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Newly formed Interagency Council on Homelessness of Oklahoma is needed now more than ever (Commentary)

The newly formed Interagency Council on Homelessness of Oklahoma, which is filling the void left by the shuttering of the governor's council. While our council is not officially a state entity, we will carry on our predecessors' work crafting a statewide plan to address homelessness, tracking data, and coordinating care among providers to ensure all Oklahomans have shelter. [More...]

The Weekly Wonk: Factchecking the gov’s claims about grocery sales tax cut | More leaders should quash election conspiracies | New federal grant should strengthen state policy for youth justice efforts

What’s up this week at Oklahoma Policy Institute? The Weekly Wonk shares our most recent publications and other resources to help you stay informed about Oklahoma. Numbers of the Day and Policy Notes are from our daily news briefing, In… Read more [More...]

Fact Check: Will Oklahoma families save $800 a year from eliminating the state portion of the grocery sales tax?

On Aug. 14, Gov. Kevin Stitt said that Oklahoma would again not be participating in a summer food program for hungry schoolchildren. In that announcement, his spokesperson suggested it was not necessary, in part, because "Governor Stitt delivered for families by signing the grocery tax elimination bill, saving Oklahomans an average of about $800 per year at the grocery store." Our fact check shows this is not true. [More...]

New federal grant should strengthen state policy for youth justice efforts (Capitol Update)

The Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs (OJA) has received a $1.1 million grant from the National Institute of Justice to examine the effects of Oklahoma's legislative and administrative reforms in the field of juvenile justice, which have resulted in an increased utilization of community-based services. [More...]

The Weekly Wonk: All children have right to education | Law change in 2011 gives public education control to governor | OK Policy, Together OK virtual listening sessions next week

What’s up this week at Oklahoma Policy Institute? The Weekly Wonk shares our most recent publications and other resources to help you stay informed about Oklahoma. Numbers of the Day and Policy Notes are from our daily news briefing, In… Read more [More...]

Law change in 2011 put power over public education effectively under governor’s control (Capitol Update)

Since passage of the 2011 law, the real power to govern public education in Oklahoma is in the hands of the governor because he appoints the board, and the board serves at his pleasure. If a board member does not vote the way he wants the governor can remove the member and appoint someone who will comply, which Gov. Stitt has done. [More...]

Weekly Wonk: Undocumented immigrants in OK contribute $227M in state, local taxes a year | Tribal-state legislative wrap-up | Don’t roll back progress on justice reform | Capitol Update

What’s up this week at Oklahoma Policy Institute? The Weekly Wonk shares our most recent publications and other resources to help you stay informed about Oklahoma. Numbers of the Day and Policy Notes are from our daily news briefing, In… Read more [More...]

More than 100 interim studies slated for Oklahoma House in 2024 (Capitol Update)

Last week, Oklahoma House Speaker Charles McCall approved and assigned to committees more than 100 interim study requests by House members to be held before the next legislative session. Once again, the requests reflect the breadth of interests and issues addressed - or sometimes not addressed - by members of the legislature. [More...]

National study: Undocumented immigrants contribute $227M in Oklahoma taxes a year

In Oklahoma, undocumented immigrants contributed $227.5 million in state and local taxes in 2022. Undocumented immigrants pay higher state and local tax rates (8.9%) than the top 1 percent of Oklahoma households (6.4%). [More...]

Weekly Wonk: Not-so-happy anniversary to the minimum wage | Everything you need to know about SQ:832 and the minimum wage in Oklahoma | Reclaim your power by voting in local elections

What’s up this week at Oklahoma Policy Institute? The Weekly Wonk shares our most recent publications and other resources to help you stay informed about Oklahoma. Numbers of the Day and Policy Notes are from our daily news briefing, In… Read more [More...]

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