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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.
Oklahoma News
From Breakfast Burritos to Living Wages: How Oklahoma Is Fixing Attorney Deserts in Child Welfare Cases: The Family Representation Advocacy Program, created under the Family Representation Advocacy Act, focuses on providing uniformly available, high-quality representation for both children and parents in juvenile-deprived cases. It was implemented to address attorney deserts, lack of training and poor compensation for attorneys and minimal support for clients. [Oklahoma Watch]
State Government News
After one week of session, Oklahoma legislative leaders worry about FY27 budget shortfall: As the first week of Oklahoma’s legislative session closed, leadership in both chambers held the first of many weekly press conferences. With thousands of bills filed and federal funding cuts looming, a budget shortfall is one top concern shared across party lines. [KOSU]
- Legislative leaders dubious of Stitt’s budget proposal [Tulsa World]
Session Watch: Week One: Monday’s State of the State address and the official start of the second session of the 60th Legislature had the feel of the first day of school. But by Thursday, even seasoned Capitol watchers were looking forward to a weekend of spring-like temps after last week’s deep freeze. [Oklahoma Watch]
Bill advances prohibiting use of Oklahomans’ credit information to set insurance rates: A Senate panel on Thursday passed a measure that would prohibit insurance companies from using credit information in determining rates. Senate Bill 1435, by Senate Minority Leader Julia Kirt, passed the Business and Insurance Committee by a vote of 5-3. [Oklahoma Voice]
Oklahoma state auditor sounding the alarm as USDA puts new guidelines on SNAP funding: Oklahoma State Auditor Cindy Byrd is sounding the alarm, saying the state may lose hundreds of millions of dollars in SNAP money. SNAP is the program many Oklahomans rely on for food, and around $250 million in federal dollars are on the line. The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued new guidelines on SNAP, which one in every five people need for groceries. [KOCO]
- Byrd says state must avoid big increase in SNAP costs [Tulsa World]
- Learn why Oklahoma could face hundreds of millions in SNAP costs next year [News on 6 via Tulsa Flyer]
- From OK Policy: Policy Matters: When lawmakers cut budgets, it rolls downhill
DHS budget request reflects loss of child care subsidy: A big change in the Department of Human Services’ request for state funding in the coming fiscal year reflects the anticipated loss of a program that has helped many families to afford child care in recent years. [Tulsa World]
Opinion, This Week in Oklahoma Politics: Gov. Stitt’s State of the State, Senator Shane Jett, Devon leaving OKC and more: The panelists talk about Gov. Kevin Stitt’s eighth and final State of the State Address, where he talked about making medical marijuana illegal again, changes to Medicaid Expansion, abolishing the Oklahoma Secondary School Athletic Association and more. They also discuss the leader of the Senate removing Shawnee Republican Senator Shane Jett from his leadership positions and Devon Energy’s announcement to move its headquarters from Oklahoma City to Houston. [KOSU]
Opinion: Oklahoma should reexamine its regulation of cryptocurrency: Cryptocurrency has so far largely failed to achieve its goal of widespread consumer use, but to a remarkable extent has achieved its goal of being free of serious government regulation. As a result it has often become a vehicle for fraud and criminality. [Mike Altshuler / The Oklahoman]
Opinion: Childcare crisis strains our economy. HB 1979 is a solution: Oklahoma employers are facing an acute workforce shortage — and it’s putting real strain on our economy. In manufacturing alone, Oklahoma is projected to face a shortage of nearly 20,000 workers by 2028. When businesses can’t find the talent they need, they can’t grow. And when businesses can’t grow, the entire economy suffers. [Wendy Doyle / The Oklahoman]
Opinion: Protecting revenue of key importance in legislative session: Gov. Kevin Stitt in his State of the State address said once again told that our economy is strong, our finances are healthy and our future is bright. There is some truth in that — and it matters to say so plainly. The most recent certification from the Oklahoma State Board of Equalization shows stable revenues and healthy reserves. Oklahoma is not in crisis. That stability provides breathing room and protection against sudden shocks. But stability is not the same as momentum. And it is certainly not the same as capacity. What matters now is not whether things look good today — but whether the choices we’re making leave us prepared for tomorrow. [Former Rep. Mark McBride / The Oklahoman]
Federal Government News
Immigration detention passed 70,000 in January: Despite the high-profile U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions in Minnesota, ICE arrests were down slightly in January compared to December, according to new data. [Oklahoma Voice]
In setback for Trump, Congress in spending law rejects call to axe Education Department: President Donald Trump’s attempts to dramatically slash funding for the U.S. Department of Education amid a broader push to dismantle the agency hit a major roadblock this week in the form of bipartisan approval of a spending law that gives the department a small raise. [Oklahoma Voice]
Education News
OSDE sheds light on Ryan Walters’ social studies standards: Public comment is now available for a revised version of Oklahoma’s social studies standards, after the state Supreme Court found former State Superintendent Ryan Walters’ controversial version unconstitutional. Standards are a guideline for what students are expected to know in the classroom. Determining them is a detailed yet routine process conducted every six years. They are not headline grabbing material, but Walters’ way of going about them—was. [KJRH]
- OSDE opens public comment for Oklahoma Academic Standards for Social Studies [KFOR]
- OSDE further distances new proposed social studies standards from Ryan Walters [Tulsa World]
Jess Schwager: ‘Education as a way out, up or forward’: Grown by private donations, Oklahoma City Community Foundation’s program comprises more than 300 scholarship funds and encourages students to “attain the highest level of education and training.” Individual scholarships are tailored to students from a variety of backgrounds, including those re-engaging with higher education after a period away and students formerly in foster care. [NonDoc]
