OKPOLICY.ORG
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 Oklahoma Policy Institute. Some stories included here are behind paywall or require subscription. Subscribe to In The Know and see past editions.
New from OK Policy
Policy Matters: What’s your vision for Oklahoma?: Take a moment to reflect on your vision for our state. What does your ideal community look like? What opportunities do you want for your children, your neighbors, and yourself? Once you’ve thought about it, share it. Start conversations with your family and friends. Better yet, discuss your vision with elected officials. [Shiloh Kantz / The Journal Record]
Upgrading teacher salaries can reverse state’s growing teacher shortage crisis (Capitol Update): Instead of slashing income taxes and stashing cash away in various holding accounts, the efforts of these legislators could be greatly enhanced if the Legislature would demonstrate to teachers the state values their calling by vastly upgrading teacher salaries. [Steve Lewis / Capitol Update]
Oklahoma News
Voting rights, health insurance regulations among laws that took effect Jan. 1: Among seven bills passed during the last legislative session that went into effect Jan. 1 is legislation clarifying the right to vote for people with felony convictions. [Tulsa World]
- What laws go into effect January 1? Oklahoma introduces 7 new laws [The Oklahoman]
‘Like living in a war zone’: Oklahoma’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors mirrors Trump’s promises: Anti-trans rhetoric and policy characterized Donald Trump’s presidential campaign with promises to ban gender-affirming care for minors across the country. The president-elect’s proposal mirrors legislation that’s already in effect in Oklahoma, meaning the rest of the U.S. can look to the Sooner State for a glimpse as to what could come from a second Trump term. [The Oklahoman]
State Government News
‘One neck to choke’: Stitt says governor should appoint most statewide officials: Gov. Kevin Stitt has a simple solution to deal with statewide elected officials who fall out of favor with voters while in office: Let the governor appoint them in the first place. [NonDoc]
- Q&A: Gov. Kevin Stitt discusses plans for 2025 [The Journal Record]
Stitt post on graduation requirements sparks outrage: What is ‘Classroom to Careers’?: A social media post made by Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has sparked confusion and frustration among parents who see a potential change in the state’s graduation requirements as forcing their children into the military or careers if they do not attend college. [The Oklahoman]
- Oklahoma governor shares ‘classrooms to careers’ idea, former lawmaker reacts [Fox 25]
- Gov. Kevin Stitt launches ‘Classrooms to Careers’ initiative [KOCO]
Oklahoma House Speaker outlines his goals for legislative session: When Oklahoma House Speaker Kyle Hilbert commences the next legislative session, he plans to prioritize three issues — the state budget, a school cellphone bill and tackling workforce shortages. [Oklahoma Voice]
Kauger’s OK Supreme Court seat draws 14 applicants: The Judicial Nominating Commission has received 14 applicants for a vacant Oklahoma Supreme Court seat representing the northwest section of the state. Comprised of Oklahoma Bar Association-elected attorneys and a handful of political appointees, the controversial and opaque body will review the applicants and place three options before Gov. Kevin Stitt in early 2025. [NonDoc]
New Oklahoma toll rates go into effect; Drivers will see toll increases up to 20%: Drivers on the Turner Turnpike will now pay $5.40 with a PikePass and $10.50 with PlatePay to travel between Oklahoma City and Tulsa as tolls go up throughout Oklahoma. [The Oklahoman]
Compact with Cherokee Nation OK’d; Plate Pay now billing tribal tag holders: An Oklahoma legislative panel ratified a much-discussed vehicle registration compact with the Cherokee Nation on Monday, about 36 hours before the current agreements expire. [Tulsa World]
Oklahoma pay-per-mile proposal gets no traction: A recommendation to implement a voluntary pay-per-mile program to offset projected declining motor fuel tax revenue appears to be shelved. [Oklahoma Voice]
Seifried files bill to limit phones in schools: Sen. Ally Seifried, R-Claremore, has filed Senate Bill 139, which instructs all public school districts to adopt policies banning student cell phone use from “bell to bell” during the school day. [The Journal Record]
New Oklahoma bill could ban red dye 40, other additives from products sold in state: Oklahoma could join the growing list of states banning artificial dyes from food products if a new bill is passed this legislative session. [The Oklahoman]
