Oklahoma Human Services (OKDHS) has received updated federal guidance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) authorizing the issuance of full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for November 2025.
On paper, Oklahoma’s minimum wage has been $7.25 since 2009. In reality, the starting wage for most entry-level jobs today is much higher with wages of $11 to $14 an hour common.
That fact undermines the entire narrative of those claiming government needs to set wages. They argue that employers won’t pay a penny more than legally required. But this is false. Employee pay is not the product of government edict, but of market reality. Employers must pay wages that attract workers. That’s why today’s entry-level wages in Oklahoma are much higher than the official minimum.
New data released by AARP reveals that 27 percent of adults in Oklahoma, approximately 835,000 people, are family caregivers, providing largely unpaid and unsupported care to aging parents, spouses and other loved ones.
This growing group of caregivers plays a critical role in the health and well-being of Oklahomans, yet many face emotional, financial and physical challenges without adequate support. “Caregiving in the U.S. 2025: Caring Across States” highlights the urgent need for policies and programs that support caregivers’ financial, emotional and workplace challenges.
Mike Reynolds and the Challenge to the Contingency Review Board
Analysis: Former state legislator Mike Reynolds has brought a case before the Oklahoma Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the Contingency Review Board (CRB), a small state body composed of the Governor, the Speaker of the House, and the Senate President Pro Tempore. Though seldom discussed publicly, the CRB has for decades exercised authority to approve certain financial decisions outside the normal legislative process.
Reynolds argues that this arrangement violates the Oklahoma Constitution’s separation of powers.
Lawmakers, local leaders, and citizens come together today at the Capitol to examine the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority’s (OTA) finances, land practices, and public accountability. Hosted by Representative Danny Sterling and Senator Lisa Standridge, you are invited to be part of the discussion.
