Oklahoma: SB1481
Schools; requiring certain schools to provide students in certain grades with certain amount of recess per day. Effective date. Emergency.
Topics
Bill Information
Summary
Bill Summary
SB 1481 requires Oklahoma public elementary schools to provide at least 40 minutes of recess each school day for students in full‑day pre‑K through 5th grade, and at least 30 minutes for 6th graders in elementary settings, as a condition of accreditation. Schools may split this into two 20‑minute periods; recess must be supervised, unstructured play time, cannot be counted toward PE requirements, and cannot be taken away as discipline, with the mandate beginning July 1, 2026.
Why It Matters to the Make America Healthy Again Movement
The MAHA Movement supports this bill because it doubles daily recess for young students, protects it from being used as a punishment, and insists it remains true free‑play time instead of being folded into PE or academics. By tying recess minutes to accreditation and explicitly preserving unstructured, screen‑free play, SB 1481 embodies MAHA’s view that movement, outdoor time, and social play are fundamental parts of a healthy school day, not expendable extras.
Introduced
02/02/2026
In Committee
04/15/2026
Crossed Over
03/23/2026
Passed
04/22/2026
Enacted
04/22/2026
Sponsors
Ally Seifried
Republican Senator (OK)
Chad Caldwell
Republican Representative (OK)
Max Wolfley
Republican Representative (OK)