Senate gives charter schools first right to buy or lease district property; critics say bill weak on guardrails

The Oklahoma Senate passed SB 366 on third reading after floor amendments and extended questions over local control and safeguards against speculative resale.

Senator Hines, the bill’s sponsor, said the measure gives charter schools that are already authorized in a district a first right of refusal when a public school district sells or leases property previously used for education. “This bill will ensure or do its best to make sure that those [buildings] stay in the realm of education and are not used for other purposes,” Hines said while explaining the floor substitute and a restore-title amendment adopted earlier.

Opponents, including Minority Leader Kurt and Senator Hicks, urged caution. Kurt described the proposal as a “one-way street” that favored charter schools without matching considerations for public school districts and asked what guardrails would prevent a charter school from flipping property for profit; Hines acknowledged there is no language in the bill that would prevent subsequent resale.

Senator Hicks questioned whether the bill would effectively force local school boards to give priority to charter operators that had been denied local authorization but obtained state authorization, and whether the change would undermine local school-board discretion. Hines responded that the bill applies only to charter schools already authorized to operate in the district.

After debate the Senate recorded 40 ayes and 6 nays; sponsors requested and the chamber granted emergency consideration on the vote.

What happens next: The measure moves to the House for consideration; advocates and critics said further detail may be needed on restrictions, reporting requirements or express limits on resale to preserve instructional use.