Journalist: Colin Udall (OSU)
The House of Representatives passed ORU-509, the “Textbook Transparency Act” of 2025 by a margin of 30-20. The act seeks to create more transparency in higher education in the state of Oklahoma. It would insist that institutions in the state require their educators to submit a list of required texts within 30 days of the course beginning. Representative Hornek (ORU) authored the bill.
Rep. Hornek said about the bill “My bill is to make it where colleges have to make a website that is publicly accessible to everyone in Oklahoma … they post materials for each class.” Continuing, Rep. Hornek said “Say you are in Government 30, there is a list for the materials that you need, like textbooks. If you are a nursing major, any equipment you need is also posted there.”
Some House Representatives raised objections. Representative Galbraith (OSU) said “I voted no because in the rules established by the Oklahoma Board of Regents, the contents of this bill were already in effect. The Board of Regents already establishes that the prices of textbooks and other materials needed for a class must be posted.” Further, Rep. Galbraith said “This bill was not necessary. It was not that it was a bad bill, it just was already in effect.”
Rep. Hornek responded to these objections, stating “I do not know about any statute or bill that is already in effect.”
The Oklahoma Board of Regents officially does have some requirements for textbook transparency in institutions of higher learning. The board requires that institutions are transparent in the cost of required materials, and that they coordinate efforts with their respective bookstores. The board does not give any required timeline nor early notice period of materials. ORU-509 seeks to create a notice window of 30 days, which differs from the standing statutes.
In short, the bill seeks to create more transparency not previously required by Oklahoma statute. This notion was popular in the House of Representatives, and it therefore stands that the bill’s margin of passage could have stood had been less tight had this been known.
Rep. Hornek expressed optimism that the Senate would pass his legislation, and it will soon be heard by the illustrious body.