New Oklahoma legislation would give protection to children of online influencers: Oklahoma children featured in social media content could gain protection and a portion of any money earned if a proposed bill makes it through the upcoming legislative session. [The Oklahoman]
Sen. Goodwin tries again on reparations, school board pay: A persistent advocate of reparations for Tulsa’s 1921 Race Massacre, Sen. Regina Goodwin of Tulsa has filed a bill seeking $300 million in compensation to families affected by that deadly and destructive event. She also wants school board members to be paid more than the $25 a meeting they now receive. [Tulsa World]
Opinion: Caution urged at Oklahoma Capitol when considering budget plan: Oklahoma’s state revenue has peaked, and projections show significant declines in available funds for the next fiscal year. In light of these challenges, state leaders must adopt a cautious fiscal strategy to safeguard economic stability. [Mike Mazzei / Tulsa World]
Opinion: Delivering on our promise of broadband to rural Oklahoma: In the latest release of the Federal Communication Commission’s internet service data, Oklahoma ranked fourth in the country in reducing the number of homes and businesses without internet. Through our programs and the work from the private sector, Oklahomans are getting connected like never before. [Mike Sanders / Tulsa World]
Federal Government News
Axing U.S. Department of Education has political support, funding questions: As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to return to the Oval Office, the Republican goal to abolish the U.S. Department of Education is back on the table with the support of Oklahoma’s U.S. House delegation and the state’s superintendent of public instruction. [NonDoc]
Markwayne Mullin says Elon Musk will ‘figure out’ Social Security: Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin took to a stage in Arizona last week to speak to attendees at a conference hosted by a conservative nonprofit. [Public Radio Tulsa]
Editorial: If Sens. James Lankford and Rapheal Warnock can work together, everyone can: The U.S. Senate’s only ordained preachers, who are often on different sides of political issues, sat down recently to talk about bringing down America’s temperature. It’s a 20-minute conversation worth watching. [Tulsa World]
Tribal Nations News
DOJ sues DAs Carol Iski, Matt Ballard to stop prosecuting Indians in Indian Country: Citing “fundamental principles of federal Indian law that have been in place since the founding era and are deeply rooted in the United States Constitution,” the U.S. Department of Justice sued a pair of Oklahoma district attorneys Monday in an effort to stop them from prosecuting tribal citizens for crimes committed within Indian Country reservations. [NonDoc]
- DOJ sues eastern Oklahoma DAs for violating tribal sovereignty in Native American prosecutions [Public Radio Tulsa]
- Federal government seeks injunctions against two Tulsa-area DAs [Tulsa World]
Education News
Oklahoma judge issues split ruling in student pronoun case: A Cleveland County judge has issued a split ruling in a closely watched lawsuit regarding the state Board of Education’s administrative rules process under state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters and a Moore student prevented by one of those rules from changing their pronouns in student records. [The Oklahoman]
Judge asked to compel Walters to answer discovery questions in wrongful-termination suits: An attorney for two former Oklahoma State Department of Education employees who have sued state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters for wrongful termination is asking a federal judge to compel Walters to answer questions during the discovery phase of the lawsuits. [The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma taxpayers paid tens of thousands for education board’s former attorney: Oklahoma taxpayers paid an Edmond attorney who served for almost a year as the contracted lawyer for the Oklahoma State Board of Education — and whose disagreement with the state attorney general eventually led to her ouster in October — nearly $53,000 for her work through mid-July, public records indicate. [The Oklahoman]
Community eligibility provision drives up school meal participation rates: When Bartlesville Public Schools began examining data to see whether it could even participate in an expanded community eligibility provision, school officials found they were serving an additional 1,100 to 1,200 meals per day compared to the fall 2023 semester. [Tulsa World]
What Tulsa Public Schools does to help hundreds of refugee students: 285 refugee students received services, resources and support from Tulsa Public Schools’ Bilingual, Immigrant and Refugee Services team during the fall 2024 semester. [Tulsa World]
