Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Oklahoma Legislature, fetched 2026-07-23. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2 2nd Session of the 60th Legislature (2026)
3 HOUSE BILL 4158 By: Hasenbeck
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6 AS INTRODUCED
7 An Act relating to higher education; amending 70 O.S.
2021, Section 2632, as amended by Section 1, Chapter
8 129, O.S.L. 2025 (70 O.S. Supp. 2025, Section 2632),
which relates to eligibility requirements for the
9 Oklahoma Tuition Equalization Grant; increasing
income cap from Fifty Thousand Dollars to Eighty
10 Thousand Dollars; providing an effective date; and
declaring an emergency.
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13 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
14 SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 2632, as
15 amended by Section 1, Chapter 129, O.S.L. 2025 (70 O.S. Supp. 2025,
16 Section 2632), is amended to read as follows:
17 Section 2632. A. To be eligible for an Oklahoma Tuition
18 Equalization Grant, a student shall:
19 1. Be an Oklahoma resident as defined by the Oklahoma State
20 Regents for Higher Education;
21 2. Have enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student in an
22 eligible institution of higher education as prescribed in subsection
23 D of this section;
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1 3. Meet the income eligibility level, which is the student's
2 parents' income from taxable sources which shall not be more than
3 Fifty Eighty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) ($80,000.00) per year or
4 the student's income if the student is independent and self-
5 supporting as determined by the State Regents consistent with
6 federal financial aid regulations;
7 4. Pay more tuition than is required at a comparable public
8 institution of higher education and pay no less than the regular
9 tuition required of all students enrolled at the institution where
10 the student is enrolled; and
11 5. Maintain at least minimum standards of academic performance
12 as required by the enrolling institution.
13 B. The enrolling institution shall forward a completed student
14 application, documentation of full-time enrollment status, and
15 certification of resident status to the State Regents no later than
16 October 15 for the fall semester and March 15 for the spring
17 semester of each academic year.
18 C. Subject to the availability of funds in the Oklahoma Tuition
19 Equalization Grant Trust Fund, an Oklahoma Tuition Equalization
20 Grant in the amount of Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) per academic
21 year, or One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) per academic semester
22 shall be awarded by the State Regents by allocation from the
23 Oklahoma Tuition Equalization Grant Trust Fund, beginning with
24 eligible students enrolled in the 2003-2004 school year. No grants
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1 pursuant to this act shall be provided to students for attending
2 summer terms or intersessions.
3 D. The State Regents shall implement policies and procedures
4 for the administration of this act. The State Regents shall approve
5 as eligible institutions of higher education only those private or
6 independent, not-for-profit colleges or universities that are
7 domiciled within this state, meet approved program and accreditation
8 standards as determined by the State Regents, and are fully
9 accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central
10 Association on Colleges and Schools or a national accrediting body
11 recognized by the United States Department of Education. To be
12 eligible, institutions must have been granted not-for-profit status
13 by the Internal Revenue Service and the U. S. U.S. Department of
14 Education prior to July 1, 2012. Additionally, eligible
15 institutions shall adhere to the complaint process policies and
16 procedures administered by the State Regents. The State Regents
17 shall review and take action, as authorized, on complaints
18 concerning eligible institutions. The eligible institutions shall
19 include Family of Faith College, Mid-America Christian University,
20 Oklahoma Baptist University, Oklahoma Christian University, Oklahoma
21 City University, Oklahoma Wesleyan University, Oral Roberts
22 University, Southern Nazarene University, Southwestern Christian
23 University, the University of Tulsa and Randall University.
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1 E. If funds are not sufficient in the Oklahoma Tuition
2 Equalization Grant Trust Fund to provide grants for all eligible
3 applicants, the State Regents shall award grants on the basis of
4 need and take into consideration other grants and scholarships
5 received by an eligible applicant when awarding grants. Students
6 who have previously received a tuition equalization grant and who
7 continue to meet the requirements for eligibility shall have
8 absolute priority for continued financial support superior to any
9 student who is applying for a grant for the first time.
10 F. Students enrolling as first-time freshmen for the 2003-2004
11 school year shall be the first class of students eligible to apply
12 for Oklahoma Tuition Equalization Grants. In subsequent years, all
13 previously eligible students and the first-time enrolling freshmen
14 students shall be entitled to apply for a grant pursuant to this
15 section. Beginning in the 2007-2008 school year, all eligible
16 students shall be entitled to apply for a grant pursuant to this
17 section.
18 G. A grant provided by this section shall not be allowed for
19 courses or other postsecondary units taken in excess of the
20 requirements for completion of a baccalaureate program or taken more
21 than five (5) years after the student's first grant is received.
22 The State Regents may award an Oklahoma Tuition Equalization Grant
23 for courses of postsecondary units taken more than five (5) years
24 after the student's first grant is received only in hardship
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1 circumstances. No Oklahoma Tuition Equalization Grant recipient may
2 receive benefits beyond a cumulative time period of five (5) years.
3 H. On or before February 1 after the first semester in which
4 grants are awarded pursuant to this act and every year thereafter,
5 the State Regents shall provide a report to the Governor, President
6 Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
7 Representatives to include, but not be limited to the number of
8 students awarded grants, grade point average, persistence rates,
9 degree completion rates, demographic data, and any other indicators
10 the State Regents deem appropriate.
11 SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2026.
12 SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
13 of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
14 declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
15 be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
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17 60-2-15863 AQH 12/19/25
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Req. No. 15863 Page 5Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.