Latest news with #SenateJointResolution22
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
House resoundingly rebuffs Walters' plan to collect Oklahoma student immigration info
Oklahoma House lawmakers, pictured Jan. 7, unanimously rejected rules that would have required public schools to collect immigration data from students and force teachers to take a naturalization test for certification. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY — With bipartisan support, House lawmakers on Wednesday sent a series of altered education rules to the governor that eliminate the requirements for public schools to collect proof of U.S. citizenship and for teachers to pass the U.S. Naturalization Test. Lawmakers unanimously approved Senate Joint Resolution 22, which now heads to Gov. Kevin Stitt. The Republican has repeatedly vowed to block efforts by the state Department of Education to require schools to collect the immigration status of children. With the same measure, lawmakers also rejected a rule requiring all public school teachers to pass a written version of the U.S. Naturalization Test to earn or renew their certifications. Rep. Molly Jenkins, R-Coyle, attempted to amend the measure to reinstate the controversial immigration rule, but it failed 75-12. Under the rule backed by state Superintendent Ryan Walters, districts would have been required to report to the state the number of children unable to verify U.S. citizenship or legal residency. The Republican said it would help schools accurately provide the resources needed to serve those students, but also said he would turn over such information to federal immigration authorities if asked. Jenkins said the amendment would have collected 'aggregate' data, not any individual student names, and would help to better allocate funding throughout Oklahoma public schools. Opponents on both sides of the aisle said the rule was unenforceable. The numbers could still be traced to students and could create a strain on the public school system, they said. Schools already provide services to immigrant students without requiring proof of citizenship. Rep. Gerrid Kendrix, R-Altus, said the immigration rule does not have statutory authority. Kendrix, the measure's author, said the process is about ensuring the rules have statute backing them up, not about policy. State agencies are supposed to create rules that expand on existing law relating to the policy. The Legislature and the governor then review every agency's rules and can accept or reject them. If approved, the rules have the force of law. The same measure also passed the Senate unanimously. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Attempt to revive Ryan Walters' immigration-check rule in Oklahoma schools fails
A second attempt to revive state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters' proposal to track immigrant students and their families has failed, this time during a House committee hearing. The House Administrative Rules Committee voted 10-3 to reject an amendment by state Rep. Molly Jenkins, R-Coyle, that would have changed the status of the rule from rejected to approved. After voting down the amendment, the committee voted 13-0 to approve Senate Joint Resolution 22, which covers proposed new education policies, and send it to the House floor. Rep. Gerrid Kendrix, R-Altus, the committee's chair, said after the meeting on Monday, May 19, that he's hopeful the full House might be able to consider the resolution on Wednesday, May 21, or Thursday, May 22. If it passes the full House, it would go to Gov. Kevin Stitt, as it's already made it through the Senate. Stitt has been a fierce critic of the Oklahoma State Department of Education's proposed rule and has accused Walters, a fellow Republican, of using children as political pawns. The proposed rule from the agency — which is led by Walters — would require schools to seek information about the immigration status of students and their parents during enrollment. Another proposed rule by that agency that's in line for rejection is one that would require Oklahoma teachers to take the U.S. Naturalization Test to renew their teaching license. Jenkins, the committee's vice chair, is the second legislator to push for acceptance of the proposed immigration rule. Last week on the Senate floor, state Sen. Shane Jett, R-Shawnee, proposed two amendments to the resolution, either one of which would have listed the rule as accepted. But 19 Republicans joined with eight Democrats to table those two amendments. After Jett's amendments were tabled, the Senate voted 43-0 to approve the resolution. In Monday's committee meeting, Jenkins cited 'the invasion that we have over our southern border' as her reason to suggest approval of the immigration-check rule. 'I feel like this is an issue that requires transparency for the taxpayers of the state of Oklahoma,' she said. Two of her fellow Republican committee members pushed back. Rep. Clay Staires, R-Skiatook, said he didn't think the agency had statutory authority to create such a rule, repeating a concern he voiced at a separate meeting in April. Kendrix agreed, saying, 'This is not a policy committee, it's a statutory authority committee.' After nearly a half hour of back and forth, only Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore, and Rep. Cody Maynard, R-Durant, voted with Jenkins to support her amendment. Following the meeting, Kendrix said he didn't know if other House members might try to follow the lead of Jenkins in proposing amendments to the resolution that could be considered once it reaches the House floor. 'I think it's always a possibility and that's a part of our transparent and accountable process, that everybody gets a chance to have their voice,' Kendrix said. 'I have no issue with that.' Walters, during a news conference at the Capitol on May 16, accused the Legislature and governor of not being transparent concerning the issue. 'It's incredibly disappointing that we see the Senate not provide that type of transparency for taxpayers,' Walters said. 'Let's just be real clear. Our rule says that we are going to account for how many taxpayer dollars, how much goes towards illegal immigrants in our schools.' This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Ryan Walters' Oklahoma immigration rule rejected by House committee
