Author: Steve Lewis

Oklahoma’s property tax cap proposal raises equity concerns (Capitol Update)

Property taxes are unpopular in Oklahoma. And an ill-advised initiative petition proposal, State Question 843, would eliminate property taxes on homesteads without replacing the funding for schools, cities, and counties. So, it’s not a surprise that House Speaker Kyle Hilbert,… Read more [More...]

The evolving limits of government liability under Oklahoma’s Governmental Tort Claims Act (Capitol Update)

Sovereign immunity was a common law doctrine brought to the United States from England that stood for the axiom, “the King can do no wrong,” meaning generally that a state and its political subdivisions cannot be held liable for the… Read more [More...]

Competing education proposals set the stage for legislative debate (Capitol Update)

The contours of the debate on how much the Oklahoma Legislature can accomplish this year for education are beginning to take shape in the House and Senate. The Senate took the initiative early when Education Chair Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, and… Read more [More...]

Senate plan would shift $254 million to schools by capping teacher retirement funding (Capitol Update)

Senator Adam Pugh, R-Edmond — with the support of Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle — made an interesting proposal for increasing common school funding by $254 million next year . Pugh is a candidate for State Superintendent.  The… Read more [More...]

Culture war and ethics bills stall in House committee (Capitol Update)

The meeting last week of the House Civil Judiciary Committee, chaired by Rep. Collin Duel, R-Guthrie, was somewhat unusual — three of the 29 bills on the agenda were voted down. It’s surprising these days to see much controversy in… Read more [More...]

OIDS budget request signals new focus on diversion and rural defense (Capitol Update)

Last week, the Senate Appropriations Public Safety and Judiciary Subcommittee — chaired by Sen. Todd Gollihare, R-Kellyville — held budget hearings from several agencies, including the Oklahoma Indigent Defense System (OIDS). Executive Director Debbie Maddox, on the job for less… Read more [More...]

Three new bills target rising home insurance costs in Oklahoma (Capitol Update)

Senate Minority Leader Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, has introduced three consumer-focused insurance reform bills aimed at responding to the recent significant increases in property insurance rates across Oklahoma. The first is Senate Bill 1435, which was passed out of the… Read more [More...]

Agency budgets are a piece of a larger state fiscal puzzle (Capitol Update)

First, a correction: Last week, I mistakenly reported the Office of Juvenile Affairs had requested an additional $7 million in their proposed budget for next fiscal year for level E group homes . The level E group homes are for… Read more [More...]

New Office of Juvenile Affairs budget request prioritizes importance of early treatment (Capitol Update)

NOTE: This piece was updated 2/2/2026 to correct the proposed budget request for level E group homes for youth in OJA custody who need intensive behavioral health treatment while living outside their homes. – – – The Office of Juvenile… Read more [More...]

What Oklahoma got right with tobacco lawsuit settlement money (Capitol Update)

Last spring, Oklahoma’s Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) announced its investment returns had allowed for an additional $150 million that would be awarded statewide under a “Legacy Grants” program. Following a selection process with 167 applicants, TSET began funding health… Read more [More...]