HB 1434 Summary

• Creates the "Modern Student Personal Budgeting Act" to help students understand and reduce textbook and instructional material costs in Oklahoma higher education institutions.

• Requires institutional boards of regents to adopt policies mandating bookstores disclose course material costs, provide unbundled purchasing options when possible, and promote book buy-back programs.

• Mandates faculty and staff consider least costly instructional material practices, such as adopting cheaper editions with comparable educational content and working with publishers to create cost-saving bundles.

• Requires course syllabi to include material cost information with hyperlinks allowing students to view costs at time of electronic enrollment, plus disclosure of any laboratory fees.

• Declares an emergency, making the act effective immediately upon passage and approval.