Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session Status: In Committee 2 R cosponsors

SB 554 — Teachers; directing stipends, rather than salary increases, be provided to teachers with certain certificates. Effective date. Emergency.

Last action — Placed on General Order

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced February 03, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.

Prognosis

Advancing 38% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 2 sponsors

    2 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (2 R).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 2 recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

323 added · 470 removed

Plain-language change summary

The latest version of SB 554 has made a significant change regarding teacher compensation. Instead of implementing salary increases for teachers who receive certain certifications, the bill now directs that stipends will be provided instead. This matters because stipends will not be factored into other salary calculations, potentially affecting teachers' long-term earnings and retirement benefits.

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Latest
STATE OF OKLAHOMA 2 1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025) 3 SENATE BILL 554 By:
SENATE FLOOR VERSION March 5, 2025 AS AMENDED SENATE BILL NO.
Pugh 4 5 AS INTRODUCED 7 An Act relating to teachers;
554 By:
amending 70 O.S.
Rader and Pugh of the Senate and Hasenbeck of the House 7 [ teachers - certification - stipends - calculations - Revolving Fund - allocations - effective date - emergency ] BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
2021, Section 6-190, as last amended by Section 1, Chapter 122, O.S.L.
2024 (70 O.S.
Supp.
2024, Section 6-190), which relates to teacher certification;
directing stipends, rather than salary increases, be provided to teachers provided with certain certificates;
prohibiting stipends from being included in certain calculations;
amending Section 2, Chapter 359, O.S.L.
2022, as amended by Section 2, Chapter 122, O.S.L.
2024 (70 O.S.
Supp.
2024, Section 6-190.2), which relates to the Teacher Empowerment Revolving Fund;
modifying purpose of allocations;
providing an effective date;
and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
The board of education of each school district shall employ and contract in writing, as required in Section 6-101 of this title, only with persons certified to teach by the State Board of Education in accordance with the Oklahoma Teacher Req.
The board of education of each school district shall employ and contract in writing, as required in Section 6-101 of this title, only with persons certified to teach by the State Board of Education in accordance with the Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Act, except as otherwise provided for by Section 6-101 of this title and by other law.
No.
B.
251 Page 1 Preparation Act, except as otherwise provided for by Section 6-101 2 of this title and by other law.
3 B.
5 1.
SENATE FLOOR VERSION - SB554 SFLR Page 1 (Bold face denotes Committee Amendments) 1.
Has successfully completed the teacher education program 6 required by the Commission for Educational Quality and 7 Accountability;
Has successfully completed the teacher education program required by the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability;
Has graduated from an accredited institution of higher 9 education that has approval or accreditation for teacher education;
Has graduated from an accredited institution of higher education that has approval or accreditation for teacher education;
Req.
C.
No.
The Board shall issue a certificate to teach to any person who:
251 Page 2 C.
1.
The Board shall issue a certificate to teach to any person 2 who:
3 1.
5 2.
SENATE FLOOR VERSION - SB554 SFLR Page 2 (Bold face denotes Committee Amendments) 2.
Holds certification from the National Board for Professional 6 Teaching Standards;
Holds certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards;
7 3.
3.
or 9 4.
or 4.
Any person holding a valid certificate, issued prior to January 1, 1997, shall be a certified teacher for purposes of the Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Act, subject to any professional Req.
Any person holding a valid certificate, issued prior to January 1, 1997, shall be a certified teacher for purposes of the Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Act, subject to any professional development requirements prescribed by the Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Act or by the State Board of Education.
No.
F.
251 Page 3 development requirements prescribed by the Oklahoma Teacher 2 Preparation Act or by the State Board of Education.
3 F.
The Board shall issue a certificate to teach to a person who holds a valid out-of-country certificate and meets any 5 requirements established by the Board.
The Board shall issue a certificate to teach to a person who holds a valid out-of-country certificate and meets any SENATE FLOOR VERSION - SB554 SFLR Page 3 (Bold face denotes Committee Amendments) requirements established by the Board.
The certificate to teach 6 shall only be for those subject areas and grade levels most closely 7 aligned to the subject areas and grade levels recognized on the out- of-country certificate.
The certificate to teach shall only be for those subject areas and grade levels most closely aligned to the subject areas and grade levels recognized on the out- of-country certificate.
Show all 101 changed rows (61 more)
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Latest
9 2.
2.
Req.
4.
No.
The Board shall promulgate rules establishing a process by which out-of-country certificates will be reviewed and evaluated for purposes of awarding a certificate to teach pursuant to this subsection.
