Representative Danny Williams

R

District 28

Hi, I'm Danny Williams and I represent the people of Oklahoma's 28th District.


representative

Leadership

Majority Caucus Vice Chair

59th Legislature

News & Announcements

Nov 5, 2025
Recent Posts

Williams Hosts Study on Life Without Parole Sentencing in Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Danny Williams, R-Seminole, hosted interim study IS25-115 , Life Without Parole Sentencing Review, which examined Oklahoma’s use of life without parole (LWOP) sentences, including an exploration of second look policies and their economic impact. The study discussed the growing number of states adopting second look policies, which allow courts to review life or long-term sentences after evidence of rehabilitation. "My goal for this study was to ask if our current sentencing practices are fair and if not, what a change should look like," Williams said. "There are other states that have implemented second look laws, and Oklahoma could benefit from a similar pathway." Colleen McCarty, executive director of the Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law, presented data showing the Oklahoma Department of Corrections’ daily cost per inmate is $67.53, totaling $24,648 annually and nearly $493,000 over 20 years, excluding geriatric healthcare costs. She noted that several states , including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah and Washington, as well as the Council of the District of Columbia, have adopted second look policies. McCarty added that Oklahoma’s recently enacted Survivors’ Act reflects similar principles and could serve as a model for future reform. Under potential proposals, adults serving LWOP sentences could become eligible for review after 20 years if they meet rehabilitation benchmarks, including educational achievements, program completions and positive conduct. Victims and survivors would be notified and given an opportunity to provide input during the process. For individuals sentenced before age 25, a review could occur after 15 years, with courts considering factors such as youth trauma, maturity and rehabilitation. Denied petitions could be refiled every five years. McCarty estimated that if just 10 people qualified per year, Oklahoma could save roughly $246,000 annually. The study also included testimony from community members and family members of incarcerated Oklahomans who have been affected by sentencing laws. "As a Christian, I believe in redemption and forgiveness for everyone, but people must show they’ve done the work to heal and change," Williams said. "They should be given the chance to prove it." The study took place on Oct. 21 before the House Public Safety Committee at the Oklahoma State Capitol.

Oct 28, 2025
Recent Posts

Williams Holds Interim Study on Foster Care Housing

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Danny Williams, R-Seminole, led an interim study to examine barriers to foster care participation and explore ways to expand safe, stable housing for Oklahoma children in foster care. The meeting focused on incentives, training and oversight reforms aimed at increasing the number of homes prepared to care for foster children. Oklahoma continues to lag behind peer states in placement stability, prompting lawmakers to explore actionable recommendations to strengthen the system. "We want to do the best we can for the kids we serve. What breaks my heart is they don't have a voice, and if we don’t speak for them, they don't get spoken for," Williams said. "The goal of this study is to find out what we can do to make things better for kids. A lot of improvements will have to be done at the local level, that is where the real benefits are going to come." Kylie Adams, a recruiter for foster homes with the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, highlighted challenges facing foster parents, including outdated pay rates and limited support for emergency placements. She stated that foster parents currently receive between $16 to $21 per day, with no increase in at least five years. Adams suggested raising emergency pay by $50 per child per day and creating specialized childcare facilities to support children while parents work. She also called for investment in front-line staff to improve retention and better compete with other states. Former foster child Kris Gilmore shared personal experiences highlighting gaps in the system, saying the biggest disconnect is that foster children’s concerns are often not heard or acted upon, and in some cases, they must repeat their concerns multiple times over the years. "A lot of folks downplay it as ‘you're just children, you don’t know what's best for you,’ and that is correct in most cases, but we do know when we are in danger and when there is a situation we don’t want to return to," Gilmore said. "This has had an extreme effect on my siblings’ ability to do well in life." Lindsay Crim with the Department of Human Services spoke toward the end of the meeting, thanking foster parents for their dedication and noting that DHS has several initiatives in the works, including a well-being system and increased community involvement, such as partnerships with churches. "Child welfare is not just DHS," Crim said. "It’s community involvement, juvenile justice, behavioral health, mental health, and simply providing natural care for our children." Williams expressed gratitude to everyone who attended the meeting and shared their experiences. "We are listening to foster parents and former children in care so we can understand the real-world challenges and deliver solutions that truly make a difference," Williams said. "Every child deserves a safe home and a chance to thrive." The study, Interim Study 25-109, was heard by the Children, Youth and Family Services Committee at the Oklahoma State Capitol.

Sep 19, 2025
Recent Posts

Williams Hosts Interim Study on Children’s Court Reform

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Danny Williams, R-Seminole, hosted an interim study this week at the state Capitol to explore how a unified statewide family court system could help improve outcomes for Oklahoma children in deprived cases. The study brought together child advocates, lawmakers from across the state and representatives from Texas to examine disparities in Oklahoma’s current family court system. The group discussed how specialized courts, like those operating in other states, could better serve children and families in the state’s care. "Oklahoma has an opportunity to strengthen how we handle cases involving our most vulnerable children,” Williams said. "By having judges who specialize in family and child welfare cases, we can make sure these matters are heard by someone who truly understands the system and the trauma many of these children have faced. We owe it to these children to build a court system that works for them." The study reviewed models from other states, including the Texas Child Protection Courts (CPCs), which are dedicated solely to handling Child Protective Services cases. CPC judges undergo specialized training in foster care, youth trauma and CPS procedures, allowing them to manage caseloads more effectively. Texas began with four CPCs funded through a federal grant and now operates 31 courts managing more than half of the state’s CPS dockets which are now funded by the Texas Legislature through General Revenue. CPC judges are appointed by regional presiding judges and serve as either associated judges or former judges. Their decisions are subject to de novo review by elected judges, ensuring a fresh look at each case if appealed. Much like Oklahoma’s Family Representation Advocacy Act, passed in 2023, which created the Office of Family Representation to ensure high-quality legal representation for children and indigent parents in deprived actions, a unified family court system would focus on consistency and expertise. Under such a system, judges would be assigned solely to family and child advocacy cases within their districts. Williams said Oklahoma already has part of the structure in place, which could make the transition to a specialized model possible. "We have the framework if we decide to go this route," Williams said. "It would just take some moving of the pieces around a bit to make it work for Oklahoma." Oklahoma’s 22nd Judicial District Judge Brett Butner, who participated in the study, said it is important to review and address Oklahoma's long-standing challenges in its child welfare system. "I am grateful for Representative Williams' invitation to discuss the difficult issues that judges navigate in our current child welfare system," Butner said. "It is exciting to see Oklahoma's leaders explore concepts and launch innovative programs, like the Office of Family Representation, to support families and strengthen our current system." The Oklahoma Office of Family Representation is expanding to Seminole County, located within the 22nd Judicial District, on Feb. 1, 2026. No formal legislation has been filed yet regarding a unified family court system, but Williams said he hopes the study will serve as a foundation for future policy discussions.