Oklahoma
Federal funding deadline puts Oklahoma 988 crisis lifeline at risk
Oklahoma lawmakers are moving quickly to secure the future of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline as federal funding for the service is set to expire at the end of September.
Without new funding, state leaders warn thousands of crisis calls could be redirected to 911, a system not designed to handle ongoing mental health emergencies.
Representative Kevin Norwood filed House Bill 4092 to create a dedicated trust fund that would support 988 services in Oklahoma if federal dollars are not renewed.
Why 988 matters
The 988 hotline connects people experiencing mental health crises with trained counselors by phone or text, often within minutes. Unlike 911, the service focuses on conversation, de-escalation and follow up care. State officials say the demand for 988 has increased steadily.
In the last month alone, the hotline answered more than 7,000 calls statewide. That figure is nearly 1,000 more than before the most recent surge in crisis calls, according to state leaders.
Norwood said the service plays a critical role for students, adults and senior citizens, especially those who may feel isolated or hesitant to involve law enforcement.
“988 is equipped with people who are ready to help you have a conversation,” Norwood said. “Sometimes that conversation is what keeps someone safe.”
What happens when funding runs out
Federal funding for 988 was appropriated for a limited time and is scheduled to end Sept. 30. Norwood said there is no guarantee Congress will extend that funding.
If the money runs out, calls currently handled by 988 could shift to 911 or other help lines, adding strain to emergency responders and reducing access to specialized crisis counselors.
“911 is for emergencies,” Norwood said. “988 is for when someone is struggling and needs help before it becomes an emergency.”
How House Bill 4092 works
House Bill 4092 would create a 988 Trust Fund to serve as a permanent funding mechanism for crisis services in Oklahoma.
The fund could receive money from state appropriations, federal grants or private donations. By law, the money could only be used for 988 and related crisis response services.
“I am creating the trust fund to hold whatever money does come,” Norwood said. “If any money does come from the federal government, we want to have a designated placeholder for it so that we’re sure it will continue.”
The hotline is currently operated in Oklahoma by Solari Crisis and Human Services, which also deploys trained responders for in-person wellness checks when necessary.
The human impact
Norwood said his support for 988 is rooted in more than policy.
He has spent more than three decades working with students and leading mental health assemblies in schools across the state. He often uses a tape measure to illustrate his message.
“If you pull it out to 80 inches, that’s kind of life expectancy,” Norwood said. “Then we come over to 12 and an eighth and say, don’t make a permanent decision based on this eighth of an inch of your life. Talk to somebody.”
He said conversations through services like 988 can interrupt a crisis before it becomes irreversible.
What Oklahomans can do
Norwood is urging residents to contact their state lawmakers in support of House Bill 4092.
Advocates say public support could be key as legislators debate how to prioritize funding during the current session.
House Bill 4092 is now eligible for debate as the Legislature’s regular session gets underway at the State Capitol.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KSWO) — Oklahoma lawmakers have voted to honor country music artist and Oklahoma native Toby Keith.
House Concurrent Resolution 1019 recognizes Keith’s lasting impact on music and proposes renaming a planned turnpike in his memory.
The concurrent resolution was authored by Rep. Jason Blair, R-Morgan, and Sen. Lisa Standridge, R-Norman.
The planned route will extend from Interstate 44 east to Interstate 35, then continue east and north to I-40 at the Kickapoo Turnpike.
Copyright 2026 KSWO. All rights reserved.
Governor Kevin Stitt has said he wants the State Superintendent of Education to be a governor-elected position instead of an elected one. Political analyst Scott Mitchell examines what this would mean for the state.
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt is urging lawmakers to send a state question to voters that would make the state superintendent an appointed position, as he named Lindel Fields of Tulsa to the role and announced a turnaround team to help implement his education agenda.
Is the State Superintendent an elected role?
Yes, the State Superintendent of Education is still an elected role. Elections are scheduled for Nov. 3, 2026.
Cons of making the superintendent an appointed position
Mitchell said making this position appointed could cause distrust among some Oklahomans
“Over the years, we’ve seen that capture of regulatory sort of is easy to do when you have term limits, then lobbies become more powerful, and they have all the history. It’s very complicated.
He also said if the position were to be elected, they would likely have the same agenda as the governor.
“Yes, and I think the governor would be absolutely saying, ‘Yes, they’re going to do what I want them to do.’”
Changing how the superintendent is chosen changes what the founding fathers set.
“Voters are going to have to say yay or nay if it gets to them, is whether or not we want to change the way that the founding fathers set up the way that we make sure that power is not concentrated in Oklahoma,” he said.
Is Ryan Walters’ term the reason Stitt wants to make this position appointed?
Mitchell said he believes the former State Superintendent played a role in the government wanting to appoint this position.
During his time as superintendent, Walters was known to have multiple controversies. He resigned in 2025, allowing Stitt to appoint Lindel Fields.
“His impact on this, even though he’s gone, is certainly evident,” said Mitchell. “Walters left midstream, right? And so the governor had a chance to appoint someone. Well, it wasn’t just an appointment; it was chaos before and relative calm and competency after. And that has given the governor an opening for people to see with their own eyes. Yeah, you can put somebody in, we’re talking about Lindel Fields, that appears to get up every day, not trying to find some, get a click on social media, but rather to do his job. And across the board, for the most part, this guy’s getting thumbs up.
Stitt said electing Fields has already given him some leverage since he has been well perceived so far.
“That allows a governor to say, Look, I’ve got some standing, some leverage to go to the voters and say, let’s put expertise as the main reason that a person’s there, not because they were able to win an election because they had some sort of populist or dramatic ideas.”
Who is running for Oklahoma State Superintendent?
Republican Ballot
- Sen. Adam Pugh
- John Cox
- Rep. Toni Hasenbeck
- Ana Landsaw
Democrat Ballot
- Craig Mcvay
- Jennettie Marshall
Independent
To learn more about each candidate, click here.
A full breakdown of candidates in the 2026 Oklahoma State Superintendent race, including party affiliation, background and key education priorities.
An Oklahoma highway could soon be named after the late country superstar, Toby Keith, pending new legislation.
House Concurrent Resolution 1019 would rename a proposed turnpike project the “Toby Keith Expressway.” This roadway is set to be built from Interstate 44 East to Interstate-35, continuing East and North to Interstate 40. This road is a part of the ACCESS Oklahoma Long-Range Plan, which is meant to update and expand the state’s turnpike system.
This resolution was adopted by the House on Wednesday.
“Toby Keith was more than a country music star. He was a proud Oklahoman who never forgot where he came from,” said Rep. Jason Blair, R-Moore. “Naming this turnpike in his honor is a fitting way to recognize a man who represented our state with ultimate patriotism and generosity.”
Keith was born in Clinton, Oklahoma, raised in Moore and resided in Norman. He died on February 5, 2024, in a battle with cancer.
“Over the course of his legendary career, Toby Keith never forgot where he came from or what he stood for,” said Sen. Lisa Standridge, R-Norman. “His Oklahoma roots shaped him, and his love of America defined him. He was a country music superstar and a true patriot. I can think of no better way to honor his memory than by naming this future stretch of Norman turnpike in his honor, creating a lasting tribute to the legacy he leaves behind.”
During his career, Keith sold over 40 million records and more than 20 number-one singles
Legislation authors believe this would commemorate the life and legacy of Toby Keith.
The bill will now head to the Senate.
To read the full House Resolution, click here.
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