OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – A bipartisan panel of Oklahoma lawmakers on Wednesday rejected a pair of controversial education rules proposed by State Superintendent Ryan Walters, delivering a blow to policies that critics say could violate federal law and overreach state authority.
The Senate Administrative Rules Committee voted 6-1 to disapprove two rules: one that would have required public schools to request proof of U.S. citizenship from students and their families during enrollment, and another mandating that all teachers pass a U.S. naturalization test.
The resolution to strike down the rules was submitted by committee co-chair Sen. David Bullard (R-Durant) and co-chair Sen. Micheal Bergstrom (R-Adair). Bergstrom said the committee determined the State Department of Education lacked the legislative authority to implement such mandates.
“As Chairman Kendricks and I looked at it, we decided there probably was not legislative authority for those rules,” Bergstrom said during the hearing.
The proposal sparked swift backlash from civil rights advocates and education officials who warned that requiring proof of citizenship could deter families from enrolling children in school—potentially violating a 1982 U.S. Supreme Court ruling (Plyler v. Doe) that guarantees public education access regardless of immigration status.
Governor Kevin Stitt, a Republican ally of Walters on other issues, had previously voiced opposition to the citizenship requirement, joining a growing chorus of critics. A House committee also disapproved of the rule last month.
Wednesday’s committee meeting was expected to include robust debate, with three proposed amendments on the agenda. However, two amendments filed by Sen. Michael Brooks Jimenez (D-Oklahoma City) were withdrawn before the discussion. A third amendment from Sen. Shane Jett (R-Shawnee) was not heard after Jett arrived late and missed the quorum.
Superintendent Walters has faced ongoing controversy for his policy initiatives and political rhetoric, frequently drawing headlines for culture war-driven proposals around education standards and classroom content.
Despite the setback, Walters has not indicated whether he plans to revise or reintroduce the rules in a different form. The resolution now moves forward in the legislative process, where further action could formally nullify the proposals.