Oklahoma lawmakers, teachers discuss value of Bibles in schools, elimination of Department of Education: Amid national discussion about the U.S. Department of Education’s future, Oklahomans debate a recent Bible mandate and state education policy. [OU Daily]
Opinion: Oklahoma lawmakers have cut preschool funding. To improve outcomes, it’s time to reverse that trend: The best investments we can make are in early childhood development. That remains especially true in Oklahoma where we always are fifth or sixth from the bottom in things like food insecurity and maternal health, and where 55% of the state is classified as “child care deserts.” [John Thompson / Oklahoma Voice]
Health News
Some states on track to restore abortion access, while others push for fetal rights in 2025: A Oklahoma bill grants protections for fetuses and makes abortion a felony crime for health care providers. [Oklahoma Voice]
Future of Griffin Memorial Hospital campus still unclear: State officials still aren’t certain what they plan to do with 240 acres of land in the middle of Norman that currently house one of the state’s in-patient mental hospitals. [Oklahoma Voice]
Opinion: Fixing gaps in mental health services No. 1 priority at health department: In the most recent assessment by the Tulsa Health Department, mental health was a critical issue identified by community stakeholders as an unmet need that generates tremendous costs across multiple community sectors, such as health care, education, criminal justice, businesses, and emergency and social services. [Bruce Dart / Tulsa World]
Criminal Justice News
Drummond takes another case from Behenna, drops charge on OKCPD officer who slammed Lich Vu: For the second time during his two years in office, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has taken over a high-profile Oklahoma County criminal case and dismissed the charge. [NonDoc]
- After Drummond dropped charge against cop, Vietnamese community asks city for justice [The Oklahoman]
- AG intervenes, drops charges against OKC cop; many in Vietnamese American community shocked [The Oklahoman]
- ‘Abuse of power’: OK lawmaker, attorney question AG dismissing assault charge against officer [KFOR]
- Lawmaker Wants To Look At Guard Rails To Law Allowing AG To Drop Charges Against OCPD Officer [News 9]
- Oklahoma AG dismisses assault charge against officer who slammed 71-year-old man to the ground [AP via Public Radio Tulsa]
- Assault Charge Against Oklahoma Police Officer Is Dismissed [New York Times]
$875,000 settlement recommended in lawsuit from mother of teen shot by OKC police: The Oklahoma City Council is expected to vote Tuesday on a $875,000 settlement in a civil lawsuit from the mother of a 15-year-old boy shot and killed by police in 2020. [The Oklahoman]
AG opinion: Oklahoma County can exercise sovereignty, build jail at controversial site: After unsuccessful pre-Christmas mediation between Oklahoma County and Oklahoma City leaders failed to settle a zoning dispute over a proposed jail and behavioral health center, Attorney General Gentner Drummond’s office today affirmed the county’s sovereignty through a formal opinion on the ongoing conflict. [NonDoc]
- Opponents rail against OK County commissioners, but the new county jail will move forward [The Oklahoman]
- Oklahoma County is not ‘superior,’ but is immune from OKC zoning at jail site, AG says [The Oklahoman]
Detainee deaths still overshadow drop in population of Oklahoma County Detention Center: The once-packed Oklahoma County jail, a hulking, 33-year-old, 13-story tower in downtown OKC, still teeters, beset by a myriad of problems, but it is heading toward 2025 with one of its biggest complications coming under control, although critics persist. [The Oklahoman]
Oklahomans starting over after jail struggle with thousands in jail fees. This group helps get them waived: This year, Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma has helped clear more than $2 million in court fees and fines across 476 cases. [The Oklahoman]
As Oklahoma Executions Continue, New Death Sentences Grow Rare: No state court has imposed a death sentence since May 13, 2022, when a Tulsa County judge followed a jury’s recommendation and sentenced David Ware to death for the murder of Tulsa Police Sgt. Craig Johnson. [Oklahoma Watch]
- Oklahoma has carried out 15 executions since resuming them. Only Texas has more [The Oklahoman]
- What happened in 11 Oklahoma County death penalty cases under new DA [The Oklahoman]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
State Housing Assessment Shows Small Homes In Demand: Oklahoma has a housing problem. Faltering local economies and development disagreements are stalling needed housing development in rural areas, while zoning and building codes prevent much-needed small housing statewide. [Oklahoma Watch]
- 400 apply for 63 homes in Tulsa community dedicated to chronically homeless [Public Radio Tulsa]
