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STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2nd Session of the 60th Legislature (2026)
SENATE BILL 1336 By: Thompson
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to education; creating the Oklahoma
Veterans Higher Education Access Act; providing short
title; defining terms; providing a waiver of tuition
and fees at certain institutions; providing a waiver
of tuition at certain technology center schools;
providing for calculation of waiver amount; providing
for use of waivers; requiring exhaustion of certain
federal benefits first; directing the Legislature to
annually provide certain funding amount, subject to
availability; providing for promulgation of rules;
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 3234 of Title 70, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Oklahoma
Veterans Higher Education Access Act”.
B. As used in this act:
1. “Eligible institution” means an institution of higher
education within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education; and
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2. “Eligible veteran” means a resident of this state who served
in the United States Armed Forces, who was granted an honorable
discharge or a general discharge under honorable conditions, and who
has a service-connected disability rated at sixty percent (60%) or
more by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or the
United States Armed Forces.
C. An eligible veteran shall be eligible for a waiver of:
1. Undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees at an eligible
institution in an amount calculated pursuant to subsection D of this
section; or
2. Tuition at a technology center school under the governance
of the State Board of Career and Technology Education in an amount
calculated pursuant to subsection D of this section.
D. The waiver amount shall be:
1. For an eligible veteran with a service-connected disability
rated at sixty percent (60%):
a. fifty percent (50%) of the undergraduate tuition and
mandatory fees at an eligible institution, or
b. fifty percent (50%) of the tuition at a technology
center school;
2. For an eligible veteran with a service-connected disability
rated at seventy percent (70%):
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a. seventy-five percent (75%) of the undergraduate
tuition and mandatory fees at an eligible institution,
or
b. seventy-five percent (75%) of the tuition at a
technology center school;
3. For an eligible veteran with a service-connected disability
rated at eighty percent (80%):
a. eighty percent (80%) of the undergraduate tuition and
mandatory fees at an eligible institution, or
b. eighty percent (80%) of the tuition at a technology
center school;
4. For an eligible veteran with a service-connected disability
rated at ninety percent (90%) or total disability based on
individual unemployability:
a. ninety percent (90%) of the undergraduate tuition and
mandatory fees at an eligible institution, or
b. ninety percent (90%) of the tuition at a technology
center school; or
5. For an eligible veteran with a service-connected disability
rated at one hundred percent (100%) or permanent and total
disability:
a. one hundred percent (100%) of the undergraduate
tuition and mandatory fees at an eligible institution,
or
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b. one hundred percent (100%) of the tuition at a
technology center school.
E. A waiver granted pursuant to this section shall only be used
for:
1. Undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees at an eligible
institution not to exceed one hundred fifty (150) credit hours. A
waiver allowed by this section shall not be used for remedial or
noncredit-earning courses, courses taken in excess of the
requirements for completion of an undergraduate program, textbooks,
room, or board; or
2. Tuition at a technology center school for a career and
technology program leading to certification or licensure, not to
exceed three (3) years.
F. An eligible veteran seeking a waiver pursuant to this
section who is eligible for federal education benefits shall exhaust
all such federal benefits first.
G. Subject to the availability of funding, the Legislature
shall annually provide the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
Education and the State Board of Career and Technology Education a
funding amount equal to the waivers granted pursuant to this
section.
H. The State Regents and the State Board of Career and
Technology Education shall promulgate rules to implement the
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provisions of this section. The rules shall include, but not be
limited to:
1. Establishment of application requirements and deadlines; and
2. Procedures to verify an eligible veteran’s service-connected
disability rating.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2026.
SECTION 3. 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.
60-2-2495 EB 12/30/2025 8:53:24 AM