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1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2 2nd Session of the 60th Legislature (2026)
3 HOUSE BILL 4153 By: Hasenbeck
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5
6 AS INTRODUCED
7 An Act relating to driver licenses; creating a
requirement to demonstrate an eighth grade reading
8 level for minors to obtain a driver license;
establishing criteria for satisfying reading tester
9 requirements for a driver license for public school
students; requiring students under eighteen to
10 complete a reading proficiency test; requiring a plan
of remedial reading if assessments are not
11 successfully completed; providing an option for
students to take alternative reading proficiency
12 tests if the initial assessment is unsuccessful;
allowing students to take an alternative reading test
13 for motorcycle licenses; establishing alternative
reading testing sites requirements; requiring school
14 districts to provide alternative documentation of
reading proficiency if applicable; establishing
15 alternative documentation requirements; allowing
students to submit reading proficiency test results
16 from other states; requiring the Department of
Education to approve or disapprove out-of-state test
17 results; creating requirement for documentation of
school enrollment, completion, or lawful excuse for
18 minors to obtain a driver license; requiring minors
to demonstrate reading proficiency at an eighth-grade
19 reading level unless excused; establishing exception
for summer months; establishing documentation
20 requirements for students educated by other means;
establishing misdemeanor for violations; providing
21 alternate route to obtain driver license for certain
employed persons under eighteen; establishing
22 employer fines for falsification; requiring
attendance officers to provide documentation;
23 requiring attendance officers to notify the
Department of Public Safety of certain student
24 withdrawals; requiring notification of license
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1 cancellation in certain circumstances; providing
exceptions for notice requirements; requiring school
2 districts to provide documentation of reading
proficiency to certain enrolled students; defining
3 terms; providing exceptions to reading proficiency
requirements; requiring the Department of Public
4 Safety to approve forms; providing for codification;
providing an effective date; and declaring an
5 emergency.
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7
8 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
9 SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
10 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1210.515A of Title 70, unless
11 there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
12 A. Pursuant to the provisions of paragraph 2 of subsection A of
13 Section 6 of this act, any person under the age of eighteen (18)
14 years wishing to apply for a driver license or permit shall
15 successfully demonstrate a satisfactory reading ability at the
16 eighth-grade reading level by meeting the following criteria:
17 1. A student enrolled in a public school shall successfully
18 complete the reading portion of the statewide assessment
19 administered pursuant to Section 1210.508 of this title and that is
20 offered in the eighth grade. Following the administration of this
21 assessment in the eighth grade, any student not successfully
22 completing the reading portion shall be assigned a plan of remedial
23 reading. Any student not successful in completing the reading
24 portion of the state assessment may take a comparable alternative
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1 reading proficiency test in order to satisfy the criteria for a
2 driver license or permit. Alternative reading proficiency tests
3 shall be approved by the State Department of Education. Subsequent
4 successful completion of an alternative reading proficiency test
5 shall serve to satisfy any retake requirement for the reading
6 portion of the state assessment in the eighth grade in the Oklahoma
7 School Testing Program. School districts shall notify, in writing,
8 each student who takes the reading portion of the state assessment
9 for the eighth grade or who takes an alternative reading proficiency
10 test and the student's parent or legal guardian of the results. If
11 the student fails to perform satisfactorily on the test, the notice
12 shall inform the student of the reading proficiency driver license
13 requirement and the school's remediation plan for the student. Upon
14 the student's successful completion of the test, the school shall
15 furnish the student with the documentation needed for the driver
16 license application in Oklahoma;
17 2. Unless alternatively documented according to the provisions
18 of subsection C of this section, students under the age of eighteen
19 (18) years shall successfully complete a reading proficiency test
20 approved by the State Department of Education; and
21 3. Any student who wishes to apply for a restricted license to
22 operate a motorcycle may take an alternative reading proficiency
23 test, subject to the provisions of this section.
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1 B. Alternative reading proficiency tests shall be offered by
2 testing sites, which shall include the public schools at least four
3 times per calendar year, and may include any of the following which
4 choose to participate: the technology center school districts,
5 Regional Education Service Centers, colleges, accredited private
6 schools, and other sites approved by the State Department of
7 Education. A student may take the test as often as wished, subject
8 to the provisions of this section. Testing sites shall provide the
9 first alternative reading proficiency test for each student at no
10 cost. Students may be assessed a fee not to exceed Twenty-five
11 Dollars ($25.00) by the testing site for each subsequent alternative
12 reading proficiency test taken.
