OklahomaHB 1937Oklahoma 2026 Regular SessionHouse

Schools; student communications; school personnel; administrative leave; investigation; effective date; emergency.

Sponsored By: Chris Kannady (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Senate Committee

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

New penalties for staff messaging violations

If there is a corroborated report that an employee broke the parent‑inclusion rule, the district may place the employee on administrative leave while it investigates and notifies the board. If no misconduct is found and the employee was on leave, the employee is reinstated and the file must note "no misconduct." If no leave occurred, the incident is not recorded. If misconduct is found, the board must discipline under district policy, up to firing, and report the incident to law enforcement under Section 1210.163. These enforcement rules start July 1, 2026.

When the new messaging rules start

Most new school messaging rules begin on July 1, 2026. The act also declares an emergency, so the law is in force upon passage and approval.

Parents included on student messages

School staff must include a parent or guardian on any one‑to‑one electronic message with a student. This does not apply if the message is on a school‑approved platform and about school or class work. Local boards may allow an emergency exception, but the parent must be told after. Staff should use approved tools that can automatically include parents. The State Department of Education develops training, and schools must give this training to staff. A “student” is someone enrolled in an Oklahoma public or charter K‑12 school to earn a high school diploma or equivalency, and not someone who already has one. These rules start July 1, 2026. Electronic messages include emails, texts, direct and social media messages. School personnel include teachers, coaches, administrators, bus drivers, and other school employees.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Chris Kannady
Republican • House

Cosponsors

Brent Howard
Republican • Senate
Dick Lowe
Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 156 • No: 12

Senate vote • 5/5/2026

THIRD READING

Yes: 47 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/21/2026

emergency

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/21/2026

Committee vote: Education

Yes: 9 • No: 0

House vote • 3/10/2026

THIRD READING

Yes: 84 • No: 7

House vote • 3/4/2026

DO PASS

Yes: 8 • No: 0

House vote • 2/5/2025

DO PASS

Yes: 8 • No: 5

Actions Timeline

Approved by Governor 05/07/2026
5/11/2026House
Sent to Governor
5/5/2026House
Enrolled measure signed, returned to House
5/5/2026Senate
Enrolled, signed, to Senate
5/5/2026House
Referred for enrollment
5/5/2026House
Engrossed measure signed, returned to House
5/5/2026Senate
Measure and Emergency passed: Ayes: 47 Nays: 0
5/5/2026Senate
General Order, Considered
5/5/2026Senate
Placed on General Order
4/23/2026Senate
Reported Do Pass Education committee; CR filed
4/21/2026Senate
Remove as author Senator Green; authored by Senator Howard
4/6/2026Senate
Second Reading referred to Education
4/1/2026Senate
First Reading
3/11/2026Senate
Engrossed, signed, to Senate
3/11/2026House
Referred for engrossment
3/10/2026House
Third Reading, Measure and Emergency passed: Ayes: 84 Nays: 7
3/10/2026House
General Order
3/10/2026House
Authored by Senator Green (principal Senate author)
3/4/2026House
CR; Do Pass, amended by committee substitute Education Oversight Committee
3/4/2026House
Remove Representative Sterling as principal House author and substitute with Representative Kannady
2/17/2026House
Coauthored by Representative(s) Lowe (Dick)
2/6/2025House
Policy recommendation to the Education Oversight committee; Do Pass Common Education
2/6/2025House
Referred to Common Education
2/4/2025House
Second Reading referred to Education Oversight
2/4/2025House
Authored by Representative Sterling
2/3/2025House

Bill Text

Enrolled (final version)
5/5/2026
PDF
Floor (Senate)
4/22/2026
PDF
Senate Committee Report
4/21/2026
PDF
Engrossed
3/11/2026
PDF
Floor (House)
3/9/2026
PDF
House Committee Report
3/4/2026
PDF
House Committee Substitute
3/4/2026
PDF
House Policy Committee Report
2/6/2025
PDF
Introduced
1/16/2025
PDF

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