OK Policy Blog

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Criminalizing homelessness is harmful and ineffective

By: Sabine Brown
March 30, 2024 // Updated: April 1, 2024
Proposals to criminalize homelessness are harmful and counterproductive. Research shows us that the best way to combat homelessness is to increase access to affordable housing. More...

Recent Posts

The Weekly Wonk: Immigrants are vital to Oklahoma’s well-being | Proposed changes to judicial nominating process are unnecessary and increase polarization | Throwing people in jail for experiencing homelessness doesn’t solve the problem

By: Annie Taylor
// Updated: March 30, 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...]

Proposed changes to the judicial nominating process are unnecessary and increase politicization (Capitol Update)

By: Steve Lewis
March 26, 2024 // Updated: March 26, 2024
The Judicial Nominating Commission assures qualified candidates for appellate judicial offices who are vetted on their merits, their judgment, and their perceived ability to interpret the law and constitution, not their association with a politician or one of his friends or donors. Competence counts. [More...]

Weekly Wonk: Fact Check: Has Oklahoma’s larceny rate skyrocketed since SQ 780 was passed in 2016? | Budget transparency progressing, but needs all players on board | The people’s legislative authority

By: Annie Taylor
March 23, 2024 // Updated: March 23, 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...]

Fact Check: Has Oklahoma’s larceny rate skyrocketed since SQ 780 was passed in 2016? No. 

By: Cole Allen
March 22, 2024 // Updated: March 26, 2024
Some lawmakers and others have shared OSBI data purporting to show a dramatic increase in larceny, shoplifting, or other property crimes. OSBI has said those spikes were created by changes in data reporting, not increases in crime.  [More...]

Oklahoma Constitution allows for people to legislate themselves through initiative petition (Capitol Update)

By: Steve Lewis
March 18, 2024 // Updated: March 18, 2024
Initiative Petition 446 is a classic case of why the members of the state constitutional convention included the initiative petition in our state constitution. The state legislature, like Congress, will not act on some issues in the face of powerful interests or fear of divided public opinion, as with some hot-button issues. In those instances, the people have a right to legislate themselves through the initiative process.  [More...]

Weekly Wonk: Every voice matters when shaping public policy | Rolling back SQ 780 would be expensive and ineffective | More

By: Annie Taylor
March 16, 2024 // Updated: March 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...]

Rolling back SQ 780 would be expensive and not address underlying problems (Capitol Update)

By: Steve Lewis
March 13, 2024 // Updated: March 13, 2024
There is no doubt that retail businesses are vulnerable to theft. A perfect solution has yet to be found anywhere in any state. But one must wonder if the solution Oklahomans passed in SQ 780 has been given a fair chance to work. [More...]

Weekly Wonk: Nex Benedict’s death shows policy failures, harms from inaction | Lengthening Oklahoma’s eviction timeline | Senate budget transparency efforts continue

By: Dave Hamby
March 9, 2024 // Updated: March 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...]

Lengthening the eviction timeline will increase access to justice for Oklahoma renters (SB 1575)

By: Oklahoma Policy Institute
// Updated: March 15, 2024
Extending the eviction timeline in Oklahoma will help tenants exercise their legal rights and prevent housing instability and homelessness. [More...]

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