251 Page 4 4.
SENATE FLOOR VERSION - SB554 SFLR Page 4 (Bold face denotes Committee Amendments) G.
The Board shall promulgate rules establishing a process by 2 which out-of-country certificates will be reviewed and evaluated for 3 purposes of awarding a certificate to teach pursuant to this subsection.
5 G.
The Board shall issue a certificate to teach to a person 6 who holds a valid out-of-state certificate.
The Board shall issue a certificate to teach to a person who holds a valid out-of-state certificate.
The certificate to 7 teach shall only be for those subject areas and grade levels most closely aligned to the subject areas and grade levels recognized on 9 the out-of-state certificate.
The certificate to teach shall only be for those subject areas and grade levels most closely aligned to the subject areas and grade levels recognized on the out-of-state certificate.
Req.
H.
No.
251 Page 5 H.
The Board shall issue a certificate to teach to a person 2 who has successfully completed a competency exam used in a majority 3 of the other states.
The Board shall issue a certificate to teach to a person who has successfully completed a competency exam used in a majority of the other states.
The certificate to teach shall only be for those subject areas and grade levels that correspond with a 5 certification area used in Oklahoma.
The certificate to teach shall only be for SENATE FLOOR VERSION - SB554 SFLR Page 5 (Bold face denotes Committee Amendments) those subject areas and grade levels that correspond with a certification area used in Oklahoma.
6 2.
2.
A person who meets the requirements of paragraph 1 of this 7 subsection shall have on file with the Board a current Oklahoma criminal history record check from the Oklahoma State Bureau of 9 Investigation as well as a national criminal history record check as defined in Section 150.9 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
A person who meets the requirements of paragraph 1 of this subsection shall have on file with the Board a current Oklahoma criminal history record check from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation as well as a national criminal history record check as defined in Section 150.9 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
Req.
2.
No.
A teacher who works in a school with an enrollment of forty percent (40%) or more of students who are economically disadvantaged as defined in Section 18-109.5 of this title or a school district SENATE FLOOR VERSION - SB554 SFLR Page 6 (Bold face denotes Committee Amendments) with an enrollment of fewer than one thousand students shall be paid a one-time award in addition to the salary increases stipends provided in paragraph 1 of this subsection:
251 Page 6 2.
a.
A teacher who works in a school with an enrollment of forty 2 percent (40%) or more of students who are economically disadvantaged 3 as defined in Section 18-109.5 of this title or a school district with an enrollment of fewer than one thousand students shall be paid 5 a one-time award in addition to the salary increases stipends 6 provided in paragraph 1 of this subsection:
One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00) for an advanced certificate, b.
7 a.
One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00) for an advanced certificate, 9 b.
provided, the method Req.
provided, the method is evidenced-based.
No.
Alternate methods of evaluation shall not replace the requirements of Section 6-101.16 of this title.
251 Page 7 is evidenced-based.
SENATE FLOOR VERSION - SB554 SFLR Page 7 (Bold face denotes Committee Amendments) b.
Alternate methods of evaluation 2 shall not replace the requirements of Section 6-101.16 3 of this title.
Each school district that elects to participate in assigning advanced, lead, and master teacher certificates shall include an out-of-classroom component for its assigned teachers to allow for professional growth opportunities while staying in the classroom.
b.
Each school district that elects to participate in 5 assigning advanced, lead, and master teacher 6 certificates shall include an out-of-classroom 7 component for its assigned teachers to allow for professional growth opportunities while staying in the 9 classroom.
No more than ten percent (10%) of each school Req.
No more than ten percent (10%) of each school district’s teachers may be designated as an advanced, lead, or master teacher in any given school year.
No.
SENATE FLOOR VERSION - SB554 SFLR Page 8 (Bold face denotes Committee Amendments) 4.
251 Page 8 district’s teachers may be designated as an advanced, lead, or 2 master teacher in any given school year.
If a school district chooses to participate in this program, the state shall provide the increased salary stipend amounts indicated for advanced, lead, and master certificates in paragraph 1 of this subsection above the base pay.
3 4.
5.
If a school district chooses to participate in this program, the state shall provide the increased salary stipend amounts 5 indicated for advanced, lead, and master certificates in paragraph 1 6 of this subsection above the base pay.
School districts that designate teachers for advanced, lead, and master certificates do not have to participate in annual TLE evaluations for the designated teachers.
7 5.
School districts that designate teachers for advanced, lead, and master certificates do not have to participate in annual TLE 9 evaluations for the designated teachers.
The State Department of Education shall annually report the school districts participating in the program, the number of advanced, lead, and master certificates awarded, and the total amount in state funding that was distributed to teachers from the Req.
