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SENATE FLOOR VERSION - SB1538 SFLR Page 1
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SENATE FLOOR VERSION
February 9, 2026
SENATE BILL NO. 1538 By: Pugh
An Act relating to driver licenses; requiring Service
Oklahoma to deny certain licenses to certain persons
who do not provide certain documentation; providing
for certain written statement by parent or legal
guardian; providing for certain written statement by
employer; requiring certain school officers to
provide certain documentation; requiring Service
Oklahoma to create certain documentation forms and
certificates; requiring persons under certain age to
demonstrate certain reading proficiency to apply for
certain license; establishing criteria to establish
certain reading proficiency; allowing for
verification for certain reading proficiency test
taken in another state; providing for codification;
and providing an effective date.
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 6-107.8 of Title 47, unless
there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. Service Oklahoma shall deny a license, restricted license,
or instruction permit for the operation of a motor vehicle to any
person under eighteen (18) years of age who does not, at the time of
application, present documentation:
1. That such person:
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a. is a student enrolled in a public or private secondary
school, including any technology center school, of
this state or any other state,
b. has received a diploma or certificate of completion
from a secondary school of this state or any other
state,
c. is enrolled and making satisfactory progress in a
program leading to a certificate of high school
equivalency issued by the State Department of
Education, or has obtained such certificate,
d. is excused from such requirement pursuant to an excuse
provided in Section 10-105 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma
Statutes or due to circumstances beyond the control of
such person, or
e. is excused from such requirement pursuant to
subsection C of this section; and
2. That such person has successfully passed the criterion-
referenced reading test required for all eighth-grade students or an
alternative reading proficiency test approved by the State
Department of Education, pursuant to the provisions of Section 2 of
this act, demonstrating reading proficiency at the eighth-grade
reading level, unless such student is excused from such requirement
pursuant to the provisions of Section 2 of this act.
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When school is not in regular session, as established by the
school district pursuant to Section 1-109 of Title 70 of the
Oklahoma Statutes, a person under eighteen (18) years of age may
satisfy the documentation requirement of this subsection by
providing a notarized written statement from and signed by the legal
custodial parent or legal guardian of such person to Service
Oklahoma stating that such person completed the immediately previous
school year and is enrolled or intends to enroll for the immediately
subsequent school year.
B. 1. A person under eighteen (18) years of age who is
receiving education by other means, including education at home
pursuant to Section 4 of Article XIII of the Oklahoma Constitution,
shall satisfy the documentation requirement of paragraph 1 of
subsection A of this section by providing a written statement from
and signed by the legal custodial parent or legal guardian of such
person to Service Oklahoma stating that such person is receiving
instruction by other means pursuant to Section 4 of Article XIII of
the Oklahoma Constitution.
2. Any person who falsifies the information required in such
documentation shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor.
C. 1. A person under eighteen (18) years of age who does not
meet the requirements of subparagraphs a through c of paragraph 1 of
subsection A of this section or the requirements of subsection B of
this section may retain or be issued a driver license if:
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a. the person is employed at least twenty-four (24) hours
per week, and
b. the employer of such person verifies the employment on
a form prescribed by Service Oklahoma.
2. Any person who has retained or been issued a driver license
pursuant to this subsection who leaves such employment shall have
fifteen (15) days from the date of termination of employment to
provide verification of employment from a new employer.
3. Any person who falsifies the information required in such
documentation shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor.
D. 1. School district attendance officers, upon request, shall
provide a documentation of enrollment status form, established and
approved by Service Oklahoma, to any person under eighteen (18)
years of age who is properly enrolled in a school for which the
attendance officer is responsible, for presentation to Service
Oklahoma upon application for or reinstatement of an instruction
permit, restricted license, or license to operate a motor vehicle.
2. Except as provided in subsection E of this section, whenever
a person over fourteen (14) years of age and under eighteen (18)
years of age, who has a driver license or permit issued by Service
Oklahoma, withdraws from school, the attendance officer shall notify
Service Oklahoma of such withdrawal through a documentation of
enrollment status form.
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3. Within fifteen (15) business days of the receipt of such
notice, Service Oklahoma shall provide written notice to such person
that his or her license will be canceled thirty (30) days following
the date such notice to the person was sent, unless documentation of
compliance with the provisions of this section is received by
Service Oklahoma before such time has elapsed. If such person does
not submit documentation demonstrating compliance with the
provisions of this section, Service Oklahoma shall cancel the
driving privileges of such person.
