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Today the Oklahoma House Appropriations and Budget Committee unanimously passed Senate Bill 1778, which strengthens the state’s Strong Readers Act, giving teachers additional training and support and ensuring students can read by the third grade. The legislation includes early identification of reading deficiencies through consistent, statewide screening; targeted intervention grounded in the science of reading; clear communication with parents about their child’s reading progress and available at-home supports; accountability measures to ensure students demonstrate reading ability before advancing to the next grade; giving 2nd graders the option of taking the state test; expanded teacher training and classroom support to improve instruction outcomes; new requirements and accountability for colleges of education preparing our state’s future teachers; a new funding formula that supports all students, while also giving additional funds to students who need more help and rewarding schools seeing growth; and creates a revolving fund to encourage public-private partnerships. To support this reform, the Legislature is making targeted investments to strengthen teacher preparation and student literacy. The budget includes over $43 million for reading instruction and interventions in schools, $5 million in supplemental investment for teacher training academies this summer, and $5 million in ongoing annual funding for teacher training programs. In addition, the state will invest over $5 million in reading at home initiatives and dedicated funding for math and reading screeners to help educators identify and address student learning needs earlier. “Once again, we are making a historic investment into our common education system.” said House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow and House author of the bill. “The difference is that we are implementing strategic programs that have shown to prove real, data-driven results. This bill is not a partisan issue - we all want our kids to read by the third grade." The legislation has received overwhelming support, largely because the statistics around Oklahoma’s reading levels are alarming. In 2015, Oklahoma students performed near the national average in reading. Today, we trail peer states by more than a full grade level. Based on Spring 2025 testing, just 27 percent of Oklahoma third graders are reading at or above grade level. The bill will now be heard on the House floor for consideration.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Cynthia Roe, R-Lindsay, and Rep. Tammy Townley, R-Ardmore, issued the following joint statement after Tuesday's shooting at Pauls Valley High School. "We are grateful for the swift response from local law enforcement and for the extraordinary courage shown by the principal, who put his students first in a moment of real danger. We are praying for his full recovery and lifting up the entire Pauls Valley community as details continue to unfold. We thank God that no students were harmed. "Acts like this are exactly why the Oklahoma Legislature is taking a strong stand to protect our schools and our youngest Oklahomans. We have committed a permanent, recurring $50 million investment in school safety every single year to make sure our children are protected, and our classrooms remain secure. Oklahoma will not back down when it comes to defending our kids and keeping dangerous individuals out of our schools."

