OK Policy Blog

Featured Read

2024 Census data: Oklahoma ranks as 8th poorest state

By: Dave Hamby
September 11, 2025 // Updated: September 12, 2025
Data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey, released Sept. 11, show that Oklahoma’s poverty rate was 14.9 percent, which means that more than 1 in 7 state residents live in poverty. While the state’s overall poverty rate… Read more More...

Recent Posts

ClassWallet case highlights ongoing power struggle between Gov, AG (Capitol Update)

By: Steve Lewis
December 15, 2025 // Updated: December 16, 2025
The sour relationship between Gov. Kevin Stitt and Attorney General Gentner Drummond made news again last Friday when Drummond withdrew from Gov. Stitt’s lawsuit to recover COVID-19 era funds from Florida company ClassWallet. In 2020, the Trump Administration released $39.9… Read more [More...]

Why raising the minimum wage is a win for Oklahoma’s youth

By: Jill Mencke
December 14, 2025 // Updated: December 15, 2025
• SQ 832: Information and Resources • What you need to know about the minimum wage in Oklahoma When people talk about raising the minimum wage, the focus is usually on adults trying to support households. But higher wages don’t… Read more [More...]

Weekly Wonk: Oklahoma agencies outline big needs for next fiscal year | Property tax revenue builds the foundation for our communities | Vandalism of Civil Rights statue should remind Oklahomans that our work isn’t done

By: Dave Hamby
// Updated: December 18, 2025
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...]

Oklahoma agencies outline big needs for next fiscal year (Capitol Update)

By: Steve Lewis
December 9, 2025 // Updated: December 9, 2025
See OK Policy’s FY 2026 Budget Highlights In his last year in office, Governor Kevin Stitt’s usual admonition to state agencies to submit a flat budget, or budget cuts, for legislative consideration during the upcoming session seems to have had… Read more [More...]

Weekly Wonk: Give where you live this holiday season | Oklahoma lawmakers file bills to help tackle Oklahoma’s teacher shortage | OK Policy’s work honored with national awards, lifetime achievement award for Angela Monson

By: Oklahoma Policy Institute
December 7, 2025 // Updated: December 6, 2025
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...]

OK Policy’s work honored with national awards, lifetime achievement award for Angela Monson

By: Dave Hamby
December 5, 2025 // Updated: December 5, 2025
The Oklahoma Policy Institute received five national awards for its work during the past year, and longtime Legislative and Outreach Director Angela Monson was honored with a lifetime achievement award during a Dec. 3 ceremony. OK Policy received five Graphies… Read more [More...]

Lawmakers file bills to help tackle Oklahoma’s teacher shortage (Capitol Update)

By: Steve Lewis
December 1, 2025 // Updated: December 2, 2025
A couple of bills prefiled for the next legislative session by the Chair and Vice Chair of the Senate Education Committee are thoughtful efforts to meet the challenge of Oklahoma’s critical teacher shortage. The lack of certified teachers is most… Read more [More...]

Weekly Wonk: SoonerCare “Work requirements” won’t work for Oklahoma | Will rising health costs force legislative action? | Fact Check: Is Walmart’s Thanksgiving meal really cheaper this year?

By: Oklahoma Policy Institute
November 30, 2025 // Updated: November 26, 2025
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: Is Walmart’s Thanksgiving meal really cheaper this year?

By: Kati Malicoate
November 25, 2025 // Updated: November 25, 2025
There’s a viral claim — being echoed by national and state politicians — that Walmart’s 2025 Thanksgiving meal is “cheaper than last year.” But there is only a savings because Walmart changed what’s in the meal — not because the… Read more [More...]

Will rising health costs force legislative action? (Capitol Update)

By: Steve Lewis
November 24, 2025 // Updated: November 24, 2025
With the legislative session set to begin in February, I’m wondering how or how much the upcoming health insurance crisis will affect the next legislative session. According to the American Hospital Association, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) passed… Read more [More...]

Search the Blog