OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Trish Ranson, D-Stillwater, passed HB 1979 out of the House and Senate. The bill now heads to the Governor’s desk.

The measure creates an Early Childhood Task Force to study how Oklahoma delivers services to children ages zero through five and their families. Currently, 26 other states have implemented similar measures and are seeing positive results in school readiness, infant and childhood health, and access to care. 

“I am thankful for the passage of this legislation and the opportunity to better the lives and outcomes of children in the State of Oklahoma,” said Ranson. “This task force is a step toward streamlining services and addressing the issues faced by Oklahoma children and families. I am looking forward to using the information garnered by this task force to create real, meaningful solutions that improve outcomes for Oklahoma children.”

In 2024, data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey showed about 1 in 5 Oklahoma children are living at or below the federal poverty level.

In 2025, a report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation ranked Oklahoma 46th nationally in cases of child well-being for the third consecutive year.

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