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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: There’s little comfort in saying ‘We told you so’: In Oklahoma, it’s hard to ignore that advocates warned for decades that cutting state revenue through poorly planned tax cuts – without replacing lost revenue – would lead to exactly this moment. Agencies are identifying growing unmet needs, and business leaders are decrying the state’s bottom 10 ranking in education, health care, and workforce development. State lawmakers are now wrestling with how to adequately fund health care, mental health, childcare, infrastructure, and other basic services during difficult budget times. [Shiloh Kantz / The Journal Record]
Oklahoma News
Salty, oily drinking water left sores in their mouths. Oklahoma refused to find out why: State regulators discovered strong signs of oil pollution, including high levels of salt and toxic metals, in one family’s drinking water. But for two years, they repeatedly delayed basic tests to find the culprit — then closed the case. [The Frontier]
In first execution of 2026, Oklahoma to kill Kendrick Simpson for 2007 shootings: The state plans to perform its first execution of the year Thursday morning. Kendrick Antonio Simpson is scheduled to be killed by lethal injection at 10 a.m. at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester. [KOSU]
- Kendrick Simpson Execution Draws Protest at Governor’s Mansion [The Black Wall Street Times]
- Oklahoma set to execute Kendrick Simpson for 2006 OKC double murder [News on 6]
- From OK Policy: Oklahoma Death Penalty Tracker
State Government News
Paxton rejects full repeal of property taxes, open to targeted reforms: As debate intensifies at the Capitol over how to address rising property taxes, Senate President Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton says he supports reform but is drawing a hard line against proposals he believes would bankrupt schools and counties. [KFOR]
Stitt doesn’t need a vote of the people to shut down medical marijuana: Stitt’s proposal as presented could completely end the marijuana industry in Oklahoma, even as the federal government is expediting its own attempt to reschedule the drug. But how would he get it done? [The Oklahoman]
OKDHS cuts childcare subsidy budget by $50 million: The Oklahoma Department of Human Services is reducing its original budget for childcare subsidies by nearly $50 million. [KFOR]
- Oklahoma Human Services Director, State lawmaker discuss difficult decisions behind 2027 budget requests [News 9]
- Opinion: To solve Oklahoma’s caregiver crisis, we need both short- and long-term solutions [Wendy Doyle / The Journal Record]
Legislative roundup
- Oklahoma lawmakers propose bills to regulate medical marijuana industry [KOCO]
- Oklahoma bills target citizenship verification for welfare applicants [KOCO]
- Oklahoma bill would ban state dollars from funding gender-affirming care [The Oklahoman]
- Oklahoma Senate passes ‘Rain’s Law,’ inspired by teen’s fentanyl-related death [KOCO]
- House bill could make Tulsa, OKC vulnerable to lawsuits over nuisance enforcement [Tulsa World]
- Oklahoma Senate panel clears SB 504 to ban marriage under 18; bill heads to full Senate [Fox 25]
Federal Government News
Inside the ICE Detention System: How Oklahoma Facilities Use Legal Limbo to Pressure Deportations: ICE, prison corporations, and state agencies are rapidly expanding Oklahoma’s detention infrastructure to accommodate an unprecedented surge in arrests driven by a July 8 federal directive that subjects most immigrants to mandatory detention without bond hearings. [Oklahoma Watch]
Oklahoma almost had their own Alligator Alcatraz: Many questions were asked surrounding ICE and the state of Oklahoma’s contract on Wednesday during the Oklahoma Department of Corrections Senate Budget hearing. [KFOR]
Oklahoma becomes first state to join national foster care initiative: Oklahoma is the first state to join the federal “A Home for Every Child” initiative, which aims to achieve a foster home-to-child ratio of greater than 1:1 in every state. Federal leaders joined Gov. Kevin Stitt and Oklahoma Human Services during the Wednesday announcement. [StateImpact Oklahoma via KGOU]
- Oklahoma to pilot national foster care initiative, Gov. Stitt announces [Tulsa World]
- Oklahoma joins national initiative to help foster care system [KFOR]
- From OK Policy’s Jill Mencke: If this program works and is implemented well, this would mean that fewer children are removed from their home and can stay connected with their families, which is ultimately a very good thing, (But) Oklahoma’s children deserve transparency, accountability and a system that puts their safety first.
