Oklahoma Legislature

In Oklahoma and around the U.S., elected officials are seeking ways to provide food assistance to needy residents as the federal government shutdown affects SNAP.

Former Oklahoma Department of Corrections Director Steven Harpe approved a million-dollar deal with a private vendor in early April to install AI call monitoring software in seven state prisons.

Food assistance for almost 700,000 Oklahomans in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, will be suspended next month because of the federal government shutdown. People use the program to help buy groceries for their households.

The Oklahoma Ethics Commission is suing Rep. Ajay Pittman, D-Oklahoma City, for alleged campaign finance fraud. The lawsuit was filed in the Oklahoma County District Court on Thursday.

The conversation highlighted how the changes will impact Oklahoma's health care landscape, including hospital finances and patient access.

Mental health service providers are continuing to sound the alarm about budget cuts and their impact on services across Oklahoma.

Some Oklahoma lawmakers are keen on regulating independent political expenditures — also known as 'dark money' donations — used to influence state and local elections. An interim study of the subject in the House Elections and Ethics Committee discussed the dangers and possible solutions to a growing concern.

A law passed this year requires the regulatory agency to explore a future with nuclear energy generation in Oklahoma. But the measure doesn't provide funding to secure a firm to complete the study.

Amid a political climate increasingly hostile to renewable energy, Oklahoma's public schools could be losing out on a crucial revenue source.

A study led by Sen. Mary Boren (D-Norman) included representatives from the renewable energy industry, a nonprofit and Oklahoma State University.