.
HB2499 (Rep. Cornwell, Sen. Bergstrom) Permits contributing members of public retirements systems to designate funds to be placed into a trust in the event of their death.
HB2894 (Rep. Wallace, Sen. Thompson) Restores the temporary cuts made in 2020 to TRS dedicated revenue.
SB683 (Sen. Kidd, Rep. Lepak) Removes the one-year employment requirement for an ESP to participate in Teachers’ Retirement System. Choice to participate or not will be a permanent decision for the remainder of an ESP’s career.
School Boards
HB1963 (Rep. Nollan, Sen. Stanley) Requiring Governor appointment for vacancies that result in a loss of a quorum of local board of education members.
HB1801 (Rep. Conley, Sen. Stanley) Prior to SY21-22, each local board of education shall coordinate with emergency medical services providers in their area to develop an Emergency Action Plan for each facility and athletic practices, events or activities held at school district facilities. The EAP shall be reviewed, updated and rehearsed annually with school officials and local emergency medical service providers, and placed on file with the district and the emergency service provider.
SB22 (Sen. Floyd, Rep. T. West) If a local board decides to dispose of real or personal property that is leased to a nonprofit organization, the nonprofit organization shall have a right of first refusal to purchase the property.
State Department of Education
HB1018 (Rep. Sterling, Sen. Quinn) Removes requirements that the Superintendent of Public Instruction publish and distribute school laws to school boards and various officials every two years.
HB2223 (Rep. Randleman, Sen. Pemberton) The SDE shall maintain the dyslexia handbook created by the Dyslexia and Education Task Force that includes guidance, technical assistance and training to assist all local school systems, students and families in the implementation of evidence-based practices for instructing students with characteristics of dyslexia.
HB2462 (Rep. D. Lowe, Sen. Howard) Permits the SDE to enter into contracts and agreements for food and lodging expenses necessary to host, conduct, sponsor or participate in conferences, meetings and training sessions.
SB54 (Sen. Montgomery, Rep. Pae) Outlines criteria and requires the SDE by SY22-23 to designate certain school sites as Purple Star Schools that help military children and families transition.
Taxes
HB2932 (Rep. McCall, Sen. Treat) Reduces the base corporate tax rate from 6 to 4 percent.
HB2962 (Rep. McCall, Sen. Treat) Reduces each individual income tax rate by 0.25 percent beginning with tax year 2022 and restores refundability of the Earned Income Tax Credit.
SB66 (Sen. Haste, Rep. Sims) Provides for an exemption to the surplus lines premium insurance tax on insurance premiums sold to school districts.
Testing
HB2030 (Rep. O’Donnell, Sen. Pugh) Beginning with SY22-23, the US naturalization test shall be administered at least once per school year and students must pass it in order graduate from a public high school. Any student may retake the exam upon request, and as often as desired, until earning a passing score of 60 out of 100 questions. School districts shall exempt students with disabilities whose individualized education program\ indicates that the student is to be assessed with alternate achievement standards through the OAAP.
SB642 (Sen. Pugh, Rep. Dustin Roberts) Requires public school districts and charter school districts to provide students in grades ten through twelve the opportunity to take the military Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) assessment test and consult with a military recruiter.
Transfers and Enrollment
SB68 (Sen. Simpson, Rep. Wolfley) Provides for exceptions to certain school residency requirements and for electronic application for children whose legal guardians are transferred or pending transfer to a military installation in the state while on active military duty.
SB69 (Sen. Simpson, Rep. Wolfley) Permits children of military families who are transferred or pending transfer to enroll in statewide virtual charter schools.
SB783 (Sen. Pugh, Rep. Boles) Beginning with SY22-23, an out of district transfer request must be granted at any time during the school year unless the number of requests exceeds the capacity of a grade level or program, in which case, they shall be granted in the order in which they are received. Each district shall determine capacity per site, per grade level or program. Two transfers per year only, and denial of transfer request may be allowed based on discipline or attendance issues. District transfer policies and capacities must be posted on each district website. Reporting to SDE required on numbers of transfer requests accepted and denied.
Vouchers
SB1080 (Sen. Thompson, Rep. McCall) Expands the Equal Opportunity Scholarship voucher program. Increases the annual cap on tax credits given to private school donors from $3.5M to $25M. Increases the annual cap on tax credits given to public school donors from $1.5M to $25M. Expands opportunities to donate to public education by allowing direct donations to public school districts and foundations. Includes new reporting requirements for entities accepting the donations.
OEA Lawmaker of the Week
OEA has a recurring recognition of Oklahoma legislators who are champions of public education and work to connect with, listen to, and collaborate with educators throughout the state. Here are the 2021 Lawmakers of the Week:
Do you know a lawmaker who should be celebrated? Nominate here!
The OEA Legislative Agenda
The OEA Legislative Agenda is developed by the Legislative Committee, with final adoption made by the OEA Board of Directors.
Continue with every effort to protect classroom funding; advocate for regionally competitive teaching salaries; ensure support professionals are paid a living wage; protect the pension of retired educators.
Revoke the single summative letter grade from the A through F statewide accountability system; initiate dialogue determining more effective means of measuring student growth.
Eliminate costly and ineffective mandatory U.S. History exam.
Initiate legislative study to find research-based guidance regarding reading assessment and effective interventions with a focus on age-appropriate benchmarks and the consequences of student retention.
Protect and continue advocating for the expansion of health benefits of all education professionals to include dependent coverage.
Oppose legislation supporting vouchers/ESAs/tax credits that would divert money away from public schools.
Remove the salary cap for retired education professionals returning to work in a school district.
Eliminate the virtual education board and place all public school districts, virtual and charter, under the state board of education and hold all districts, virtual and charter, to the same standards and methods of accountability as traditional public schools.
Eliminate the financial incentives provided by virtual schools for the recruitment of teachers and students.
Eliminate the authority of the State Board of Education to override local school board decisions regarding charter school authorization.
Ensure that local school districts remain autonomous in creating their own calendars and schedules within state regulations.
