Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform’s main goal this session is to bring Oklahoma’s prison sentences more in line with the national average.

As state funding for higher education has risen across the country, Oklahoma has been one of five states that’s seen a decline in the last five years.

Oklahoma’s higher education leaders are asking the state legislature for $125 million. In the previous decade state lawmakers have slashed the higher ed budget by $265 million.

A controversial proposal in the Oklahoma state legislature would delay the age kids would be eligible to start kindergarten and put Oklahoma on-trend with dozens of other states. But some childhood experts say the trend may not serve Oklahoma kids well.

StateImpact followed legislators’ actions on education, criminal justice reform, Medicaid expansion and abortion.

The bill is endorsed by both the state’s optometric association and Walmart, who just a few months ago were on opposing sides of State Question 793, which voters ultimately defeated. Both sides spend millions of dollars on the campaign.