An act relating to the State Board of Education, the official text

1                   STATE OF OKLAHOMA

2   2nd Session of the 60th Legislature (2026)

3 HOUSE BILL 3327               By: Osburn

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6                   AS INTRODUCED

7   An Act relating to the State Board of Education;

    amending 70 O.S. 2021, Section 3-101, as amended by

8   Section 1, Chapter 182, O.S.L. 2023 (70 O.S. Supp.

    2025, Section 3-101), which relates to board member

9   appointments; increasing the number of board members;

    changing the appointing authority for some members;

10  establishing for-cause removal procedures;

    eliminating reference to service at the pleasure of

11  the Governor; modifying vacancy procedures; vacating

    current members; directing initial appointments;

12  providing initial appointment terms; providing an

    effective date; and declaring an emergency.

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16 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:

17  SECTION 1.      AMENDATORY  70 O.S. 2021, Section 3-101, as

18 amended by Section 1, Chapter 182, O.S.L. 2023 (70 O.S. Supp. 2025,

19 Section 3-101), is amended to read as follows:

20  Section 3-101. A. The State Board of Education shall consist

21 of seven (7) nine (9) members. The State Superintendent of Public

22 Instruction shall be a member and the chairperson of the Board. The

23 remaining six members shall be appointed by the Governor by and with

24 the advice and consent of the Senate. Except as otherwise provided

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1 for in subsection B of this section, upon assuming office each

2 Governor shall appoint one member from each congressional district

3 and one member from the state at large. Four members shall be

4 appointed by the Governor, two members shall be appointed by the

5 Speaker of the House of Representatives, and two members shall be

6 appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. Each

7 appointment shall be made to take effect on April 2. The term of

8 each appointed member shall be four (4) years. Appointed members

9 shall serve until a successor is appointed. Appointed members shall

10 serve at the pleasure of the Governor only be removed for cause by

11 their appointing authority. Upon the occurrence of a vacancy the

12 same shall be filled by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the

13 Senate at the next session of the Legislature in the same manner as

14 the original appointment. The appointment to fill a vacancy shall

15 be made for the unexpired term.

16  B. On the effective date of this act, all appointed positions

17 of the current State Board of Education shall be deemed vacant and

18 the terms of persons serving on the Board shall be deemed

19 terminated. The Governor, the Speaker of the House of

20 Representatives, and the President Pro Tempore shall each make their

21 initial appointments pursuant to the provisions of this subsection

22 within thirty (30) days of the effective date of this act, with one

23 member appointed from each congressional district and one member

24 appointed from the state at large. The appointments shall be

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1 subject to confirmation by the Senate at the next session of the

2 Legislature. The terms for members appointed pursuant to this

3 subsection shall terminate on April 2, 2015 2030. Thereafter,

4 members shall be appointed as provided for in subsection A of this

5 section.

6   C. No person shall be eligible to be appointed to serve on the

7 Board unless the person has been awarded a high school diploma or

8 certificate of high school equivalency. No person shall be

9 appointed to serve on the Board if the person serves on a board of

10 education of a school district which is supervised by the Board

11 pursuant to Section 3-104 of this title. Any member appointed to

12 the Board shall complete the workshop requirements of a new school

13 board member pursuant to Section 5-110 of this title within thirteen

14 (13) months following or preceding the appointment of the member.

15 Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the State

16 Department of Education shall not charge any member of the State

17 Board of Education a fee for any workshop provided by the Department

18 for board members pursuant to Section 5-110 of this title and shall

19 not pay a fee to any organization or institution of higher education

20 on behalf of a member of the State Board of Education, or reimburse

21 any member of the Board for a fee paid to any organization or

22 institution of higher education, for attendance at a workshop or

23 courses to satisfy the requirements of Section 5-110 of this title.

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1   D. Members of the Board shall receive necessary traveling

2 expenses while in the performance of their duties in accordance with

3 the State Travel Reimbursement Act.

4   SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2026.

5   SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation

6 of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby

7 declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and

8 be in full force from and after its passage and approval.

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10  60-2-13959      SW  11/04/25

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