With the first part of the regular session of the Oklahoma Legislature ending in May, the work is far from over. Another special session is on the horizon, and a flurry of interim studies have been requested.

Starting next month until late fall, the legislature will host interim studies! These are formal research sessions that have the potential to shape future legislation. While not all of them are guaranteed to impact or form a bill later, they all serve to highlight ongoing issues (or progress) in our state.

Similar to proposed legislation, they can come from constituents or elected officials. Some legislators have their preferred niche, and others will work on nearly anything. Some put a vast amount of work into these studies regardless of the potential outcome. Interim studies show areas of concern or interest and can reveal a trend on what may be coming next session. For groups engaged in advocacy, it’s important to take a look at what is out there.

While the Senate has already confirmed their studies, the House official approval deadline is not until next week. Many studies are still under development and only have titles so far. In addition to the study’s assigned number, you will see in our list the Representative or Senator who requested the study and a short title, which has been provided by the author. As we learn dates and committee assignments to these studies, we will share with our community so that you may attend any of these studies to learn more about the subjects and our lawmakers’ responses.

Civil Rights & Voting

The rhetoric around elections, voting, and more that we saw in our past gubernatorial election resurfaced in some of the interim study topics selected. With subjects including dark money and antagonism towards ranked choice voting, it will be interesting to see what becomes of these subject areas.

There were multiple requests filed regarding tribal economic impact in our state and compacts, which Gov. Stitt has been notoriously targeting this past session. We also see a welcome focus on workforce licensure and development.

• Rep. Mickey Dollens: Attempts to undermine citizen-led ballot initiative process (HSP1006). 
• Rep. Denise Crosswhite-Hader: Different implementations for rank choice voting systems (HSP1059).
• Rep. J.J. Justin Humphrey: Dark money contributions in state elections (HSP1025).
• Rep. Arturo Alonso-Sandoval: Address the State’s workforce needs by removing barriers to licensing (HSP1108).
• Rep. Ajay Pittman: Tribal economic impacts on the State (HSP1107).
• Rep. Regina Goodwin: Progress made related to the recommendations of the 2001 Tulsa Race Riot Commission (HSP1063). 
• Rep. Charles McCall: State-Tribal Compacts and compacting authority (HSP1094).
• Rep. Ellyn Hefner: Workforce development and vocational rehabilitation for students with a disability (HSP 1082).

Education

An ongoing and painful development in our state, education remains a central focus of study in our state legislature.

• Rep. Kevin McDugle: A study on religion, the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights in Oklahoma public and private schools (HSP1003). 
• Rep. Jacob Rosecrants: Education solutions to make graduation from high school a better fit for students (HSP1007). 
• Rep. Chad Caldwell: Due process protections in higher education systems (HSP1025). 
• Rep. Ellyn Hefner: Oklahoma’s Promise and post-secondary school for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (HSP1085). 
• Rep. Melissa Provenzano: Identify causes and solutions for Oklahoma’s declining mental health personnel graduate counts (HSP1013).
• Rep. Anthony Moore: The state of Concurrent Enrollment (HSP1067). 

Public Health

Public health in both chambers saw a fair amount of attention for this interim study period. With several topics of children’s health and welfare, in addition to food insecurity, there will be much to discuss.

• Rep. Cynthia Roe: On allowing psychologists to have prescriptive authority (HSP1010). 
• Rep. John Talley & Sen. Kay Floyd: On the treatment of students with disabilities in schools, particularly the consequences of physical punishment (HSP1021). 
• Rep. Mauree Turner: The status of HIV in the state (HSP1060). 
• Rep. Mauree Turner: Increasing eligibility for free and reduced lunch programs in public schools (HSP1061). 
• Rep. Suzanne Schreiber: Cases and solutions to excessive medical debt in Oklahoma (HSP1069).
• Rep. Suzanne Schreiber: Lack of access to affordable childcare (HSP1070). 
• Rep. Jeff Boatman: Study on food inequity, amplifying existing food aid efforts (HSP1075).
• Rep, Jared Deck: Food insecurity in immigrant communities, particularly newly resettled Afghans (HSP1075). 

Housing

A main area of focus for our advocacy these past few months, housing saw two requests filed from the House of Representatives. We support opportunities to investigate and expand housing opportunities that are attainable for all.

• Rep. Nicole Miller: Housing opportunities for persons with criminal records (HSP1014). 
• Rep. Forrest Bennett: Successful affordable housing programs in other states for developments in our State (HSP1044). 

