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

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

By: Steve Lewis
March 17, 2026 // Updated: March 17, 2026
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...]

Legislative Updates: Immigration (March 13, 2026)

By: Gabriela Ramirez-Perez
March 13, 2026 // Updated: March 13, 2026
Welcome to this week’s immigration-focused newsletter, where we recap the latest developments on this legislative session’s slate of immigration related bills. As always, for more details on the bills discussed, visit OK Policy’s Immigration Bill Tracker. State Developments House Bills yet… Read more [More...]

Weekly Wonk: Property taxes aren’t just bills — they’re the price of a functioning community. Lawmakers shouldn’t cut or change them without knowing the impacts. | Senate plan would shift $254 million to schools by capping teacher retirement funding | More

By: Oklahoma Policy Institute
March 8, 2026 // Updated: March 6, 2026
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...]

Legislative Updates: Immigration (March 6, 2026)

By: Gabriela Ramirez-Perez
March 6, 2026 // Updated: March 6, 2026
Welcome to this week’s immigration-focused newsletter, where we recap the latest developments on this legislative session’s slate of immigration related bills. As always, for more details on the bills discussed, visit OK Policy’s Immigration Bill Tracker. State Developments House March… Read more [More...]

Fact Sheet: Property taxes are vital to the health of local government in Oklahoma (2026)

By: Aanahita Irani Ervin
March 5, 2026 // Updated: March 13, 2026
Property taxes are essential for Oklahoma’s local communities. Also referred to as ad valorem taxes, they pay for the basics we all count on—public schools, safe roads, and reliable police and fire protection. Unlike other taxes, property taxes go straight… Read more [More...]

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

By: Steve Lewis
March 2, 2026 // Updated: March 2, 2026
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...]

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

By: Dave Hamby
// 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...]

Weekly Wonk: Eviction records should not create a lifelong barrier to housing | Culture war and ethics bills stall in House committee | Putting people before party | More

By: Oklahoma Policy Institute
March 1, 2026 // Updated: February 27, 2026
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...]

Legislative Updates: Immigration (February 27, 2026)

By: Gabriela Ramirez-Perez
February 27, 2026 // Updated: February 27, 2026
Subscribe to receive immigration updates by email each Friday during Oklahoma’s legislative session. Welcome to this week’s immigration-focused newsletter, where we recap the latest developments on this legislative session’s slate of immigration related bills. As always, for more details on… Read more [More...]

Oklahoma budget faces $571M shortfall: Low- and middle-income residents will be hit hardest

By: Aanahita Irani Ervin
February 25, 2026 // Updated: March 5, 2026
From OK Policy’s Fiscal Policy Analyst Aanahita Irani Ervin: At February’s Board of Equalization meeting, one urgent fact stood out: Oklahoma is shifting the cost of essential services onto low- and middle-income families. Year-over-year comparisons show the state is experiencing… Read more [More...]

Search the Blog