Oklahoma Senate passes 'historic' education funding, parental choice tax credits

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (KOKH) — School choice expansion in Oklahoma is still a possibility after some drama at the state capitol.

The Oklahoma Senate made certain amendments to the House's education plans after threats from House Speaker Charles McCall (R-Atoka) that any changes would kill the bills.

On Tuesday, the House Speaker explained that, "If they [the Senate] send it back amended, I mean the, the bill's dead."

That outlook changed on Thursday, however.

During a Parent Power Rally at the state capitol, the House Speaker told FOX 25, "There's some room to talk on the various components, but at the end of the day the plan must include for every student, every parent, every teacher, and every school."

HB 1935, the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit Act, passed the Senate on Thursday. The bill would allow for $7,500 tax credits for each student in a household for private school tuition, or a $1,000 for approved expenses for homeschooling.

During a press conference on Thursday afternoon, Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat (R-Oklahoma City) shared that, "I'd love for them [the House] to pass it as-is to the governor's desk. I think they're both excellent pieces of legislation."

The Senate also approved HB 2775 on Thursday, which senate leadership described as the single-largest investment in education in Oklahoma history.

The bill would institute pay raises for educators— both raising the minimum teacher pay and introducing merit-based pay incentives— and maternity leave for teachers.

During remarks on the Senate floor, Sen. Adam Pugh (R-Edmond) expressed, "To the Speaker of the House, and the governor, I'm praying for you. Praying that your heart will be softened," sharing his hope that the House Speaker lets the bills move forward.

These bills now head over to a house committee hearing.