Please Nominate Child Advocates Who Better Our State

As summer ends, lawmakers officially begin analyzing issues of concern and planning policy proposals for 2027. These “interim studies” allow legislative committees to conduct hearings on proposed issues at the State Capitol between sessions. Here are some of those studies we at the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) feel are among the most critical. The list includes the study numbers, topics considered, the lawmakers who requested the studies, and committees that will consider them.  Studies being conducted by the House of Representatives include: 26-015 Methods of Dealing with Continued Delays in the Chain of Custody and Testing of Sexual Assault Kits and Storage of Non-Reported Kits - Requestors: Roe, Provenzano. Committee: Public Health. 26-022 Trancy and Chronic Absenteeism - Requestors: Lowe, Johns. Committee: Appropriations and Budget – Education. Combined with Study 26-080. 26-026 An exploration of alternative education in elementary schools vs. long term suspension - Requestor: West, Tammy. Committee: Common Education. 26-030 Health of the Childcare Industry Post Rule Changes - Requestor: Schreiber. Committee: Appropriations and Budget - Human Services. 26-031 State Incentives for Employer Participation in Childcare Costs - Requestor: Schreiber. Committee: Appropriations and Budget - Human Services. 26-033 Domestic Violence in Oklahoma - Requestor: Hefner, Ellyn. Committee: Criminal Judiciary. Combined with Interim Study 26-074. 26-034 Vapes, kratom, THC products, and other substances focusing on youth access, marketing, regulation, health impacts, and policy - Requestors: Pogemiller, Grego. Committee: Alcohol, Tobacco, and Controlled Substances. 26-040 Well-Ordered Schools: Discipline as the Foundation of Classroom Culture, Student Outcomes, and Teacher Retention - Requestor: Hall. Committee: Common Education. 26-053 Home Delivered Meals - Requestor: Gise, Emily. Committee: Appropriations and Budget - Human Services. Combined with Approved Combined with Interim Studies 26-091 & 26-092. 26-074 Domestic Violence Registry - Requestor: Timmons. Committee: Criminal Judiciary. Combined with Interim Study 26- 033. 26-075 Juvenile Statues - Requestor: Lawson. Committee: Appropriations and Budget - Human Services. 26-080 Youth Engagement Opportunities - Requestor: Alonso Sandoval. Committee: Appropriations and Budget – Education. Combined with Interim Study 26-022. 26-082 Child-Sensitive Arrest Policies and Practices in Oklahoma - Requestor: Turner. Committee: Criminal Judiciary. 26-087 Children’s Promise Tax Credit - Requestor: Miller. Committee: Appropriations and Budget - Human Services. 26-091 Government Provided Meals and Best Nutritional Practices - Requestor Roe. Committee: Appropriations and Budget - Human Services. Combined with Interim Studies 26-092 and IS26-053. 26-092 SNAP - Requestor: Pae. Committee: Appropriations and Budget - Human Services Combined with Interim Studies 26-053 and 26-091. 26-093 Dylan's Law II - Requestors: Pae, Gise. Committee: Insurance. 26-120 Artificial Intelligence Accountability in High-Impact State Services: Agency Use, Transparency, Human Review, and Public Trust - Requestor: Clinton. Committee: Government Modernization & Technology. Senate interim studies include: IS 2026-17 Domestic Violence Courts - Requestor: Brooks. Committee: Judiciary. IS 2026-31 Examining Foster Care Reimbursements - Requestor: Dossett. Committee: Health and Human Services. IS 2026-37 Domestic Violence Survivor Services in OK - Requestor: Gillespie. Committee: Judiciary. IS 2026-43 Childcare - Requestor: Hall Committee: Health and Human Services. IS 2026-44 Impact of AI Social Companion Use on Minors - Requestor: Hamilton. Committee: Technology and Telecommunications. IS 2026-51 Supervised Visitation Safety and Accountability - Requestor: Hicks. Committee: Judiciary. IS 2026-66 Intervention Strategies for Combat Domestic Violence and Juvenile Gang Affiliation - Requestor: Mann. Committee: Judiciary. IS 2026-79 Student Behavior & Discipline - Requestor: Pugh. Committee: Education. IS 2026-80 Civics Education - Requestor: Pugh. Committee: Education. IS 2026-89 State Government Funded Meals & the Health of Oklahomans and on Taxpayers - Requestor: Standridge. Committee: Health and Human Services. If you would like to follow any studies, contact the requesting lawmakers to receive meeting notices and learn more about the issue. You may attend these meetings at the Capitol or watch online at okhouse.gov or oksenate.gov. OICA will monitor these and other studies over the next several months. You can receive regular updates from OICA Policy Director Greg Sawyer at OICA.org by subscribing to our weekly newsletter.

