Interim Studies in 2025 May Affect Oklahoma Mental Health Professionals
On July 2, 2025 the Oklahoma State Senate announced on it's Facebook page that senate interim studies have been assigned to their relevant committees and will soon commence.
As of the writing of this article, the Oklahoma House of Representatives have not yet announced which of its more than 150 proposed interim studies will be approved and assigned to a committee.
What Are Interim Studies?
Interim studies are formal, committee-led research sessions conducted by the Oklahoma Legislature during the period between regular sessions. These studies provide legislators with structured opportunities to explore complex policy issues in depth, gather expert testimony, and engage with stakeholders before crafting legislation for the next session. The studies are open to the public and serve as an important bridge between legislative sessions, allowing for thorough examination of issues that require more time and attention than the regular session allows.
Legislative Timeline and Interim Period
The Oklahoma Legislature operates on a specific annual schedule that shapes when interim studies occur. Regular sessions begin on the first Monday in February and end on the last Friday in May. The period between regular sessions – from June of one year to January of the next – is called the "interim session." During this interim period, legislators have the opportunity to conduct detailed studies on issues that will inform future legislation.
Timing and Deadlines
Based on recent legislative practice, interim studies follow a structured timeline:
Approval Process: Legislative leaders approve interim study requests submitted by members during or shortly after the regular session. Oklahoma House Speaker Charles McCall approved and assigned to committees more than 100 interim study requests by House members for the 2024 interim period.
Study Period: The studies will likely begin in early August and continue through the fall months.
Completion Deadline: All senate interim studies must be concluded by October 31, 2025, according to the senate Facebook post.
How Interim Studies Are Developed
The process begins with legislators submitting requests for interim studies during the regular session. In 2025, the Senate received numerous requests, with 90 interim study requests approved and assigned to committees by Senate Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton.
House Process: The Speaker reviews submitted requests and assigns approved studies to appropriate standing committees. There are currently more than 150 interim study requests by House members, demonstrating the high level of interest in using this tool for policy development.
Senate Process: The Senate Pro Tem approves study requests and assigns them to committees, with it being at the discretion of each respective chair whether to schedule a study for presentation.
Committee Scheduling and Conduct
Once assigned to committees, the actual scheduling and conduct of interim studies depends on several factors:
Committee Chair Discretion: It is at the discretion of each respective chair whether to schedule a study for presentation, giving committee chairs significant control over which studies actually occur.
Study Duration: The studies are usually allotted from two hours to all day, depending on the time needed and the wishes of the committee chairman.
Member Responsibility: The member who requested the study is responsible for obtaining and presenting witnesses and information to the committee.
Public Access and Transparency
Interim studies are designed to be accessible to the public and promote transparency in the legislative process:
Public Hearings: Interim studies foster transparency and public participation, as they often include public hearings and solicit input from people outside of the Capitol, ensuring that various perspectives are considered.
Online Access: Hearings will also be live streamed on the Senate website, allowing broader public access to these important policy discussions.
Scheduling Information: After committee chairs finalize interim study requests, hearing dates and times will be set and can be found on the Senate website.
Purpose and Impact
Interim studies serve several critical functions in Oklahoma's legislative process:
In-Depth Analysis: Interim studies are a great way for lawmakers to dig into topics that are important to Oklahoman as they craft legislation for next year.
Expert Engagement: These studies provide legislators with the opportunity to thoroughly investigate complex issues, gather relevant data, and engage with experts and stakeholders outside of the regular legislative session.
Stakeholder Input: The studies ensure that various perspectives are considered in policy development, creating more comprehensive and effective legislation.
Oklahoma Senate Interim Studies Most Relevant for Oklahoma Mental Health Professionals
Several interim studies announced by the Senate Pro Tem are relevant to Oklahoma mental health professionals.
25-022 was submitted by Senator Coleman and is entitled, "Sports Betting, why the heck don't we have it?" This study will, "look at the idea of sports betting in Oklahoma with all partners." This has been assigned to the senate Business and Insurance Committee.
25-023 was also submitted by Senator Coleman and isentitled "VPO Tracking." This will reportedly study, "how can a person who has a VPO against them be electronically tracked by the victim so the victim can know where they are. Could the victim and the offender both be tracked by Law Enforcement who would receive an alarm once a certain distance is reached." It has been assigned to the senate Public Safety Committee.
