Legislation restoring the eighth-grade literacy requirement to receive a driving permit has passed its first committee.

House Bill 4153, authored by Rep. Toni Hasenbeck, R-Elgin, would require minors applying for an Oklahoma driver license to demonstrate an eighth-grade reading level by passing the statewide reading assessment prior being issued a permit. Under the bill, students with an Individualized Education Program (IEPs) related to reading may provide alternative documentation of proficiency.

Hasenbeck, a former middle school English teacher, said she saw firsthand how the possibility of receiving driver licenses at 16 motivated her students to take their literacy seriously.

"House Bill 4153 is about making sure our young people are equipped with the basic skills they need to succeed both in school and out on the road," Hasenbeck said. "By tying reading proficiency to driver eligibility, we’re encouraging students to strengthen essential literacy skills that will help them throughout life while also promoting safer roads for all Oklahomans."

The requirement, which had been in place for several decades, was eliminated in 2022.

HB4153 passed the House Public Safety Committee and must pass the House Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight Committee before it can be heard on the floor.