Req. No. 12978 Page 1 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
STATE OF OKLAHOMA
1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR
HOUSE BILL NO. 1493 By: Rosecrants
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
An Act relating to schools; creating the Growing
Minds, Active Kids Act; declaring legislative intent;
providing definitions; requiring school districts to
incorporate thirty minutes of daily recess for
certain grades; encouraging thirty minutes of daily
recess for certain grades; establishing daily recess
requirements; specifying compliance for students with
disabilities; providing an exemption; providing for
codification; 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 11 -103.9c 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 "Growing
Minds, Active Kids Act ".
B. It is the intention of the Oklahoma State Legislature
through this act to focus on daily recess as essential for students
as it provides a necessary break from academic work, allowing
students to recharge both mentally and physically. Physical
Req. No. 12978 Page 2 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
activity during recess helps improve focus, reduce stress, and
support overall physical health. It also encourages social
interaction where children learn important skills like teamwork,
conflict resolution, and communication. By giving students adequate
time to play and unwind, recess fosters better behavior in the
classroom and enhances students ' ability to concentrate and learn
effectively.
C. As used in this section:
1. "Daily recess" means a scheduled break or breaks during the
school day that will allow students to engage in unstructured free
play or physical activity ;
2. "District board of education" means the governing board of
each school district in Oklahoma ; and
3. "Physical activity" means any bodily movement that uses
energy and is produced by skeletal muscles.
D. School districts shall incorporate physical activity into
the school day by providing at least thirty (30) minutes for daily
recess to students in full -day prekindergarten, kindergarten, and
grades one through five. For grades six through ei ght, at least
thirty (30) minutes for daily recess is strongly recommended. Each
district board of education shall establish the timing of the daily
recess. The daily recess required by this subsection may be broken
up into segments that best fit the sch edules of each school
district.
Req. No. 12978 Page 3 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
1. The daily recess provided for in this section shall be in
addition to the weekly sixty (60) minute physical education
requirements set forth in subsections B and C of Section 11-103.9 of
Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes .
2. The daily recess shall occur outside the school building
unless weather or other conditions require it to occur inside.
3. For students with disabilities, the daily recess shall
comply with the individualized education program (IEP) or Section
504 plan of the student.
4. Virtual charter schools shall be exempt from the
requirements of this section.
SECTION 2. 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.
60-1-12978 SW 02/26/25