Oklahoma Policy Institute

The 2021 session saw passage of economic justice reforms, but Oklahoma’s prison crisis demands greater action: Criminal justice reform was a lower profile priority in Oklahoma’s 2021 legislative session compared to previous years. Despite this fact, several significant reforms aimed at increasing economic opportunity for justice-involved families were signed into law. [Damion Shade / OK Policy]

Quartz Mountain renovation brings back memories: Legislative service is a privilege and learning opportunity that anyone who gets the chance will cherish the rest of their life. [Steve Lewis / Capitol Update]

Policy Matters: Move to make Juneteenth holiday long overdue: Juneteenth has been largely recognized as a Black holiday celebrating the end of slavery, but congressional action this week should help elevate Juneteenth to a national holiday for all Americans. [Ahniwake Rose / Journal Record]

OK Policy announces three new board members: OK Policy has announced the addition of three new members for its board of directors. Joining the OK Policy Board of Directors are: Susan Bynum, Beverly K. Carmichael, and Ashley Harris Philippsen, who are all Tulsa residents. [OK Policy]

Weekly What’s That

SQ 780 and SQ 781

SQ 780 and SQ 781 were ballot initiatives approved by Oklahoma voters in 2016. SQ 780 reclassified simple drug possession and some minor property crimes from felonies to misdemeanors. SQ 781 directed the Office of Management and Enterprise Services to calculate the savings to the state of these changes and to deposit that amount into a fund used by county governments to provide substance abuse and mental health services.

The measures went into effect on July 1, 2017. In 2019, the Legislature passed HB 1269 making the provisions of SQ 780 retroactive, which allowed those convicted of felonies for crimes that became misdemeanors following passage of SQ 780 to apply to have their sentences commuted by the Pardon and Parole Board. An initial group of over 450 inmates had their sentences commuted in November 2019.