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Committee OKs bill to adopt IHRA antisemitism definition and name Title VI coordinators at public schools and colleges
Summary
The House Postsecondary Education Committee approved a bill requiring public K‑12 schools and state institutions of higher education to prohibit discrimination, adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism in codes of conduct, and designate a Title VI coordinator to handle complaints.
Representative Emily Geiss presented Senate Bill 942 to the House Postsecondary Education Committee and moved for adoption, saying the measure would expand an anti‑discrimination framework for students and employees at state institutions and public schools.
Geiss said the bill “creates a proactive framework, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, ***, disability, religion, or marital status against the student or an employee at a state institution of higher education or a public school,” and directs institutions to “integrate the definition of antisemitism provided by the IHRA definition … into student faculty and employee codes of conduct.”
The sponsor added the bill requires the Oklahoma institutions to designate a Title VI coordinator, a position Geiss said is already functionally performed in some places but not held under that specific title. “We do not currently have someone who is titled as a Title VI coordinator, which is required in the Civil Rights Act of 1964,” Geiss said, adding the bill gives that person explicit authority to “monitor such actions and investigate complaints.”
Representative Ransom asked how the bill differed from existing anti‑discrimination practice. Geiss replied that policies already exist but “we cannot combat what we cannot define,” stressing that adopting the IHRA definition would clarify what constitutes antisemitism, and that the Title VI coordinator title would identify who is responsible for investigations.
Committee staff opened a vote after no further questions. The committee recorded a 5‑0 tally and the chair declared the bill passed.
The bill, as presented, (1) requires adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism into codes of conduct, (2) directs institutions and schools to prohibit discrimination on listed bases, and (3) directs the state regents to designate a Title VI coordinator. The transcript did not specify who seconded the motion or the next committee or floor steps.
The committee approved the measure by voice vote and declared the bill passed 5 ayes and 0 nays.
