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ENGROSSED SENATE
BILL NO. 1262 By: Gillespie of the Senate
and
May of the House
An Act relating to education; providing certain
tuition waiver for certain individuals who are
victims of certain offenses; limiting use of waiver
for certain time period; directing certain amount to
be awarded by allocation from the Oklahoma Higher
Learning Access Trust Fund; directing tuition waivers
to be awarded based on available funding and the
number of eligible students; providing for
promulgation of rules; amending 70 O.S. 2021, Section
3953.1, as amended by Section 4, Chapter 330, O.S.L.
2024 (70 O.S. Supp. 2025, Section 3953.1), which
relates to the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Trust
Fund; expanding use of fund for certain purpose;
updating statutory references; updating statutory
language; providing for codification; providing an
effective date; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 3218.7-2 of Title 70, unless
there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. An individual who was a victim of human trafficking for
commercial sex or human trafficking for labor, as such terms are
defined in Section 748 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes, who was
under the age of eighteen (18) and a resident of this state and a
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citizen of the United States at the time of the offense shall be
eligible for a waiver of:
1. Undergraduate resident tuition at an institution of higher
education within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education; or
2. Tuition at a technology center school under the governance
of the State Board of Career and Technology Education.
B. A tuition waiver provided for in subsection A of this
section shall be limited to five (5) years.
C. Subject to the availability of funds, an amount equivalent
to the nonguaranteed resident tuition at an institution of higher
education within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education or
the tuition for a career and technology program at a technology
center school under the governance of the State Board of Career and
Technology Education in which an eligible student is enrolled shall
be awarded by allocation from the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access
Trust Fund created pursuant to Section 3953.1 of Title 70 of the
Oklahoma Statutes. Tuition waivers granted pursuant to the
provisions of this section shall be awarded to all eligible students
without limitation other than the amount of funds available and the
number of eligible students.
D. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the
State Board of Career and Technology Education shall promulgate
rules to implement the provisions of this section including, but not
limited to, tuition waiver application requirements and a process
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for verifying eligibility for a tuition waiver with the Office of
the Attorney General.
SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 3953.1, as
amended by Section 4, Chapter 330, O.S.L. 2024 (70 O.S. Supp. 2025,
Section 3953.1), is amended to read as follows:
Section 3953.1. A. There is hereby created a trust fund to be
known as the “Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Trust Fund”. The
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall be the trustees of
the Trust Fund.
B. The State Regents shall utilize the Trust Fund to implement
the provisions of Sections 2601 through 2605 of this title and,
Sections 1 2501 through 3 2503 of this act title, and Section 1 of
this act.
C. The Trust Fund principal shall consist of monies the
Legislature appropriates or transfers to the Oklahoma State Regents
for Higher Education for the Trust Fund and any monies or assets
contributed to the Trust Fund from any other source, public or
private. All monies accruing to the credit of the fund are hereby
appropriated and may be budgeted and expended by the State Regents.
Expenditures from the fund shall be made upon warrants issued by the
State Treasurer against claims filed as prescribed by law with the
Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services for
approval and payment.
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D. Notwithstanding other provisions of law, income and
investment return on Trust Fund principal shall accrue to the Trust
Fund for use as provided by authorization of the trustees for the
purposes provided in Sections 2601 through 2605 of this title and,
Sections 1 2501 through 3 2503 of this act title, and Section 1 of
this act. The State Regents may also utilize the Trust Fund
principal for the purposes provided in Sections 2601 through 2605 of
this title and, Sections 1 2501 through 3 2503 of this act title,
and Section 1 of this act. Except as otherwise provided by law, no
such income or investment return or principal shall be used for
administrative expenses; expenses incurred by the State Regents in
the administration of the Trust Fund and of the Oklahoma Higher
Learning Access Program established by the Oklahoma Higher Learning
Access Act and, the Oklahoma Access and Achievement Program
established by the Oklahoma Access and Achievement Act, and the
tuition waiver established by Section 1 of this act shall be paid
from monies appropriated to the State Regents coordinating board for
their general operating budget.
E. The State Regents shall adopt rules for accomplishing
transfer of funds from the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Trust
Fund to the appropriate institutional Educational and General
Operations Revolving Funds, as provided in Section 3901 of this
title, to private institutions, and to the appropriate technology
center school district districts to cover general enrollment fees or
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tuition for eligible students pursuant to the Oklahoma Higher
Learning Access Act and the Oklahoma Access and Achievement Act and
to cover tuition for eligible students pursuant to Section 1 of this
act. Allocations from the Trust Fund may be made only for the
purpose of covering the general enrollment fees or tuition of
eligible students. No portion of the Trust Fund may be used or
allocated for administrative or operating expenses of any higher
education institution or technology center school.
SECTION 3. This act shall become effective July 1, 2026.
SECTION 4. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
of the public peace, health, or safety, an emergency is hereby
declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
Passed the Senate the 25th day of March, 2026.
Presiding Officer of the Senate
Passed the House of Representatives the ____ day of __________,
2026.
Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives