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How to Keep Up With Education Legislation
| The new Legislature convenes Feb. 5. 2024. Even though thousands of bills are filed each session, following those that interest you doesn’t have to be daunting. Here’s how to keep up with education legislation in the early months of session: Know the committees. Bills must first be assigned to, heard by and passed out of a House or Senate committee before they can be heard before the full House or Senate. Generally, education bills related to policy go before the House or Senate education committees, and education bills with a fiscal impact go before the House or Senate education appropriations subcommittee. Watch a committee meeting. The Senate Education Committee meets at 9 a.m. Tuesdays in Room 535. The Senate Education Appropriations Subcommittee meets at 11 a.m. Wednesdays in Room 41C. House committees will release their schedules soon. Meetings are live-streamed here: Senate and House. Agendas are posted 24 hours in advance. Track the bills. The deadline for the introduction of all bills and joint resolutions is Jan. 14. To track bills online, use the search function on the Legislature’s website. Know the deadlines. Bills must pass their originating chamber by Mar. 14 or become dormant (cannot be heard during current session but will carry over to 2020). April 25 is the last day for bills to pass the opposite chamber, and the Oklahoma Constitution requires the Legislature to adjourn by May 31. |