Committee updates Tulsa Reconciliation scholarship, raises eligibility cap and narrows residency rule

Senator Goodwin presented a committee substitute for Senate Bill 2,040 updating the Tulsa Reconciliation Education Scholarship. The substitute simplifies eligibility for high‑school and nontraditional students, changes geographic eligibility so descendants qualifying for preference must attend school in Oklahoma (rather than live anywhere in the U.S.), and raises the historic income cap from $70,000 (when created) to $128,000 to reflect inflation.

The sponsor said the scholarship is funded from a trust created years ago and that the principal remains untouched; scholarship payments come from investment earnings. Questions from senators focused on the funding mechanism, how the income cap is adjusted annually (sponsor said the bill includes an automatic adjustment/escrow to align to cost‑of‑living), and whether the increase means relatively better off families will qualify; several senators replied they view $128,000 as middle income and not wealthy.

The committee discussed maintaining parity for students who attend public, private or community college institutions in Oklahoma and preserving existing language allowing unused scholarship dollars to be spent on room, board and books. The bill was reported out of committee unanimously on roll call.

The sponsor asked for continued bipartisan support and said the change honors recommendations made decades ago following study of historic events in Greenwood while expanding the program's reach to more students today.