Rep. Ellyn Hefner, D-Oklahoma City, and Senate Democratic Leader Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, announced the first meeting of the Rethinking Paying Subminimal Wage to Persons with Disabilities Task Force to be held on January 29 at 10 a.m. in Room 206 at the Oklahoma State Capitol.
The task force was created through House Bill 1833, which became effective on November 1, 2025. It creates a panel of 11 people to prepare Oklahoma and its workforce for the transition away from Section 14(c) certificates, which allow sub-minimum wages for individuals with disabilities.
Rep. Ellyn Hefner is the House principal author of HB 1833.
“The 14c Task Force is essential to ensuring that individuals with disabilities have access to fair and equitable employment opportunities,” said Hefner. “Through collaboration, we can address challenges and work toward ALL Oklahomans having a living wage.”
“There are a lot of parents that are exhausted, trying to tell schools what they should already know,” said state Rep. Ellyn Hefner, an Oklahoma City Democrat who has a child with special needs.
The two Democrats made their comments on April 21, when members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives took up House Concurrent Resolution 1025. That resolution endorsed efforts to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education, declaring that closure was not only “consistent with the spirit of the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, but could ensure more efficient use of taxpayer dollars and improve student outcomes through greater state and local control.”
Congress recently passed the largest Medicaid cuts in our nation’s history. While some might see that as just a budget line item, here in Oklahoma, the consequences will be personal and devastating.
Nearly $1 trillion in federal Medicaid cuts over the next 10 years are coming, and for Oklahomans with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), this means one thing: the lifeline that allows them to live, work, and thrive in our communities is in jeopardy.
Oklahoma has made real strides in recent years.
We’ve invested in reducing our decades-long waiting list in hopes of becoming a no-wait state. We’ve increased rates for providers to help stabilize the workforce.
But those gains can quickly be erased if the federal match disappears or gets tied up in red tape from new work requirements or eligibility checks.
State Representative Ellyn Hefner, an Oklahoma City Democrat, has invited local residents to join her "for a Disability in Oklahoma Listening Session to share your experiences and perspectives on the state of disability rights, services, and advocacy in Oklahoma.
"As changes continue to affect our disability community, it's important that those directly impacted have the opportunity to be heard. I'm bringing together legislators, agency representatives, advocates, and community members to listen, learn, and better understand the challenges and opportunities facing Oklahomans with disabilities."
Hefner said, "Whether you're a person with a disability, a family member, caregiver, advocate, or provider, I hope you'll join us. Your experiences and ideas will help shape the conversations we're having at the Capitol and strengthen our work to ensure every Oklahoman has the opportunity to thrive."
SFFLC is gearing up for their annual JFK Awards.
The JFK Awards are an important annual event for SFFLC, honoring individuals who have made a meaningful impact in Oklahoma and celebrating the legacy of the organization’s work in the community.
This year’s gala will also honor an inspiring group of Oklahomans for their leadership, service and commitment to making a difference.
Today we had Josef McGuigan and Ellyn Hefner on the show to talk about the upcoming event.