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2024 Census data: Oklahoma ranks as 8th poorest state

By: Dave Hamby
September 11, 2025 // Updated: September 12, 2025
Data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey, released Sept. 11, show that Oklahoma’s poverty rate was 14.9 percent, which means that more than 1 in 7 state residents live in poverty. While the state’s overall poverty rate… Read more More...

Recent Posts

Weekly Wonk: Modernizing state’s drug laws | Public education is Oklahoma’s north star to Top 10 | More

By: Hana Saad
February 25, 2023 // Updated: August 21, 2025
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...]

It is time for lawmakers to revisit Oklahoma’s possession with intent to distribute law

By: David Gateley
February 22, 2023 // Updated: August 21, 2025
Over the last six years, Oklahoma has seen a marked reduction in the number of people going to prison, with the largest reductions coming from drug convictions thanks to recent voter-approved justice reform efforts. However, there’s more lawmakers can do.… Read more [More...]

A look at the education plans proposed in the House and Senate (Capitol Update)

By: Steve Lewis
February 21, 2023 // Updated: August 21, 2025
There are two legislative plans now for funding Oklahoma common education. Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, announced and passed through the House Common Education Committee last week his $500 million funding proposal for schools. His proposal would give all teachers a… Read more [More...]

Weekly Wonk: Safe, affordable housing should not be a luxury | SQ 820 Fact Sheet | High quality representation in child welfare cases

By: Hana Saad
February 18, 2023 // Updated: August 21, 2025
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...]

State Question 820: Recreational Marijuana Legalization Initiative

By: David Gateley
February 13, 2023 // Updated: August 21, 2025
NOTE: This version corrects the amount of marijuana that an individual would be allowed to posses. [2-28-23] State Question 820 will be on the ballot on March 7, 2023.  Click below to jump to section: The Gist Background Information Ballot… Read more [More...]

Weekly Wonk: Proposed tax cuts would endanger public services | We can’t move forward if we don’t acknowledge past | Capitol Update

By: Hana Saad
February 11, 2023 // Updated: February 11, 2023
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 session could be pivotal year for Oklahoma (Capitol Update)

By: Steve Lewis
February 7, 2023 // Updated: February 7, 2023
The legislative session began Monday with the governor’s state of the state address to a joint session. Committee work will begin in earnest on Tuesday with at least two Senate committees — Judiciary and Retirement and Insurance — hearing bills… Read more [More...]

The needs of everyday Oklahomans outweigh tax cuts that benefit the wealthy

By: Emma Morris
February 6, 2023 // Updated: February 6, 2023
As Oklahoma’s 2023 legislative session begins, the perennial push for tax cuts that would shrink state revenue will likely return. In 2022, leaders of the Oklahoma House of Representatives championed tax cuts – primarily focusing on reducing the personal income… Read more [More...]

Weekly Wonk: A better Oklahoma tomorrow requires action today | Capitol Update | Lawmakers should focus on Oklahoma’s pressing needs

By: Hana Saad
February 4, 2023 // Updated: February 4, 2023
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 bills would ensure high-quality legal representation for children, parents (Capitol Update)

By: Steve Lewis
January 30, 2023 // Updated: January 30, 2023
One of the toughest challenges society faces is how best to protect and nurture children who are deprived of the care they deserve from their parents or other caretakers. Children have a long life ahead of them to suffer the… Read more [More...]

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