The bill amends the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program to broaden eligibility for students seeking higher education. It includes students who have received education from technology center schools and those in the custody of private nonprofit child-placing agencies or federally recognized Indian tribes. The definition of a parent for children of certified teachers is updated, and the income requirement for students in custody of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services is removed. Additionally, the bill mandates that the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education verify that teachers hold the necessary certifications and clarifies how employment is computed for eligibility.

Furthermore, the bill adjusts financial need criteria based on parents' federal adjusted gross income, establishing specific income thresholds that vary by the number of dependent children and the year of application. It allows students adopted while in custody to qualify based on financial need and raises the age limit for program participation from seventeen to eighteen years. The bill also ensures that students educated outside of public or private schools can participate. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, with an emergency clause for immediate enforcement upon passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 70-2603, 70-2605