An Oklahoma state representative has refiled a bill that would change the dates of school board elections in the State of Oklahoma.

 

Bixby Republican Chris Banning introduced the measure that would move school board elections to the same cycle as House and Senate elections. The bill would also modify the length of board members terms by making elementary district boards and independent district boards four years.

 

Under state statute, school districts must reimburse county election boards for all costs of school board elections. In 2023, these elections cost Oklahoma school districts a combined $16.8 million, taxpayer funds Banning said could go toward other purposes. School board elections in Oklahoma are currently held in February and April and usually have very low turnout.

 

Last year, Banning ran a nearly identical measure. That bill passed the House Elections and Ethics Committee but was not heard on the House floor. The new version of the bill will be eligible for consideration in the upcoming session of the Oklahoma legislature, which begins on February 3.