Oklahoma ranks among the bottom five states for overall child well-being in the 2025 KIDS COUNT® Data Book, a 50-state report of recent data developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation analyzing child well-being in post-pandemic America. Oklahoma ranked among the top half of all states in only two of those 16 indicators. The data show Oklahoma leaders must do more to invest in the well-being of Oklahoma children and families, including proven programs and services that can help them thrive.

For the 2025 KIDS COUNT® Data Book, Oklahoma ranked 46th overall for child well-being, with only Nevada, Mississippi, Louisiana, and New Mexico ranking lower. Oklahoma’s individual rankings on major categories were:

• 40th in economic well-being
• 40th in family and community,
• 43rd in health, and
• 48th in education (ahead of only Alaska and New Mexico).

Read the full story at Oklahoma Policy Institute.

This year's legislative session did not see the budget fireworks of 2024 or the historic education funding of 2023, but lawmakers still managed to add $25 million into the state funding formula, along with new programs and regulations.

Read the full story at KOSU.org

An Oklahoma City federal judge this week placed an indefinite ban on enforcement of a state law criminalizing undocumented immigrants living in Oklahoma.

The decision from U.S. District Judge Bernard Jones extends the two-week hold he implemented for House Bill 4156 on May 20 to last until he makes a final ruling on a lawsuit challenging the statute.

HB 4156, enacted last year, created the state crime of “impermissible occupation,” threatening fines and jail time for immigrants living in Oklahoma without legal residency.

Read the full story at Oklahoma Voice.

‘I don’t want my kids hearing that’: Oklahoma parents look to opt out of new social studies content

New academic standards for social studies classes include Bible teachings, doubts of 2020 election integrity

Frustrated with religious content and polarizing language added to Oklahoma academic standards, some parents say they plan to opt their children out of “ideologically charged” social studies lessons in public schools.

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Under the new standards, Oklahoma high school U.S. history classes will be required to have students “identify discrepancies” in the 2020 election results, including the “sudden halting of ballot-counting in select cities in key battleground states, the security risks of mail-in balloting, sudden batch dumps, an unforeseen record number of voters, and the unprecedented contradiction of ‘bellwether county’ trends.”

Read the full story at Oklahoma Voice

Lawmakers are running out of time to override some of Gov. Kevin Stitt's vetoes, which prompted some pushback from constituents.

There are several bills that lawmakers could override, including a bill that would require insurance providers to include mammograms. That bill, which was written by a lawmaker with breast cancer, was vetoed by Stitt.

"One in eight women in the United States this year will be diagnosed with breast cancer, one in six women here in Oklahoma. This is an issue that needs to be a top priority," state Rep. Melissa Provenzano said.

Read the rest of the story at KOCO.com

Gov. Kevin Stitt vetoed 21 bills over the past week.

Provenzano’s proposal was far from the only bill Stitt vetoed last week. Uncapping the veto pen he has used liberally throughout his seven-year tenure, Stitt has already axed 21 of the 281 bills sent his way this session, with more likely to come.

Read the full story at NonDoc

JeKia Harrison and Aletia Timmons have filed to run in the June 10 Democratic primary election for House District 97, which was vacated by former Rep. Jason Lowe (D-OKC). Lowe resigned this month after being elected to the Oklahoma County Board of Commissioners in February.

No GOP candidates filed for the HD 97 primary, meaning the winner of the Democratic primary will win the seat.

House District 97 includes Forest Park, Jones, Lake Aluma, Midwest City, Spencer, and parts of Oklahoma City. Lowe has represented the district since 2016, before his election to the District 1 Oklahoma County Commissioner seat.

Read the rest of the story at NonDoc.

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — On Friday, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt and the Oklahoma Division of Government Efficiency (DOGE-OK) announced savings of approximately $19.4 million through collective work with state agencies.

Agencies regularly submit projects with DOGE-OK, which are reviewed and shared on the department’s public website. The projects can include items like the elimination of costly contracts, replacing old processes with new technology, and reducing state-owned assets.

Read the entire story on MSN.com

After entering a four-man field and surviving a tight general election cut, Mark Nash has won the Edmond mayoral seat in a runoff against former Ward 1 Councilman Tom Robins, finalizing a new-look city council set to be seated this May. Meanwhile, Edmond Public Schools Board of Education District 5 incumbent Marcus Jones retained his seat as the district moves through its superintendent search.

Read the rest of the article at NonDoc.

House Bill 2106 by Edmond Republican Mike Osburn limits Oklahoma to five elections a year, with certain exceptions related to special elections called by the governor. The measure aims to increase voter participation by reducing voter fatigue.

As it stands, Oklahoma’s election dates are numerous and often scheduled at the pace of once a month. That’s a cap of 12 elections on odd-numbered years and seven on even-numbered years.

In a press release, Osburn called his bill a “common sense” way to streamline the voting process and keep people focused on their representation.

"Consolidating elections not only helps keep voters engaged but also ensures a more efficient use of taxpayer dollars and maintains Oklahoma's election security," Osburn said.