Senator John Haste gathered with local leaders and education advocates to celebrate the ceremonial signing of Senate Bill 701, a piece of Oklahoma legislation designed to directly impact higher education in the Tulsa region. As reported by the Oklahoma State Senate's official website, the bill authorizes the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to allow expanded course offerings at colleges and universities in the Tulsa area, directly responding to educational and workforce needs.
This legislative move is set to enable the area’s students to wholeheartedly embrace a full spectrum of educational opportunities right in their backyard. Senator Haste, who has been a driving force behind the bill’s journey, expressed its significance and his anticipation for its implementation. "This legislation realizes a vision nearly a decade in the making," he noted, highlighting the community-focused benefits and potential to streamline the path towards educational attainment for students in Tulsa, as stated by the Oklahoma State Senate.
Key figures from local government and institutions were present to witness and celebrate the event, including Senator Christi Gillespie; Jarrett Jobe, Vice Chancellor for Government Relations at Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education; Broken Arrow’s Mayor Debra Wimpee; and Mike Neal, President and CEO of the Tulsa Chamber. The signing ceremony marks not just the culmination of legislative procedures but also the beginning of a new chapter for students, starting January 2026, when Northeaster State University's Broken Arrow campus will begin offering lower-division classes, according to the Oklahoma State Senate.
The ceremony also served as a moment for Senator Haste to publicly extend his gratitude to a coalition of collaborators, crediting them with playing key roles in the bill’s development and passage. In a statement obtained by the Oklahoma State Senate, Senator Haste thanked "Representative Toni Hasenbeck, Senator Christi Gillespie, NSU Leadership, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, the Regional University System of Oklahoma (RUSO), Broken Arrow City Council and City Manager, the State, Tulsa Regional and Broken Arrow Chambers of Commerce, OCPA, community organizations, and Governor Kevin Stitt" for their unwavering support. This law signals to also strengthen regional economic development by keeping future professionals close to the industries that will someday employ them.
