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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
A peek at the governor’s FY2026 budget proposal (Capitol Update): Despite last year’s repeal of the sales tax on groceries and additional spending for private schools that triggered the revenue shortfall this year, the governor recommended a personal and corporate income tax cut that when fully implemented will reduce state revenue by approximately $500 million. He also championed removing the $250 million cap on spending for private schools. [Steve Lewis / Capitol Update]
Oklahoma News
Oklahoma Democratic lawmakers have their own tax cut proposal: Though Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt believes the best tax cut plan out there is his own Half and a Path proposal, state Rep. Cyndi Munson has a different idea. She wants to alter a tax credit that was originally part of a deal to secure several rural Democrats’ vote on a giant education reform legislation. [The Oklahoman]
- Oklahoma Democratic Leader files legislation increasing tax credits, minimum wage [KWSO]
State Government News
Panel passes bill putting restrictions on Oklahoma Turnpike Authority: A Senate panel on Monday passed a bill that would put additional restrictions on the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority before it builds or modifies toll roads. Senate Bill 80 would require the OTA to give notice to all affected property owners before a new construction or a modification is made to an existing turnpike. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Oklahoma Turnpike Authority transparency bill passes Senate committee [Journal Record]
House committee moves forward bill expanding child care subsidies for industry employees: Lawmakers pushed forward with an initiative that would give more child care workers the opportunity to have care for their own children covered in an effort to address the shortage of qualified employees in the profession. [Oklahoma Voice]
Federal Government News
SCOTUS case involving St. Isidore, state charter school board will be heard in late April: The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a First Amendment legal case involving what would be the nation’s first Catholic virtual charter school in late April, the chairman of the Statewide Charter School Board said Monday. [The Oklahoman]
- Supreme Court will weigh approval for US’ 1st publicly funded religious charter school, in Oklahoma [Public Radio Tulsa]
Federal judge blocks ‘catastrophic’ Trump administration cut to NIH grant funding: The court case follows universities and medical schools saying the change would harm research into all types of diseases and lawmakers alleging it is illegal. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Oklahoma institutions respond to Trump administration’s NIH research funding cuts [KOSU]
- OU President addresses concerns regarding budget cuts to National Institute of Health [OU Daily]
Tribal Nations News
Hope in resiliency: How Indigenous Oklahomans are overcoming generational trauma: Oklahoma was home to an estimated 83 Indian boarding schools — the most in the country. These schools were popular in the early 20th century and had a genocidal campaign known under its unofficial slogan, “kill the Indian, save the man.” [KOSU]
Native nations mobilize against ICE targeting and profiling: Native nations across Turtle Island are working to ensure their citizens’ safety amid widespread reports of Indigenous people being racially profiled, stopped, questioned, and mistakenly detained for undocumented immigrants. They’re also reminding their citizens to find strength and resilience in the histories their communities have already overcome. [ICT]
Voting and Election News
Oklahoma Election Day: Voters deciding on mayoral races, school bonds and more: It’s Election Day in Oklahoma, and people across the state will decide on various races that will impact their everyday lives. [KOCO5]
- Races on Tuesday’s ballot that could impact Oklahoma education [KOCO5]
- Green Country voters head to polls Today [Tulsa Public Radio]
- Norman election guide: February 2025 [OU Daily]
Education News
Bill requiring teaching of ‘atrocities of communism’ fails in GOP-led education committee: An Oklahoma House subcommittee on Monday rejected a bill that would have emphasized the teaching of what the author referred to as “the atrocities of communism” to Oklahoma middle- and high-school students. [The Oklahoman]
- House lawmakers reject communism education bill, advance new scholarship requirements [Oklahoma Voice]
School cellphone ban passes committees, up for consideration by full Oklahoma House: A bill that would prohibit public school students in Oklahoma from using their cellphones on campus could soon be heard on the House floor after it passed two committees. [The Oklahoman]
- ‘Bell to bell’ student cellphone ban passes first committee hurdle [Tulsa World]
- Oklahoma’s Own In Focus: What’s behind the push for cell phone-free classrooms? [News9]
Gulf of America official on Google Maps: Here’s what Walters has said for Oklahoma schools: Google has officially changed the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America in its Maps application, and the plan to rename Mount Denali in the app is expected to follow soon. State Supt. Ryan Walters said that the History Standards reflected the change shortly after Trump’s order came through as an act to continue “preserving our nation’s heritage.” [The Oklahoman]
