Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session Status: Passed House 2 R cosponsors

HB 2154 — Charter schools; Oklahoma Charter Schools Act; exemptions; financial statements; contract requirements; effective date; emergency.

Last action — Placed on General Order

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

This bill has passed the House. Introduced February 03, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.

Signed by Governor Kevin Stitt (Republican) on March 26, 2025.

Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the Senate.

Odds of enactment

Moderate chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a moderate chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 50% · moderate confidence

  • Passed House

    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 4 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

311 added · 304 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of House Bill 2154 specifies that starting July 1, 2024, certain financial statements will be exempt from contract school budgets that are submitted before each fiscal year. This change is significant as it aims to reduce the administrative burden on charter schools, allowing them to focus more on education rather than compliance with paperwork. By simplifying the budgeting process, the bill seeks to improve efficiency and potentially allocate more resources directly to student services.

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - FLOOR VERSION STATE OF OKLAHOMA 1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025) COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO.
ENGROSSED HOUSE BILL NO.
Hall of the House and Guthrie of the Senate 9 COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE An Act relating to schools;
Hall of the House and Guthrie of the Senate 5 An Act relating to schools;
Beginning July 1, 2024, a written contract entered into between the Statewide Charter School Board and the governing board of a charter school or statewide virtual charter school or a written contract entered into between a sponsor and the HB2154 HFLR Page 1 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments.
Beginning July 1, 2024, a written contract entered into between the Statewide Charter School Board and the governing board of a charter school or statewide virtual charter school or a written contract entered into between a sponsor and the governing board of a charter school shall ensure compliance with the following:
governing board of a charter school shall ensure compliance with the following:
Except as provided for in the Oklahoma Charter Schools Act, a charter school and virtual charter school shall be exempt from all statutes and rules relating to schools, boards of education, and school districts;
Except as provided for in the Oklahoma Charter Schools Act, a charter school and virtual charter school shall be exempt from all statutes and rules relating to schools, boards of education, and ENGR.
H.
B.
NO.
2154 Page 1 school districts;
A HB2154 HFLR Page 2 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments.
A charter school or virtual charter school may offer a curriculum which emphasizes a specific learning philosophy or style or certain subject areas such as mathematics, science, fine arts, performance arts, or foreign language.
charter school or virtual charter school may offer a curriculum which emphasizes a specific learning philosophy or style or certain subject areas such as mathematics, science, fine arts, performance arts, or foreign language.
The charter of a charter school or virtual charter school which offers grades nine through twelve shall ENGR.
The charter of a charter school or virtual charter school which offers grades nine through twelve shall specifically address whether the charter school or virtual charter school will comply with the graduation requirements established in Section 11-103.6 of this title.
H.
B.
NO.
2154 Page 2 specifically address whether the charter school or virtual charter school will comply with the graduation requirements established in Section 11-103.6 of this title.
The Statewide Charter HB2154 HFLR Page 3 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments.
The Statewide Charter School Board may request that the State Auditor and Inspector conduct a financial, program, or compliance audit for any charter school or virtual charter school it oversees.
School Board may request that the State Auditor and Inspector conduct a financial, program, or compliance audit for any charter school or virtual charter school it oversees.
A charter school or virtual charter school shall use the Oklahoma Cost Accounting System to report financial transactions to the State Department of ENGR.
A charter school or virtual charter school shall use the Oklahoma Cost Accounting System to report financial transactions to the State Department of Education.
H.
B.
NO.
2154 Page 3 Education.
All of the charter school or virtual charter school governing board members shall be residents of this state and shall meet no fewer than ten (10) months of the year in a public meeting within the boundaries of the school district in which the charter school is located or within this state if the governing board HB2154 HFLR Page 4 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments.
All of the charter school or virtual charter school governing board members shall be residents of this state and shall meet no fewer than ten (10) months of the year in a public meeting within the boundaries of the school district in which the charter school is located or within this state if the governing board oversees multiple charter schools in this state or oversees a virtual charter school.
oversees multiple charter schools in this state or oversees a virtual charter school.
The governing board of a charter school or virtual charter school shall be subject to the same conflict of interest requirements as a member of a school district board of education including but not limited to Sections 5-113 and 5-124 of ENGR.
The governing board of a charter school or virtual charter school shall be subject to the same conflict of interest requirements as a member of a school district board of education including but not limited to Sections 5-113 and 5-124 of this title.
H.
B.
NO.
2154 Page 4 this title.
HB2154 HFLR Page 5 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments.
13.
ENGR.
H.
B.
NO.
2154 Page 5 13.
HB2154 HFLR Page 6 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments.
The statement of expenditures shall include functional categories as defined in rules adopted by the State Board of Education to implement the Oklahoma Cost Accounting System pursuant to Section 5-145 of this title.
The statement of expenditures shall include functional categories as defined in rules ENGR.
H.
