More than two dozen Republican legislators have signed onto a letter encouraging State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister to begin the permanent rulemaking process for House Bill 1775 which restrict the teaching of subjects in such a way to make students feel guilty for their race or sex.
Many refer to HB 1775 as a critical race theory ban. However, the language of the statute does not mention it.
The letter calls for the current emergency rules to be posted for public comment, which initiates the rulemaking process.
You can read the legislators’ letter below.
The Honorable Joy Hofmeister State Superintendent of Public Instruction 2500 N. Lincoln Boulevard Oklahoma City, OK 73105
Superintendent Hofmeister:
As you are aware, H.B. 1775 took effect July 1, outlawing the teaching of race and sex-based discriminatory ideologies to students in Oklahoma schools. There is continued opposition to these ideologies from parents, educators, students and citizens statewide. We write today to urge you to immediately begin the process of promulgating permanent rules to implement H.B. 1775 and to do so by posting the State Board of Education’s existing emergency rules for public comment.
Given that we are now halfway through the 2021-22 school year, the members signed below believe it is past time for the permanent rules to be published for the 30-day public comment period, as required by the Oklahoma Administrative Procedures Act. Given the importance of these rules, members of the Oklahoma legislature will be closely monitoring both the substantive changes the State Department of Education makes to existing emergency rules and the process the Department utilizes to submit permanent rules to the legislature for final approval.
Time is of the essence given the continued public interest in this topic and the need for the timely submission of permanent rules ahead of the upcoming regular session of the Oklahoma Legislature. We hope the adoption of permanent rules is not unnecessarily delayed. We certainly hope that you will faithfully discharge your duties as State Superintendent of Public Instruction and comply with and enforce the provisions of 70 O.S. § 24-158
The letter is signed by:
Rep. Sherrie Conley, R-Newcastle
Rep. Rusty Cornwell, R-Vinita
Rep. Denise Crosswhite Hader, R-Piedmont
Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola
Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane
Rep. Gerrid Kendrix, R-Altus
Rep. Kevin McDugle, R-Broken Arrow
Rep. Carl Newton, R-Cherokee
Rep. Jim Olsen, R-Roland
Rep. Randy Randleman, R-Eufaula
Rep. Sean Roberts, R-Hominy
Rep. Marilyn Stark, R-Bethany
Rep. Wendi Stearman, R-Collinsville
Rep. John Talley, R-Stillwater
Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore
Rep. Rick West, R-Heavener
Rep. Danny Williams, R-Seminole
Rep. Max Wolfley, R-Oklahoma City
Rep. Rande Worthen, R-Lawton
Sen. Michael Bergstrom, R-Adair
Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant
Sen. George Burns, R-Pollard
Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow
Sen. Warren Hamilton, R-McCurtain
Sen. Shane Jett, R-Shawnee
Sen. Jake Merrick, R-Yukon
Sen. Casey Murdock, R-Felt
Sen. Blake Stephens, R-Tahlequah