- US homelessness up 18% as affordable housing remains out of reach for many people [AP via Public Radio Tulsa]
Tiny home community for the homeless welcomes first residents ahead of 2025 completion: The first occupants have started moving into Eden Village of Tulsa, a project to provide chronically homeless people with permanent residences. [Tulsa World]
Could 3D-printed housing help address Oklahoma’s affordable housing crisis? A lawmaker thinks so: A state lawmaker wants to use the same technology that is being considered for use on Mars to help tackle Oklahoma’s affordable housing crisis. [Oklahoma Voice]
In conversation: Mark Smith, Housing Solutions CEO: The new CEO for Housing Solutions talks about the organization’s role in addressing homelessness and how taxpayer dollars will be spent to meet the needs for affordable housing. [Tulsa People]
Economy & Business News
Immigration drives nation’s population growth: A recent immigration surge brought newcomers to every state this year, helping to offset a continued drop in U.S. births while contributing to a national upswing of about 3.3 million new residents, according to new U.S. Census Bureau estimates. [Oklahoma Voice]
Once budding, Oklahoma’s weed industry faces tougher enforcement: A new slate of laws aims to clean up Oklahoma’s reputation as the “Wild West of Weed.” The state Legislature passed a total of 10 new regulations in 2024 for the state’s medicinal marijuana industry, some of which take effect Jan. 1. But producers are worried that the new laws will hurt growers and dispensaries in the state. [PBS Newshour]
Opinion, Rep. Ellyn Hefner: Ending Sub-minimum Wages is Oklahoma’s Opportunity to Lead: Many disability rights advocates believe Oklahoma stands at a pivotal crossroads. The federal government’s proposal to phase out 14(c) certificates -— which allow employers to pay workers with disabilities less than the minimum wage — has sparked necessary and overdue conversations nationwide. For Oklahoma, this is not just a challenge to adapt but a chance to lead. [Rep. Ellyn Hefner / City News OK]
Community News
Meet the Vietnamese couple working to enhance the city’s Asian District — and much more: Nathan Cao and his wife, Scarlet Le-Cao, have become the most visible figures in the effort to revitalize Oklahoma City’s Asian District and, more broadly, to improve opportunities for Asians throughout the entire metropolitan area. [The Oklahoman]
In 2024, Oklahomans spoke out on education, race, abortion, other topics in Sunday feature: As the new year begins, we’d like to celebrate the ideas and accomplishments of some of the Oklahomans we got to know a bit better in 2024 and graciously shared their experiences, opinions and ideas for the future. Their thoughts on education, mental health and more are well worth a second look. [The Oklahoman]
Local Headlines
- More than 260 animals seized, possible rooster ‘fighting pit’ found in Grady County [NonDoc]
- Justice for Greenwood gives $21,000 to 13 churches and Booker T. Washington HS [The Black Wall Street Times]
- Green Country Pagans celebrate Yule amid state leaders’ criticism of beliefs [Public Radio Tulsa]
- Hochatown’s fight to reinstate their ZIP code is a fight for identity, mayor says [The Oklahoman]
Quote of the Day
“It was stressful because I know I didn’t want to get another warrant out for not paying my fines. So sometimes I just paid what I could. To me it at least showed I was trying. I was trying to straighten up and do right. And I was like, ‘Oh my God, it’s gonna be so long before I can even make a dent in it.”
-Kathryn Geionety, a 44-year-old single mother of three who decided to turn her life around after being arrested a few years ago, speaking about the roughly $15,000 in court fines and fees she owes. She’s been able to pay $645 towards that court debt, the majority of which were from daily jail fees. Since her last arrest, she has taken a part-time job at a discount store and enrolled in community college. [The Oklahoman]
Number of the Day
11.4%
The share of Oklahoma residents who lacked health insurance in 2023. [U.S. Census via OK Policy]
Policy Note
Economists: Rural Uninsured Rates Likely to Rise if ACA Premium Tax Credits Expire: The number of rural residents who aren’t covered by health insurance is likely to rise if the premium tax credits associated with the Affordable Care Act expire at the end of 2025. Researchers with the Urban Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation found that those who opt to continue to carry health insurance even after the tax credits expire would see their premiums skyrocket, in some cases more than doubling. For residents in rural communities across the country, those rising prices could mean not having access to health insurance anymore. [The Daily Yonder]
You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail.
