by Bailey Ashbaker, Senior Policy Analyst and Engagement Specialist
State Updates
Friday, October 11 was the deadline to register to vote in the November 2024 elections in Oklahoma.
In-person early voting begins October 30 and runs through November 2. Early voting hours on the weekdays are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on November 2 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Oklahoma’s total revenue in September increased by $17.6 million or 1.2 percent over September 2023, State Treasurer Todd Russ recently reported, totaling $1.49 billion.
On October 10, 2024, Hunger Free Oklahoma testified at Senator Kirt’s interim study on decreasing poverty alongside OK Policy, Oklahoma Human Services, Oklahoma Health Care Authority, Oklahoma State Department of Health, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, and members of the Poor People’s Campaign. Participants in the study spoke on the current state of poverty in Oklahoma, barriers and gaps in services for those experiencing poverty, and potential solutions for the state to consider. You can read more about the content of the study in this article.
Upcoming Interim Studies:
- IS 24-085, Rep. Caldwell: Low Income Housing for Homeless in Rural Areas
- IS 24-096, Rep. Waldron, Sen. Kirt: Exploring County Jail Services and Diversion Programs in Oklahoma, 10/21/2024 at 10:30am
- IS 24-022, Sen. Deevers: Medicaid Funds Abuse
- IS 24-038, Sen. Deevers: Harm Related to Increasing Expansive School-Based Health Care
Federal Updates
Congress has repeatedly pushed back the timeline for passing a farm bill — which technically expired September 30. Negotiations are expected to resume once lawmakers return to Washington for a lame-duck session after Election Day.
Congress voted to pass a temporary three-month stopgap to fund the federal government beyond the September 30 deadline for fiscal year 2025. Congress now has until December 20 to fund the government. Speaker Mike Johnson is seeking to avoid a holiday shutdown and omnibus and opt to pass all 12 funding bills separately in a series of “minibuses.”
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