Oklahoma legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Oklahoma HB2959: Schools; student abuse or neglect reporting; superintendents and administrators; school employees; law enforcement; interviews; investigations; duty to report; electronic communication; violations; effective date; emergency.
Status: Signed into law, May 12, 2026
What the bill says
An Act relating to schools; amending 70 O.S. 2021, Section 1210.163, as last amended by Section 3, Chapter 260, O.S.L. 2025 (70 O.S. Supp. 2025, Section 1210.163), which relates to student abuse or neglect reporting; requiring superintendents and school administrators to report suspected abuse by school employees to law enforcement within twenty-four hours; requiring reporting before formal school investigation; prohibiting formal interviews of suspected involved parties until notification of and interviews by law enforcement…
From the enrolled text, May 5, 2026:
An Act relating to schools; amending 70 O.S. 2021, Section 1210.163, as last amended by Section 3, Chapter 260, O.S.L. 2025 (70 O.S. Supp. 2025, Section 1210.163), which relates to student abuse or neglect reporting; requiring superintendents and school administrators to report suspected abuse by school employees to law enforcement within twenty-four hours; requiring reporting before formal school investigation; prohibiting formal interviews of suspected involved parties until notification of and interviews by law enforcement; establishing duty to report regardless of employment status of accused; updating references; requiring employees to sign an attestation of duties to report abuse or neglect; defining term; requiring a written report from school resource officers under certain circumstances; amending Section 1, Chapter 297, O.S.L. 2024 (70 O.S. Supp. 2025, Section 6-401), which relates to school personnel electronic communication with students; requiring immediate notification to law enforcement for certain violations; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency. SUBJECT: Schools SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 1210.163, as last amended by Section 3, Chapter 260, O.S.L. 2025 (70 O.S. Supp. 2025, Section 1210.163), is amended to read as follows: Section 1210.163. A. Every school employee having reason to believe that a student under the age of eighteen (18) years is a victim of abuse or neglect shall report the matter immediately to the Department of Human …