100 new laws take effect July 1st in Oklahoma; many education-focused

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – One hundred laws will take effect in Oklahoma, starting July 1^st. Nearly one-third deal with education and teachers. School districts across the state will have less than two months review the laws and implement them before the start of the 2025-2026 school year.

House Bill 1412 is one of them. It gives qualified teachers across the state a yearly stipend, instead of a pay raise, because of their certification level. At Putnam City Schools, the district has already started preparing for the new education legislation.

"It starts at the very top with our district administration developing a plan to identify those top 10% of teachers," said Dr. Jason Memoli, Putnam City Schools Chief of Staff.

Another bill will eliminate funding for DEI programs at state colleges and universities.

House Bill 1466 will allow schools the chance to make a case if its accreditation status is in jeopardy. It was not guaranteed before Rep. Tammy West, R-Oklahoma City, authored the bill during session. In recent years, the Oklahoma State Board of Education lowered accreditation for schools like Mustang and Tulsa.

“Schools should never be blindsided by accreditation decisions that impact students, educators and entire communities,” said West. “House Bill 1466 creates a clear, consistent framework that will allow school leaders to respond to accreditation concerns in a timely and constructive manner. I hope that this new process will ensure that districts are treated fairly and with the transparency they deserve."

Many of the bills have been tied to the state’s $12.5 billion approved budget, which also kicks in on July 1^st, but other new laws do not come with mandated funding.

"Our rollover is 7% each year by board policy,” said Memoli. “We have a little cushion to tackle any of those additional financial needs that we have." The majority of the other bills signed into law will take effect November 1, 2025.