Oklahoma City, OK — As of May 27, 2025, Governor Kevin Stitt has issued roughly 50 vetoes during this legislative session—his highest count since taking office—blocking a range of bills that passed with overwhelming support from both chambers.
Among them is Senate Bill 363, authored by Sen. Darcy Jech (R-Kingfisher) and Rep. Anthony Moore (R-Clinton). The bill sought to change accreditation rules for higher education institutions by exempting private religious colleges that offer degrees solely for religious purposes from oversight by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. It also included new consumer protection guidelines and eligibility standards for private and out-of-state degree-granting schools.
Despite unanimous approval in both the Senate and House, Governor Stitt vetoed the bill on May 6. In his veto message, Stitt said, “Private religious institutions shouldn’t have to play ‘mother may I’ with the state regents,” adding that the state shouldn’t interfere with a student’s right to choose a religious education.
Two days later, on May 8, Stitt vetoed another widely supported measure—Senate Bill 837. Initially introduced by Sen. Carri Hicks and later carried by Sen. Jech, SB 837 proposed a new Oklahoma City Zoo specialty license plate with a fee increase. The bill passed 46–0 in the Senate and 82–1 in the House.
Stitt dismissed the bill as frivolous, citing an “overzealous commitment to vanity license plates.” In a sharply worded message, he said, “It’s bananas that our Legislature has time to dedicate to creating more novelty license plates but doesn’t have the time to pass tax cuts.”
Both vetoes stand as of this writing, and no override efforts have been announced.