Trump targets Gov. Kevin Stitt over NGA White House meeting invites: President Donald Trump attacked Gov. Kevin Stitt after a controversy erupted surrounding the National Governors Association dinner at the White House. [The Oklahoman]
- President Trump blasts Gov. Kevin Stitt over NGA invitations, calls Stitt ‘RINO’ [The Journal Record]
- President Trump criticizes Oklahoma Gov. Stitt over governors meeting [KOCO]
- Trump attacks Oklahoma’s GOP leader ahead of next week’s meeting of governors [Fox 25]
Governors to have ‘business meeting’ with White House, Oklahoma governor confirms: Stitt, chair of the National Governors Association, said he spoke with Trump on the phone Wednesday morning. The Republican governor said that the annual business meeting with the president would be held at the White House. The bipartisan group traditionally holds a meeting with the president to discuss pressing issues during their annual gathering in Washington D.C. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Stitt says NGA meeting with Trump is back on; Democrats invited, too [The Journal Record]
In rebuke of Trump, US House opens the door to votes against tariffs: A handful of House Republicans tanked a procedural vote Tuesday night that would have kept intact a ban on congressional action against President Donald Trump’s emergency tariffs. [Oklahoma Voice]
Republicans on US House Homeland panel defend immigration tactics at tense hearing: The head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement declined during a U.S. House hearing Tuesday to apologize to the families of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, the victims of fatal shootings by immigration officers in Minneapolis last month. [Oklahoma Voice]
Tribal Nations News
Cherokee Nation’s contracting arm caught up in federal push to dismantle DEI initiatives: A new federal policy is suspending government contracts awarded to more than 1,000 small businesses facing systemic barriers. Among the tribally-operated firms caught up in the suspension is the Cherokee Nation’s dedicated contracting arm, Cherokee Federal. [KOSU]
Voting and Election News
Roundup: While 18 pass, 8 school districts see bonds fail; several mayors elected: As lawmakers argue at the State Capitol over how to reform and reduce property taxes, rural Oklahoma voters headed to the polls Tuesday to settle school bond questions and elect new mayors, with Muskogee’s race coming down to an 11-vote margin. In all, eight public school districts saw their bond proposals fail. [NonDoc]
- OKC Mayor David Holt wins in quiet election, vows ‘we’re not finished yet’ [The Oklahoman]
- OKC election results show dropping voter turnout, but big win for Holt. See the data [The Oklahoman]
- OKC-area voters approve school proposals, city council members in Feb. election [The Oklahoman]
- Voters approve Jenks Public Schools $20.3M bond. Here’s where the money will go [Tulsa Flyer]
Education News
Oklahoma lawmakers aim to subtract screen time, add physical activity in schools: Bills that would limit screen time, boost physical education and require firearm safety training in public schools advanced past a key legislative committee on Wednesday. [Oklahoma Voice]
Board can’t rule out free speech violation, says Oklahoma university should build ‘goodwill’: A committee reviewing allegations of free speech violations against Oklahoma’s third largest university said it is unable to rule out that a violation occurred. [Oklahoma Voice]
OSDE releases statement addressing recent student walkouts: The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) released a statement addressing the recent student walkouts and protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) being held at high schools across the state. [Fox 23]
- Oklahoma high school students stage walkouts in protest of ICE [News 9]
Health News
Breast cancer survival rates higher in Medicaid expansion states, study finds: Women with breast cancer living in states that expanded Medicaid eligibility were less likely to die from the disease — but not everyone benefited equally, according to a recent study published in the medical journal JAMA Network Open. [Oklahoma Voice]
Prescription delays could change with proposed legislation: Oklahoma lawmakers are hoping to ease prescription problems. Many Oklahomans are forced to wait when insurance companies require repeated authorizations for medication. [KFOR]
Flu cases surge in Oklahoma, filling emergency rooms: OU Health reports a significant increase in flu cases, leading to crowded emergency rooms, with a 20% positivity rate statewide. [KOCO]
- Oklahoma Caring Vans offer free vaccines statewide during peak illness season [News on 6]
Criminal Justice News
Oklahoma prison guards watched inmate die in cell, videos reveal: A review by The Oklahoman of 21 homicides at the medium-security prison in the last four years found Dustin James Patterson’s death was by far the most preventable. [The Oklahoman]
