All Roll Calls
Yes: 98 • No: 0
OklahomaSB 553Oklahoma 2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET
Schools; directing revocation of certification and dismissal for failure to report suspected child abuse or neglect. Effective date. Emergency.
Sponsored By: Adam Pugh (Republican)
Signed by Governor
Senate Committee
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 2 mixed.
Stricter teacher certification and firing rules
The state revokes or refuses an educator certificate if you were convicted of knowingly not reporting suspected child abuse or neglect. You also cannot get a certificate for 10 years after a felony, a crime of moral turpitude, or a failure‑to‑report conviction. Career and probationary teachers convicted during employment of not reporting must be dismissed or not rehired, unless pardoned.
Abuse reporters’ identities kept confidential
Law enforcement must keep a reporting school employee’s identity confidential in required reports unless a court orders disclosure. School employees may not share the reporter’s identity except by court order or during an official investigation.
Child abuse training and yearly attestation
Certified teachers must take child abuse recognition training in their first year and every fifth academic year. The training covers how to spot abuse and sexual abuse, how to report it, and penalties for not reporting. Every school employee must sign a yearly statement acknowledging the duty to report suspected abuse or neglect.
Background check fee and reuse rules
When a school board asks for a national background check, you pay a fingerprint fee up to $50 or the actual cost, whichever is less. A district may reimburse this fee. If you provide a national check from the last five years plus a letter from your former district that you left in good standing, you may not need a new check. Substitutes can ask districts to accept a single recent check when working in multiple districts.
Emergency clause: rules start immediately
The emergency clause makes this law effective immediately upon passage and approval. Another section lists July 1, 2025, but the emergency clause controls.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Adam Pugh
Republican • Senate
Cosponsors
Kristen Thompson
Republican • Senate
Nikki Nice
Democratic • Senate
Danny Sterling
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 5/1/2025
Top_of_Page
Yes: 78 • No: 0
House vote • 4/23/2025
DO PASS
Yes: 9 • No: 0
House vote • 4/2/2025
DO PASS
Yes: 11 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/24/2025
THIRD READING
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/4/2025
Emergency
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Approved by Governor 05/08/2025
5/12/2025SenateSent to Governor
5/5/2025SenateSigned, returned to Senate
5/5/2025HouseEnrolled, to House
5/5/2025SenateReferred for enrollment
5/1/2025SenateSigned, returned to Senate
5/1/2025HouseThird Reading, Measure and Emergency passed: Ayes: 78 Nays: 0
5/1/2025HouseGeneral Order
5/1/2025HouseCR; Do Pass Education Oversight Committee
4/23/2025HouseCoauthored by Senator(s) Nice
4/3/2025HousePolicy recommendation to the Education Oversight committee; Do Pass Common Education
4/3/2025HouseReferred to Common Education
4/1/2025HouseSecond Reading referred to Education Oversight
4/1/2025HouseFirst Reading
3/25/2025HouseEngrossed to House
3/25/2025SenateReferred for engrossment
3/24/2025SenateMeasure and Emergency passed: Ayes: 47 Nays: 0
3/24/2025SenateGeneral Order, Considered
3/24/2025SenateCoauthored by Representative Sterling (principal House author)
3/17/2025SenatePlaced on General Order
3/6/2025SenateReported Do Pass, amended by committee substitute Education committee; CR filed
3/4/2025SenateCoauthored by Senator Thompson
3/3/2025SenateSecond Reading referred to Education
2/4/2025SenateAuthored by Senator Pugh
2/3/2025SenateFirst Reading
2/3/2025Senate
Bill Text
Enrolled (final version)
5/5/2025
Floor (House)
4/23/2025
House Committee Report
4/23/2025
House Policy Committee Report
4/3/2025
Engrossed
3/25/2025
Floor (Senate)
3/5/2025
Committee Substitute
3/4/2025
Senate Committee Report
3/4/2025
Introduced
1/13/2025
Related Bills
HB 4030 — Education; apportionment of certain appropriated funds; purposes for allocated funds; effective date; emergency.
HB 4072 — Public Finance; creating the Taxpayer Endowment Trust Fund Act; creating the Taxpayer Endowment Trust Fund; effective date; emergency.
SB 1733 — Schools; requiring public and private school employees to report certain disclosure, allegation, or information to law enforcement within certain time period; requiring school employees to annually sign certain attestation. Effective date. Emergency.
SB 1481 — Schools; requiring certain schools to provide students in certain grades with certain amount of recess per day. Effective date. Emergency.
SB 1176 — Oklahoma Water Resources Board; creating the Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Investment Program. Effective date. Emergency.
SB 1161 — Oklahoma Health Care Authority; general appropriations; modifying certain date; providing for duties and compensation of administrators and employees. Effective date. Emergency.