The State Department of Education shall annually report the school districts participating in the program, the number of advanced, lead, and master certificates awarded, and the total amount in state funding that was distributed to teachers from the Teacher Empowerment Revolving Fund created in Section 6-190.2 of this title.
No.
SENATE FLOOR VERSION - SB554 SFLR Page 9 (Bold face denotes Committee Amendments) 9.
251 Page 9 Teacher Empowerment Revolving Fund created in Section 6-190.2 of 2 this title.
3 9.
and any associated salary increases stipend amounts 5 shall not be subject to collective bargaining.
and any associated salary increases stipend amounts shall not be subject to collective bargaining.
6 10.
10.
Stipends provided pursuant to this subsection shall not be 7 included in the calculation of the teacher’s salary for purposes of meeting the district or statutory minimum salary schedule or for 9 purposes of calculating Teachers’ Retirement System of Oklahoma contributions or benefits.
Stipends provided pursuant to this subsection shall not be included in the calculation of the teacher’s salary for purposes of meeting the district or statutory minimum salary schedule or for purposes of calculating Teachers’ Retirement System of Oklahoma contributions or benefits.
This Req.
This increase stipend shall be funded by state dollars from the lottery funds as provided in Section 713 of Title 3A of the Oklahoma SENATE FLOOR VERSION - SB554 SFLR Page 10 (Bold face denotes Committee Amendments) Statutes and shall be paid as regular annual compensation directly to teachers through school districts;
No.
2.
251 Page 10 increase stipend shall be funded by state dollars from the lottery 2 funds as provided in Section 713 of Title 3A of the Oklahoma 3 Statutes and shall be paid as regular annual compensation directly to teachers through school districts;
5 2.
an additional ten (10) days to be used to strengthen 6 instructional leadership.
an additional ten (10) days to be used to strengthen instructional leadership.
A person with a lead teaching certificate 7 shall receive an annual salary increase stipend of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) or the district’s daily rate of pay, whichever 9 is higher, in addition to the salary for which the teacher qualifies pursuant to Section 18-114.15 of this title.
A person with a lead teaching certificate shall receive an annual salary increase stipend of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) or the district’s daily rate of pay, whichever is higher, in addition to the salary for which the teacher qualifies pursuant to Section 18-114.15 of this title.
Req.
If a person with an advanced, lead, or master teaching certificate changes school districts during the life of the SENATE FLOOR VERSION - SB554 SFLR Page 11 (Bold face denotes Committee Amendments) certificate, the terms of the contracts required in this subsection shall be subject to approval by the new employing school district.
No.
L.
251 Page 11 If a person with an advanced, lead, or master teaching 2 certificate changes school districts during the life of the 3 certificate, the terms of the contracts required in this subsection shall be subject to approval by the new employing school district.
Beginning in the 2022-2023 school year, the Department shall make the teaching certificates provided for in this section available for any person who has received a recommendation from his or her school district and who meets the eligibility criteria as outlined in each school district’s teacher evaluation system provided for in subsection I of this section.
5 L.
Beginning in the 2022-2023 school year, the Department shall 6 make the teaching certificates provided for in this section 7 available for any person who has received a recommendation from his or her school district and who meets the eligibility criteria as 9 outlined in each school district’s teacher evaluation system provided for in subsection I of this section.
The Req.
The revolving fund shall be a continuing fund, without legislative appropriation, not subject to fiscal year limitations, and shall be SENATE FLOOR VERSION - SB554 SFLR Page 12 (Bold face denotes Committee Amendments) under the control and management of the State Department of Education.
No.
Expenditures from the Teacher Empowerment Revolving Fund shall be budgeted and expended as provided for in subsection B of this section.
251 Page 12 revolving fund shall be a continuing fund, without legislative 2 appropriation, not subject to fiscal year limitations, and shall be 3 under the control and management of the State Department of Education.
B.
Expenditures from the Teacher Empowerment Revolving Fund 5 shall be budgeted and expended as provided for in subsection B of 6 this section.
7 B.
Funding 9 shall be allocated to school districts to provide the increased salary stipend amounts indicated for advanced, lead, and master certificates as provided for in subsection I of Section 6-190 of this title on a first-come, first-served basis until the cash is exhausted for the school year.
Funding shall be allocated to school districts to provide the increased salary stipend amounts indicated for advanced, lead, and master certificates as provided for in subsection I of Section 6-190 of this title on a first-come, first-served basis until the cash is exhausted for the school year.
60-1-251 EB 1/19/2025 5:38:38 AM Req.
COMMITTEE REPORT BY:
No.
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS March 5, 2025 - DO PASS SENATE FLOOR VERSION - SB554 SFLR Page 13 (Bold face denotes Committee Amendments)
251 Page 13
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Action History

