OklahomaHB 3151Oklahoma 2026 Regular SessionHouse

Schools; length of school year; increasing minimum days of instruction; requiring parent-teacher conferences to have an in-person option; contingent effective date.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

New school year length and schedules

Beginning in 2027–2028, a district that adopts a school‑hours policy and notifies the State Board by October 15 must give at least 1,086 hours and at least 173 days of instruction. The State Board sets rules for extended‑day schedules, and any district using one must still provide at least 1,086 hours and 181 days, hold a public hearing, and report yearly on student results. If improvement is not shown, the district must revoke the schedule, and the State Board can deny accreditation for failure to do so. A district may adopt a school‑hours policy only if it meets State Board guidelines on student performance and cost savings approved by the Legislature. All of these rules take effect only if total FY2028 appropriations to the State Department of Education are at least $175 million higher than FY2026.

Tight limits on virtual school days

Starting with the 2026–2027 school year, districts and charters generally cannot count virtual‑closure time toward the 181 days or 1,086 hours. They can count up to two days (12 hours) only if three things happen: the State Superintendent approved the plan, the Governor declared an emergency tied to school operations, and the local board voted to use virtual instruction. Plans were due November 1, 2025, are reviewed each year, and must cover technology needs, IEP services, school meals, and transportation for technology‑center courses. Statewide virtual charter schools and full‑time district virtual programs are not subject to this counting limit. These rules take effect only if total FY2028 appropriations to the State Department of Education are at least $175 million higher than FY2026.

Bad weather partial school days count

When bad weather closes school mid‑day, eligible districts may count the hours taught before the closure toward the 1,086‑hour yearly minimum. This helps avoid losing a full day because of an early closure. This rule takes effect only if total FY2028 appropriations to the State Department of Education are at least $175 million higher than FY2026.

New rules for conferences and teacher meetings

Districts may count parent‑teacher conferences held during the school day for up to 6 hours per semester (12 hours per year). Parents must be offered an in‑person meeting option. Districts can count no more than 30 hours a year of professional meetings toward required instructional time. If you are a teacher who is off contract, the district cannot require you to attend professional meetings unless it pays extra or grants paid professional days under policy or a contract. These rules take effect only if total FY2028 appropriations to the State Department of Education are at least $175 million higher than FY2026.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Rob Hall
Republican • House

Cosponsors

Chad Caldwell
Republican • House
Kyle Hilbert
Republican • House
Darcy Jech
Republican • Senate
Dell Kerbs
Republican • House
Anthony Moore
Republican • House
Carl Newton
Republican • House
Lonnie Paxton
Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 127 • No: 60

Senate vote • 4/27/2026

THIRD READING

Yes: 30 • No: 17

Senate vote • 4/7/2026

conference

Yes: 0 • No: 3

Senate vote • 4/7/2026

Committee vote: Education

Yes: 7 • No: 3

House vote • 3/11/2026

THIRD READING

Yes: 62 • No: 28

House vote • 2/24/2026

DO PASS

Yes: 19 • No: 7

House vote • 2/16/2026

DO PASS

Yes: 9 • No: 2

Actions Timeline

Approved by Governor 05/01/2026
5/4/2026House
Sent to Governor
4/28/2026House
Enrolled measure signed, returned to House
4/28/2026Senate
Enrolled, signed, to Senate
4/28/2026House
Referred for enrollment
4/27/2026House
Engrossed measure signed, returned to House
4/27/2026Senate
Measure passed: Ayes: 30 Nays: 17
4/27/2026Senate
General Order, Considered
4/27/2026Senate
Placed on General Order
4/20/2026Senate
Withdrawn from Appropriations committee
4/20/2026Senate
Referred to Appropriations
4/7/2026Senate
Reported Do Pass Education committee; CR filed
4/7/2026Senate
Second Reading referred to Education Committee then to Appropriations Committee
4/1/2026Senate
Coauthored by Senator Jech
3/17/2026Senate
First Reading
3/12/2026Senate
Engrossed, signed, to Senate
3/12/2026House
Referred for engrossment
3/11/2026House
Third Reading, Measure passed: Ayes: 62 Nays: 28
3/11/2026House
Amended by floor substitute
3/11/2026House
Coauthored by Representative(s) Kerbs, Hilbert
3/11/2026House
General Order
3/11/2026House
House Rule suspended
3/11/2026House
Authored by Senator Paxton (principal Senate author)
2/25/2026House
Coauthored by Representative(s) Newton, Caldwell (Chad), Moore
2/25/2026House
CR; Do Pass, amended by committee substitute Appropriations and Budget Committee
2/25/2026House

Bill Text

Enrolled (final version)
4/28/2026
PDF
Floor (Senate)
4/20/2026
PDF
Senate Committee Report
4/7/2026
PDF
Engrossed
3/12/2026
PDF
Floor (House)
3/2/2026
PDF
House Committee Report
2/25/2026
PDF
House Committee Substitute
2/25/2026
PDF
House Committee Report
2/16/2026
PDF
Introduced
1/13/2026
PDF

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