OK Policy Blog

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2023 Census data: Oklahoma ranks as sixth poorest state

By: Oklahoma Policy Institute
September 12, 2024 // Updated: September 12, 2024
Lawmakers have options to improve Oklahomans’ well-being, access to prosperity Data from the Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey released Sept. 12 show that Oklahoma’s poverty rate was 15.9 percent, which was the nation’s sixth highest. The national poverty rate… Read more More...

Recent Posts

Naming committee chairs is important decision before the upcoming session (Capitol Update)

By: Steve Lewis
November 19, 2024 // Updated: November 19, 2024
The 60th Oklahoma Legislature is marching toward its constitutional organizational date on Jan. 7, 2025. The organizational day is a formality to officially elect the leadership, make appointments, adopt legislative rules and do the paperwork to begin the first session… Read more [More...]

The Weekly Wonk: Incoming class of legislators | We can’t normalize hate | Oklahoma children in underserved communities deserve to thrive

By: Oklahoma Policy Institute
November 16, 2024 // Updated: November 16, 2024
What’s up this week at Oklahoma Policy Institute? The Weekly Wonk shares our most recent publications and other resources to help you stay informed about Oklahoma. Numbers of the Day and Policy Notes are from our daily news briefing, In… Read more [More...]

A look at the incoming class of state legislators (Capitol Update)

By: Steve Lewis
November 12, 2024 // Updated: November 12, 2024
This year’s elections have produced an interesting mix of new legislators. The incoming Senate class is unusually large, while the new House members form a somewhat average-sized class. There is always a degree of excitement in meeting the new members… Read more [More...]

Weekly Wonk: Eliminating U.S. Ed. Dept. is bad for Oklahomans | State will thrive if we prioritize people over politics | New leadership at state youth justice agency

By: Dave Hamby
November 9, 2024 // Updated: November 9, 2024
What’s up this week at Oklahoma Policy Institute? The Weekly Wonk shares our most recent publications and other resources to help you stay informed about Oklahoma. Numbers of the Day and Policy Notes are from our daily news briefing, In… Read more [More...]

New OJA director good fit to address needs for state youth (Capitol Update)

By: Steve Lewis
November 5, 2024 // Updated: November 5, 2024
Timothy Tardibono, who was appointed last week by Gov. Kevin Stitt to be the new director of the Office of Juvenile Affairs (OJA), should prove to be a good appointment. His background, education and experience all point toward progress for troubled children, youth and families in Oklahoma. [More...]

The Weekly Wonk: Studying long sentences and mental health in Oklahoma prisons and jails | A community discussion about youth justice | Let’s not be last this election

By: Oklahoma Policy Institute
November 3, 2024 // Updated: November 1, 2024
What’s up this week at Oklahoma Policy Institute? The Weekly Wonk shares our most recent publications and other resources to help you stay informed about Oklahoma. Numbers of the Day and Policy Notes are from our daily news briefing, In… Read more [More...]

Long Sentences and Oklahoma’s Parole Process | Interim Study, October 2024

By: Cole Allen
October 30, 2024 // Updated: October 30, 2024
OK Policy's Criminal Justice Policy Analyst Cole Allen spoke with lawmakers on Oct. 29, 2024, about how long prison sentences impact the state's parole process. [More...]

Mental Health in Oklahoma Prisons and Jails | Interim Study, October 2024

By: Cole Allen
// Updated: October 30, 2024
OK Policy's Criminal Justice Policy Analyst Cole Allen spoke with lawmakers about how to improve mental health treatment in Oklahoma jails during an Oct. 28, 2024, interim study. [More...]

Modernizing the Sales Tax Relief Credit: It’s never too late to do the right thing (Capitol Update)

By: Steve Lewis
October 29, 2024 // Updated: October 29, 2024
The House Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee on Finance held a study about modernizing the state Sales Tax Relief Credit for low-income Oklahomans. [More...]

The Weekly Wonk: Work needed to support Oklahoma’s justice-involved youth | A look at the lawsuit filed challenging the purchases of classroom Bibles | More

By: Oklahoma Policy Institute
October 27, 2024 // Updated: October 26, 2024
What’s up this week at Oklahoma Policy Institute? The Weekly Wonk shares our most recent publications and other resources to help you stay informed about Oklahoma. Numbers of the Day and Policy Notes are from our daily news briefing, In… Read more [More...]

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