OKPOLICY.ORG
At the midpoint of Oklahoma’s current legislative session, policy proposals are still evolving. Some promise to protect children and strengthen services, while others could undermine hard-earned progress. As lawmakers continue their deliberations at the Capitol, policy efforts should focus on improving Oklahoma’s low child well-being rankings through improved service coordination and sustained investment in programs that help children and families thrive.
Efforts to improve services for youth are still taking shape
Several proposals this session aim to strengthen safety net support for children, whether they are in child welfare custody or involved in the state’s youth justice system. Senate Bill 1570 would have created a new state agency, the Office of Child Well-Being, by merging child welfare services with the Office of Juvenile Affairs by June 2027. The measure passed 42-1 in the Senate, with the author stating that efforts to merge these departments under one roof aim to provide a more holistic experience for children with unmet needs. There are currently 11 other states that have juvenile justice services under the same agency as child welfare, but the implications of such a change in Oklahoma are broad. With the measure no longer under consideration this session, future lawmakers considering if this proposal will ultimately benefit children must factor in careful implementation that centers the needs of children and families with input from all agencies and affected stakeholders.
House Bill 3638 would opt Oklahoma into the federal Summer EBT program, which helps families afford groceries during the summer months. Since the program was first implemented in 2024, Oklahoma’s governor has elected to opt out of receiving these funds, while several Oklahoma tribal nations have opted in and allowed non-citizens within their jurisdictions to receive the benefit. With nearly 1 in 4 Oklahoma children experiencing food insecurity, this bill would be a meaningful step toward reducing hunger among Oklahoma children. Another meaningful step forward for Oklahoma youth would be the full passage of SB 1806, which would extend foster care services to youth ages 18 to 21 who do not presently have a parent or legal guardian. The services would be voluntary for youth who meet certain criteria.
Another proposal, HB 1979, would have created a task force in Oklahoma to study and make recommendations to improve access to, delivery of, and coordination of early childhood services. This bill comes at a time when Oklahoma has eliminated a subsidy program that child care facilities relied on to keep their doors open, and many early childhood workers with a Bachelor’s degree are already underpaid. The measure narrowly failed, but it highlighted the need and growing interest for stronger collaboration and investment in early childhood systems.
Some efforts aimed at improving the youth justice system made progress, while others stalled in committee
Some efforts this session focused on improving services for children in the youth justice system. HB 3849 would modify a mentorship program for children of incarcerated parents to include children who are at risk of becoming involved in the youth justice system, not just those already in the Office of Juvenile Affairs custody. This measure has passed the House and is eligible for consideration by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. Approximately 8.6 percent of Oklahoma children have had a parent or guardian face jail time. This disruption is linked to increased risks of school difficulties, attachment disorders, behavioral problems, and substance abuse — in turn, these factors can raise the likelihood of future justice system involvement. Mentorship programs, like those outlined in the proposed bill, have been shown to reduce behavioral issues in youth and help youth develop positive relationships with trusted adults.
Another bill, SB 1805, would prohibit temporary staffing agencies from staffing facilities maintained by the Office of Juvenile Affairs (OJA). During a budget request hearing, OJA stated that they were using temporary agencies to fill staffing gaps at the Central Oklahoma Juvenile Center (COJC) in Tecumseh, which has recently come under fire for incidents that required local police involvement and resulted in a staff member and a young person in custody being injured. This measure would ensure that investment in the youth justice system is directed toward trained, consistent staff, thereby improving safety and outcomes for youth. This bill has passed the Senate and the House Government Oversight Committee and is eligible to be considered by the full House.
Another bill that would attempt to address safety and security for children in detention centers and secure facilities is HB 1746, which outlines procedures for when a young person housed in these facilities is considered “high-risk” to themselves or other people, including the use of solitary confinement. While establishing clear guidelines could limit misuse, the use of solitary confinement for children is shown to interfere with normal child development, traumatize youth, and exacerbate physical and emotional disabilities, in addition to causing permanent psychological harm. Any policy proposed in this area must prioritize minimizing harm to children, but the best policy would be to eliminate solitary confinement for children altogether. This measure has been approved by the House and is eligible for passage by the Senate Health and Human Services committee.
Other measures that would have ensured progress for youth justice reforms include SB 2097 and HB 1480, but both stalled in committee. SB 2097 would have established a minimum age of adjudication at 12 years old, with exceptions for more serious offenses. Adjudication is the court process for determining whether a child can be held criminally responsible or delinquent in court. Children’s brains, judgment, and emotional regulation are still developing, so involving them in court proceedings places unnecessary strain on public systems while failing to address the unmet needs that can lead to harmful behavior. Another measure that would have eliminated barriers for youth in the justice system was HB 1480, which stalled in committee last year, but is still eligible for consideration this session. HB 1480 would have eliminated detention fees for youth and given judges the ability to evaluate a young person’s ability to pay fines or fees, a process that already exists in Oklahoma’s adult system
Some proposals risk doing more harm than good
Some measures proposed this session are not productive in creating safety for youth. SB 1189 would renew funding established in 2023 for the School Security Revolving Fund, a pilot program to upgrade security equipment and establish school resource officer (SRO) programs. SB 1189 would add $50 million to the fund every 3 years beginning in July 2026. This bill is still eligible to be heard outside normal House and Senate deadlines because it is an appropriations spending limit bill, which is handled through the Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget Process.
While school safety is critical, increased presence of SROs at school is correlated with higher rates of exclusionary discipline, like suspension or expulsion, which is more likely to impact children of color or children with disabilities. These disciplinary practices are linked to eventual youth justice system involvement, particularly if they are disciplined multiple times. Resources may be better spent on programs that keep students engaged and supported, such as those offered by the Oklahoma Association of Youth Services.
Another bill, HB 3973, proposed building an additional secure care facility for youth in the custody of OJA in Manitou, Oklahoma, the bill author’s district. Oklahoma’s only secure care facility for juveniles currently has a 144-bed capacity, and had only 51 residents in November 2025. Not only would expanding this infrastructure for housing youth in secure confinement be unnecessary, but it would be counterintuitive — especially given that 38 to 58 percent of youth released from juvenile corrections facilities, like the one proposed in this bill, are found guilty of new offenses (as a juvenile or an adult) within two years, and 45 to 72 percent within three years. This measure failed during the first deadline, but it is important to mention because of the potential harm it could have caused.
More efforts are needed to address mounting issues for youth.
There has been some progress this session, but significant gaps remain. Lawmakers must prioritize policies that improve access to food, education, and coordinated care while ensuring that youth in the justice system are treated fairly and humanely.
Children need support systems that address the root causes of challenges, not policies that deepen them. As this session continues, lawmakers’ focus should remain on evidence-based solutions that keep children safe, strengthen families, and build a healthier future for Oklahoma.
