School employees; minimum salary schedule increase; support employees wage increase; effective date; emergency.
Summary
HB1112 would raise pay for Oklahoma school employees beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. For certified personnel, the bill updates the state minimum salary schedule with higher base salaries across experience levels and degree/certification categories, including additional schedules for teachers with National Board Certification and advanced degrees. It also requires that certain certified employees who were already paid above the prior minimum schedule receive a salary increase equal to the new step amount, so long as they remain in the same district and their hours or duties are not reduced proportionately.
The bill also increases wages for support employees by requiring each school district to provide a 6% wage increase over the employee’s 2024-2025 base pay, with prorated treatment for part-time or full-time-equivalent workers. New support employees would start at a salary reflecting that same 6% increase over the prior year’s starting salary for the position. The measure applies similar step-based salary increases to classroom instructional employees in technology center districts, correctional teachers and vocational instructors, and teachers employed by the State Department of Rehabilitation Services, and it includes an emergency clause and July 1, 2025 effective date.
Impact
HB1112 would amend Oklahoma’s school salary statutes, primarily 70 O.S. Section 18-114.15 and Section 6-101.42, by increasing the state minimum salary schedule for certified personnel and mandating a 6% wage increase for support employees. It also clarifies how fringe benefits and retirement-related compensation interact with the minimum salary schedule, preserves credit for certain out-of-state, out-of-country, military, and specialized public-service teaching experience, and requires notice when retirement benefits would reduce a teacher’s salary below the minimum schedule. The bill would affect public school districts, technology center districts, correctional education staff, juvenile affairs teachers, and rehabilitation services teachers, and could require state funding adjustments for districts that do not receive Foundation or Salary Incentive Aid.
Sentiment
The available context suggests the bill is framed as a compensation increase for school employees and is generally supportive of educators and support staff. There are no recorded committee transcripts or votes in the provided materials, so there is no direct evidence of opposition or amendment debate. The bill’s introduction and referral to the Appropriations and Budget Education Subcommittee indicate it was still in the early legislative process when the provided status was recorded.
Contention
The main likely points of contention are fiscal rather than policy-based: the higher minimum salary schedule and mandatory 6% support-staff raise would increase district payroll costs and may require additional state funding. Another possible issue is the bill’s treatment of fringe benefits and retirement contributions, since it allows retirement benefits to count toward the minimum salary schedule in some circumstances but requires notice if that would reduce salary below the statutory minimum. The bill also limits state salary credit for military or out-of-state/out-of-country teaching experience to five years, which could be debated by affected employees and districts.
Education; length of school year; extending amount of classroom instruction time; minimum salary schedule; adding years of experience to minimum salary amounts; effective date; emergency.