Req. No. 1103 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 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) SENATE BILL 788 By: Jett AS INTRODUCED An Act relating to students; creating the Students ’ Bill of Rights; providing short title; affording certain rights to students enrolled in public school districts or public charter schools; allowing a student or his or her parent or legal guardian to submit written demand for enforcement of certain rights; requiring response from school within certain time period; allowing an action to be br ought to enforce certain rights; providing for attorney fees; prohibiting an action from being brought for violation of certain right unless certain notification occurs; prohibiting an action from being brought prior to certain incident within certain time period; 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 24 -162 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 “Students’ Bill of Rights”. Req. No. 1103 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 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 B. A student enrolled in and attending a public school district or public charter school in this state shall be afforded the following rights: 1. The right to a safe learning environment including the right to be free from bullying and threatening behavior as defined in Section 24-100.3 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Stat utes; 2. The right to an unbiased education that does not endorse, favor, or promote socialism, communism, or Marxism and that is free from anti-American bias; 3. The right to an unbiased learning environment that includes , but is not limited to: a. the right to a classroom environment that is free from the display of flags or propaganda of any organization or symbol of socialism, communism, Marxism, or anti - American sentiment, and b. the right to attend or participate in school -sponsored or school-sanctioned events or activities that are free from the display of flags or propagand a that is paid for with public funds and that represent s any organization or symbol of socialism, communism, Marxism, or anti-American sentiment; 4. The right of self -defense if attacked on school property or during a school event; Req. No. 1103 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 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 5. The right to public and free expression of religion, speech, and peaceable assembly including , but not limited to: a. the right to participate or lead in voluntary prayer pursuant to the provisions of Section 11-101.1 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes, b. the right to observe one minute of silence each day pursuant to the provisions of Section 11 -101.2 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes, c. the right to read religious texts of his or her choosing during free time, and d. the right to an unbiased education that does not endorse, favor, promote, demean, show hostility toward, or intentionally undermine any particular religion or nonreligious faith or religious perspective; 6. The right to an appr opriate relationship with teachers and school employees that is free from acti ons that constitute a crime or an attempted crime under state statute; 7. The right to be free from the use of vulgar language directed toward other individuals by other student s, teachers, athletic coaches, and school district employees; 8. The right to have a parent, legal guardian, or legal counsel present if he or she is being questioned concerning potentially illegal conduct; and Req. No. 1103 Page 4 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 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 9. The right to be free from punishment or penalty at school or during school-related activities for lawfully exercising his or her rights or engaging in lawful conduct outside of school hours and outside of school property or school events. C. 1. A student or the parent or legal guardian of a st udent who believes the student ’s rights provided for in subsection B of this section have been violated may submit in writing a demand for enforcement of his or her rights. Within seven (7) business days of receipt of the demand, the school shall submit a response in writing admitting to or denying the allegation. 2. The student or the parent or legal guardian of the student may file an action to enforce the rights outlined in subsection B of this section. If the student or the parent or legal guardian o f the student is the prevailing party, the court shall award reasonable attorney fees. 3. An action may not be brought for a violation of the provisions of paragraph 1 of subsection B of this section unless a student or the parent or legal guardian of the student has notified the school of ongoing bullying or threatening behavior, the school has failed to address the bullying or threatening behavior by allowing the alleged bully to remain in contact with an alleged victim, and the continued bullying or thr eatening behavior rises to the level of continual harassment. An action may not be brought Req. No. 1103 Page 5 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 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 prior to a second or subsequent incident within twelve (12) calendar months. SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2025. 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. 60-1-1103 EB 1/15/2025 5:57:06 PM