Okla. Education Bill Moves One Step Closer To Being Law

After weeks of back and forth between the chambers over education issues, it looks like they're one step closer to a compromise. The House passed the Senate's tax credit bill and is now calling on the Senate to pass something to help rural Oklahoma.

This was one of the bills that the Senate gutted last week and replaced with their education plans. Instead of an income cap which was part of the original Senate plan- this newest bill has income brackets.

School Choice Tax Credit Bracket

1. $75,000 or less a year: up to a $7,500 credit
2. $75,000- $150,000 a year: up to a $7,000.00 credit
3. $150,000- $225,000 a year: up to a $6,500 credit
4. $225,000- $250,000 a year: up to a $6,000 credit
5. $250,000 + a year: up to a $5,000 credit

The bill does have a spending cap though, that will increase over the first three years.

Total expenses: Private School Tax credits

1. 2025: Should cost the state no more than $150 million
2. 2026: Should cost the state no more than $200 million
3. 2027: should cost the state no more than $250 million

Democrats criticize the bill saying it will just give more money to wealthy families in the state.

“Give a tax credit to parents who already chose, so maybe this is a parents choice measure, not a parents choice measure,” said Rep. John Walron (D-Tulsa).

“I will gladly vote yes, and say Senate- couple this thing with something for rural Oklahoma,” said Rep. Jon Echols (R-OKC).

After passing the tax credit, the House rejected Senate amendments made to a bill last week that would have implemented a minimum pay scale and pay raise for teachers.

The tax credit bill is now sitting in the House of Representatives until they decide to send it to the governor’s desk. The speaker could also hold the bill as they negotiate with the Senate regarding teacher pay and public school funding bills.