B.
NO.
2154 Page 6 adopted by the State Board of Education to implement the Oklahoma Cost Accounting System pursuant to Section 5-145 of this title.
The sponsor shall require a charter school or virtual charter school to submit the data required in this subsection in the identical format that is required by the State Department of Education of all public schools in order HB2154 HFLR Page 7 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments.
The sponsor shall require a charter school or virtual charter school to submit the data required in this subsection in the identical format that is required by the State Department of Education of all public schools in order to avoid duplicative administrative efforts or allow a charter school or virtual charter school to provide permission to the Department to share all required data with the Board.
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to avoid duplicative administrative efforts or allow a charter school or virtual charter school to provide permission to the Department to share all required data with the Board.
student academic proficiency, b.
student academic proficiency, ENGR.
H.
B.
NO.
2154 Page 7 b.
accreditation and timely reporting, HB2154 HFLR Page 8 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments.
accreditation and timely reporting, k.
k.
The results of the evaluation shall be presented to the governing board of the charter school or virtual charter school and the governing board of the charter school sponsor in an open meeting;
The results of the ENGR.
H.
B.
NO.
2154 Page 8 evaluation shall be presented to the governing board of the charter school or virtual charter school and the governing board of the charter school sponsor in an open meeting;
For the purposes of this subsection, "separate and distinct" shall mean that a charter school or virtual charter school governing board with oversight of more than one charter school or virtual charter school shall not combine accounting, budgeting, recordkeeping, admissions, employment, or policies and operational HB2154 HFLR Page 9 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments.
For the purposes of this subsection, "separate and distinct" shall mean that a charter school or virtual charter school governing board with oversight of more than one charter school or virtual charter school shall not combine accounting, budgeting, recordkeeping, admissions, employment, or policies and operational decisions of the charter schools or virtual charter schools it oversees.
decisions of the charter schools or virtual charter schools it oversees.
The employment contract shall set forth the personnel policies of the charter school or virtual charter school including, but not limited to, policies related to certification, professional development, evaluation, suspension, dismissal and nonreemployment, sick leave, personal business leave, emergency leave, and family and medical leave.
The employment contract shall set forth the personnel policies of the charter ENGR.
H.
B.
NO.
2154 Page 9 school or virtual charter school including, but not limited to, policies related to certification, professional development, evaluation, suspension, dismissal and nonreemployment, sick leave, personal business leave, emergency leave, and family and medical leave.
HB2154 HFLR Page 10 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments.
The governing board of the sponsor or the Statewide Charter School Board may establish reasonable preopening requirements or conditions to monitor the start-up progress of newly approved charter schools or virtual charter schools and ensure that each brick-and-mortar school is prepared to open smoothly on the date agreed and to ensure that each school meets all building, health, safety, insurance, and other legal requirements for the opening of a school.
The governing board of the sponsor or the Statewide Charter School Board may establish reasonable preopening requirements or conditions to monitor the start-up progress of newly approved charter schools or virtual charter schools and ensure that each brick-and-mortar school is prepared to open smoothly on the date agreed and to ensure that each school meets all building, ENGR.
H.
B.
NO.
2154 Page 10 health, safety, insurance, and other legal requirements for the opening of a school.
HB2154 HFLR Page 11 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments.
If a charter school that was previously sponsored by the board of education of a school district continues operation within the school district under a new charter sponsored by an entity authorized pursuant to Section 3-132 of this title, the charter school may retain any personal property purchased with state or local funds for use in the operation of the charter school until termination of the new charter or failure of the charter school to continue operations.
If a charter school that was previously sponsored by the board of education of a school district continues operation within the school district under a new ENGR.
H.
B.
NO.
2154 Page 11 charter sponsored by an entity authorized pursuant to Section 3-132 of this title, the charter school may retain any personal property purchased with state or local funds for use in the operation of the charter school until termination of the new charter or failure of the charter school to continue operations.
COMMITTEE REPORT BY:
Passed the House of Representatives the 25th day of March, 2025.
COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION OVERSIGHT, dated 02/27/2025 - DO PASS, As Amended and Coauthored.
Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives Passed the Senate the ___ day of __________, 2025.
HB2154 HFLR Page 12 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments.
Presiding Officer of the Senate ENGR.
H.
B.
NO.
2154 Page 12
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Amendments

1 amendment

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Action History

  1. Placed on General Order

  2. Reported Do Pass Education committee; CR filed

  3. Second Reading referred to Education

  4. First Reading

  5. Engrossed, signed, to Senate

  6. Referred for engrossment

  7. Third Reading, Measure and Emergency passed: Ayes: 76 Nays: 13

  8. General Order

  9. Authored by Senator Guthrie (principal Senate author)

  10. CR; Do Pass, amended by committee substitute Education Oversight Committee

  11. Policy recommendation to the Education Oversight committee; Do Pass Common Education

  12. Referred to Common Education

  13. Second Reading referred to Education Oversight

  14. Authored by Representative Hall

  15. First Reading

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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2 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 149 not signed on · 13 voted No

