OKLAHOMA CITY (OBV) — Several bills identified as priorities by the state’s business community advanced in the 60th Oklahoma Legislature after clearing the Oklahoma House on recent floor votes, including measures addressing research and development rebate oversight, state incentive evaluation standards, and reading interventions in early grades.
Research and development rebate oversight (SB 1530)
Senate Bill 1530 would require the Oklahoma Department of Commerce to verify application information before approving payments through the Oklahoma Research and Development Rebate Fund, placing additional verification duties on the agency tied to the rebate program.
The House passed SB 1530 58-27.
Incentive evaluation and reporting standards (SB 1990)
Senate Bill 1990 updates the state’s incentive evaluation framework by modifying what must be considered in the estimate of economic and fiscal impact for incentive reviews and adds a filing requirement with the Secretary of State for incentive evaluation reports.
The House passed SB 1990 88-4.
Strong Readers Act changes (SB 1778)
Senate Bill 1778 revises the Strong Readers Act, including directing the State Board of Education to approve one screening instrument (instead of multiple) beginning in the 2026-27 school year, and it outlines transitional instruction requirements and a path toward third-grade retention for students who do not meet reading benchmarks, with an emergency clause in the measure.
The House passed SB 1778 87-5, and also approved the emergency clause on the same vote line.
“Before third grade, students learn to read. After third grade, they read to learn. When that transition does not happen, the consequences compound quickly and follow students for life,” said House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow and author of the bill. “ We want to talk about career pathways and dream jobs for our students, but our children will be perpetually underemployed if they cannot read. I am proud of the House members who supported this important legislation today and I believe we will look back to this moment years from now and know this is when we made the decision to do better for all Oklahoma students.”
What’s next
After House passage, Senate bills generally return to the Senate for final procedural steps (including enrollment) and, if amended, for Senate consideration of House changes before heading to the governor.