This past week was a time of recovery for all who played a part in the 10th Annual OICA Heroes Ball. More than 400 people attended to celebrate the champions for children honored at the event. The room was filled with people from all backgrounds, retired and active child advocates representing many organizations, past and current elected officials who we are pleased to work with through mutual endeavors, and individuals who all share a drive to help Oklahoma’s children. Our keynote panel was a treat. The NAACP Youth Council, under the tutelage of civil rights icon Clara Luper in the 1950s and 60s, led the way for desegregation in Oklahoma City and started a movement that changed a nation. On August 19, News 9 in Oklahoma City and News on 6 in Tulsa will air a special by Bobbie Miller honoring their efforts on the anniversary of the sit-in. Hosting many of the living participants and the members of their Legacy Committee was an honor for OICA. We also heard from our other award winners, which included Labor Commissioner Leslie Osborn, who will finish her time in office in January; she is a key partner, working with OICA to protect child labor laws in our state. The family of the late U.S. Sen. Fred Harris joined us, allowing us to remember the senator’s many works in both Oklahoma and New Mexico, along with his leadership in Washington, D.C. The family and coworkers of Carmelita Skeeter helped us recognize and celebrate her 50th year with Indian Healthcare Resource Center of Tulsa, a remarkable accomplishment for a true leader in her field. Pivot, an Oklahoma City nonprofit which leads efforts to curb homelessness for young people in the metro area, received our organizational award. We are pleased to continue working with them to elevate policies to help reduce the unhoused population. We also announced the winners of our Anne Roberts People’s Choice Award for individuals and organizations. Anne was our longest serving executive director and a recognized leader nationally in children’s policy work. Trisha Koelsch from Calm Waters was the individual people’s choice award winner and Hearts for Hearing was our organizational selection by the more than 17,000 Oklahomans who voted. In truth, all 13 finalists are exceptional, and we appreciate each of them for allowing us to help elevate their work through this competition. Individuals who donated auction items for our live auction, silent auction, and our game prizes were very generous this year. I had the winning bid on the dinner with Mark Rodgers of the Sports Animal and KOCO Sports; I am looking forward to discussing all things in Oklahoma sports with him and some of my friends at the Goat Sports Bar in Bricktown. We also auctioned off dinner with Inzinga and Spinozi from the Sports Animal at Bush League Sports Tavern, and a lunch with Barry Switzer at Midway Deli and four suite tickets to an OU Football game donated by Dr. Martin Lopez. This is just a small sampling of the graciousness of our donors. We have a listing of all our sponsors who allowed us to brag about them on our website and our social media accounts for the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy. You will also be able to view the video segments prepared by our intern about each of our award winners there. I especially want to thank our staff, board members, youth governors and volunteers who made the event our best yet. Their hard work preparing and breaking down after was appreciated. Thanks also to my former legislative colleague, Don Armes, for serving as our auctioneer and Randy Cassimus for playing music and recording our keynote so others will be able to hear their story online. Team OICA appreciates all who made our event a success! Please mark your calendars for the final Saturday in July 2027 for our next gala. \

Oklahoma’s 4-H Junior Governor Riley Braden (left) of Creek County and Kid Governor® Katelyn Talley of Valliant Elementary School as Batgirl were among the youth volunteers at OICA’s 10th Annual Heroes Ball, held Saturday, July 25 in Oklahoma City. The pair of young leaders helped guide guests to registration and served as goodwill ambassadors throughout the evening . Courtesy Photo The 2026 National Governors Association (NGA) Summer Meeting is in Oklahoma City this week July 30 – August 1. This bipartisan event highlights the Governor’s Compact on Entrepreneurship. The governors will discuss an array of topics focused on “Reigniting the American Dream.” Opening ceremonies include a town hall on “Common Ground,” moderated by NBC News’ Kristen Welker, led by current NGA Chair and Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, with NGA Vice Chair and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Govs. Jared Polis, Matt Meyer, Josh Stein, Spencer Cox, and Phil Scott, plus Tim Shriver, UNITE CEO and co-creator of The Dignity Index. “Common ground” is a crucial topic not discussed enough in our nation. The United States seems increasingly divided, where I wish leaders would focus on what unites us instead of attacking others with differing opinions. Among those holding the highest elective offices, partisan power stoked by division outweighs consensus solutions. A unifying project of which I am very proud is Oklahoma’s Kid Governor® program, operated by Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA). The Connecticut Democracy Center’s award-winning civic education program provides lesson plans for state affiliates to share with 5th grade teachers who sign up. Teachers receive free lesson plans about the role of elected officials, how elections work, the importance of voting, and civic responsibility no