Author: Steve Lewis

Election shakeups, leaderships changes will make for interesting ’25 Legislative session (Capitol Update)

Between incumbent losses, term limits, retirements, and the complete change in leadership in both chambers, the next session will surely be interesting. [More...]

Shropshire’s sudden departure from DHS (Capitol Update)

As a long-time practicing physician and agency administrator, Dr. Deborah Shropshire was exceptionally well qualified to lead an agency with responsibility for serving abused and neglected children, people with disabilities, and those suffering from the consequences of poverty.  [More...]

Oklahoma school year starts in chaos (Capitol Update)

House Democrats repeatedly have called for an impeachment inquiry against state superintendent Ryan Walters. But dissatisfaction among Republicans went public and spread among the legislators exponentially in this past week. [More...]

New federal grant should strengthen state policy for youth justice efforts (Capitol Update)

The Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs (OJA) has received a $1.1 million grant from the National Institute of Justice to examine the effects of Oklahoma's legislative and administrative reforms in the field of juvenile justice, which have resulted in an increased utilization of community-based services. [More...]

Law change in 2011 put power over public education effectively under governor’s control (Capitol Update)

Since passage of the 2011 law, the real power to govern public education in Oklahoma is in the hands of the governor because he appoints the board, and the board serves at his pleasure. If a board member does not vote the way he wants the governor can remove the member and appoint someone who will comply, which Gov. Stitt has done. [More...]

More than 100 interim studies slated for Oklahoma House in 2024 (Capitol Update)

Last week, Oklahoma House Speaker Charles McCall approved and assigned to committees more than 100 interim study requests by House members to be held before the next legislative session. Once again, the requests reflect the breadth of interests and issues addressed - or sometimes not addressed - by members of the legislature. [More...]

The history of the Sales Tax Relief Credit (Capitol Update)

An interim study this year would examining the benefits of modernizing the state Sales Tax Relief Credit to expand eligibility and raise the amount of the credit for middle and low-income Oklahomans.  [More...]

What are community schools? (Capitol Update)

Community schools represent a place-based strategy in which schools partner with community agencies and allocate resources to provide an integrated focus on academics, health and social services, youth and community development, and community engagement. [More...]

Implementing community schools would better serve child well-being in Oklahoma (Capitol Update)

There are numerous things that would benefit Oklahoma's 49th place education system, beginning with better funding. Adopting community schools would give many children a chance to overcome some of what life has dealt them. [More...]

Dispute over settlement proposal for mental health lawsuit points out incongruities (Capitol Update)

In Oklahoma (as in the rest of the country) criminal defendants are considered incompetent to stand trial if they are found by a court to be unable to appreciate the nature of the charges against them and/or are unable to consult with their lawyer and rationally assist in the preparation of their defense. [More...]