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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
Policy Matters: Silence will never create change: In Oklahoma, one of the most common political refrains isn’t anger or even apathy. It’s resignation. “It doesn’t make a difference.” “Lawmakers don’t listen anyway.” That belief is understandable. Too often, policy decisions feel distant, predetermined, or disconnected from everyday life. But it’s also wrong — and it’s a belief that benefits the people already holding power. [Shiloh Kantz / The Journal Record]
Oklahoma News
Proposed ICE detention site in OKC raises questions: Everything we know so far: An Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility is eyed to be built at a warehouse in Oklahoma City, according to documents obtained by The Washington Post. [The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma’s power grid operator plans to expedite connection for certain data centers: The Southwest Power Pool (SPP), which manages the state’s grid, received federal approval for a proposal to quicken the review process for some large electricity users. [StateImpact Oklahoma via KGOU]
State Government News
Data centers, childhood literacy among Oklahoma House Speaker’s session goals: Heading into his second year as Oklahoma House Speaker, Kyle Hilbert, hopes to pass reforms to education policy and regulate data centers. [Oklahoma Voice]
Oklahoma lawmakers debate immigration bills ahead of session: Oklahoma lawmakers are preparing for the upcoming legislative session, with state Sen. Dusty Deevers introducing bills on H1B visas and birthright citizenship, sparking debate over their constitutionality. [KOCO]
‘Improper conduct’: Criminal questions linger on 2023 RFP for mental health contract: Former leaders of Oklahoma’s Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services “likely” violated the law by providing GRAND Mental Health with “advanced information” about the 2023 bid process for a lucrative contract in Tulsa County, according to an administrative law judge. [NonDoc]
Why Oklahoma state agency wants $39.1 million more from Legislature: The director of the Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services is asking lawmakers for $39.1 million in additional funding next year, including $1 million to cover emergency repairs to state buildings, about a week after someone vandalized the Oklahoma Capitol with spray-painted slurs. [The Oklahoman]
House budget chair proposes reform of Oklahoma tobacco trust: Attempts to commandeer the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust persevere despite the Oklahoma Supreme Court recently deeming “unconstitutional” a 2025 law meant to do the very same. [The Journal Record]
- Capitol Update: What Oklahoma got right with tobacco lawsuit settlement money
OETA leader warns of crisis due to federal funding cuts: Oklahoma Educational Television Authority presented its financial update on Wednesday before House lawmakers. Despite recently losing out on nearly $2 million in federal funding, they didn’t ask for more money. [KFOR]
Oklahoma lawmaker proposes blood bank for vaccine-free blood: A House lawmaker wants the state to run its own blood bank so it can provide Oklahomans blood “untainted” by the COVID-19 vaccine. [Oklahoma Voice]
Federal Government News
Trump announces ‘framework of a future deal’ on Greenland, relents on 8-nation tariffs: President Donald Trump announced in a social media post Wednesday that he and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte brokered a possible agreement on Greenland, though Trump provided few details or a timeline. [Oklahoma Voice]
Trump administration drops legal appeal over anti-DEI funding threat to schools and colleges: The Trump administration is dropping its appeal of a federal court ruling that blocked a campaign against diversity, equity, and inclusion threatening federal funding to the nation’s schools and colleges. [Associated Press via KFOR]
RFK Jr.’s MAHA movement has picked up steam in statehouses. Here’s what to expect in 2026: Chemical dyes and nutrition are just part of the broader “Make America Healthy Again” agenda. Promoted by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., MAHA ideas have made their deepest inroads at the state level, with strong support from Republicans — and in some places, from Democrats. [KFF Health News via Oklahoma Voice]
Education News
Education Watch: Lawmakers’ bills tackle student literacy: Lawmakers are looking to improve Oklahoma’s educational results with several bills focused on student literacy. Both House and Senate leaders said literacy is going to be the Legislature’s focus in this year’s session, which begins Feb. 2. [Oklahoma Watch]