partisan slant or bias. Teachers may also opt into an enhanced curriculum with extra lessons for classroom elections in which students select an issue they feel is important and then campaign on this in the classroom. Classroom winners are considered to have won their Primary Election and then will send a two-minute video to our staff. Then, our board members and the former governors of Oklahoma and their first spouses help select seven finalists. We prepare a ballot listing those seven and send those and their videos to Kid Governor® classrooms to hold a General Election. The candidate with the most votes serves as Oklahoma’s Kid Governor® for the next calendar year; the remaining finalists will serve as Kid Lieutenant Governor and state-level cabinet members. They travel around the state speaking to civic organizations or acting as advisors for youth-serving programs which desire a youth voice. Fifth graders across Connecticut, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, and Vermont elected their 2026 Kid Governors and they were sworn into office in the early part of the year. Here in Oklahoma, Katelyn Talley of Valliant Elementary School in southeastern Oklahoma was elected and she is doing an exemplary job. In Oklahoma, we also partner with our state 4-H program to hold a similar one-day conference to elect a 4-H Junior Governor who also travels and delivers speeches to peers, helping to inspire them to greater heights and to understand young voices matter despite being not old enough to vote. Our 4-H Junior Governor is Riley Braden of Creek County. NBC Nightly News featured three of the 2025 Kid Governors® in a story which you can view here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NW9seFeG7Y&t=315s Just like the actual governors at the NGA conference, current Kid Governors have their own platform issues such as inclusion for students with disabilities; cancer awareness; the danger of smoking, vaping and drugs; animal abuse; and homelessness. If we could find common ground and consensus for solutions with these five topics, can you imagine what kind of country we might live in? I am thankful that Governor Stitt, chair of the NGA this year, has been supportive of our Kid Governor® program here in Oklahoma. The fact that this program is only in four other states speaks volumes to me on where others should focus their vision. If a governor visiting Oklahoma this week might perchance read this column, you can learn more about signing up your state at https://kidgovernor.org/ and if you are a 5th grade teacher in Oklahoma, you can reach out to Licia Walters at lwalters@oica.org in our office to receive more information for signing up your classroom.

For those of us at the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA), it is Heroes Ball Week! Our annual gala will be at 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 25 at the OKC Farmers’ Public Market. We are excited to honor the champions which our board selected for their work. We are also equally enthusiastic about our Anne Roberts People’s Choice Award finalists. Each year, we take nominations from the public for their favorite child advocates of the year in both the individual and organization categories. Those nominations are narrowed by our board; the finalists are placed into a competition, and a public vote determines the winner. Voting closes at 5 p.m. on Saturday just two hours before the Heroes Ball begins. Attendees at the gala will have one final opportunity to cast a paper ballot for their choice. Our team will tabulate the votes, add them to the online voting, currently with more than 13,000 votes, and we will announce the winner at the end of the gala. This year, our finalists are, for the individual category: Lou Carmichael of Variety Care; Michele DeBerry, Ed.D. of the Oklahoma Autism Network; Meghan Hollingsworth of Pioneer Library System; Trisha Koelsch of Calm Waters; Maci Shoemaker at Cordell Memorial Hospital; and Julie Sisler, Ph.D. of Bethesda, Inc. For the organizational award: Bethesda, Inc.; Hearts for Hearing; New World Comics Superhero School; Oklahoma CASA; Oklahoma Parents for Student Achievement; Parent Promise; and Urban Bridge. You can go to https://tinyurl.com/ARPCAVidsVote and watch videos submitted by the nominees to learn more about them, then vote for your favorite before the online deadline Saturday. This is the 10th Heroes Ball, our primary fundraiser for the mission of OICA. Most know us for our work at the state and nation’s capitols to promote better policies for youth. We also run Oklahoma’s Kid Governor® program, hold a year-long leadership development program called Advocacy Boot Camp for adults (with a youth program hopefully kicking off next summer for high school sophomores), and we travel the state train organization members how to be effective advocates on policy issues. We strive to live up to the billing of “the voice for Oklahoma’s children” on policy solutions. I appreciate each person who has given of their time or donated to the organization to help us achieve our mission. Through our work, we come across many individuals who truly care about others and dedicate their lives to improving Oklahoma. Recently, we lost three of those individuals who are part of the “Capitol Family.” Two former lawmakers and a retired legislative assistant each passed, and I want to express my deepest condolences to their families and those they held dear. Rep. Bill Paulk served as Oklahoma Labor Commissioner and state representative during his years of service. He championed many causes tied to workers’ rights and labor laws, including allowing me to