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Oklahoma Senate advances rule requiring school donation disclosures, rejects citizenship checks
Sen. Shane Jett, R-Shawnee, speaks in favor of his amendment to Senate Joint Resolution 22 on Tuesday in the Senate chamber of the state Capitol in Oklahoma City. Jett's amendment approved a proposed rule to require schools to report receipt of $17,000 donations. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY — An amended resolution that passed the Oklahoma Senate on Tuesday would reject a proposal to have public schools collect students' immigration status, but it would require schools to report donations and gifts from non-government sources. The original resolution would have denied the donation reporting rule, but Sen. Shane Jett, R-Shawnee, proposed an amendment to include the measure in a bundle of approved administrative rules from the Oklahoma State Department of Education. A majority of senators agreed with Jett in a 26-18 vote. Jett said public schools should have to report donations and gifts they receive that are worth more than $17,000 to ensure parents are aware of any potential influence on their children's schooling, including from foreign governments. He said donations above $17,000 could no longer be given anonymously. 'If you're giving more than $17,000 into our classrooms, we need to know who you are,' Jett said. The rule would require schools to inform the Oklahoma State Department of Education about donations that are worth either $17,000 or the IRS gift tax exemption amount, whichever is lower. In 2025, the limit for the IRS gift tax exemption is $19,000. The leader of the Senate Administrative Rules Committee, Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, opposed the donation rule, which Jett's amendment approved. Bergstrom, who crafted the full resolution, said the Education Department's proposal was poorly written — to the extent it could require reporting of only donations that are worth exactly $17,000 but not more. Administrative rules are meant to expand on existing laws, but Bergstrom said this rule falls short of having a clear basis in state statute. 'This rule has so many problems with it, and it doesn't have legislative authority,' Bergstrom said while debating against Jett's amendment. 'I'm going to ask my colleagues in this chamber to vote no.' While the Senate resolution now approves the donation reporting rule, it still rejects other proposals that have been controversial. It would disapprove a rule requiring Oklahoma public schools to ask families for proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency during enrollment. Districts would have to report to the state the number of students whose families are unable to provide this information. Jett filed an amendment to approve this rule, as well, but a majority of senators agreed to discard it. Gov. Kevin Stitt has pledged to block the rule from becoming law, contending it needlessly targets children. The Senate resolution also rejects an Education Department proposal to have public school teachers pass the U.S. Naturalization Test to earn or renew their certification. The measure has drawn bipartisan concerns. The Senate then approved the full resolution unanimously, sending it to the House. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ryan Walters' immigration-check proposal hits roadblock in Oklahoma Senate
A proposal to require Oklahoma schools to track students' immigration statuses might not make it through the Legislature. Without debate on May 7, the Oklahoma Senate Administrative Rules Committee approved a resolution rejecting that proposed rule, as well as some other controversial elements a rules package prepared by the Oklahoma State Department of Education and state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters. The committee voted 6-1 to send Senate Joint Resolution 22 to the full Senate. Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, who chairs to committee, said he thinks its resolutions on rule proposals could be heard on the Senate floor 'as early as next week.' The education-related resolution would need to clear the Senate, the House Administrative Rules Committee and the full House, then be signed by Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt, before becoming law. The Republican-controlled Legislature has until May 30 to act on administrative rules proposals. In preparing the rules resolutions, Bergstrom said, 'We wanted to listen to everyone's positions and then take (those) and try to have it where we have something that we can put forward that we felt that be able to be passed and would resolve the issues.' More: Ryan Walters' rules on immigration status, teacher testing go before Oklahoma lawmakers The most controversial of the rules proposed by the state agency is one that would allow the agency to not just ask schools for the immigration status of students, but of their parents, as well. Another proposed rule that drew strong opposition is one that would require Oklahoma teachers to take the U.S. naturalization test as a requirement for certification or renewal of certification, meaning even veteran teachers would have to take it. The Senate resolution rejects both of those proposals. During a recent House Administrative Rules Committee meeting led by Rep. Gerrid Kendrix, R-Altus, both Republicans and Democrats voiced objections to those ideas. Bergstrom said he discussed the proposals with Kendrix and concluded there was "probably not legislative authority for those rules.' State Sen. Micheal Bergstrom's committee has passed a resolution that would reject controversial administrative rules proposals from the Oklahoma State Department of Education. 