Oklahoma 2025 Regular Session

Oklahoma Senate Bill SB788 Latest Draft

Bill / Introduced Version Filed 01/15/2025

                             
 
 
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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”.   
 
 
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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;   
 
 
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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   
 
 
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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   
 
 
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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