work with him on promoting the need for more student nurses in schools. Bill was a gentle soul and will be missed. Rep. Calvin Anthony represented Stillwater as a mayor and a state representative. I met him in 1992 when he decided to run for the Legislature. His was the first campaign on which I volunteered for a full election. He was one of the kindest men I knew, and he was “Loyal and True” to Oklahoma State throughout his entire life. Pat Paddleford became my adopted “work mom” at the Oklahoma Capitol when I was first hired in 1994. She worked with Speaker Pro Tempore Jim Glover through his entire time at the Capitol. When he retired, she became my legislative assistant when I was elected to succeed him; she also worked for Rep. Dan Sullivan and Sen. A.J. Griffin. She remained one of my “adopted moms” long after leaving the Capitol. I will miss each of them, as will those who knew them.

The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) will celebrate our 10th Annual Heroes Ball on Saturday, July 25. This fundraising gala recognizes and celebrates Oklahoma’s champions for children, and we would be honored for you to join us for this very special evening which honors some of Oklahoma’s best champions for children. This year, we are thrilled to present our Kate Barnard Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously to Clara Luper, and to the members of her Oklahoma City NAACP Youth Council for their peaceful protests that changed the nation. The Katz Drug Store sit in occurred in August 1958 with the mission to end segregation in Oklahoma City. That effort began a series of non-violent sit-ins across six years until Oklahoma City was no longer segregated. The movement spurred change nationwide. Marilyn Luper, Joyce Henderson, and Joyce Jackson, who as youngsters participated in the sit-in, will participate in a discussion that will serve as the Heroes Ball’s keynote address. All the living members of the NAACP Youth Council have been invited so we can recognize their accomplishments. Kate Barnard, for whom the award is named, was Oklahoma’s first female statewide elected official, serving as the Commissioner of Charities and Corrections. She is regarded as the foremost child advocate of her time. The Jay Scott Brown Individual Advocate Award will go to Carmelita Skeeter, the CEO of Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa (IHCRC). The award’s namesake, Jay Scott Brown, was an OICA Board Chairman who passed in 2022 following a career of service to the organization and other youth programs, including the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth. Carmelita Skeeter began her career at IHCRC in 1976 when she helped survey residents to assess health needs of the local urban Indian population. She was hired as one of IHCRC’s original four employees, becoming CEO in 1989. Carmelita’s dedication to improve the lives for the First Americans population is the focus of her professional life over 50 years of service. The Organizational Advocate Award will go to Pivot, A Turning Point for Youth, honoring their work on behalf of children who are homeless, disconnected, or otherwise at risk. Pivot has provided programs and services for the Oklahoma City community for more than 50 years, with a focus on youth services, counseling, educational and vocational services, prevention, intervention, and diversion services. The Henry Bellmon Public Servant Award, named after the former Oklahoma Governor and U.S. Senator, will go to Oklahoma Labor Commissioner Leslie Osborn. Commissioner Osborn previously served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives for 10 years, becoming chair of the powerful Appropriations and Budget Committee. As Labor Commissioner, she protected child labor laws in Oklahoma and elevated social issues important to youth. Commissioner Osborn will term out of office in January 2027. The Laura Boyd Public Servant Award will be presented to former U.S. Senator, the late Fred Harris. Former state Rep. Laura Boyd, Ph.D., served the Norman area from 1992 to 1998, when she became the first female nominated for governor by one of the primary political parties in Oklahoma. She owns and is the CEO of Policy and Performance Consultants, Inc. and is regarded as a national expert in improving the quality of life for children at risk. Senator Harris served in the Oklahoma Senate before a distinguished career in the U.S. Senate. He ran for President of the United States in 1972 and 1976. A strong leader in the civil rights movement, Harris publicly supported desegregation and the rights of Indigenous Americans. Harris served as a board member for New Mexico Voices for Children, a counterpart organization to OICA, until his passing in 2024. The Heroes Ball Masters of Ceremonies will be Haley Hetrick from News 9 and Joleen Chaney, current OICA Board Member and former anchor for KFOR Oklahoma’s News 4. For more information about the ball and ticket information, go to: https://www.oica.org/events

