OklahomaOklahoma school districts provide paid bereavement leave
Oklahoma school districts provide teachers and support employees three paid days after a spouse’s or child’s death, including miscarriage.
What it does
Oklahoma school districts provide teachers and support employees three paid days off after a spouse’s or child’s death, including a miscarriage. More generous local leave policies remain in place.
School districts may seek state reimbursement for paid bereavement leave they provide to eligible employees. They must file claims, and payment depends on approved claims and money appropriated to the fund.
Argument forTeachers and support employees could take paid time to grieve after a spouse’s or child’s death, including a miscarriage.
Argument againstDistricts may have to cover paid leave costs if reimbursement claims are not approved or the fund cannot cover them.
More detail
Each school district must provide three paid days off following a covered death. This applies to teachers and support employees in every Oklahoma school district, after the death of an employee’s spouse or child; miscarriage is included. Miscarriage leave is in addition to, and does not replace, sick leave for miscarriage and recovery. Locally negotiated policies that provide more leave remain in place. The leave follows the death.
The State Board of Education may reimburse districts for eligible paid bereavement leave expenses from the revolving fund. This covers school districts seeking reimbursement for paid bereavement leave provided to eligible employees. Districts must file reimbursement claims with the State Board of Education. Payment is made against claims approved under law and depends on money appropriated to the fund. The text says the act takes effect July 1, 2026, and its emergency clause 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: 91 Nays: 1Major
- May 6Coauthored by Representative(s) West (Tammy)
- May 6General Order
- Apr 23CR; Do Pass Appropriations and Budget CommitteeMinor
- Apr 21
- Vote recorded Appropriations And Budget Committee: Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 13Recommendation to the full committee; Do Pass Appropriations and Budget Education SubcommitteeMinor
- Apr 6
- Vote recorded Appropriations And Budget Education Subcommittee: Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 2Referred to Appropriations and Budget Education SubcommitteeMinor
- Mar 31Second Reading referred to Appropriations and BudgetMinor
- Mar 30First ReadingMinor
- Mar 30Engrossed to HousePassed House
- Mar 26Referred for engrossment
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 26Measure and Emergency passed: Ayes: 40 Nays: 0Passed Senate
- Mar 26Title restored
- Mar 26General Order, Amended
- Mar 2Placed on General Order
- Feb 25Reported Do Pass as amended Appropriations committee; CR filedMinor
- Vote recorded Appropriations. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 17Referred to AppropriationsMinor
- Vote recorded Education. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 17Title stricken
- Feb 17Reported Do Pass as amended Education committee; CR filedMinor
- Feb 3Second Reading referred to Education Committee then to Appropriations CommitteeMinor
- Feb 2Coauthored by Representative Gise (principal House author)
- Feb 2Authored by Senator Mann
- Feb 2First ReadingIntroduced
Education