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Looking at the numerous Oklahoma laws that go into effect on July 1

6.26.24 – KOCO

Below is a look at some of the more high-profile laws that go into effect on July 1, 2024

Numerous laws go into effect on July 1 in Oklahoma. The best-known bill that goes into law is a controversial immigration bill that gives local law enforcement the ability to detain and remove undocumented immigrants.

House Bill 3727

The bill requires that students in grades 3-5 be taught cursive handwriting. The bill’s author, state Rep. Jason Lowe, argued that students should be able to read the Declaration of Independence, which is written in cursive.

Click here to read the full text.

House Bill 4050

The bill allows religious degrees to be exempt from accreditation requirements as long as the diploma and transcripts have some sort of marker to indicate that.

Click here to read the full text.

Senate Bill 1307

The bill provides an exemption from certain assessments for students over a certain age — 21 to 26 years old — who seek to complete twelfth grade.

Click here to read the full text.

Senate Bill 1521

The bill expands the eligibility for those wanting to serve as school resource officers to retired officers and CLEET-certified security guards.

Senate Bill 1521 updated legislation from last year that helped districts pay for school resource officers. Prior to this bill’s passage, school resource officers had to be active law enforcement.

Click here to read the full text.

Senate Bill 175

The bill requires each district’s board of education to adopt a policy regarding suicide awareness and training and requires staff training and the report of a student’s drug use. Districts also will be required to provide training to all staff members in their first year with the district and then no less than once every fifth academic year.

Click here to read the full text.

Senate Bill 1921

The bill requires a cardiac emergency response plan for all public schools in Oklahoma.

Part of the push for the bill came from Denny Kellington, an athletic trainer who helped save Buffalo Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin. The NFL player suffered a sudden cardiac arrest on the field during a 2023 game.

Click here to read the full text.

Halted: House Bill 4156

The controversial immigration law was set to go into effect on July 1, but it has been halted while legal action against it continues.

House Bill 4156 allows local law enforcement to detain and remove undocumented immigrants, a task that has been done by federal officials. Gov. Kevin Stitt and Attorney General Gentner Drummond say the bill is about keeping Oklahomans safe.

Drummond has said that House Bill 4156 gives law enforcement the tools they need to solve a problem where the federal government is failing and gives them the ability to remove those engaging in criminal activity.

Oklahoma law enforcement officials, including OKC police Chief Wade Gourley and Guthrie police Chief Don Sweger, say the bill brings challenges in policing and anti-racial profiling. They also pointed to how people in already vulnerable communities may have less trust in police and may not want to report crimes happening to them.

The governor stands by the bill and acknowledged that it could lead to the deportation of undocumented people who work in Oklahoma and fill jobs in key employment sectors.

House Bill 4156 sparked outcry from the public, with thousands of people gathering at the state Capitol to protest. Oklahoma City attorneys also told KOCO 5 that they had been flooded with questions about the bill.

On June 28, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction that halts House Bill 4156 while legal action against it continues.

Click here to read the full text.

See the full list of Oklahoma bills that go into law on July 1 below.