13 C. A school district shall provide for alternative
14 documentation of reading proficiency for the purposes of paragraph 2
15 of subsection A of Section 6 of this act for any student with an
16 Individualized Education Program (IEP) that, at a minimum, is in an
17 area related to reading. The alternative documentation shall be
18 furnished to such student who is performing satisfactorily in
19 reading pursuant to the Individualized Education Program of the
20 student. Parents of disabled students educated pursuant to the
21 provisions of Section 4 of Article XIII of the Oklahoma Constitution
22 may satisfy the requirement of paragraph 2 of subsection A of
23 Section 6 of this act by signing an affidavit that, based upon their
24 best information and belief, their child would qualify for an
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1 Individualized Education Program that, at a minimum, is in an area
2 related to reading if enrolled in public school, and that in their
3 judgment their child is performing satisfactorily in reading and is
4 therefore academically qualified to satisfy the requirement of
5 paragraph 2 of subsection A of Section 6 of this act.
6 D. Any person under the age of eighteen (18) who has previously
7 completed and successfully passed a reading proficiency test from
8 another state may submit the results of such test to the State
9 Department of Education for verification and approval. The State
10 Department of Education shall have thirty (30) days from receipt of
11 the reading proficiency results submitted by the person to verify
12 that the reading proficiency requirements from the other state are
13 equivalent or comparable to the reading proficiency requirements
14 established for Oklahoma students pursuant to this section. Upon
15 verification and approval by the State Department of Education, the
16 Department shall furnish the person with the documentation needed
17 for the driver license application in Oklahoma. If the reading
18 proficiency documentation submitted by the person is disapproved by
19 the Department, the person may take an alternative reading
20 proficiency test as provided for in subsection B of this section.
21 SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
22 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 6-107.8 of Title 47, unless
23 there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
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1 A. The Department of Public Safety shall deny a license,
2 restricted license, or instruction permit for the operation of a
3 motor vehicle to any person under eighteen (18) years of age who
4 does not, at the time of application, present documentation that
5 such person:
6 1. Is a student enrolled in a public or private secondary
7 school, including any technology center school, of this state or any
8 other state;
9 2. Has received a diploma or certificate of completion issued
10 to the person from a secondary school of this state or any other
11 state;
12 3. Is enrolled and making satisfactory progress in a program
13 leading to a certificate of high school equivalency issued by the
14 State Department of Education, or has obtained such certificate;
15 4. Is excused from such requirement pursuant to a lawful excuse
16 as defined in subsection G of this section or due to circumstances
17 beyond the control of the person; or
18 5. Is excused from such requirement pursuant to subsection C of
19 this section; and
20 6. Has successfully passed the criterion-referenced reading
21 test required for all eighth grade students or an alternative
22 reading proficiency test approved by the State Department of
23 Education, pursuant to the provisions of Section 5 of this act,
24 demonstrating reading proficiency at the eighth-grade reading level,
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1 unless such student is excused from such requirement pursuant to the
2 provisions of Section 5 of this act. Provided, during the summer
3 months when school is not in regular session, as established by the
4 school district pursuant to Section 1-109 of Title 70 of the
5 Oklahoma Statutes, a person under eighteen (18) years of age may
6 satisfy the documentation requirement of this subsection by
7 providing a notarized written statement from and signed by the legal
8 custodial parent or legal guardian of the person to the Department
9 of Public Safety stating that the person completed the immediately
10 previous school year and is enrolled or intends to enroll for the
11 immediately subsequent school year.
12 B. 1. A person under eighteen (18) years of age who is
13 receiving education by other means, including education at home
14 pursuant to Section 4 of Article XIII of the Oklahoma Constitution,
15 shall satisfy the documentation requirement of paragraphs 1, 2, 3,
16 4, and 5 of subsection A of this section by providing a written
17 statement from and signed by the legal custodial parent or legal
18 guardian of the person to the Department of Public Safety stating
19 that the person is receiving instruction by other means pursuant to
20 Section 4 of Article XIII of the Oklahoma Constitution.
21 2. Any person who falsifies the information required in such
22 documentation, upon conviction, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
23 C. 1. A person under eighteen (18) years of age who does not
24 meet the requirements of paragraphs 1 through 3 of subsection A of
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1 this section or the requirements of subsection B of this section may
2 retain or be issued a driver license if:
3 a. the person is employed at least twenty-four (24) hours
4 per week, and
5 b. the employer of the person verifies the employment on
6 a form prescribed by the Department of Public Safety.
7 2. Any person who has retained or been issued a driver license
8 pursuant to this subsection who leaves such employment shall have
9 fifteen (15) days from the date of termination of employment to
10 provide verification of employment from a new employer.
