The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education unveiled its legislative agenda and budget request Dec. 17, asking the state legislature for an appropriation totaling over $1.1 billion.
This fiscal year, the regents received just over $1 billion in appropriations from the legislature. For next fiscal year ending in 2026, the regents requested $95 million more in appropriations, just over a 9% difference.
2026 budget request
According to the budget request breakdown on its website, the regents requested $9.2 million to support previous legislative initiatives and programming. This request includes $5.5 million to support the Strong Readers Act, which was signed by Gov. Kevin Stitt last year to strengthen literacy in Oklahoma’s students by integrating reading proficiency into grade progression criteria.
Under the act, universities are to implement training in the science of reading in teacher preparation programs and create a micro-credential for that training as part of those programs.
The remaining $3.7 million will go to concurrent enrollment expansion, which offers high school students opportunities to enroll in college credit courses.
The regents requested $42 million for critical workforce needs. Of that amount, $19 million would go to STEM programs and other “critical workforce degrees”, $10 million to nursing and healthcare instruction and $12 million to adult degree completion outreach and financial aid.
In the 2023-24 academic year, nearly 87% of all degrees and certificates awarded by colleges and universities in Oklahoma were in fields of study aligned with the state’s 100 critical occupations, according to a press release by the regents.
Jobs on the critical occupation list include registered nurses and nurse practitioners, firefighters, teachers, mental health counselors, lawyers and rotary drill operators for oil and gas.
According to the regents, bachelor’s degrees in STEM areas increased by over 21% in 10 years, while master’s degrees rose by 23%. Nursing degrees and certificates increased 22% over the past 10 years. Degrees in education declined over the past decade, but have increased by 7% in the 2023-24 school year.
The regents requested $43 million to benefit institutional excellence and student success. Performance-based formula allocations would receive $25 million, student support and scholarships would receive $12.5 million, innovation and technology initiatives would receive $2.7 million and campus safety and cybersecurity would receive $3.5 million.
The regents requested over $300 million for institution-specific allocations, including $75 million to both OU and Oklahoma State University as research universities. Other allocations include:
• $2 million to the State Regents Agency 605 modernization and upgrades.
• $3.5 million to establish a Collaboration and Consolidation Assistance Fund.
• $55 million to regional universities for workforce investment.
• $11 million to two-year colleges for workforce investment.
• $80 million to constituent agencies — such as OU Health Sciences Center and the OU College of Law — for operating and capital.
The regents also request over $100 million for deferred maintenance projects across all colleges and universities. Last legislative session, Rep. Mark McBride (R-Moore) passed a bill that appropriates $140 million annually beginning in 2025 for aging infrastructure replacement projects at higher education institutions statewide.
In a press release, Chancellor Sean Burrage emphasized the need and goal of increasing the state’s workforce in the most needed areas.
“Producing more college graduates to meet Oklahoma’s most pressing workforce needs is our primary goal,” Burrage wrote. “Our FY26 budget request for public higher education clearly demonstrates the state system’s commitment to expanding the labor force in critical occupations and incentivizing academic and operational innovations as outlined in our Blueprint 2030 strategic plan.”
2025 legislative agenda
According to its website, the regents are prioritizing six items on its legislative agenda. The first is creating a scholarship program designed for adult learners completing unfinished degrees, obtaining certificates or micro-credentials or pursuing skill-strengthening opportunities. The program will prioritize high-demand credentials that all with vital occupations in Oklahoma.
The Oklahoma Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship Tax Credit currently allows individuals and businesses to receive a tax credit in exchange for donations that support K-12 school tuition assistance. The regents want the legislature to expand this tax credit to fund need-based scholarships for college students.
The Oklahoma's Promise program was created in 1992 by the state legislature to help students who meet financial and academic requirements go to college with the help of a tuition scholarship. For the 2025 legislative session, the regents ask the legislature to consider developing an appeal process to help students facing unique circumstances and extend the application deadline.
The regents want to examine the property insurance process, practices and market in Oklahoma to identify long-term solutions to help colleges and universities mitigate rising property insurance rates.
To address campus safety, security and cybersecurity concerns, the regents are advocating for investment in security infrastructure, trained personnel and cybersecurity protocols to safeguard students and faculty.
Lastly, the regents aim to evaluate concurrent enrollment participation options, financial models and course delivery in order to strengthen the program.
This story was edited by Ismael Lele.
