PRO-/ANTI-SCIENCE EDUCATION LEGISLATION IN OKLAHOMA 2026

 

We have our first pro-science education bill introduced in the Oklahoma Legislature this year.  HB 3488 by McCane, which would establish a student secular bill of rights; among the provisions is “All public school students shall have the right to: … Be free from school-sponsored religious teachings or practices of all kinds on school property or at school events including, but not limited to: … any religious instruction as part of a school curriculum, including creationism and intelligent design.”

 

Senator Bullard has introduced two anti-science education bills this year. SB 1868, if enacted, would require any public or charter school teacher who teaches evolution also to “provide instruction to students on the concepts of creationism and/or intelligent design.”  SB 1237 would, if enacted, create “the Teachers’ Bill of Rights” — and empower science denial in the classroom.  The bill would establish, among other things, a teacher’s “right to be protected by school administrators when helping students better understand, analyze, critique, and review in an objective manner the strengths and weaknesses of existing theories, issues, and subjects which may be controversial when covered in a course being taught using evidence-based, peer-reviewed material.”

Bullard introduced legislation aimed at undermining evolution education in previous legislative sessions: Senate Bill 14 in 2019, Senate Bill 613 in 2021, and Senate Bill 1871 in 2024. None passed committee. We will work to insure the bills are not heard in committee this year.  More at NCSE here and here and The Lost Ogle.