- On the rolling plains of Oklahoma, a deadly prison. 4 years, 21 homicides [The Oklahoman]
- A video analysis of guards’ response to an inmate disturbance that ended in one man’s death (video) [The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma sees historic drop in domestic violence homicides: In 2024, Oklahoma saw fewer domestic violence homicides than in any year since 2017, according to the domestic violence Fatality Board. [News 9]
- Prevention efforts credited as Oklahoma sees fewer domestic violence homicides in 2024 [Fox 25]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Community leaders address affordable housing shortage and homelessness: The biggest drivers of homelessness are rising housing costs, stagnant wages and lack of a support system, community leaders said at a Greater Oklahoma City Chamber forum on Wednesday. [The Journal Record]
- From OK Policy: Homelessness in Oklahoma – Information and Resources
Economy & Business News
Jobs report shows a historic stall in hiring last year: U.S. jobs increased by 130,000 in January, buoyed by hires in health care, social assistance and construction. But in another sign of anemic hiring last year, estimates for 2025 were revised down by more than a million jobs to a level of low growth rarely seen outside of recessions. [Oklahoma Voice]
As electricity demand and investments grow, what’s being done to shield Oklahomans from higher monthly bills?: Federal data show electricity consumption is up in the U.S. after more than a decade of little growth, partly because of data centers and other energy-hungry facilities. Average electricity prices are following the trend nationwide. [StateImpact Oklahoma via KGOU]
‘You can’t hide from it’: Oklahoma small business owners navigate unpredictable future: As Oklahoma’s population grows, the state’s economy is sending mixed signals with a relatively healthy labor market and rising operating costs for local businesses. [The Oklahoma Eagle via Tulsa Flyer]
New USDA report shows foreign investors own about 5% of Oklahoma land: A new report shows foreign individuals or investors owned about 5% of Oklahoma land in 2024. Of the state’s 44 million acres, more than 42 million are privately-held agricultural land. Of that, foreign investors owned about 2 million acres in 2024 — nearly a 198,000-acre increase from the previous year. [KOSU]
Community News
Oklahoma sees historic drop in domestic violence homicides: In 2024, Oklahoma saw fewer domestic violence homicides than in any year since 2017, according to the domestic violence Fatality Board. [News 9]
- Prevention efforts credited as Oklahoma sees fewer domestic violence homicides in 2024 [Fox 25]
Local Headlines
- Curfew ordinance helped officers respond to scuffle during teen’s party downtown, Tulsa Police Department says [Tulsa World]
- Data center discussion: Tulsa City Council votes to approve study of zoning codes, noise [Tulsa World]
- Stitt bans tenure at most Oklahoma public colleges. What does that mean for Tulsa-area schools? [Tulsa Flyer]
- Tulsa Public Schools says its enrollment applications are rising as student numbers drop statewide [Tulsa Flyer]
Quote of the Day
“Child care isn’t just a family issue — it’s economic infrastructure, as essential to a strong economy as roads, bridges, and broadband.”
– Wendy Doyle, president and CEO of United WE, arguing that limited child care access is directly constraining Oklahoma’s labor force and business growth. The organization has been advocating for reforms to reduce regulatory barriers and expand provider capacity. [The Journal Record]
Number of the Day
$1.2 billion
The estimated annual productivity losses in Oklahoma caused by child care challenges. More than one in ten Oklahomans reported cutting hours, changing jobs, or leaving the workforce entirely due to unaffordable or unavailable child care. [Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce]
Policy Note
Understanding the Basics of Child Care in the United States: Child care in the United States is largely provided through a mix of public subsidies, employer supports, and a predominantly private market that leaves many families facing high costs and limited options. Most families pay a significant share of their income on care, with costs often rivaling college tuition and pushing some parents — especially mothers — out of the workforce. Federal programs like Head Start and child care subsidies help, but funding limits, eligibility restrictions, and uneven quality mean many eligible children still lack stable, affordable care. Advocates argue that strengthening public investment, expanding access, and improving workforce conditions for caregivers are key to a more equitable system that supports families and economic participation. [Center for American Progress]
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