Hundreds participate in student-led immigration protest at Tulsa’s East Central High: Hundreds of people poured out of East Central High School on Monday afternoon as part of a student-led protest against immigration-related actions at both the state and federal levels. [Tulsa World]
Broken Arrow schools to maintain five-day weeks in 2025-26 after inquiry into four-day weeks: Broken Arrow Public Schools will continue to have five-day school weeks, the local school board decided Monday. Six surveys with more than 26,000 respondents found the idea incredibly unpopular among parents and other interested district patrons. [Tulsa World]
Campus visitor policies targeted by speakers at Tulsa school board meeting: Multiple community members are asking Tulsa Public Schools’ Board of Education to consider amending several district policies related to campus visitors and media access. [Tulsa World]
Opinion: Career and Technical Education is a driving force for economic growth in OK: Career and Technical Education (CTE) is more than classrooms and certifications. It’s a driving force for economic growth in Oklahoma. CareerTech is not only Oklahoma’s workforce leader, but it also fuels the economy, contributing nearly $1 billion annually and providing taxpayers with a high return on investment. [Aaron Collins / The Oklahoman]
Health News
Flu update: Influenza cases still surging in Oklahoma, hospitalizations at historic levels: In the week ending Feb. 1, 38.5% of flu tests given across the state were positive, with 6,237 new cases. That same week, there were 795 hospitalizations due to the flu, which the state Health Department said in a social media post is a historic high. [The Oklahoman]
Egg Farmers Say They’re Losing the Battle Against Bird Flu: This outbreak feels different from any other, farmers say. Egg producers and industry groups are begging for a new prevention strategy. [Governing]
Breadcrumbs, granola bars, more: What’s been recalled in Oklahoma by the FDA in 2025: Since the new year, the FDA has announced 24 recalls affecting the nation. These recalls include breakfast food, drugs, and baby teething sticks. The recalls remain mostly in regions outside Oklahoma, but a handful affecting the Sooner State have been announced so far this year. [The Oklahoman]
Opinion: Where legacies live within our medical practices: For generations, excellence has been underscored by color, and the impact of culture on the quality of care has gone unnoticed. [Dr. Chris McNeil / Tulsa World]
Criminal Justice News
Criminal case dismissed against last Oklahoman still accused of Jan. 6, 2021, crime: The judge criticized President Donald Trump, saying the dismissal “does not erase the well-documented attempt by certain individuals to overturn our democratic process on January 6, 2021.” [The Oklahoman]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
OKC’s affordable housing plan aims to ‘fill the gaps,’ reduce homelessness: In January, the Oklahoma City Council approved a new Housing Affordability Implementation Plan, meant to encourage the pursuit of recommendations for improved access to “stable, secure and affordable housing options” and to reduce homelessness in the city. [The Oklahoman]
What to know about home insurance coverage: It’s one thing to fix your home after something basic has gone wrong, but it’s a different beast to rebuild and recover after a major natural disaster has destroyed multiple properties on your street, in your neighborhood or across the region. Don’t wait until you’re in crisis mode to figure out what to expect. [The Journal Record]
Economy & Business News
Proposed medical marijuana rules sent to lawmakers, governor for approval: New rules affecting the state’s medical marijuana industry, including one that will allow for the sale of only prepackaged marijuana products, have been forwarded to Oklahoma lawmakers and Gov. Kevin Stitt for approval. [Tulsa World]
Filmed in Oklahoma Act results in $531 million impact for state, study says: Of the 37 states with a film/TV incentive, Oklahoma was, according to the news release, the only state to rank among the top 10 in film/TV employment growth (56%), total compensation growth (169%) and annual compensation per worker growth (72.3%). [The Oklahoman]
Local Headlines
- These Oklahoma towns are among the safest in the nation: See the list [The Oklahoman]
- The Oklahoma County jail trust has named Paul Timmons as acting director of the county jail [The Oklahoman]
- OKC Asian Chamber appoints new executive director [The Journal Record]
Quote of the Day
“The governor’s tax plan helps the wealthy, not the everyday working Oklahoman.”
-House Minority Leader Rep. Cyndi Munson said regarding the governor’s Half and a Path proposal to cut income taxes despite last year’s repeal of the sales tax on groceries and additional spending for private schools that triggered the revenue shortfall this year. [The Oklahoman]
Number of the Day
29%
About 29% of Oklahoma families, or nearly 3 in 10 families, received some sort of public assistance such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI), cash public assistance income, or Food Stamps/SNAP) in the previous 12 months. [KIDS COUNT]
Policy Note
How Would Children Fare Under Proposed Cuts to Federal Spending?: Federal spending on children is a good investment, with large returns in both the short and long terms for children and society. Analyses from the Urban Institute’s Kids’ Share project tell us what proposed federal cuts to programs that support children could mean. [Urban Institute]
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