Sen. Nice prepares for interim studies

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Nikki Nice, D-Oklahoma City, is currently preparing for her first year of submitting and covering interim studies, with topics including education, maternal and infant health, tax reform, criminal justice reform, as well as economic development. Nice said interim studies give lawmakers and Oklahomans an opportunity to take an in-depth look at important issues ahead of the 2026 legislative session. 

“Once we are back in session, our committees are discussing and voting on hundreds of bills in a short time frame with less time to present all the data you need to really understand more complex topics. That’s where interim studies come in,” Nice said. “These studies give us time to hear from experts, learn what other states are doing, and help raise awareness among the Legislature and the public.” 

Nice’s interim studies include the following topics: 

• Modernizing the Oklahoma Child Tax Credit (CTC), exploring and finding solutions to update and expand the CTC policy to improve benefits and programs to better support families. 

• Examining the feasibility of establishing a minimum age of adjudication, with a review of child development and age-appropriate interventions. 

• Improving maternal health and reducing the infant mortality rate through improved access and adherence to prenatal and postnatal care for high-risk populations, particularly in rural areas. 

• Examining root causes of student absenteeism in Oklahoma’s public schools and identifying effective, fiscally responsible strategies for improving attendance. 

• Best practices for cash bail to promote public safety and efficient use of corrections’ resources. The study will examine and evaluate the effectiveness of Oklahoma’s current cash bail system in promoting public safety, reducing unnecessary pretrial detention costs, and ensuring a responsible and limited use of state correction resources. 

• Equipping small and rural chambers of commerce in Oklahoma for economic growth; examining the economic impact, while understanding the operational challenges and long-term sustainability of small and rural chambers of commerce across the state. 

“The Pro Tem of the Senate has approved my submissions and assigned them to committee, although the final decision on scheduling a hearing for each study is up to the committee chair,” Nice said. “I’ll be advocating with those chairs to secure hearings for my studies, because each study will examine policy that’s important not only to my constituents in Senate District 48, but to Oklahomans throughout the state.”

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For more information, contact:  Sen. Nikki Nice at 405-521-5531 or Nikki.Nice@oksenate.gov