Committees

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Ross Ford, R-Broken Arrow, on Tuesday passed a bill in committee that would improve public access to athletic training through reciprocity among member states. Senate Bill 1813 would adopt the Athletic Trainer Compact, aligning Oklahoma's licensure standards with those set by the Athletic Trainer Compact Commission. This would include guidelines for examination and education requirements, criminal background checks, conducting investigations, continuing competence and participation in the commission’s shared data system. "This legislation would allow the governor to enter into compacts to certain jurisdictions for the purpose of expanding the mobility of the athletic trainer practice to improve public access to service by providing qualified, licensed athletic trainers," Ford said. "This would give these members the ability to practice in other states. The compact also would preserve the regulatory authority of the state to protect public health and safety through the current system of state licensing." SB1813 passed the House Business Committee and now awaits consideration in the Commerce and Economic Development Oversight Committee. If it passes on third reading on the House floor, it will be sent to the governor for his consideration of signing it into law. 

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma House of Representatives today secured passage off the House floor of House Bill 3705, which would give more students the ability to attend the school of their choice by increasing the Parental Choice Tax Credit cap to $275 million. “Our tax dollars should follow Oklahoma students to the school that best meets their needs,” said Chad Caldwell, R-Enid, who presented the bill on the House floor Thursday. “Oklahoma families clearly value this program, as shown by record application numbers this year. We must continue expanding access to educational options so every student has the opportunity to succeed in the environment that works best for them.” The Parental Choice Tax Credit program was established through House Bill 1934 in 2023. The program provides families with greater flexibility to choose educational settings that best suit their children. Under the program’s tiered structure, eligible families may receive refundable tax credits ranging from $5,000 to $7,500 per student for private school tuition, depending on household income. Additionally, families who homeschool may qualify for a $1,000 per-student tax credit for approved educational expenses. Currently, tax credits for private school expenses are capped at $250 million annually, while homeschooling credits are capped at $5 million per year. The cap is now increased to $275 million. "Parents should have the choice to find a school that best fits the needs of their child," said House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow and author of the bill. “For my daughters, the best choice for them is Bristow Public Schools. But the government shouldn’t tell other parents what is the best school for their children. This legislation simply allows parents to take some of their tax dollars to a school of their choice." House Bill 3705 passed the House by a vote of 70-19 and now heads to the Senate for further consideration.

The Oklahoma House of Representatives today approved the general appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2027, delivering the largest investment in education in state history while also strengthening funding for mental health services, health care and other core state priorities. The general appropriations bill serves as the foundation of the state budget, establishing the framework for funding state agencies. This also includes a $232 million increase for common education, supporting teacher pay raises and investing in initiatives that strengthen early literacy and ensure students build a solid foundation in math; the biggest investment in education in state history. 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. House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, and House Appropriations and Budget Chairman Trey Caldwell, R-Faxon, released the following statements after the measure passed the House floor by a vote of 76-18. "This budget reflects our commitment to investing in Oklahoma’s future while remaining responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars,” Hilbert said. “By making historic investments in education while maintaining a disciplined approach to spending, this plan focuses on the core priorities that matter most to Oklahomans and ensures we are using public funds wisely." "We started working on this budget in July of 2025 and I have had open office hours that began in February so members could talk through their requests and hesitations," Caldwell said. "I have made it my mission to make this budget process the most transparent in state history. Every detail of this budget is about making Oklahoma better than it was the year before. There is never a perfect budget, but I am certain that this moves our state forward." More details on the FY27 budget can be found on the Oklahoma House website at  https://former.okhouse.gov/fiscal/FiscalPortal.aspx . “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.”