OklahomaOklahoma law lets colleges charge fees for some campus events
Oklahoma law lets public colleges charge neutral security fees for some permitted events and requires first-year students to complete free speech training.
What it does
Colleges may charge students or student groups a security fee for some permitted events. They must use neutral criteria and publish them online.
A college may discipline a student for harassment only when the expression meets the law’s definition and effectively denies another student equal access to education.
First-year students, including transfer and graduate students, must complete free speech training. Colleges may offer their own version through the stated review process.
Argument forPublished, message-neutral fee rules could help students and groups know when colleges may charge for event security.
Argument againstSecurity fees could make some permitted campus events harder for students or groups to afford.
More detail
Public colleges may charge a security fee for some permitted expressive activities. The fee may be charged to a student or student group applying for a permit for an expressive activity. A fee cannot depend on the event’s message, an invited guest’s message, or the reaction the event may draw. Colleges must use neutral criteria, such as the event’s time or location, expected audience size, or whether alcohol will be served, and publish those criteria online.
Public colleges may not discipline a student’s expression as harassment unless it meets the law’s definition. This rule applies to student expression at a public college. The expression must be unwelcome, severe, widespread, and offensive by both personal and reasonable standards, and must effectively deny a student equal access to educational opportunities or benefits.
The Oklahoma Free Speech Committee must develop free speech training for students, and covered students must complete it. Students in their first year at an institution in the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education must complete the training, including transfer and graduate students. The training must cover protected speech, college rules, and key limits on speech. A college may develop its own training if it follows the law and gets a recommendation for approval from the Committee to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. The act states a July 1, 2026 effective date and also says it takes effect after passage and approval.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 13Approved by Governor Kevin Stitt 05/12/2026Became Law
- May 6Sent to GovernorTo Governor
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 6Signed, returned to Senate
- May 6Enrolled, to House
- May 6Referred for enrollment
- May 6Signed, returned to Senate
- May 6Third Reading, Measure and Emergency passed: Ayes: 78 Nays: 15Major
- May 6Coauthored by Representative(s) Hill
- May 6General Order
- Apr 13CR; Do Pass Education Oversight CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded Education Oversight Committee: Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 7Policy recommendation to the Education Oversight committee; Do Pass Postsecondary EducationMinor
- Vote recorded Postsecondary Education Committee: Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 30Referred to Postsecondary EducationMinor
- Mar 30Second Reading referred to Education OversightMinor
- Mar 26First ReadingMinor
- Mar 26Engrossed to HousePassed House
- Mar 25Referred for engrossment
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Advance. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 25Measure and Emergency passed: Ayes: 40 Nays: 7Passed Senate
- Mar 25Ayes: 32 Nays: 11
- Mar 25Advanced to Third Reading
- Mar 25General Order, Considered
- Feb 19Placed on General Order
- Feb 17Reported Do Pass Education committee; CR filedMinor
- Vote recorded Education. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 12Coauthored by Representative Moore (principal House author)
- Feb 3Coauthored by Senator Daniels
- Feb 3Remove as author Senator Daniels; authored by Senator Seifried
- Feb 3Second Reading referred to EducationMinor
- Feb 2Authored by Senator Daniels
- Feb 2First ReadingIntroduced
EducationCivil Rights & Voting