Recent Articles

Bill Watch: End of legislative session is in sight

Yesterday Governor Stitt announced that he expects to have a budget deal by early next week — an event which typically signals that the legislative session is coming to an end. Lawmakers must adjourn by May 31st, but they can adjourn sooner. We expect the 24th, two weeks from today, to be a likely last day for this year's Legislature. [More...]

OK Policy adds leading budget expert to policy team

Oklahoma Policy Institute today announced that Paul Shinn, a budget expert whose work has included extensive leadership roles in Oklahoma state and local government budget offices, will be joining the organization as a Senior Policy Analyst. "I couldn't be more thrilled to welcome Paul Shinn as a full-time member of our staff," said David Blatt, OK Policy's Executive Director. "Nobody in the state has greater first-hand knowledge of budget issues than Paul, and he is also widely respected for his integrity, professionalism, and work ethic." [More...]

Bill Watch: JCAB is now the room where it happens

Last week marked another major deadline for this year's Legislature. Bills had until last Thursday to pass the full chamber opposite from where they originated. [More...]

Bill Watch: Best laid plans often go awry

On the eve of the last regular committee deadline for many bills, some legislation appears to have been derailed by feuding between the House and Senate. These bills might still be saved by some creative reinterpretation of legislative rules, but it's a reminder that we can't take a smooth process for granted, even in a Legislature dominated by one party. [More...]

Bill Watch: Beware the Ides of April

We have one week to go before the next big deadline in the Legislature. Legislative committees have until Thursday, April 11th for bills from the opposite chamber. Those that don't receive a vote by the deadline will go dormant until next year. [More...]

Release: OK Policy launches search for new Executive Director

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TULSA, OK (April 2, 2019): Oklahoma Policy Institute today launched a search for a new Executive Director to replace David Blatt, who announced last week that he intends to step down from his position once a new… Read more [More...]

Release: OK Policy announces that Executive Director David Blatt will be leaving later this year

Oklahoma Policy Institute announced today that David Blatt, its longtime Executive Director, will leave the organization later this year. Blatt intends to remain with the Tulsa-based think-tank through the transition process to a new Executive Director. “We are extremely grateful to David for the great success he has had in building OK Policy into an organization that is widely recognized and respected for its quality, credibility, independence, and integrity,” said Don Millican, who serves as OK Policy’s Board Chair. [More...]

Bill Watch: Whoa, we didn’t see that coming!

Every legislative session is a mix of the expected and unexpected. In this edition of our Bill Watch series, we look at some of the bills we are now paying closer attention to that have come from out of left field. [More...]

Joint Statement: Installment loan bill needs improvement to protect Oklahomans from financial harm

For Immediate Release Oklahoma Policy Institute along with a coalition of Oklahoma organizations and individuals released this joint statement on a bill that would allow a new high-cost lending product in Oklahoma: Last month, the Oklahoma Senate passed a bill,… Read more [More...]

Bill Watch: At a dead end

Six weeks into the 2019 legislative session, the House and Senate hit their second major deadline last Thursday. Bills that failed to pass off the floor of their chamber of origin are now dead for this session. [More...]