OKPOLICY.ORG
The deadline for House of Representatives members to request interim studies was last Friday, and the House has now published those requests. In the House, studies must be approved by the Speaker, which is expected to happen before July 24th. Studies are usually assigned to a relevant standing committee and held in August, September, or October. Their length is determined by the committee chair, but they typically last two to four hours. In rare cases, a study may last all day or span multiple days.
With the chair’s permission, the member who requested the study generally manages the agenda. Interim studies give legislators a deeper look at issues than they typically receive during committee meetings in the legislative session. Altogether, 120 interim studies were proposed, reflecting the broad interests of our state representatives and their constituents.
Several requested studies this year you might find interesting are as follows:
Rep. Cynthia Roe, R-Lindsay, requested a study on incarcerated women whose children are in the foster care system, with a focus on the services and programs needed before release to help these mothers prepare for successful reunification.
Rep. Tammy West, R-Oklahoma City, wants to look at whether alternative education programs in elementary schools could be a practical alternative to long-term suspension. The study will examine whether removing students from traditional classrooms while continuing academic instruction can lead to better educational and behavioral outcomes than extended school exclusion.
Rep. Ellen Pogemiller, D-Oklahoma City, requested a study of Oklahoma’s school accountability system. The study will examine how accountability metrics — such as school report cards, academic performance indicators, graduation rates, attendance measures, and other benchmarks — are used to evaluate schools and districts, identify areas for improvement, and guide education policy. It will also review best practices from other states related to accountability, continuous improvement, and school support.
Rep. Erick Harris, R-Edmond, requested a study of Oklahoma’s pretrial procedures in criminal cases. The study will examine how judges decide at initial court appearances whether an arrested person may be released before trial and under what conditions. Because these appearances often last only a few minutes and defendants frequently appear without counsel, judges may rely on a predetermined schedule tied to the alleged offense, which can lead to unnecessary detention. The study will review the effects of unnecessary pretrial detention and consider ways to improve the pretrial process.
Rep. Arturo Alonso-Sandoval, D-Oklahoma City, requested a study on how structured youth engagement opportunities — such as school-based extracurricular activities and accessible public recreational spaces — can promote positive outcomes for young people in Oklahoma. The study will assess participation rates and barriers to access, review evidence linking structured after-school programs to academic achievement, public safety, and youth well-being, and identify policy and funding options to expand these opportunities statewide.
Rep. Ronny Johns, R-Ada, requested a study on class size as a predictor of student behavior and literacy outcomes in Oklahoma public schools. Although state law sets class-size limits for early grades, related penalties include broad exemptions and are routinely waived. At the same time, many districts report increasing behavioral challenges and persistent early-reading gaps among their youngest students. The study will examine whether and how class size affects classroom behavior and literacy outcomes, including how larger classes may reduce individualized instruction, increase disruptions that hinder early reading development, and contribute to disengagement among struggling readers.
Reps. Meloyde Blancett, D-Tulsa, Nicole Miller, R-Edmond, and David Hardin, R-Stilwell, requested a study of the County Community Safety Investment Fund (CCSIF). The fund was created after voters approved State Questions 780 and 781 in 2016, which reclassified certain nonviolent, lower-level property and drug offenses from felonies to misdemeanors. The Legislature was instructed to redirect the resulting savings from incarceration to more effective rehabilitation programs, including drug courts, mental health courts, diversion programs, treatment, counseling, and related services. The study aims to identify actions stakeholders can take to improve public safety outcomes.
Finally, Rep. Sam Wargin Grimaldo, D-Oklahoma City, who was recently sworn in and made the shift from constituent to representative, wants to make it easier for citizens to have input into the legislative process. He requested a study to examine the current state of citizen participation, as well as the barriers and potential opportunities to increase it. The study will also examine approaches used by other state legislatures and how the implementation of citizen testimony affects the quality of legislation.
