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Bill

HB 1361

Schools; definitions; prohibiting school personnel and students from requesting and using certain pronouns or alternate names in certain situations; effective date; emergency.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by David Bullard and 1 co-sponsor

Oklahoma bill restricts school staff and students from using certain pronouns and alternate names in unspecified school situations, raising enforcement and constitutional questions.

Referred to Common Education
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Bill Summary · HB 1361

Legislative bill overview

HB 1361 restricts school personnel and students from requesting or using certain pronouns or alternate names in specific school situations. The bill designates itself as emergency legislation and establishes definitions related to these restrictions. The exact scope of "certain situations" and which pronouns/names are restricted would be clarified in the bill's detailed language.

Why is this important

This bill directly affects how students can be addressed in schools and impacts policies around student identity recognition. It raises questions about administrative burden, student mental health support, parental notification rights, and the balance between parental authority and student autonomy—issues affecting thousands of Oklahoma students and school staff.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope and enforcement: The vague language around "certain situations" and "certain pronouns" creates ambiguity about what is actually prohibited and how schools would enforce compliance
  • Student support vs. policy restrictions: Medical and mental health organizations generally support affirming language for all students; this bill may conflict with guidance from these groups and create liability questions
  • Free speech and compelled speech: Concerns exist about whether restricting pronoun use raises constitutional issues around compelled or restricted speech for both students and staff
  • Implementation costs: Schools would need to develop new policies, train staff, and potentially address legal challenges, creating administrative and financial burdens

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

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