Req. No. 1600 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 SENATE BILL 942 By: Thompson COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE An Act relating to education; defining terms; prohibiting discrimination on certain basis against students or employees in an institution of higher education or public school; prohibiting persons from being excluded, denied benefits, or discriminated against on certain basis; prohibiting criteria for admission to an institution of higher education course or program from restricting access to certain persons; providing certain exceptions; directing certain services to be available to all students; directing all education programs, activities, and opportunities offered by institutions of higher education and public schools to be made available without certain discrimination; directing institutions of higher education and public schools to integrate certain definition into certain codes of conduct; prohibiting certain conduct; directing institutions of highe r education and public schools to treat certain harassment and discrimination in certain manner; encouraging institutions of higher education and public schools to incorporate certain training and integrate certain curriculum; directing the State Department of Education and the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to designate certain coordinator; prescribing duties of coordinator; providing for written notice to address certain complaint within certain time period; providing for certain findings to be reported to certain departments; directing submission of annual report; providing for contents of report; providing certain construction; providing for codification; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency. Req. No. 1600 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 BE IT ENACTED BY THE P EOPLE 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. As used in this section: 1. “Antisemitism” has the same meaning as provided for by the International Holocaust Remembr ance Alliance Working Definition of Antisemitism, including its contemporary examples, as it was adopted on May 26, 2016; 2. “Institution of higher edu cation” means an institution of higher education within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education; and 3. “Public school” shall have the same meaning as provided for in Section 1-106 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes. B. Discrimination on the basi s of race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, disability, religion, or marital status against a student or an employee in an institution of hig her education or a public school in this state shall be prohibited. No person in this state shall, on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, disability, religion, or marital status, be excluded from participating in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any institution of higher education or public Req. No. 1600 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 school program or activity or in any employment conditions or practices conducted by an institution of higher education or a public school that receives or benefits fro m federal or state financial assistance. C. The criteria for admission to a program or course at an institution of higher education shall not have the effect of restricting access by persons of a particular race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, disability, religion, or marital status; provided, this shall not infringe upon the rights of student faith - based organizations and ethnic solidarity organizations to select leadership committed to their group ’s mission and principles. D. All institution of higher education and public school classes shall be available to all students without regard to race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, disability, religion, or marital status. Provided, however, the provisions of this subsection shall not prohibit the provision of programs designed to meet the needs of students with limited proficiency in English, gifted students, or students with disabilities or programs tailored to students with specialized talents or skills. E. Guidance, counseling, and financial assistance services in institutions of higher education and public schools shall be available to all students equally and prov ided in the same manner regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, disability, religion, or marital status. Req. No. 1600 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 F. All education programs, activities, and opportunities offered by institutions of higher education and public schools shall be made available without discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, disability, religio n, or marital status. SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 24 -163 of Title 70, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: A. Institutions of higher education and public schools shall integrate the definition of antisemitism provided for in Section 1 of this act into their student, faculty, and employe e codes of conduct. Prohibited conduct as it specifically relates to antisemitism shall include harassm ent and discrimination against Jews in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and antidiscrimination regulations provided by the Unite d States Department of Education and the United States Department of Justice. B. Institutions of higher education and public schools shall treat harassment of or discrimination against students or employees or resulting from institutional policies or prog rams on their campuses motivated by or including antisemitic intent in an identical manner to discrimina tion motivated by race. C. All institutions of higher education and public schools are encouraged to: Req. No. 1600 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. Incorporate antisemitism awareness training f or all students, faculty, administrators, and campus police; 2. Integrate Jewish American heritage curriculum for students that incorporates Jewish experiences in the United States of America pre- and post-revolution, pre- and post-World War II and the Holocaust, and in modern times; and 3. Place reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions on speech to ensure order and protect the rights of all students. D. 1. The State Department of Education shall designate a Title VI coordinator dedicated to moni toring antisemitic discrimination and harassment in public schools in this state. All public schools shall electronically report incidents and complaints of antisemitic discrimination and harassment to the Title VI coordinator. The Title VI Coordinator s hall establish, maintain, and publicize a formal reporting process whereby students, parents, staff, and faculty can submit complaints of ant isemitic discrimination and harassment. 2. The Title VI coordinator designated pursuant to paragraph 1 of this subsection shall thoroughly investigate all submitted complaints. If after a reasonable investigation a Title VI coordinator determines that a public school has engaged in, allowed, or not sufficiently prohibited antisemitic discrimination, the State Department of Education shall provide written notice to the public Req. No. 1600 Page 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 school to address the complaint within thirt y (30) days of receiving the notice. 3. If the Title VI coordinator determines that the public school has not taken the necessary actions to address th e complaint within thirty (30) days of receiving the notice, the Department shall report its findings to the United States Department of Education and the United States Department of Justice by making a complaint under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1 964. E. 1. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall designate a Title VI coordinator dedi cated to monitoring antisemitic discrimination and harassment in institutions of higher education in this state. All institutions of higher education s hall electronically report incidents and complaints of antisemitic discrimination and harassment to the Title VI coordinator. 2. The Title VI coordinator designated pursuant to paragraph 1 of this subsection shall thoroughly investigate all submitted complaints. If after a reasonable investigation a Title VI coordinator determines that an institution of hi gher education has engaged in, allowed, or not sufficiently prohibited antisemitic discrimination, the State Regents shall provide written notice to the institution of higher education to address the complaint within thirty (30) days of receiving the notice. 3. If the Title VI coordinator determines that the institution of higher education has not taken the necessary actions to address Req. No. 1600 Page 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 the complaint within thirty (30) days of receiving the notice, the State Regents shall report their findings to the United States Department of Education and t he United States Department of Justice by making a complaint under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. F. No later than June 30, 2026, and June 30 each subsequent year, the Title VI coordinators designated pursuant to paragraph 1 of subsections D and E of this section shall electronically submit to the Legislature a report on antisemitism in institutions of higher education and public schools. G. The Legislature is encouraged to conduct hearings and/or investigations to assess if institutions are ad equately addressing antisemitic harassment and discrimination; if not, the Legislature should consider reducing or eliminating state funding to such institutions. SECTION 3. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 24 -164 of Title 70, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: A. Nothing in this act shall be construed to diminish or infringe upon any right protected under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution or Section 22 of Article II of the Oklahoma Constitution. B. Nothing in this act shall be construed to con flict with federal or state discrimination laws. Req. No. 1600 Page 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 SECTION 4. This act shall become effective July 1, 2025. SECTION 5. 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. 60-1-1600 EB 2/19/2025 5:36:15 PM