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SB 376

Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program; removing prior public school enrollment requirement. Effective date. Emergency.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Casey Murdock

SB 376 expands Oklahoma's Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships by removing the requirement that students with disabilities previously attended public school, broadening eligibility for scholarship funding.

Second Reading referred to Education Committee then to Appropriations Committee
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Bill Summary · SB 376

Legislative bill overview

SB 376 removes a requirement that students with disabilities must have previously attended public school to be eligible for Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships. The bill aims to expand scholarship access to students with disabilities who may have been homeschooled, attended private schools, or had other educational paths before applying. The emergency designation indicates lawmakers view this as time-sensitive.

Why is this important

This change could affect funding eligibility for students with disabilities pursuing education through scholarship programs. Removing enrollment prerequisites may increase access to educational assistance for families who chose alternative schooling arrangements. The fiscal impact depends on how many additional students become eligible and the per-student scholarship amount.

Potential points of contention

  • Fiscal implications: Expanding eligibility typically increases program costs; the bill's impact on the state education budget is unclear without appropriations details
  • Definition and verification challenges: Determining which non-public educational experiences qualify and verifying disability status across diverse prior schooling situations may create administrative complexity
  • Intent of original requirement: If the prior public school enrollment served a specific accountability or funding purpose, removing it may create unintended consequences for program integrity or funding mechanisms

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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