Oklahoma Open to Religion Act protects students and schools from indoctrination and lawsuits

TUPELO, Miss. — The Oklahoma House has passed legislation (HB 3240) that creates a standard process that allows students to meet to pray in a classroom or a gym — as opposed to just “at the flagpole.” In doing so, it updates Oklahoma’s existing law, which was enacted in 1980. The legislation is called the Open to Religion Act and is sponsored by Rep. Toni Hasenbeck. The bill has been referred to the Senate Rules Committee, chaired by Senator Julie Daniels.

“This bill updates school district prayer policies in light of the 2022 Coach Kennedy case,” said Dr. Jameson Taylor, director of the Center for Government Renewal with AFA Action, the governmental affairs affiliate of the American Family Association. “In that case, the U.S. Supreme Court opened the schoolhouse door to voluntary prayer with parental consent. Oklahoma’s current law on school prayer is incomplete and based on old case law. In addition, the Open to Religion Act mirrors recent guidance issued by the Trump Administration clarifying the proper place of prayer in public schools.”

HB 3240 requires school districts to respect students’ and educators’ fundamental rights by adopting a policy so they can gather on campus for voluntary prayer or reading from the Bible or other religious texts. The policy must guarantee that no student or employee is exposed to prayer or religious reading without consent, that activities are never broadcast schoolwide, and that instructional time is not displaced.

“Oklahoma’s current law regarding voluntary prayer in public schools is vague, open-ended and apt to be misinterpreted,” said Taylor. “It could expose school districts to needless lawsuits. The Open to Religion Act gives schools specific guidelines on how prayer and religious reading in school should be handled. These guidelines apply to every religion and will guarantee that students are not involuntarily exposed to indoctrination, but can instead pray and read the Bible in peace and with parental consent.”

AFA Action is a non-profit 501(c)(4) organization dedicated to advancing biblical family values in society and government by shaping public policy through education and advocacy. The mission of AFA Action is to inform and mobilize individuals to strengthen the biblical foundations of America by persuading individuals with the truth of the Gospel, challenging the lost to repent, promoting societal values that are consistent with Scripture, restraining evil and exposing the works of darkness, motivating people to take a stand on cultural and moral issues, and encouraging Christians to bear witness to the world the love of Jesus Christ. Find AFA Action Alerts here. 

For more information on the American Family Association, visit www.afa.net or follow AFA on Facebook or X.        

For more information on AFA Action, visit www.afaaction.net or follow AFA Action on Facebook or X.

To interview an AFA or AFA Action spokesperson, contact Hamilton Strategies, [email protected], or Beth Bogucki, 610.584.1096, ext. 105, or Daniel Moyer, ext. 104.