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Oklahoma's state budget bill for Fiscal Year 2026, totaling $12.59 billion, is now on its way to Governor Kevin Stitt for final approval. The Oklahoma Senate gave its nod to the budget on Thursday (May 22), which includes significant allocations such as $312 million for purchasing the Lawton Correctional Facility and $27 million in supplemental funding for the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.
The decision to purchase the Lawton Correctional Facility, operated by The GEO Group, comes after the company decided to end its contract with the state. The facility, housing about 2,300 inmates, has been described as the "most violent prison" in Oklahoma. According to The Journal Record, the purchase is seen as a move to get Oklahoma out of the private prison business. Representative Trey Caldwell, who chairs the House appropriations committee, emphasized that this purchase includes everything within the facility's parameters, from security cameras to the warden's house.
The budget also addresses the need for mental health services with an additional $27 million allocated to the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. This funding aims to enhance the state's capacity to provide mental health support and address substance abuse issues.
The budget bill's approval in the Senate follows a 27-1 vote in the House committee and a 20-6 vote in the Senate panel. The purchase of the Lawton facility will be funded with $238 million from the state's Revenue Stabilization Fund and $74 million from the General Revenue Fund.
Governor Stitt's approval is the final step needed for the budget to be enacted, marking a significant shift in Oklahoma's approach to corrections and mental health funding.