Oklahoma lawmakers, State Chamber want to rebuild trust with teachers: Oklahoma’s elected leaders and the state’s leading business group have their sights set on improving literacy ahead of the 2026 legislative session. But to do that, they have acknowledged that they must also rebuild trust with educators after two tumultuous years under former State schools Superintendent Ryan Walters. [The Oklahoman]
Health News
Mental health will be a focus for Oklahoma lawmakers. Here are some bills to watch this year: Mental health and substance use treatment will be a focus for lawmakers this year, with dozens of bills filed on the matter ahead of the 2026 legislative session. The attention comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the state’s mental health system, rising demand for crisis intervention and years of workforce shortages in behavioral health fields across the state. [KOSU]
Criminal Justice News
Behenna seeks first death penalty case as DA in 2024 murder: Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Behenna has announced she will be seeking the death penalty in the case of a 24-year-old accused of killing an Oklahoma City convenience store employee in 2024. [The Oklahoman]
- From OK Policy: Oklahoma Death Penalty Tracker
40-year-old Tulsa man gets life sentence for 2024 slaying: A 40-year-old Tulsa man has been formally sentenced to a life prison term after a jury found him guilty of first-degree murder. [Tulsa World]
Lowe’s county jail sales tax proposal stalls as Davidson, Maughan hold out: Oklahoma County Commissioner Jason Lowe’s proposal to put a public safety sales tax before voters in April fell apart during today’s board meeting when it failed to gain support from District 2 Commissioner Brian Maughan and District 3 Commissioner Myles Davidson. [NonDoc]
- Commissioner’s Oklahoma County jail sales tax plan fails without a vote [The Oklahoman]
- Sales tax to fund new Oklahoma County jail fails to advance to voters [KOSU]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
State Farm Delays Left Dying Woman in Home With Holes, Hose for Water: An Oklahoma woman was dying of cancer as State Farm delayed the claim on her family’s Edmond home. The insurance department fought tooth and nail to preserve its right to do nothing to intervene. [Oklahoma Watch]
New Tulsa Housing Authority audit reveals ‘significant deficiencies,’ nearly $19K in questioned costs: Findings revealed a lack of internal control over financial reporting and compliance, resulting in nearly $19,000 in questioned costs. The agency provides publicly-funded housing assistance to more than 13,000 Tulsans and operates 14 housing communities in the region. [Tulsa Flyer]
Community News
Hundreds join nationwide ‘Free America’ walkout in OKC, protesting ICE: Hundreds of Oklahoma City residents joined the nationwide Free America protest by walking out of school and work on the one-year anniversary of President Donald Trump’s second inauguration. [The Oklahoman]
Local Headlines
- Sand Springs residents go head to head with Google over proposed data center [Tulsa Flyer]
Quote of the Day
“If there’s hesitation to contact a legislator because it feels pointless, consider this: silence is the one thing guaranteed not to change anything.”
– Shiloh Kantz, executive director of OK Policy, encouraging residents to see contacting lawmakers as part of a longer-term strategy rather than a one-off act. She said engagement compounds over time and helps break the sense that decisions are made without public input. [The Journal Record]
Number of the Day
$1.1 Billion
Raising Oklahoma’s minimum wage to $15 would create higher earnings and increased spending that would boost the state’s GDP by $1.1 billion annually. Additionally, employers would benefit from an estimated $880 million in productivity gains, driven by lower turnover and higher worker retention. [Scioto Analysis]
Policy Note
Minimum Wages and Oklahoma’s Labor Market: Oklahoma’s labor market is characterized by widespread low wages, slow wage growth, and persistent disparities by race, gender, and geography, even though unemployment is relatively low. The report finds that many workers remain trapped in low-quality, unstable jobs that limit economic security and contribute to reliance on public assistance. Raising the minimum wage is presented as a tool to strengthen job quality, reduce low-wage work, and narrow gaps between rural and urban workers and across demographic groups. Overall, the analysis frames higher wages as a way to improve both worker stability and the broader health of Oklahoma’s economy. [Scioto Analysis]
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