All Roll Calls
Yes: 63 • No: 63
OklahomaSB 701Oklahoma 2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET
Higher education; authorizing the approval of functional exceptions; expanding classes and programs offered to the people of Muskogee. Effective date.
Sponsored By: John Haste (Republican)
Signed by Governor
Senate Committee
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
9 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.
Colleges can add programs for jobs
Beginning November 1, 2025, the State Regents can approve functional exceptions. Colleges in the state system can offer courses or degrees outside their usual mission to meet workforce needs. This opens more training and degree paths tied to local jobs.
More college options in Muskogee
Starting November 1, 2025, the State Regents provide resident‑credit college courses in Muskogee. Connors State College runs a local branch for lower‑division classes. Northeastern State University runs a Muskogee branch for upper‑division and Masters‑level classes. The State Regents decide which programs are offered.
OSU-Tulsa offers bachelor's programs
Beginning November 1, 2025, OSU‑Tulsa operates as a branch and offers upper‑division courses and bachelor’s programs approved by the State Regents. Degrees are awarded by the State Regents acting through OSU. The branch may offer dual‑degree programs.
Ponca City University Center opens
Starting November 1, 2025, the University Center at Ponca City is created. The State Regents make college program resources available in Ponca City, with credits set to transfer and be fully accepted. A Governor‑appointed nine‑member board runs the Center, can budget, hire a CEO, manage funds, and hold property. The board can provide staff retirement, deferred pay, and health and life coverage, with revolving accounts at the State Treasurer.
Stable funding for Langston and NSU Tulsa
The State Regents must fund Langston University at no less than its FY1998 Education and General budget and keep it from later cuts. They must fund Langston’s Tulsa faculty at 70% of the FY1998 Tulsa faculty level and provide building space at FY1998 levels. Northeastern State University also must get at least its FY1998 Education and General budget, held harmless from cuts. Degrees from Langston’s Tulsa branch and NSU’s Broken Arrow branch are listed as awarded by the State Regents acting through those universities, beginning with the 2001‑2002 academic year.
No duplicate undergrad programs in Tulsa
The State Regents bar OSU‑Tulsa from offering undergraduate programs that duplicate Langston’s Tulsa offerings or Northeastern State’s Tulsa programs. The Regents decide what counts as a duplicate. OSU‑Tulsa programs must align with the statewide plan for Langston.
Only Northern Oklahoma College teaches lower-division in Ponca
Beginning November 1, 2025, Northern Oklahoma College has exclusive rights to teach all lower‑division courses at the Ponca City Center, as listed in its current catalog. Students at the Center must take entry‑level classes from Northern at that site. This ensures a set provider but limits choice at the Center.
Changes start November 1, 2025
All parts of this law take effect November 1, 2025, unless a part names a different date.
Old Tulsa duplication rule repealed
Effective November 1, 2025, the law repeals 70 O.S. 2021, Section 4665. That section had addressed course‑duplication limits involving Tulsa Community College and OSU‑Tulsa. The repeal changes the legal text but does not state new funding or transition steps here.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
John Haste
Republican • Senate
Cosponsors
Chris Banning
Republican • House
Mark Chapman
Republican • House
Ross Ford
Republican • House
Christi Gillespie
Republican • Senate
Toni Hasenbeck
Republican • House
T.J. Marti
Republican • House
Gabe Woolley
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 5/21/2025
Top_of_Page
Yes: 0 • No: 15
House vote • 5/6/2025
Top_of_Page
Yes: 51 • No: 43
House vote • 4/16/2025
DO PASS
Yes: 7 • No: 2
House vote • 4/8/2025
DO PASS
Yes: 5 • No: 2
Senate vote • 3/11/2025
THIRD READING
Yes: 0 • No: 1
Senate vote • 2/25/2025
Emergency
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Approved by Governor 05/27/2025
5/28/2025SenateSent to Governor
5/22/2025SenateSigned, returned to Senate
5/22/2025HouseEnrolled, to House
5/22/2025SenateReferred for enrollment
5/21/2025SenateMeasure passed: Ayes: 29 Nays: 16
5/21/2025SenateHAs adopted
5/21/2025SenateCoauthored by Representative Chapman
5/21/2025SenateHAs read
5/7/2025SenateEngrossed, signed, to Senate
5/7/2025HouseReferred for engrossment
5/6/2025HouseThird Reading, Measure passed: Ayes: 51 Nays: 43
5/6/2025HouseEmergency removed
5/6/2025HouseAmended by floor substitute
5/6/2025HouseCoauthored by Representative(s) Woolley, Banning, Ford
5/6/2025HouseGeneral Order
5/6/2025HouseCR; Do Pass, amended by committee substitute Education Oversight Committee
4/16/2025HousePolicy recommendation to the Education Oversight committee; Do Pass, amended by committee substitute Postsecondary Education
4/8/2025HouseReferred to Postsecondary Education
4/1/2025HouseSecond Reading referred to Education Oversight
4/1/2025HouseFirst Reading
3/12/2025HouseEngrossed to House
3/12/2025SenateRemove as coauthor Senator McIntosh
3/11/2025SenateReferred for engrossment
3/11/2025SenateMeasure and Emergency passed: Ayes: 43 Nays: 1
3/11/2025Senate
Bill Text
Enrolled (final version)
5/22/2025
Amended And Engrossed
5/7/2025
Floor (House)
4/21/2025
House Committee Report
4/16/2025
House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill
4/16/2025
House Policy Committee Report
4/8/2025
Engrossed
3/12/2025
Floor (Senate)
2/26/2025
Senate Committee Report
2/25/2025
Introduced
1/15/2025
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.