Schools; requiring certain amount of funds to be allocated from the School Security Revolving Fund, subject to availability. Effective date. Emergency.
Summary
SB1189 amends Oklahoma’s School Security Revolving Fund law to direct a set amount of money from the fund to public school districts for school security purposes. The bill keeps the fund as a continuing revolving fund in the State Treasury and authorizes it to be used by the State Department of Education for school resource officer programs and for physical security improvements such as cameras, gates, lighting, locks, doors, windows, geofencing, ballistic storm shelters, and mobile panic alert systems.
The main change made by the bill is to require, subject to available funding, up to $50 million each fiscal year to be allocated from the fund and divided equally among all public school districts in Oklahoma for three fiscal years beginning July 1, 2026. The bill also removes the prior expenditure limitation language and states that the money must supplement, not replace, existing school security funding. It includes an effective date of July 1, 2026, and an emergency clause so it can take effect immediately upon passage and approval.
Impact
SB1189 would amend 70 O.S. Supp. 2025, Section 5-148.2, governing the School Security Revolving Fund, by changing how money in the fund is allocated and spent. It would require the State Department of Education to distribute fund money equally to every public school district for school security-related uses over a three-year period, while preserving the fund’s existing authorized purposes and continuing appropriation structure. The bill affects the State Department of Education, public school districts, and the state treasury administration of the revolving fund.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have generally favorable support, especially around the goal of improving school safety. It passed the Senate Education Committee 9-1, the Senate Appropriations Committee 20-2, and the House Appropriations and Budget Education Subcommittee 7-0, and it advanced on the Senate floor with a strong majority. The committee transcript shows no substantive debate at final passage, with the author waiving debate, suggesting broad agreement on the measure’s purpose.
Contention
The main point of potential contention is not whether school security funding is desirable, but how the money should be distributed and whether a fixed annual allocation is the best approach. The bill requires equal distribution among all public school districts, which may be viewed as limiting flexibility for districts with greater security needs or different enrollment sizes. The phrase "subject to available funding" also leaves room for concern about whether the full $50 million annual target can actually be met. The lone committee and floor nays indicate some opposition, but the available record does not show detailed objections.