Criminal Justice

Always a heavy lift in our state, the area of criminal justice saw a wide variety of topics submitted. Marijuana and subjects around incarceration have several requests, while even court systems and fees see efforts as well.

• Rep. Danny Williams: On the technological modernization of the state court systems (HSP1020). 
• Rep. Rick West: On the known uses of the medical marijuana card and a review of the process to receive a card (HSP1016).
• Rep. J.J. Justin Humphrey: On restructuring the criminal justice system (HSP1025). 
• Rep. Cynthia Roe: The impact of medical marijuana edibles on children (HSP1029). 
• Rep. Jason Lowe: To examine the effectiveness of court diversion programs and court fees (HSP 1031). 
• Rep. Nicole Miller: Voluntary autism designation for driver’s license (HSP1036). 
• Rep. Kevin McDugle: How to prevent the execution of innocent people (HSP1040). 
• Rep. Ross Ford: On the responsibilities of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners relating to victims, the legal process, and best ways to assist to assist victims (HSP1051).
• Rep. T.J. Marti: Possible regulations for distribution of cannabis (HSP1066). 
• Rep. Judd Strom: On the detention of people in need of mental health care in pre-trial holding facilities (HSP1076). 
• Rep. Suzanne Schreiber: Resources and needs of drug courts and treatments available in rural Oklahoma (HSP1083). 
• Rep. Amanda Swope: On the juvenile justice system (HSP1086). 
• Rep. Toni Hasenbeck: Non-consensual pornography distribution and securing convictions (HSP1087). 
• Rep. Toni Hasenbeck: Domestic abuse, survivorship, and the number of women incarcerated with domestic abuse survivorship (HSP1091). 
• Rep. Andy Fugate: Women’s domestic violence issues (HSP1095). 
• Rep. John Waldron: Truth-telling initiatives and resource for survivors of child abuse (HSP1102). 
• Rep. Meloyde Blancett: On the criminal legal system (HSP1103)

CAIR Oklahoma has helped to develop content for three interim studies, one of which is focusing on the Afghan Placement and Assistance (APA) Program in our state. This program and the surrounding efforts have revealed areas of teamwork and volunteerism, but also a lack of social security and welfare for our residents.

• Sen. Carri Hicks: Afghan placement and assistance programs (SSP1031).

Criminal Justice

Oklahoma needs to be vigilant in evaluating and reforming topics in the criminal justice arena. The Senate interim studies in this topic show a greater emphasis on tort (a wrongful act leading to civil liability) and judicial reform; however, reform does not always mean it will alter these areas in a more equitable manner.

• Sen. Michael Brooks: Best practices for legislation relating to driving under the influence of drugs (SSP1009).
• Sen. Nathan Dahm: On judicial reform (SSP1012). 
• Sen. Jo Anna Dossett: Publishing arrest booking photographs for profit (SSP1017). 
• Sen. Jessica Garvin: On tort reform (SSP1027). 
• Sen. Brent Howard: On governmental tort claims (SSP1037).
• Sen. Brent Howard: Judicial reforms (SSP1039). 
• Sen. Darrell Weaver: Human trafficking and awareness education in schools (SSP1073). 

Civil Rights

A key area for advocacy, civil rights did not see many study topics compared to this year’s heaps of legislation around them.

• Sen. Jo Anna Dossett: On modifying TANF income disregards (SSP1015).
• Sen. Jack Stewart: Protecting against discriminatory hiring practices (SSP1068).

Housing

A topic that has become an intense focus for our government affairs team, one housing study is confirmed, in conjunction with the House interim study request.

• Sen. Julia Kirt: On the availability, safety, and stability of housing for all Oklahomans (SSP1031). 

Education

Although we have only earmarked one study of concern, it is a vastly problematic one at best. Sen. Standridge recently joined other legislators in a statement to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs in universities.

•  Sen. Rob Standridge: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs and their influence at State Universities (SSP1064). 

Public Health

The Senate side of public health studies shows a welcome focus on mental health among other concerns.

• Sen. Mary Boren: On ending homelessness (SSP1008). 
• Sen. Jessica Garvin: Opioid treatment clinics versus pain management clinics (SSP1024). 
• Sen. Jessica Garvin: Helping families navigate through mental health (SSP1026). 
• Sen. Jessica Garvin: Mental health treatment options (SSP1029). 
• Sen. Carri Hicks: Providing access to insulin for the uninsured (SSP1035). 
• Sen. Carri Hicks: Improving maternal healthcare (SSP1036). 
• Sen. Darrell Weaver: PTSD and mental health issues for first responders (SSP1071). 

To check out more of the CAIR Oklahoma Government Affairs Work, click below!