YOUR VOTE COUNTS panelists (from left) Joe Dorman, CEO of the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy, Scott Mitchell, Your Vote Counts host, and former state Rep. Colby Schwartz, take a moment on the show’s set before taping the segment which aired on Sunday, July 5, 2026, on Oklahoma City’s News 9 and Tulsa’s News on 6. – Courtesy Photo I was honored to serve as a panelist on Your Vote Counts alongside former Rep. Colby Schwartz and moderated by my friend Scott Mitchell. The segment regularly airs on the Oklahoma City and Tulsa CBS stations Sunday mornings around 7:45 a.m. I often have been a back-up when one of the regular panelists could not be on air. We discussed health care issues, our nation’s 250th birthday celebration, and what it is like on the campaign trail. Campaigns are often stressful and can lead to unsafe conditions. I have personally had friends who have been in automobile wrecks on the trail due to dozing off after long hours and sleepless nights. Tempers can flare internally when things are not going well. The physical toll the hours and miles can put on a body are also significant as there are parades to walk, doors to knock, and events to attend. Sometimes campaigns do not even make it to filing when not enough voter support is attainable. Often those candidates are the most balanced; moderates who are unable to successfully reach the “base vote” of their party. That base is voters who almost always stick with their party and show up every time the polls are open. They are further to the polarizing side, being more passionate and partisan than moderates in the two main parties. We see in both political parties, the MAGA wing of the Republican Party and the Democratic Socialist sect of the Democratic Party, messages appealing to their bases. Meanwhile, those who are moderates within the parties often are disillusioned, and those moderate voters often choose not to cast ballots. George Washington warned about parties being divisive for our nation, and we see it played out through campaign commercials which electrify the base. Even though I belong to a political party, I tend to agree with him that parties, and especially the extreme bases within, should not dictate policy solely. All voices should be heard. While we have come a very long way, we still have a long way to go as we create that “more perfect Union” the Constitution seeks. As this great experiment in democracy established by our Founding Fathers 250 years ago continues, many of whom even then violently disagreed with each other, I hope politicians can find ways to work together over the objections of those who believe in “my way or the highway.” Finding consensus, when neither side gets everything and both sides get something, often leads to the most rational solution. I mentioned that the two of us on the Your Vote Counts panel, a Democrat and a Republican who served together in the Oklahoma Legislature, had worked together before that on a race nearly 30 years ago. It was for a candidate who was like family to me and who I believed would do a great job if elected, even though he was not registered in my party of choice. Years later, when I ran, he supported me even though he was an elected official in the other party. We later authored a bill together during an economic downturn which would have provided the ability for local schools to collect more tax revenue locally should those voters choose to increase support for their school district. We need to move away from this feeling that you must hate those in the other party. We are a vast nation with almost 350 million stories shaping each American’s world view, while ours is a state with 4 million unique Oklahomans. As with the votes in elections, and with the decisions in legislative bodies, school boards, and city councils, the majority decides the solutions. “Decisions are made by those who show up,” as the fictional President Bartlet said in The West Wing. Be one of those who make the decisions by showing up to vote. You can watch the Your Vote Counts segment at: https://www.news9.com/Your-vote-counts-okc/your-vote-counts-reflecting-on-america-250-and-beyond

As we approach the Independence Day holiday, I wanted to share some important information so you can be prepared for the upcoming festivities celebrating our nation’s 250th birthday. Even though we are in a wet period, fires can still break out, much like what we see in states to the west of us. As always, thank you to the men and women with our professional and volunteer fire departments across the state as they help keep us safe every day. Oklahoma’s new “Rockets’ Red Glare Act,” passed by the Oklahoma Legislature this past session, expands fireworks sales in some parts of the state, but existing bans remain in effect in many municipalities. If you have questions regarding your community, call your local city hall and ask about what, if any, fireworks are legal in your city or town. As with all laws, actions which can cause harm to others are usually the impetus for creating statutory requirements. With this act, lawmakers chose to expand the right to shoot fireworks by lessening specific requirements, but the expanded right must also be balanced with responsibility. Those enjoying fireworks should use common sense by not risking property damage by shooting fireworks during a burn ban, dry season, or in locations close to buildings. One of the most significant changes under Senate Bill 1948 is the legalization of bottle rockets, an item which was prohibited in 1981 due to droughts the state faced and the greater likelihood of wildfires. Also, the new law states that no county shall prohibit private outdoor consumer fireworks for a noncommercial purpose, provided that such display is located on private property, that no county burn ban is in effect under state law, and there are no red flag fire warnings in effect. In short, there can be no sustained winds greater than twenty (20) miles per hour, the relative humidity must be higher than 25%, and the 10-hour dead fuel (woody materials up to an inch in diameter along with forest litter) is above 9% moisture. People lighting fireworks under conditions established by this new law shall notify the local responding fire department first. In 2025, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reported 15 fireworks-related deaths, most involving misuse and device misfire/malfunctions. An estimated 13,000 people were injured by fireworks last year, with an estimated 1,300 emergency room-treated injuries involving sparklers. The 15- to 24-year-old age group accounted for the largest share of reported injuries. The most frequently injured body parts were hands and fingers (35%) and head, face, and ears (22%). Burns were the most common injury, making up 38% of all emergency room visits. Here are some suggestions to help you stay safe during this holiday with CPSC’s Fireworks Safety Tips: • Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks, including sparklers. