Capitol Corner Update: 04.13.2026

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I. This Week at the Capitol

Things are moving quickly at the Capitol. With the FY 2027 budget agreement already moving through the process, the May 1 end date is looking increasingly likely, well ahead of the constitutional deadline of May 29. The general appropriations bill, SB 1177, has already cleared both chambers and is headed to Gov. Stitt. The bill increased education funding by $232.4 million, including a $2,000 teacher pay raise, nearly $80 million for literacy initiatives, and a COLA for retirees.
 
With the calendar compressed, the focus now shifts to getting priority legislation across the finish line. Two bills we are watching closely are HB 3885 and HB 2288. Please read more about them below. 

II. HB 3885, Bill to Stop Classroom Violence Faces Deadline

Nearly 80% of respondents in a recent POE survey said they support or strongly support the House Bill 3885.

Violent assaults against elementary school teachers are no longer rare incidents. In too many Oklahoma schools, teachers working with young children are being punched, kicked, choked, and threatened with alarming regularity. After such attacks, students and teachers too often find themselves placed back in the same situation the very next day, with little to no meaningful intervention. Though an attack may last only a few moments, the damage to students, teachers, and the learning environment persists.

At its core, the purpose of the bill is to ensure that serious violence in elementary schools is met with a clear, structured response rather than delay, inconsistency, or inaction. The bill establishes a straightforward disciplinary framework that gives school administrators repeated opportunities to intervene, address violent behavior, and correct it before it worsens. The bill does not dictate specifics, but ensures action is taken to protect our students, teachers, and school community.

To read more about the bill, please tap the button below. And please watch for our upcoming Action Alert to support HB 3885.

Read More Here

III. HB 2288 Is Back and Could Remove the Retiree Earnings Cap

Under current law, OTRS retirees must wait 60 days before returning to work in a public school, and once they do, they are subject to a 36-month earnings cap. HB 2288 aimed to change that.
 
The original version of the bill eliminated the 36-month earning cap for all retired teachers returning to the classroom after the 60-day waiting period. That is, HB 2288 would allow retired teachers to return to full-time teaching while drawing both a full salary and full retirement benefits after a 60-day waiting period.
 
Unfortunately, according to OTRS’s actuarial analysis, the original 60-day waiting period was simply too short, and would result in a $488 million in unfunded actuarial accrued liability (UAAL) to the fund. To mitigate this unfunded liability, the waiting period was extended to 6 months. According to OTRS, this change both protects the fund and allows for the cap to be eliminated.

It’s a trade-off. A six-month wait is longer than many would prefer, but it allows for the elimination of the 36-month earnings cap.

In the end, it’s a trade-off. A six-month wait is longer than many would prefer, but it allows for the elimination of the 36-month earnings cap.
 
If you have any questions or concerns about 2288, please let us know.

Sincerely,

POE’s Govt. Affairs Team