25-027 was submitted by Senator Dossett and is entitled "Examining Best Practices in Prenatal and Infant Healthcare." "The purpose of this study is to examine the difficult topic of pregnant mothers who are also battling substance abuse disorders. All of us understand that this is a dire situation for both mom and baby, but what is the best way to get them both the critical help they need and in the extremely short time frame necessary for baby’s growth and development in the womb, and for a successful birth and post-partum period for both? What are the best ways to support mom and baby long-term after those critical first months have passed?" This has been assigned to the Health and Human Services Committee.
25-029 was also submitted by Senator Dossett and is entitled "Examining the Feasibility of Voluntary Safe Gun Storage in Oklahoma. "The purpose of this study, as depicted in the title, is to examine the feasibility of a
voluntary and temporary safe gun storage option for individuals undergoing personal crisis. The intent of offering this option to Oklahoman is to assist anyone experiencing a crisis so serious that they are considering harming themselves or a loved one with their firearm." It has been assigned to the senate Public Safety Committee.
25-032 was submitted by Senator Frix and is entitled “Chris’s Law.” It explains that "This study seeks to examine the need for statewide policies to support students grieving the loss of a loved one. Prompted by the tragic murder of Christopher Jerome Johnson Sr., and the emotional and academic decline of his 15-year-old son in the aftermath, “Chris’s Law” would ensure students receive structured, temporary academic relief and mental health support following traumatic loss. The current lack of statewide standards leaves students vulnerable to academic failure, isolation, or emotional collapse due to inconsistent responses across schools. This interim study would explore how Oklahoma can implement a consistent, compassionate framework—such as temporary grade freezes, counseling access, and flexible academic expectations—to prevent further harm to students facing unimaginable grief. This proposal would place Oklahoma at the forefront of trauma-informed education policy." It has been assigned to the Education Committee.
25-036 was submitted by Senator Gollihare and is entitled "Prosecuting Failure to Report Child Abuse." This is "an interim study on the legal framework, prosecutor practices, and real-world implications surrounding the various “failure to protect” laws involving child sexual abuse, child abuse, and child neglect. The study will outline Oklahoma’s statutes and criminal charges that may apply when a parent, guardian, or caregiver fails to prevent harm to a child, despite having a legal duty to do so. It will differentiate among the charges using real Oklahoma cases, and analyze how these are investigated, enforced, and prosecuted across the state." It has been assigned to the senate Judiciary Committee.
25-077 was submitted by Senator Rosino and Senator Pugh and is entitled "Medical Licensure Boards." It will "look at consolidation of various boards." This study was assigned to the Health and Human Services Committee.
25-090 was submitted by Senator Weaver and is entitled "Oklahoma's Response to Human Trafficking - funding for certified victim service providers." This study is set "to assess service gaps and funding inequities and explore solutions that ensure trafficking victims receive comprehensive care." It was assigned to the senate Public Safety Committee.
While all the studies may impact Oklahoma mental health providers, Study 25-077 may be especially important for Oklahoma Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, and Licensed Behavioral Practitioners. Oklahoma LPCs, LMFTs, and LBPs became anxious when SB397, which would have extended the sunset date of the Oklahoma Board of Behavioral Health Licensure (OBBHL), was pulled from the legislative agenda earlier this year due to a disagreement between the OBBHL, the University of Central Oklahoma, Representative Mike Osburn and Senator Adam Pugh.
In a recent interview with Representative Osburn, Ms. Hayley Twyman Brack wrote "According to Osburn students from the University of Central Oklahoma were denied the ability to sit for their licensing exam, reportedly due to the Board not accepting their curriculum. Osburn stated that the University of Central Oklahoma, along with he and Senator Adam Pugh, had attempted to contact leadership of the Board of Behavioral Health Licensure to have a discussion on the rationale, but that their requests for a meeting with Board members were not granted. Osburn stated, 'in an effort to try to get everyone to the table, we pulled this bill back off the agenda.' " When asked about the chances of the bill not being signed into law during the 2026 legislative agenda, Representative Osburn stated that there was "no chance" that it would not be signed into law."
During the most recent OBBHL meeting on June 6, 2025 when addressing agenda item "19. Review of Memorandum of Understanding between the Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure (the Board) and the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) regarding academic qualifications for licensure, with possible Board discussion and vote.", Dr. Kelly Collins, the chair of the board, simply stated that the issue had been "resolved" before moving to the next agenda item.
It is unclear at this time if the consolidation of the mental health boards, the Oklahoma Board of Behavioral Health Licensure, The Oklahoma Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors, The Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Social Workers, or the Oklahoma State Board of Examiners of Psychologists, are within the scope of Study 25-077.
Content generated by ChatGPT 4o, cross referenced with Claude Sonnet 4. Additional content and editing by Micah Perkins, LPC, LADC
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