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit – hot enough to melt some metals. • Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap. • Make sure fireworks are legal in your area and only purchase and set off fireworks that are labeled for consumer (not professional) use. • Never use fireworks while impaired by alcohol or drugs. • Light fireworks one at a time, then move back quickly. • Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not ignited fully. • Follow all instructions and warnings on fireworks and never hold them in hand unless instructions specify to do so. Also, dogs have exceptional hearing and are often frightened by fireworks. More pups run away on the Fourth of July than any other day. Even indoors, they can cause damage by trying to escape the noise. Please ensure that your pets are wearing a collar and are microchipped in case they get away. I hope you have a safe celebration with these tips on this very special Fourth of July! 

Primary Election Day has come and gone for Oklahoma. Tuesday’s primary results led to many interesting developments. Of 25 legislative primary races with at least three candidates, 15 are headed for the Aug. 25 runoff. Only one incumbent, Sen. Dusty Deevers of Senate District 32, lost, while three other incumbent lawmakers moved to a runoff. There also will be a runoff for the Democratic nomination for United States Senate, which will be the only statewide Runoff Election. Congratulations to those candidates who won their respective races or advanced to a Runoff Election. The General Election will be November 3. There are nearly 2,420,000 registered voters in Oklahoma, but 26% voted on June 16. Our state is not alone in voter apathy or disillusionment from negative campaigns as Texas, which saw a record turnout in their own primaries in March, still only had 24% of registered voters go to the polls. In Texas’ recent Runoff Election, just 10% of their 18.7 million voters showed up. Oklahoma will likely see a similar drop in our own runoffs due to fewer races. The total turnout for the vote on raising the minimum wage, State Question 832, was 630,085 votes, with 281,171 voting for the proposition, and 348,914 voting against it. The turnout numbers are even worse when you look at the gubernatorial votes cast. Among registered Democrats, only 172,366 votes were cast, while only 402,917 Republicans voted in their primary; just 575,283 primary votes cast for a voter’s pick for governor. Comparing the state question and the governor races, 54,802 more people voted on State Question 832 than voted for a candidate for governor. Most of that number likely were independent voters and registered Libertarians who had no Primary Elections this year. Independent turnout was expected to be less than normal because independent voters could only vote on the state question and were not allowed to vote in either of the party primaries this year. Crunching the numbers and presuming loosely that Democratic and independent voters generally supported raising the minimum wage, while Republicans and Libertarians largely opposed it, we can deduce that at least 54,000 Republicans voted in favor of raising the minimum wage. Chances are many independent voters opposed the state question, which would indicate even more Republicans voted for the wage increase. This suggests there is a bipartisan desire among Oklahomans to raise the minimum wage – but not the way this state question would have done it. The trigger to automatically raise the wage beyond $15 by tying it to the consumer price index was just too much for many Oklahomans per reports. Opponents also were concerned that high school students and adult workers would have received the same minimum wage, agricultural workers would see a similar pay bump, and the jump from $7.25 per hour to $15 was over three years. Now, the question is, “What’s next?” Many Republican lawmakers expressed concern over these opposition points, but would a different proposal fare better in a GOP-controlled Legislature with such across-party-lines support? If a plan came forward with a different process, such as no automatic trigger, a smaller ceiling than $15, a clause that would allow employers to pay minors at a lower pay scale, a clause for an agricultural exemption, or a slower schedule for raising the minimum wage – such as two years between pay jumps – would that generate greater support? Would these provisions give lawmakers leeway to adopt a different minimum wage increase? Regardless, 55.38% of the one-fourth of eligible voters who showed up to the polls last Tuesday made the decision for four million Oklahomans that this proposal was unacceptable. It remains to be seen what the next step will be, but this conversation is likely not over as the proponents proclaimed they will go back to the drawing board with a different plan. Time will tell what happens next with a minimum wage adjustment. 