OKLAHOMA CITY – Today, the Oklahoma House of Representatives officially recognized April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Oklahoma. House Resolution 1043, sponsored by Rep. Cynthia Roe, R-Lindsay, chair of the House Public Health Committee, emphasizes that every child deserves to be safe and supported, and that communities play a critical role in ensuring families have the resources they need. "Child abuse is preventable, and it takes all of us working together to make that a reality," Roe said. "Every child deserves to grow up in a safe, stable and supportive environment. This resolution is a reminder that strong families build strong communities, and prevention starts with awareness and action." The measure also recognizes the long-term impact of abuse and neglect, including the significant emotional, developmental and economic costs, among other concerns. According to the Oklahoma Department of Health, in fiscal year 2022 13,546 Oklahoma children were confirmed victims of abuse or neglect. Neglect accounted for 73.5% of cases, followed by emotional abuse at 34%, physical abuse at 13.1% and sexual abuse at 5.2%. "It is easier to build strong children than to repair the harm caused by abuse and neglect," Roe said. "We must continue strengthening partnerships between families, schools, health care providers, law enforcement and community organizations to ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive." The resolution encourages citizens, businesses and organizations to take an active role in supporting parents and caregivers, recognizing that prevention efforts are most effective when communities work together. "This resolution is about protecting our children today and securing a stronger future for Oklahoma tomorrow," Roe said.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Today, legislative leaders in the Oklahoma House of Representatives and Oklahoma Senate, along with the Governor, announced they have reached an agreement on the state budget for Fiscal Year 2027. The agreement marks the earliest a comprehensive budget deal has been reached in recent state history. The FY27 budget prioritizes fiscal discipline while making strategic investments in critical areas of state government. The budget makes significant strategic investments in education, including $27.3 million to fund health insurance increases for teachers, almost $80 million dedicated to reading and math initiatives, including support for the Strong Readers Act, and $85 million for teacher pay raises. These investments, along with others reinforce the Legislature’s commitment to improving student outcomes while strengthening Oklahoma’s education workforce. The budget also increases funding for the Department of Mental Health to support efforts with the ongoing consent decree, the Oklahoma Healthcare Authority for increased Medicaid utilization and the Department of Human Services for Advantage waiver, changes to the SNAP program and child care teacher recruitment and retention.  “Even in a challenging fiscal environment, our priority has been protecting core services for Oklahomans while maintaining a responsible approach to taxpayer dollars,” said House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow. “This early agreement is the result of leaders coming to the table prepared to do the work." "This budget is the result of a collaborative, good-faith effort between the Senate, House and Governor’s Office to put Oklahomans first,” said Senate Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton. “By holding our state agencies harmless, we are ensuring that the core services our citizens rely on, from public safety to infrastructure, remain fully funded and reliable. At the same time, we are making a historic, targeted investment in our future. This plan provides our teachers with a much-needed pay raise to keep Oklahoma competitive, ensures our students benefit from more instructional days in the classroom and honors our commitment to retirees through a critical cost-of-living adjustment. I want to thank everyone involved for the tireless effort and dedication they have shown in crafting a responsible, forward-looking budget that sets Oklahoma up for long-term success." “I am grateful to leaders in the Senate and House for their work on this budget deal and for their commitment to fiscally responsible reforms that will put our state in an even better position,” said Governor Stitt. “This agreement reflects the important priorities for Oklahoma while keeping an eye on the horizon and planning for the future needs of our state.” House Appropriations and Budget Chairman Trey Caldwell, R-Faxon, and Vice Chairman John Kane, R-Bartlesville and Senate Appropriations and Budget Chairman Chuck Hall, R-Perry, and Vice Chairman John Haste, Broken Arrow, who led budget negotiations, emphasized the disciplined approach taken during the process. “This budget reflects months of responsible planning,” Caldwell and Kane said in a joint statement. “Even in a year when revenues are tighter, we remained focused on protecting essential services while identifying strategic investments that strengthen our state. By working closely with our Senate counterparts and the Governor’s office, we were able to produce a budget that keeps Oklahoma on stable financial footing.” “Every dollar in this budget reflects the needs and priorities of Oklahomans,” said Senate Appropriations Chairman Chuck Hall, R-Perry. “This spending plan makes a significant investment in public education and provides pay raises for our hardworking teachers. It supports the dedicated public servants who show up every day to serve our state and gives retirees an overdue cost-of-living adjustment after years of high inflation. By investing in the Oklahomans who are the backbone of this state, we’re building a brighter future for Oklahoma. I’m also proud that this budget is a fiscally responsible proposal that protects core government services and does right by the taxpayers who fund our state government.” Hilbert also emphasized the Legislature’s responsibility to thoroughly examine agency spending. “As legislators, our job is not simply to approve budgets but to provide meaningful oversight of the agencies entrusted with taxpayer resources,” Hilbert said. “That means digging into the details, asking hard questions and examining every single line in an agency’s budget. Oklahomans expect us to ensure their tax dollars are spent wisely, and that work requires diligence and accountability.” More details on the FY27 budget can be found on the Oklahoma House website at https://former.okhouse.gov/fiscal/FiscalPortal.aspx and the Oklahoma Senate website at https://oksenate.gov/appropriations . “Oklahomans expect us to lead, and that means coming to the table with solutions,” Hilbert said. “Throughout this process, leadership has remained focused on delivering a responsible budget that protects services without unnecessary spending increases.”

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma House of Representatives has unanimously passed House Bill 3802, authored by Rep. Chris Sneed, R-Fort Gibson, to protect surviving spouses from auto insurance rate increases following the loss of a spouse. House Bill 3802 prohibits insurers from raising motor vehicle liability premiums solely because a deceased spouse is removed from a policy. It also would clarify a change cannot be treated as material change in risk when determining rates.  "Losing a spouse is one of life's deepest heartbreaks. In those moments of grief, families should be met with compassions, not added burdens," said Sneed. "This bill would ensure that insurance companies treat everyone fairly, by honoring their policy and not raising rates simply because they've lost their spouse. It's a small step toward offering stability and dignity during a time when it's needed most."  Insurers may still adjust premiums for legitimate, actuarially supported reasons, but not solely due to the removal of a deceased spouse. Any increase made in violation would be considered void and must be refunded.  Rep. Stacy Jo Adams, R-Duncan, worked closely with Sneed on this bill.  "As a personal lines agent, I’ve sat across the table from widows having to navigate heartbreaking loss," Adams said. "To then see their insurance rates go up, when the risk has actually gone down, just feels wrong. This bill corrects that and restores fairness to the system."  HB3802 passed the House with a 95-0 vote and now moves to the Senate for further consideration, where Sen. Avery Frix, R-Muskogee, is the Senate author.

