Author: Dave Hamby

Dave Hamby // dhamby@okpolicy.org

A fourth generation Oklahoman from Pawhuska, Dave Hamby has more than three decades of award-winning communications experience, including for Oklahoma higher education institutions and business organizations. Before joining OK Policy, he oversaw external communications for Rogers State University and The University of Tulsa. He also has worked for Oklahoma State University and the Chamber of Commerce in Fort Smith, Arkansas. A graduate of OSU's journalism program, he was a newspaper reporter at the Southwest Times Record in Fort Smith. Dave joined OK Policy in October 2019.

Recent Articles

In The Know: Lawmakers propose a state constitutional convention | Lawmakers advance major changes for Oklahoma schools chief, state Board of Education | Why Oklahoma shouldn’t put kids under 12 in court

By: Dave Hamby
March 27, 2026 // Updated: March 27, 2026
In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. OK Policy encourages the support of Oklahoma’s state and local media, which are vital to an informed citizenry. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the… Read more [More...]

In The Know: The paradox of Oklahoma’s affordable housing crisis | Gov.’s executive order calls for analysis of public schools’ ‘spending efficiency’ | Gender pay gap widens

By: Dave Hamby
March 23, 2026 // Updated: March 23, 2026
In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. OK Policy encourages the support of Oklahoma’s state and local media, which are vital to an informed citizenry. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the… Read more [More...]

In The Know: Oklahoma school district at center of first-in-nation ICE agreement controversy denies signing anything | House advances bill barring Oklahomans who don’t select party affiliation from the rolls | How HR 1 reshapes the safety net for immigrants

By: Dave Hamby
March 20, 2026 // Updated: March 20, 2026
In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. OK Policy encourages the support of Oklahoma’s state and local media, which are vital to an informed citizenry. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the… Read more [More...]

In The Know: Eviction filings push children into chronic absenteeism, academic failure | Oklahoma officials discuss data center pushback, social media hate | Trump’s DOJ lays groundwork to undermine confidence in midterms

By: Dave Hamby
March 16, 2026 // Updated: March 16, 2026
In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. OK Policy encourages the support of Oklahoma’s state and local media, which are vital to an informed citizenry. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the… Read more [More...]

In The Know: Oklahoma could collect $175M annually from federal immigration enforcement agreements | House rejects workplace ‘zero-tolerance’ expansion for medical marijuana | Stitt meets with president as he mulls Senate pick

By: Dave Hamby
March 13, 2026 // Updated: March 13, 2026
In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. OK Policy encourages the support of Oklahoma’s state and local media, which are vital to an informed citizenry. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the… Read more [More...]

In The Know: Oklahoma has the highest insurance rates, despite lower incomes | Judge denies governor’s request to intervene in city of Tulsa, Muscogee Nation lawsuit | Harold Hamm asked Stitt for Senate appointment

By: Dave Hamby
March 9, 2026 // Updated: March 9, 2026
In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. OK Policy encourages the support of Oklahoma’s state and local media, which are vital to an informed citizenry. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the… Read more [More...]

In The Know: Trump taps Markwayne Mullin for Secretary of Homeland Security | Open primaries state question fails to make it on to Oklahoma ballot | Contractors named their own prices on turnpike work, audit finds

By: Dave Hamby
March 6, 2026 // Updated: March 6, 2026
In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. OK Policy encourages the support of Oklahoma’s state and local media, which are vital to an informed citizenry. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the… Read more [More...]

Paying property taxes: What’s in it for me?

By: Dave Hamby
March 2, 2026 // Updated: March 4, 2026
At a time when calls for property tax cuts dominate headlines and dinner table debates, more people are asking a simple question: What’s in it for me? It’s a fair question. Why should I pay for services I don’t use,… Read more [More...]

In The Know: Property taxes are vital to the health of local government | Oklahoma AG won’t say if Trump administration push to access protected voter info is lawful | Advocacy alert: Bill would limit people’s power in future elections

By: Dave Hamby
// Updated: March 2, 2026
In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. OK Policy encourages the support of Oklahoma’s state and local media, which are vital to an informed citizenry. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the… Read more [More...]

In The Know: School choice programs grow in popularity — and cost | How a 2014 Oklahoma law protects problem property owners | Culture war, ethics bills stall in House committee

By: Dave Hamby
February 24, 2026 // Updated: February 24, 2026
In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. OK Policy encourages the support of Oklahoma’s state and local media, which are vital to an informed citizenry. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the… Read more [More...]