Oklahoma House lawmakers will discuss childhood hunger, teacher recruitment and retention, energy needs and more this fall ahead of the 2026 legislative session.
House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, approved dozens of hearings requested by legislators to look into a variety of issues and how they impact Oklahoma.
The interim studies “serve as a valuable tool for lawmakers to take a deeper look at topics that may require further review or data gathering before formal legislation is considered,” according to a statement issued by Hilbert’s office.
A list released by the Oklahoma House on Friday, July 25, shows more than 100 studies will be held.
Hilbert said the studies help legislators prepare for the next session, explore ideas for new laws and build public support for those proposals.
House Speaker Kyle Hilbert approved several hearings for the interim study period.
Oklahoma House interim studies for 2025
Here are some of the approved studies that committees will be hearing during the interim study period, which will begin on Friday, Aug. 1, and end on Nov. 6.
Childhood hunger: According to Feeding America, one in four children face hunger in Oklahoma.Democratic Reps. Annie Menz, of Norman; John Waldron, of Tulsa; and Ellen Pogemiller, of Oklahoma City, requested this interim study to focus on childhood poverty, as well as causes and solutions. It will be held by the Children, Youth and Family Services committee.
Teacher recruitment and retention: Oklahoma’s education system ranked 50th out of 51 states, plus the District of Columbia, in WalletHub’s latest study. Rep. Toni Hasenbeck, R-Elgin, will lead a hearing to dive into what is actually happening in Oklahoma with teacher recruitment, retention and potential outcomes.
Strengthening relations among the state, tribal nations and municipalities: Led by Rep. Amanda Clinton, D-Tulsa, this hearing’s goal is to look at ways to strengthen intergovernmental relationships. It will do so by reviewing current policies, identifying best practices, examining barriers and exploring solutions, exploring other states’ models in intergovernmental relations and considering potential legislation or administrative changes.
Rep. Mark Chapman is one of the representatives who authored the Oklahoma Energy Needs proposal, which was approved.
Oklahoma energy needs: This hearing will be held by the Utilities Committee and will focus on providing data for energy resources. Proposed by Republican Reps. Mark Chapman, of Broken Arrow, and Mike Dobrinski, of Okeene, this interim study aspires to assist in making economic and policy decisions.
Ethics of AI use and AI in education: These interim studies will be a part of the same hearing held by the Government Modernization and Technology Committee, as requested by Rep. Arturo Alonso-Sandoval, D-Oklahoma City. Lawmakers will investigate the ethical responsibilities of artificial intelligence use and how the legal system may adapt to address them. They will also discuss ways to incorporate AI into Oklahoma’s public education system.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma House lawmakers will hold hearings on these issues in summer