A measure aimed at improving access to care and strengthening health insurance protections for the over 40,000 Oklahomans living with epilepsy has been passed by the Oklahoma House of Representatives.  Rep. Daniel Pae, R-Lawton, authored House Bill 4294  to require individual and group health insurance policies providing medical and surgical benefits to offer the same coverage protections to individuals diagnosed with epilepsy as they would to those without the condition. The measure also prohibits insurers from terminating or refusing coverage based solely on an epilepsy diagnosis.  The bill also requires insurance plans to cover medically necessary neurostimulation devices when prescribed by a licensed physician treating the patient. These devices can help reduce or prevent seizures for individuals whose epilepsy does not respond to medication alone. "Epilepsy can be life-altering for those living with it, as well as for their loved ones," Pae said. "Under House Bill 4294, the tens of thousands of Oklahomans with epilepsy would no longer be unfairly penalized by their insurance coverage. By expanding access to treatments and proven medical technology, patients and their doctors can fully pursue the care that works best for them." According to the Epilepsy Foundation of Oklahoma , around 41,000 Oklahomans are diagnosed with epilepsy. Last year, Pae authored Dylan's Law , a measure improving education and awareness around Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP), a fatal complication of epilepsy. The law is named for Dylan Cheatwood, who passed away in 2017 from SUDEP, and took effect Nov. 1, 2025. Having passed the House 63-32, HB4294 moves to the Senate for consideration. It's authored in the Senate by Sen. Brenda Stanley, R-Midwest City.

The Oklahoma House of Representatives has passed legislation aimed at strengthening literacy among young drivers by restoring an eighth-grade reading requirement for minors seeking a driver license. House Bill 4153 , authored by Rep. Toni Hasenbeck, R-Elgin, would require applicants under the age of 18 to demonstrate an eighth-grade reading level before receiving a driver license or permit. The requirement would generally be met by passing the statewide reading assessment, with alternative documentation available for certain students, including those with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). The bill reinstates a requirement that had been in place in Oklahoma for decades before being removed in 2022. Hasenbeck, a former teacher, said the policy provides an incentive for students to improve reading proficiency while reinforcing the importance of education. "Learning to drive is an important milestone for young people, and it can also be a powerful motivator," Hasenbeck said. "By restoring this literacy requirement, we’re encouraging students to take reading seriously and ensuring they have the basic skills they need to navigate both the classroom and the real world safely." HB4153 also includes provisions for alternative testing methods and documentation of reading proficiency, as well as additional requirements related to school enrollment or lawful exemptions for minors seeking a license. The measure now moves to the Senate for consideration.

The Oklahoma House of Representatives has approved legislation by Rep. Toni Hasenbeck, R-Elgin, aimed at protecting voluntary religious expression in public schools. House Bill 3240 requires school districts and charter schools to adopt policies allowing students and school employees the opportunity to participate in a voluntary period of prayer or reading of religious texts during the school day. Participation would be entirely voluntary and would require written consent from a parent or guardian for students. Hasenbeck filed the bill to provide clarity for school districts who may fear litigation following the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court case Kennedy v. Bremerton School District . She said the legislation is intended to provide school districts with a clear and constitutional framework for accommodating voluntary prayer or religious text reading. "Students and school employees should never feel like they have to hide their faith or worry about whether voluntary religious expression is allowed," Hasenbeck said. "House Bill 3240 provides clear guidance so schools can respect the religious freedom of students and educators while also respecting the rights of those who choose not to participate." The bill specifies that the period may not replace instructional time or involve prayer or readings broadcast over school public address systems. It also allows the designated period to take place before the start of the regular school day or in classrooms where all participants have submitted a consent form. The House approved the measure 61-30. It now moves to the Senate for further consideration, where it's authored by Sen. Jerry Alvord, R-Wilson.

Legislation by Rep. Daniel Pae, R-Lawton, designed to strengthen tenant protections has passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives. House Bill 2015  also updates Oklahoma landlord-tenant statutes to provide tenants with clear legal recourse if a landlord fails to meet their legal obligations under a rental agreement or as required by law. The measure outlines procedures tenants may follow in cases of noncompliance and establishes circumstances in which tenants may seek damages or withhold rent until issues are addressed. Pae said the measure is intended to modernize existing statutes and provide both tenants and landlords with clearer expectations and protections. "Renters deserve to know they have options when a landlord fails their responsibilities and doesn't uphold their side of a contract," Pae said. "House Bill 2015 brings greater clarity and balance to Oklahoma’s landlord-tenant laws while ensuring that disputes can be handled through a fair and structured process." HB2015 passed the House 52-30 and now advances to the Oklahoma Senate for consideration, where it is authored by Sen. Todd Gollihare.