For many Oklahoma City families, buying a home is not an option. 

One lawmaker wants to study creative 3D technology to reduce construction costs. Some state leaders are optimistic about its possibilities. 

They hope to use the technology to solve Oklahoma’s lack of affordable housing. Greg Shinn with the Oklahoma City Housing Authority pointed to the data. 

“There’s a huge gap,” said Shinn, talking about the demand for affordable homes. “It feels like it’s overwhelming.” 

The OKC waitlist for public and Section 8 housing lists more than 29,000 families. “They’re considered severely cost-burdened,” Shinn said. 

He said many Oklahoma families face imminent chances of homelessness.  

“It takes one medical bill; your car breaks down,” Shinn said. 

Shinn’s office assists people with affordable housing – but it can’t keep up. “It’s just not enough when you look at these numbers,” Shinn said. 

Rep. Mickey Dollens, (D-Oklahoma City), is exploring private-sector solutions. “There’s an innovative technology that shows a lot of promise,” Dollens said. 

Dollens proposed an interim study to study the laws, regulations, and repairs needed to allow 3D-printed homes to be built at affordable prices. “Consider all the different ways that we could go about building these,” Dollens said. “This is gonna prove very beneficial for smaller houses.”  

Safety is on Dollens’s mind. He said the goal is to build quality homes without the high price tag. “We don’t wanna cut any corners,” Dollens said. 

 Dollens said limiting corporate control is also important. “A prohibition on any corporate ownership on these homes going forward,” Dollens said. 

Shinn said housing investment saves taxpayers’ money and creates jobs. “Those are lasting jobs because the housing will be sustainable,” Shinn said. “Things we never dreamed of are possible now.” 

However, Shinn believes the financial security of its people measures the health of a community. “We all benefit from that,” Shinn said. 

Dollens said the results of this study will direct them on their legislative priorities next session. Dollens said a company out of Austin, Texas called Icon is leading the way for 3D-printed homes. 

The move comes after Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, who is Catholic, signed legislation that requires K–12 schools and colleges that receive public funding to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom.

“Oklahoma kids will learn that the Bible and the Ten Commandments are foundational for western civilization. The left is upset, but one cannot rewrite history,” Walters said in a post on X.

The decision is already receiving some pushback, with some arguing that it violates the separation of church and state. The nonprofit Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) has threatened to “take action” against the directive in a post on X.

Walters contends that this initiative will foster cultural and historical literacy among students.

Citing Title 70 of Oklahoma’s education standards, Walters explained in a video announcement on X that the Bible is a “necessary historical document to teach our kids about the history of this country, to have a complete understanding of western civilization, to have an understanding of the basis of our legal system, and is frankly … one of the most foundational documents used for the Constitution and the birth of our country.”

“The Bible is one of the most historically significant books and a cornerstone of Western civilization, along with the Ten Commandments,” the press release read. “They will be referenced as an appropriate study of history, civilization, ethics, comparative religion, or the like, as well as for their substantial influence on our nation’s founders and the foundational principles of our Constitution.”

Of the 14 colleges and universities that requested increases in tuition, the Oklahoma State Regents of Higher Education fully approved 11 proposals for the 2024-25 school year.

Presidents of Oklahoma’s public colleges and universities presented their proposals for hikes in tuition and fees on Wednesday to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. The regents voted to approve or deny each request on Thursday.

The average tuition increase was 1.6% for Oklahoma residents attending public institutions for higher education. The highest request came from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College with a request for a 5.5% increase, or $9 per credit hour, which was approved.

“These students and their parents and their families have to pay these bills and stack debt on their family,” Regent Dustin Hilliary said. “So we take these tuition increases seriously.”

The regents rejected proposals from Eastern Central University and Rogers State University. Langston University’s proposal was partially rejected, with the 3% tuition increase approved but not the 3% increase in fees.

Regents Courtney Warmington and Hilliary were outspoken about voting against proposals from universities that received direct appropriations from the state legislature, including Rogers State University and Langston University.

“Institutions that go around this body and go to the legislature for direct appropriations for projects … didn’t do well today,” Hilliary said.

The University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University also received direct appropriations from the legislature. Oklahoma State University did not request any changes in tuition and fees and OU was approved for a 3% tuition increase.

The regents approved requests from:

• The University of Oklahoma for a 3% increase, or $9.72 per credit hour
• The University of Central Oklahoma for a 3.5% increase, or $9.85 per credit hour
• Northeastern State University for a 4% increase, ot $9.90 per credit hour
• Southeastern Oklahoma State University for a 4.6% increase, or $11 per credit hour
• Southwestern Oklahoma State University for a 2.2% increase, or $5.81 per credit hour
• Cameron University for a 2.8% increase, or $6.50 per credit hour
• Oklahoma Panhandle State University for a 2.5% increase, or $7 per credit hour
• Carl Albert State College for a 3.5% increase, or $5 per credit hour
• Connors State College for a 3.2% increase, or $5 per credit hour
• Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College for a 5.5% increase, or $9 per credit hour
• Western Oklahoma State University for a 3.3% increase, or $5 per credit hour
• Langston University for a 2% increase in tuition, or $4.52 per credit hour

Oklahoma Voice is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oklahoma Voice maintains editorial independence.