As the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) works to improve the quality of life for children, data drives our efforts. The Annie E. Casey Foundation (AECF) is dedicated to improving conditions for children across our nation. AECF was established in 1948 by Jim Casey (the founder of UPS) and his siblings to honor their mother, who kept the family together through hardship following the death of their father. The work of AECF over the past 37 years has created the annual KIDS COUNT® Data Book, showing where states either improved or worsened in child wellbeing. In Oklahoma, the KIDS COUNT® partner is our friends at the Oklahoma Policy Institute . AECF just released their latest report; it shows that Oklahoma continues to lag in child wellbeing. The data AECF collected placed Oklahoma in the bottom 10 of the 50 states. With rank of 44th, we move up two spots from last year’s ranking of 46 th , but that is nothing to cheer about. You can see the document at https://www.aecf.org/interactive/databook The scores track indicators from 2019 to 2024 in four categories: Economic Well-Being; Education; Family and Community; and Health. Each category has four sub-points. Data provided by each state are compiled and ranked. For the first time since its inception, states now receive a comprehensive score (from 0 to 1,000) in the Data Book along with a ranking. This year, the nation scored 547 in overall child well-being; state scores ranging from 271 in Mississippi to 838 in New Hampshire. Oklahoma received an overall score of 425, which was 122 points below the national average. Under Economic Well-Being, the areas examined are: Children Living in Poverty; Children Whose Parents Lack Secure Employment; Children Living in Households with a High Housing Cost Burden; and, Teens Not in School and Not Working. For Education, the topics are: Young Children (Ages 3 and 4) Not in School; Fourth Graders Not Proficient in Reading; Eighth Graders Not Proficient in Math; and, High School Graduates Not Graduating on Time. Within Family and Community, the data examined were: Children in Single-Parent Families; Children in Families Where the Household Head Lacks a High School Diploma; Children Living in High-Poverty Areas; and, Teen Births per 1,000. The Health categories are: Low Birth-Weight Babies; Children without Health Insurance; Child and Teen Deaths per 100,000; and, Children and Teens Ages 10 to 17 who are Overweight or Obese. For the 2026 KIDS COUNT® Data Book, Oklahoma tied with Texas for 44th for child wellbeing, with only Nevada, Alaska, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Mississippi ranking lower. Oklahoma’s individual rankings within the major categories are: 30th in Economic Well-Being, 37th in Health, 43rd in Family and Community, and 48th in Education. The state ranked 40th or below in seven of 16 indicators: Percent of children in poverty, which for a family of two adults and two children was below $30,900 in 2023 (19%, ranked 42nd). Percent of 4th graders who scored below proficient reading level (77%, ranked 48th). Percent of 8th graders who scored below proficient math level (83%, ranked 49th). Percent of high school students not graduating on time (18%, ranked 41st). Children without health insurance (9%, ranked 46th). Child and teen death rate (35 deaths per 100,000 children ages 1 to 19, ranked 40th). Teen birth rate (20 births per 1,000 females ages 15 to 19, ranked 45th). Since 2019, Oklahoma improved in seven of the 16 categories, worsened in another seven, and remained stable in two. Four of those seven were under “Education.” With the emphasis on education by our Legislature this year, I believe we will see gains in coming years. Mississippi’s education reforms, which we emulated, moved them to 16 th in education. Still, they were so poor in every other ranking, they fell below Oklahoma’s total rank. Working with lawmakers and showing data makes improvement possible here. Our profound thanks go to the Annie E. Casey Foundation for helping OICA make the case for improved child well-being!