E. When the withdrawal from school of a person under eighteen
(18) years of age is:
1. Due to circumstances beyond the control of such person;
2. Pursuant to any lawful excuse; or
3. For the purpose of transfer to another school, including
education at home pursuant to Section 4 of Article XIII of the
Oklahoma Constitution, as confirmed in writing by the legal
custodial parent or legal guardian of such person,
no notice, as required by subsection D of this section, shall be
sent to Service Oklahoma or, if sent, such notice shall be
disregarded by Service Oklahoma. If such person is applying for a
license, restricted license, or instruction permit, the attendance
officer shall provide the person with documentation to present to
Service Oklahoma to excuse the person from the requirements of this
section.
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F. Every school district shall, upon request, provide
documentation of reading proficiency for any person under eighteen
(18) years of age enrolled in such school district by certifying
passage of a reading examination pursuant to the provisions of
Section 2 of this act.
G. The provisions of this section shall be inapplicable with
respect to any person under eighteen (18) years of age upon whom
rights of majority have been conferred pursuant to Sections 91
through 94 of Title 10 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
H. Service Oklahoma shall establish and approve documentation
forms and certificates required by this section for use by school
districts to comply with the provisions of this section.
SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1210.518 of Title 70, unless
there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. Pursuant to the provisions of paragraph 2 of subsection A of
Section 1 of this act, any person under eighteen (18) years of age
wishing to apply for a driver license or permit shall successfully
demonstrate a satisfactory reading ability at the eighth-grade
reading level by meeting the following criteria:
1. A student enrolled in a public school shall successfully
complete the reading portion of the statewide assessment
administered pursuant to Section 1210.508 of Title 70 of the
Oklahoma Statutes and that is offered in the eighth grade.
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Following the administration of this assessment in the eighth grade,
any student not successfully completing the reading portion shall be
assigned a plan of remedial reading;
2. Any student not successful in completing the reading portion
of the state assessment may take a comparable alternative reading
proficiency test, approved by the State Department of Education, in
order to satisfy the criteria for a driver license or permit.
Subsequent successful completion of an alternative reading
proficiency test shall serve to satisfy any retake requirement for
the reading portion of the state assessment in the eighth grade in
the Oklahoma School Testing Program;
3. School districts shall notify, in writing, each student who
takes the reading portion of the state assessment for the eighth
grade or who takes an alternative reading proficiency test and the
student’s legal custodial parent or legal guardian of the results.
If the student fails to perform satisfactorily on the test, the
notice shall inform the student of the reading proficiency driver
license requirement and the school’s remediation plan for the
student. Upon the student’s successful completion of the test, the
school shall furnish the student with the documentation needed for
the driver license application in this state; and
4. Unless alternatively documented according to the provisions
of subsection C of this section, students under eighteen (18) years
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of age shall successfully complete a reading proficiency test
approved by the State Department of Education.
B. Alternative reading proficiency tests shall be offered by
testing sites, which shall include the public schools at least four
times per calendar year, and may include any of the following that
choose to participate:
1. Technology center school districts;
2. Regional education service centers;
3. Colleges;
4. Accredited private schools; and
5. Other sites approved by the State Department of Education.
A student may take the test as often as wished, subject to the
provisions of this section. Testing sites shall provide the first
alternative reading proficiency test for each student at no cost to
the student. Students may be assessed a fee not to exceed Twenty-
five Dollars ($25.00) by the testing site for each subsequent
alternative reading proficiency test taken.
C. A school district shall provide for alternative
documentation of reading proficiency for the purposes of paragraph 2
of subsection A of Section 1 of this act for any student with an
individualized education program that, at a minimum, is in an area
related to reading. The alternative documentation shall be
furnished to such student who is performing satisfactorily in
reading pursuant to the individualized education program of the
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student. Parents of disabled students educated pursuant to the
provisions of Section 4 of Article XIII of the Oklahoma Constitution
may satisfy the requirement of paragraph 2 of subsection A of
Section 1 of this act by signing an affidavit that, based upon their
best information and belief, if their child was enrolled in public
school the child would qualify for an individualized education
program in an area related to reading and that, in their judgment,
their child is performing satisfactorily in reading and is therefore
academically qualified to satisfy the requirement of paragraph 2 of
subsection A of Section 1 of this act.
D. Any person under eighteen (18) years of age who has
previously successfully passed a reading proficiency test from
another state may submit the results of such test to the State
Department of Education for verification and approval. The State
Department of Education shall have thirty (30) days from the receipt
of such submitted results to verify that the reading proficiency
requirements from the other state are equivalent or comparable to
the reading proficiency requirements established for Oklahoma
students pursuant to this section. Upon verification and approval
by the State Department of Education, the Department shall furnish
such person with the documentation needed for the driver license
application in this state. If the reading proficiency documentation
submitted by the person is disapproved by the Department, the person
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may take an alterative reading proficiency test as provided for in
subsection B of this section.
SECTION 3. This act shall become effective November 1, 2026.
COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON AERONAUTICS AND TRANSPORTATION
February 9, 2026 - DO PASS