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

Third Reading

Passed 76 Yea · 13 Nay · 10 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 70207
Unaffiliated 4102
Democrat 21002
Total 7613011
% of votes cast 76%13%0%11%
How each member voted (100)
Member Party Vote
Alonso-Sandoval — Yea
Pittman — Yea
Mr. Speaker — Yea
Bennett — Nay
Lowe (J) — Not Voting
VACANCY: — Not Voting
Crosswhite Hader — Yea
Andy Fugate Democrat Nay
Annie Menz Democrat Not Voting
Cyndi Munson Democrat Nay
Ellen Pogemiller Democrat Nay
Ellyn Hefner Democrat Nay
Jacob Rosecrants Democrat Nay
Jared Deck Democrat Nay
John Waldron Democrat Yea
Melissa Provenzano Democrat Nay
Meloyde Blancett Democrat Nay
Michelle McCane Democrat Nay
Mickey Dollens Democrat Not Voting
Suzanne Schreiber Democrat Yea
Trish Ranson Democrat Nay
Anthony Moore Republican Yea
Bob Ed Culver Republican Yea
Brad Boles Republican Yea
Brian Hill Republican Not Voting
Carl Newton Republican Yea
Chad Caldwell Republican Yea
Chris Banning Republican Yea
Chris Kannady Republican Yea
Chris Sneed Republican Yea
Chuck Hall Republican Yea
Clay Staires Republican Yea
Cody Maynard Republican Yea
Collin Duel Republican Yea
Cynthia Roe Republican Yea
Daniel Pae Republican Yea
Danny Sterling Republican Yea
Danny Williams Republican Not Voting
David Hardin Republican Yea
David Smith Republican Not Voting
Dell Kerbs Republican Yea
Derrick Hildebrant Republican Yea
Dick Lowe Republican Yea
Eddy Dempsey Republican Yea
Emily Gise Republican Yea
Eric Roberts Republican Yea
Erick Harris Republican Yea
Gabe Woolley Republican Yea
George Burns Republican Yea
Gerrid Kendrix Republican Yea
Jack Stewart Republican Nay
Jason Blair Republican Yea
Jay Steagall Republican Yea
Jim Grego Republican Not Voting
Jim Olsen Republican Yea
Jim Shaw Republican Yea
John George Republican Yea
John Kane Republican Yea
John Pfeiffer Republican Yea
Jonathan Wilk Republican Yea
Josh Cantrell Republican Yea
Josh West Republican Yea
Judd Strom Republican Yea
Justin Humphrey Republican Not Voting
Ken Luttrell Republican Yea
Kenton Patzkowsky Republican Yea
Kevin West Republican Yea
Marilyn Stark Republican Yea
Mark Chapman Republican Yea
Mark Lawson Republican Yea
Mark Lepak Republican Yea
Mark Tedford Republican Not Voting
Max Wolfley Republican Yea
Mike Dobrinski Republican Yea
Mike Kelley Republican Yea
Mike Lay Republican Yea
Mike Osburn Republican Not Voting
Molly Jenkins Republican Yea
Neil Hays Republican Yea
Nick Archer Republican Yea
Nicole Miller Republican Yea
Preston Stinson Republican Yea
Rande Worthen Republican Yea
Rick West Republican Yea
Robert Manger Republican Yea
Ronny Johns Republican Yea
Ross Ford Republican Yea
Rusty Cornwell Republican Yea
Ryan Eaves Republican Yea
Scott Fetgatter Republican Yea
Stacy Jo Adams Republican Yea
Stan May Republican Yea
Steve Bashore Republican Yea
T.J. Marti Republican Yea
Tammy Townley Republican Yea
Tammy West Republican Yea
Tim Turner Republican Yea
Tom Gann Republican Nay
Toni Hasenbeck Republican Yea
Trey Caldwell Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Education Oversight Committee: Do Pass As Amended By Cs

Passed 9 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 7000
Democrat 2000
Total 9000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (9)
Member Party Vote
John Waldron Democrat Yea
Melissa Provenzano Democrat Yea
Chad Caldwell Republican Yea
Dell Kerbs Republican Yea
Dick Lowe Republican Yea
John Kane Republican Yea
Max Wolfley Republican Yea
Tammy West Republican Yea
Toni Hasenbeck Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Common Education Committee: Do Pass

Passed 11 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 9000
Democrat 2000
Total 11000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (11)
Member Party Vote
Ellen Pogemiller Democrat Yea
Jacob Rosecrants Democrat Yea
Chad Caldwell Republican Yea
Chris Banning Republican Yea
Chuck Hall Republican Yea
Cody Maynard Republican Yea
Danny Sterling Republican Yea
Dick Lowe Republican Yea
Mark Tedford Republican Yea
Molly Jenkins Republican Yea
Ronny Johns Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

education
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 2154?
HB 2154 is sponsored by Brian Guthrie (Republican) and Rob Hall (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 2154?
This bill has passed the House. Introduced February 03, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.
Where can I track HB 2154?
Track HB 2154 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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