11 3. Any employer who falsifies a verification of employment
12 shall be subject to an administrative fine of not more than Fifty
13 Dollars ($50.00), to be assessed by the Department of Public Safety.
14 D. 1. School district attendance officers, upon request, shall
15 provide a documentation of enrollment status form, established and
16 approved by the Department of Public Safety, to any person under
17 eighteen (18) years of age who is properly enrolled in a school for
18 which the attendance officer is responsible, for presentation to the
19 Department of Public Safety upon application for or reinstatement of
20 an instruction permit, restricted license, or license to operate a
21 motor vehicle.
22 2. Except as provided in subsection E of this section, whenever
23 a person over fourteen (14) years of age and under eighteen (18)
24 years of age, who has a driver license or permit issued by the
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1 Department of Public Safety, withdraws from school, the attendance
2 officer shall notify the Department of Public Safety of such
3 withdrawal through a documentation of enrollment status form.
4 3. Within fifteen (15) working days of the receipt of such
5 notice, the Department of Public Safety shall provide written notice
6 to the person, by first class, postage prepaid mail, that the driver
7 license of the person will be canceled thirty (30) days following
8 the date the notice to the person was sent, unless documentation of
9 compliance with the provisions of this section is received by the
10 Department of Public Safety before such time. After the thirty-day
11 period, the Department of Public Safety shall cancel the driving
12 privileges of the person.
13 E. When the withdrawal from school of a person under eighteen
14 (18) years of age is:
15 1. Due to circumstances beyond the control of the person;
16 2. Pursuant to any lawful excuse; or
17 3. For the purpose of transfer to another school, including
18 education at home pursuant to Section 4 of Article XIII of the
19 Oklahoma Constitution, as confirmed in writing by the legal
20 custodial parent or legal guardian of the person,
21 no notice as required by subsection D of this section shall be sent
22 to the Department of Public Safety, or, if sent, such notice shall
23 be disregarded by the Department of Public Safety. If the person is
24 applying for a driver license, restricted driver license, or
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1 instruction permit, the attendance officer shall provide the person
2 with documentation to present to the Department of Public Safety to
3 excuse the person from the requirements of this section.
4 F. Every school district shall, upon request, provide
5 documentation of reading proficiency for any person under eighteen
6 (18) years of age enrolled in such school district by certifying
7 passage of a reading examination pursuant to the provisions of
8 Section 5 of this act.
9 G. As used in this section:
10 1. "Withdrawal" means more than ten (10) consecutive days, or
11 parts of days, of unexcused absences or fifteen (15) days, or parts
12 of days, total unexcused absences during a single semester;
13 2. "Lawful excuse" means absence from school pursuant to any
14 valid physical or mental illness or pursuant to any legal excuse as
15 provided in Section 10-105 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes;
16 provided, however, the meaning of such term shall not include
17 marriage;
18 3. "Circumstances beyond the control of the person" shall not
19 include marriage, suspension, or expulsion from school, or
20 imprisonment in a jail, penitentiary, or other correctional
21 institution;
22 4. "Documentation of enrollment status form" means the document
23 established and approved by the Department of Public Safety to
24 substantiate information concerning the eligibility of a person
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1 under eighteen (18) years of age to apply for or to retain a license
2 or permit to drive. Such documentation shall not include any
3 information which is considered an education record pursuant to the
4 Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C., Sections 1232g
5 through 1232i, unless compliance is made with the restrictions
6 regarding disclosure of the information; and
7 5. "Documentation of reading proficiency" means information
8 provided by a school authorized by subsection B of Section 5 of this
9 act to certify the eligibility of a person under eighteen (18) years
10 of age to apply for a license or permit based on passage of a
11 reading proficiency test approved by the State Department of
12 Education, or pursuant to the alternative documentation criteria
13 provided in subsection C of Section 5 of this act. Such
14 documentation shall not include any information which is considered
15 an education record pursuant to the Family Education Rights and
16 Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C., Sections 1232g through 1232i, unless
17 compliance is made with the restrictions regarding disclosure of the
18 information.
19 H. The provisions of this section shall be inapplicable with
20 respect to any person under eighteen (18) years of age upon whom
21 rights of majority have been conferred pursuant to Sections 91
22 through 94 of Title 10 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
23 I. The Department of Public Safety shall establish and approve
24 documentation forms and certificates required by this section for
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1 use by school districts to comply with the provisions of this
2 section. Upon establishment and approval of such forms and
3 certificates, the Department of Public Safety shall notify each
4 school district and the State Board of Education of the content
5 thereof.
6 SECTION 3. This act shall become effective July 1, 2026.
7 SECTION 4. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
8 of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
9 declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
10 be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
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