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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
Would legislative involvement improve state budget projections?: Attorney General Gentner Drummond is raising a troubling issue regarding the certification of funds available for appropriation by the legislature. Drummond refused to attend the Dec. 20 State Board of Equalization meeting saying he did not have confidence in the “accuracy or completeness of the Governor’s budget numbers.” Drummond pointed out last year the final certification in February increased the December estimate, which bolstered Gov. Kevin Stitt’s call for an income tax cut. [Steve Lewis / Capitol Update]
State Government News
Oklahoma Legislature officially elects chamber leaders: As expected, Rep. Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, was elected as Speaker of the House and Sen. Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle was elected President Pro Tempore of the Senate. Hilbert was elected with 78 votes and Paxton received 39 votes, both along party lines. [Oklahoma Voice]
- New leaders of Oklahoma House, Senate elected by members [Tulsa World]
- Paxton, Hilbert officially named leaders of the Oklahoma Legislature for upcoming session [The Oklahoman]
Author of sports betting bill hopes it could help tribes, Stitt reach an agreement: Native American tribes that hold exclusive gaming rights in Oklahoma would need to endorse Senate Bill 125 for its passage to be meaningful, but former college football player and coach Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa, said it could help reboot negotiations between tribes and Gov. Kevin Stitt. [Tulsa World]
Oklahoma House lawmakers limit access in women’s restroom to ‘biological females’: House lawmakers voted Tuesday to clarify who can use the women’s restroom at the back of the legislative chamber at the Capitol. Under the new rule, which applies to a single women’s bathroom, only “a person born as a biological female” can use the restroom designated for female representatives. [Oklahoma Voice]
Bill to require Ten Commandments in Oklahoma classrooms resurfaces: An Oklahoma lawmaker says he hopes new House leadership will support a better outcome for his resurrected bill to display the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms. [Oklahoma Voice]
Oklahomans opposed to green energy gather at state capitol to protest (photos): People from all over the state attended the Freedom Brigade Rally Against Green Energy at the Oklahoma state Capitol Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. [The Oklahoman]
Opinion: Just say ‘no’ to Oklahoma Turnpike Authority’s new $11B toll increase: How has it come to pass that a crew of unelected functionaries has been able to implement one of the largest tax increases in Oklahoma history without any pushback from the so-called “patriots” at the state Capitol? [Dave Moore / The Oklahoman]
Opinion: Ryan Walters is blaming teachers for New Year’s attack. Has he forgotten Oklahoma history?: Does our state superintendent have a screw loose? Or has he perhaps forgotten his lessons in Oklahoma and U.S. history and needs a remedial class? [Janelle Stecklein / Oklahoma Voice]
Federal Government News
Oklahoma DPS commissioner to discuss Operation Guardian with Trump administration Thursday: The Oklahoma Commissioner of Public Safety says he plans to speak with the Trump administration Thursday about “Operation Guardian.” It’s a program focused on deporting incarcerated illegal immigrants out of the state. [FOX25]
Trump aides ready ‘universal’ tariff plans — with one key change: President-elect’s aides look at universal import duties, but only on certain sectors, among first big moves of presidency. [Washington Post]
Tribal Nations News
Despite fed pushback, Tulsa district attorney pursues charges against Tribal citizen: In 2020, SCOTUS ruled in McGirt v. Oklahoma that the Muscogee Nation’s reservation was never disestablished by Congress. Since then, issues related to everything from taxation to whether the state can prosecute crimes committed by Tribal members have been disputed. [Public Radio Tulsa]
Education News
OKCPS Board chairperson debate set for Jan. 28: The three candidates running to be chairperson of the Oklahoma City Public Schools Board of Education have agreed to a public debate scheduled as part of NonDoc’s political debate series. [NonDoc]
Health News
A look at the biggest greenhouse gas polluters in Oklahoma and other nearby states: U.S. industry is a major source of the greenhouse gas pollution causing climate change. Some operations emit significantly more than others. A new analysis by the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting of the latest federal data identifies the biggest emitters in parts of the Midwest and South. [Side Effects Public Media via KOSU]
Criminal Justice News
Oklahoma sets date for its first execution of 2025: Oklahoma has set a date for its first execution in 2025. Wendell Arden Grissom is scheduled to receive a lethal injection on March 20 for a murder he committed in 2005. [KOSU]
- Execution date set for Oklahoma confessed killer Wendell Arden Grissom [The Oklahoman]
Brigitte Biffle carries on mentor’s work as Oklahoma County’s chief public defender: After former Oklahoma County Public Defender Bob Ravitz’s death in 2024, Brigitte Biffle became interim chief public defender by vote of the district judges. She was officially appointed to the post in June. Her first year has been marked by carrying on much of Ravitz’s work. [The Oklahoman]
Part of fired Tulsa police officer’s lawsuit against city revived on First Amendment claims: A federal appellate court reinstated a portion of a fired Tulsa police officer’s civil rights lawsuit on Tuesday after finding that a district judge had improperly dismissed his First Amendment claims. [Tulsa World]
DOJ: OKC police discriminate against people with disabilities: A recent investigation conducted by the Department of Justice found that the state of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City and Oklahoma City Police Department unfairly discriminate against those suffering behavioral health disabilities. [The Black Wall Street Times]
- Opinion: Oklahoma has a mental health crisis. It’s causing needless institutionalization [Sen. Julia Kirt / The Oklahoman]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Proposed bill protects renters, targets mold problems: A state lawmaker wants to hold landlords accountable with a proposed bill for the upcoming legislative session. House Bill 1063, or the Anti-Fungi Act, would require landlords make repairs and provide treatment for mold after it was reported by the renter. [KFOR]
- From OK Policy: Renters need protection against landlord retaliation
Economy & Business News
Oklahoma company developing a plant-based substitute for plastics: Sharina Perry’s father worked for Texaco in the oil and gas business. She never expected to be on the leading edge of a technology that seems very likely to put a major dent in the petrochemical industry and help solve a worldwide problem — the proliferation of plastic waste. [The Oklahoman]
Local Headlines
- Tulsa’s Country Bird Bakery named one of the best in the U.S. [Tulsa World]
- Soccer club seeks $2.5M to complete tournament-ready venue [The Journal Record]
Quote of the Day
“We must invest more in prevention and diversion. Those investments can increase access and decrease tragedies. Delivering services in an appropriate setting improves outcomes and creates savings which can be reinvested. Oklahoma cannot afford to look away from these hard findings from the DOJ.”
– Sen. Julia Kirt of Oklahoma City, writing in an op-ed urging stakeholders not to ignore a recent U.S. Department of Justice report that found people in Oklahoma living with mental health conditions are being segregated, institutionalized and put at risk largely due to insufficient community-based services. [The Oklahoman]
Number of the Day
43%
The individual income tax and the corporate income tax together represent about 43 percent of the General Revenue collections for the most recently completed fiscal year (FY 2024). [OK Policy]
Policy Note
A Suspenseful New Year in Public Finance: Governors, mayors and finance officers are treading water, awaiting the outcome and impact of a new Washington regime’s vows to slash federal spending and taxes. Meanwhile, state and municipal budgeters and debt managers will need to make intelligent guesses and pay more attention to their rainy-day funds. [Governing]
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