Stitt executive order addresses Oklahoma university degree programs, tenures: Gov. Kevin Stitt signed two executive orders Thursday that call for reforms at Oklahoma institutions of higher education. [StateImpact Oklahoma via KGOU]
- Stitt orders higher ed to create plan to tie funding to performance [The Oklahoman]
- Stitt suggests reducing bachelor’s degree hours by one-fourth [Tulsa World]
- Gov. Stitt sets higher education on path to performance-based funding model [The Journal Record]
Higher education officials project higher enrollment, price tag for Oklahoma’s Promise: Oklahoma higher education officials are projecting an increase in enrollment to a state scholarship program and an estimated 21.6% related jump in costs in the coming years amid shifting eligibility and application requirements. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Stitt orders higher ed to create plan to tie funding to performance [The Oklahoman]
Opinion: Grade retention not best strategy for reading improvement: House Bill 3023’s expansion of mandatory grade retention is a dangerous step backward for Oklahoma’s struggling readers. Proponents frame retention as remediation, but decades of research tell a different story: Holding students back creates a “ticking clock” that dramatically increases dropout risk without delivering lasting academic gains. [Ellyssa Walter / The Oklahoman]
Health News
Oklahoma City plans to expand mental health crisis response with state opioid settlement money: Since its launch last May, the Oklahoma City Fire Department’s Mobile Integrated Healthcare program has given the city a fresh set of tools for responding to mental health emergencies. [KOSU]
Criminal Justice News
Oklahoma County budget planning clouded by curbed sales tax plan: Lots of issues hung over number-crunchers as they created a new budget tracker for keeping a close watch over Oklahoma County’s frail finances: The county’s need for hundreds of millions of dollars to finish the new jail and run it; money to operate the present jail; and Commissioner Jason Lowe’s thwarted plan for a sales tax. [The Oklahoman]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Safe Move Tulsa moves 13 more people into housing while closing 2 more homeless encampments: As Tulsa continues its push to end street homelessness, the city announced Thursday it’s now closed its fourth and fifth encampments. The decommissioning is a part of Safe Move Tulsa whose goal is to move 300 people into housing. So far, 68 people have been housed, including 13 in the latest push. [Tulsa Flyer]
- City of Tulsa announces new website to track its efforts to address homelessness [Tulsa World]
Economy & Business News
Oklahoma had a bumper wheat crop, but it’s not alone. Here’s what that means for producers: Winter wheat is Oklahoma’s top crop, and the Southern Great Plains produced plenty of it last year, despite mid-harvest rains. But it wasn’t the only area with strong yields. Todd Hubbs, Oklahoma State University commodity crop marketing specialist, said countries like Australia and Argentina saw good harvests. [KOSU]
Obscure Oklahoma law at center of new lawsuit from custom casket business: Oklahoma bans direct casket sales unless you’re a licensed funeral director working at a funeral home. Owners of a business that personalizes caskets with vinyl wraps and customized interiors are now challenging the state laws that prevent them from opening their business directly to Oklahomans. [The Oklahoman]
Community News
The Black Wall Street Times’ Black History Month 2026 Honorees: At The Black Wall Street Times, Black history is not confined to a single month. It is the foundation of our journalism year-round. But during the first week of Black History Month 2026, we are intentionally shining a national spotlight on individuals whose work has shaped culture, policy, knowledge, and possibility. These are athletes, academics, historians, activists, musicians, journalists, business leaders, and visionaries whose influence extends far beyond Tulsa’s city limits. [The Black Wall Street Times]
Nonprofit builds ‘villages’ of community, help for Black families: Imani’s Village is a local nonprofit committed to enhancing birth outcomes for mothers and babies in the Black community. The organization’s primary mission is to address high infant and maternal mortality rates in the Black community through doula training and providing free doula services to Black families. [The Oklahoman]
Unfiltered and unapologetic: Black women artists step into the spotlight at a new Tulsa exhibit opening this weekend: “Permission to Breathe” is a vibrant, multidisciplinary art exhibition featuring nearly 30 pieces “celebrating the brilliance and boundlessness of Black Women,” according to the co-curators. [Tulsa Flyer]
Local Headlines
- Gov. Kevin Stitt is calling for a freeze on property taxes. Let’s break down how they’re calculated in Tulsa County. [Tulsa Flyer]
Quote of the Day
“(The governor) said that we’re in the strongest position we’ve ever been in, but when you look at the rankings on really important areas for Oklahomans to succeed … education still 50th, 47th in health care … I think it’s important to have savings, but when you have these needs that are so critical, we have to address those.”
-House Minority Leader Rep. Cyndi Munson of Oklahoma City, speaking about the governor’s State of the State address. [Tulsa World]
Number of the Day
0.9%
The Black unemployment rate grew by nearly a full point (0.9%) from 6% in 2024 to 6.9% in 2025, compared to the 0.3% increase for overall unemployment rate that grew from 4% to 4.3% during the same period. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities]
Policy Note
The Economy Posed Challenges for Black Households and Black-Owned Businesses in 2025: Although the U.S. economy is not experiencing a downturn, several economic indicators weakened in 2025 relative to 2024. This weakness is particularly harmful for Black households and Black-owned small businesses. The implementation of the Republican budget law enacted last year will further exacerbate the harm and could weaken economic conditions for Black households. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities]
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