Senate Bill 591 Summary

• Establishes the "Free to Speak Act" creating Oklahoma Statutes Section 24-162 of Title 70, applicable to public schools and state institutions of higher learning.

• Prohibits employees from knowingly and intentionally addressing unemancipated minor students by names, pronouns, or titles inconsistent with their sex without written parental or guardian permission.

• Protects employees from adverse employment action for declining to use names, pronouns, or titles inconsistent with a person's sex, or for declining to identify their own pronouns.

• Prohibits students from disciplinary action for declining to address others using names, pronouns, or titles inconsistent with their sex, or for declining to identify their own pronouns.

• Grants employees and students a private right of action for violations, including injunctive relief, monetary damages, attorney fees and costs, with a 2-year statute of limitations, effective July 1, 2025.