  1. Placed on General Order

  2. Coauthored by Representative Hasenbeck (principal House author)

  3. Reported Do Pass Appropriations committee; CR filed

  4. Referred to Appropriations

  5. Title stricken

  6. Reported Do Pass as amended Education committee; CR filed

  7. Coauthored by Senator Pugh

  8. Remove as author Senator Pugh; authored by Senator Rader

  9. Second Reading referred to Education Committee then to Appropriations Committee

  10. Authored by Senator Pugh

  11. First Reading

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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2 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 149 not signed on

Sponsors (2)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (149)

149 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 149 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Appropriations

Passed 22 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 4000
Republican 18000
Total 22000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (22)
Member Party Vote
Carri Hicks Democrat Yea
Jo Anna Dossett Democrat Yea
Julia Kirt Democrat Yea
Regina Goodwin Democrat Yea
Aaron Reinhardt Republican Yea
Adam Pugh Republican Yea
Ally Seifried Republican Yea
Brenda Stanley Republican Yea
Brent Howard Republican Yea
Casey Murdock Republican Yea
Dana Prieto Republican Yea
Darcy Jech Republican Yea
Dave Rader Republican Yea
District 24 Republican Yea
Grant Green Republican Yea
Jack Stewart Republican Yea
John Haste Republican Yea
Kendal Sacchieri Republican Yea
Kristen Thompson Republican Yea
Paul Rosino Republican Yea
Roland Pederson Republican Yea
Tom Woods Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Education

Passed 9 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 6000
Democrat 3000
Unaffiliated 0001
Total 9001
% of votes cast 90%0%0%10%
How each member voted (10)
Member Party Vote
STRIKE THE TITLE - ADOPTED — Not Voting
Carri Hicks Democrat Yea
Jo Anna Dossett Democrat Yea
Mark Mann Democrat Yea
Adam Pugh Republican Yea
Dave Rader Republican Yea
Dusty Deevers Republican Yea
Kelly Hines Republican Yea
Lonnie Paxton Republican Yea
Roland Pederson Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

labor education
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 554?
SB 554 is sponsored by Dave Rader (Republican) and Toni Hasenbeck (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 554?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced February 03, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 554?
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