Text of OK HB 3134 (2026)

Req. No. 13977 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 STATE OF OKLAHOMA 2nd Session of the 60th Legislature (2026) HOUSE BILL 3134 By: West (Kevin) AS INTRODUCED An Act relating to higher education; creating the Keep Accreditation About Academics Act; defining terms; prohibiting accrediting agencies from utilizing any diversity, equity, and inclusion practices or procedures during the accreditation of an institution of higher education; requiring accrediting agencies to implement policies to prevent the use of diversity, equity, and inclusion during the accreditation process; authorizing enforcement through civil action by certain persons; authorizing enforcement by the Attorney General; finding violation of act a violation of the Oklahoma Anti- Discrimination Act and the Oklahoma Consumer Protection Act; requiring accrediting agency to pay attorney fees; requiring accrediting agency to pay civil penalties; providing for noncodification; providing for codification; and providing an effective date. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law not to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes reads as follows: This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Keep Accreditation About Academics Act". Req. No. 13977 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 3252 of Title 70, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: A. As used in this act: 1. "Accreditation" means the status of public recognition that an accrediting agency grants to an educational institution, program, or both that meets the agency’s standards and requirements; 2. "Accrediting agency" means a person or governmental entity that conducts accrediting activities and makes decisions concerning the accreditation or pre-accreditation status of institutions, programs, or both. Accrediting agency includes, but is not limited to, any national, regional, or programmatic accrediting agency; 3. "Diversity, equity, and inclusion" means any differential treatment of, or assignment of any fault or blame to, an individual or group at an institution of higher education based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin except as it relates to immigration status under United States law, sex except as it relates to sex- segregated facilities such as dormitories, bathrooms, or athletic programs, sexual orientation, or gender identity; 4. "Diversity, equity, and inclusion practice or procedure" means any initiative, policy, program, mandate, requirement, standard, metric, statistic, or other practice or procedure related to diversity, equity, and inclusion; and Req. No. 13977 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 5. "Institution of higher education" means a state educational institution within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education including all of the state educational institution’s programs, departments, divisions, offices, centers, colleges, and schools and any person acting on behalf of any of the state educational institution’s programs, departments, divisions, offices, centers, colleges, and schools. B. When taking any action on the accreditation or renewal of accreditation of an institution of higher education, an accrediting agency shall not: 1. Base its accrediting decision in any way on a review or consideration of any diversity, equity, and inclusion practice or procedure; 2. Collect information related to any diversity, equity, and inclusion practice or procedure; or 3. Include any requirement related to any diversity, equity, and inclusion practice or procedure. C. An accrediting agency considering the accreditation or renewal of accreditation of an institution of higher education shall implement policies to ensure that any person with decision-making or recommendation authority related to that accreditation or renewal of accreditation does not collect and is not presented with any information regarding any diversity, equity, and inclusion practice or procedure. Req. No. 13977 Page 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 D. This section may be enforced through a civil action brought against an accrediting agency by any person who is or was: 1. A student of an institution of higher education; or 2. Employed by an institution of higher education. E. The Attorney General may enforce this section against an accrediting agency. Any violation of this section shall constitute a violation of the Oklahoma Anti-Discrimination Act and the Attorney General's Office of Civil Rights Enforcement may investigate and seek remedies as provided by law. Any violation of this section shall also constitute an unfair act in violation of the Oklahoma Consumer Protection Act and the Attorney General may investigate and seek remedies as provided by law. F. In addition to any other remedies available by law, an accrediting agency that violates this section shall be obligated to pay the reasonable attorney fees and costs of the party bringing the lawsuit and to pay damages to the party bringing the lawsuit in an amount equal to three (3) times all monies paid to the accrediting agency by the institution of higher education for the accrediting agency’s services, whether dues, fees, or otherwise. G. In addition to any other remedies available by law, an accrediting agency that violates this section shall be liable to pay civil penalties to the party bringing the lawsuit in an amount up to One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) per student that attended the Req. No. 13977 Page 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 institution of higher education at the time the accrediting agency violated this section. SECTION 3. This act shall become effective November 1, 2026. 60-2-13977 AQH 11/12/25