'That's our first thing that we look at – is there legislative authority, and then does it follow legislative intent – and then we start looking at the other issues," Bergstrom said. Stitt, once an ally of Walters, has been outspoken about his stance against the proposed immigration rule, accusing Walters of using immigrant children as 'political pawns.' Referring to the proposal, Stitt has said he's 'going to do what I can to change that' if the rule comes across his desk. Walters, a Republican, has said his agency would work with federal law enforcement and would support them if they chose to raid Oklahoma schools. During a brief press conference following a January meeting of the Oklahoma State Board of Education, Walters was asked three times if he had any concerns about the trauma such raids might inflict on students. Instead, he talked about supporting law enforcement. A spokeswoman for Walters didn't immediately return a message left May 7 seeking comment on the Senate committee's action. Neither did spokespeople for Stitt. Bergstrom said he spoke with the governor while preparing the resolution regarding the education rules. He said he expects some debate on the Senate floor regarding the resolution. 'I just don't know how intense that will be,' Bergstrom said. "I'm hoping it won't be too bad.' Two far-right lawmakers weren't in the room for committee vote The lone 'no' vote on the resolution to reject the controversial proposed rules came from Sen. Kendal Sacchieri, R-Blanchard. When asked for her vote the first time, she paused for several seconds, then said 'pass.' A few moments later, when asked again, she said, 'Nay.' Just after the vote was recorded, two far-right members of the committee entered the room – the vice chair, Sen. Shane Jett, R-Shawnee, and Sen. Dusty Deevers, R-Elgin. They are two of the four publicly declared members of the Freedom Caucus in the Legislature. Jett and Deevers cast votes on the only other item on the committee's agenda, but not on the resolution regarding the education-related rules. The path for agency administrative rules to take effect is different than in 2024. That year, a set of administrative rules from Walters' agency went into effect without receiving debate, or a vote, on either the House or Senate floors. Stitt then unilaterally approved the rules as part of a package that included all state agencies that had submitted rules proposals. This year, the rules proposals were divided into six general categories by Bergstrom and Kendrix. Both the House and Senate committees had responsibility to develop resolutions for three rules packages each, with the package of education-related rules assigned to start in the Senate committee. The rules resolutions, Kendrix said, theoretically would follow the traditional path of a regular legislative bill. If the Legislature takes no action, then it's up to Stitt whether or not to approve the rules proposals. Stitt does not have line-item veto authority on administrative rules proposals. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Ryan Walters' immigration rule proposal faces new rejection in Senate
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Panel cans Oklahoma education rules dealing with immigration status and naturalization tests
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, presents a bill in the Senate chamber on Monday, May 5, 2025. (Photo by Janelle Stecklein/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY – A bipartisan Senate panel on Wednesday voted to toss out two rules backed by State Superintendent Ryan Walters that dealt with monitoring student immigration status and that would require teachers to take the U.S. Naturalization Test. Senate Joint Resolution 22, authored by Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, approved many of the rules, but rejected two of the most controversial. One disapproved rule would require students to provide proof of U.S. citizenship when enrolling in public school. Under the rule, schools would have to report to the state the number of students who couldn't verify legal residency or citizenship. Walters has said the rule would help serve immigrant students by better accounting for the resources needed to accommodate them, but he has also said he would turn over the information collected to federal authorities if asked. The proposed rule has faced bipartisan opposition, including from Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that every child, regardless of immigration status, has a right to public education. Sen. Michael Brooks, D-Oklahoma City, said the proposed rule is unconstitutional. 'In addition to that, I'm concerned about the families that would be intimidated and perhaps would choose not to enroll their kids in school based on these requirements,' he said. Brooks, who is a member of the Senate Rules Committee, said the state does not win when children are discouraged from going to school. A second rule rejected by the Senate panel on Wednesday would require all public school teachers to pass the U.S. Naturalization test to earn or renew their certification. That rule has faced bipartisan opposition amid fears that it would deter qualified teachers from working in the state. 'It seems to me more political than policy based,' Brooks said. 'It seems like something to be able to get a headline, but it doesn't seem like something that necessarily helps with curriculum or anything else.' Bergstrom, the resolution's author, chairs the Senate Rules Committee. 'Over the last few years, we've been building a consensus of just how important it is for the Legislature to actually take on the job that we're tasked with and to reign in agencies that are doing things they shouldn't be doing or when there are errors made that need to be fixed,' Bergstrom said after the committee hearing. Administrative rules are supposed to build upon the laws legislators create. Because they have the force of law, all rules must be submitted to the Legislature for review. If lawmakers take no action, they go to the governor. If the governor does not act, they automatically take effect. The governor pledged to block the immigration rule. Bergstrom said there was probably no legislative authority for the Oklahoma State Department of Education to craft rules pertaining to citizenship checks and naturalization testing. The measure goes to the full Senate, where Bergstrom said it could be heard as early as next week. If SJR 22 is approved, the measure goes to the House for consideration. The State Department of Education didn't immediately respond to a request for comment as of publication. Editor Janelle Stecklein contributed to this report. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
