Senator Seifried Advances Bill Setting Guardrails for AI in Schools

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Ally Seifried, R-Claremore, has advanced legislation to put guardrails on the use of artificial intelligence in Oklahoma schools and ensure parents have a say in how the technology is used in their child’s classroom.

The Oklahoma Senate passed Senate Bill 1734, which creates the Oklahoma Responsible Technology in Schools Act, in a vote of 42 to 0.

This legislation establishes a framework for the use of AI in schools. It requires that student-facing tools be age-appropriate and used under the guidance of a classroom educator. School districts must also notify parents when AI is used in the classroom to give parents the option to opt their child out.

“Parents should always have a seat at the table when it comes to their kids’ education,” Seifried said. “As artificial intelligence becomes more common in classrooms, parents deserve to know how it’s being used and should always have the ability to decide whether their child participates.”

SB 1734 also directs the State Department of Education to develop guidance on the responsible use of AI and emerging technology in schools. Before the 2027-2028 school year, local school boards would also be tasked with setting district policies on this issue. Student-facing AI tools must be appropriate to the age and
developmental level of students, according to the legislation.

“The dangers of introducing kids to AI can quickly outweigh the benefits if there aren’t proper safeguards and protections in place,” Seifried said. “Senate Bill 1734 creates a framework for schools to responsibly introduce AI-powered educational tools in the classroom while ensuring students are still doing their own work and developing the critical thinking skills that will serve them for the rest of their lives. We can’t keep students completely away from AI, but we can set clear guardrails to make sure it supplements, rather than supplants, the hard work of our classroom teachers.”

Seifried’s bill now advances to the House, where it is coauthored by Rep. Anthony Moore, R-Clinton.

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For more information, contact: Communications@oksenate.gov