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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
Some Oklahoma churches struggle with actions, policies on immigration issue: Here in Oklahoma — known as the buckle of the Bible Belt ― the political discussions and debates are often robust, long-term and loud. The debates involve big issues and sometimes occur before big votes. Topics such as tax cuts, abortion and reducing the size of state government take up a lot of oxygen here, even among the religious communities. But on one subject — immigration — some religious community leaders often stay quiet while others are willing to share their thoughts on the topic in the public square. [The Oklahoman]
- From OK Policy: Anti-immigration raids harm all communities (Commentary)
How was Glynn Simmons convicted of murder in Oklahoma? Our series provides chilling answers: Glynn Simmons was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death in 1975. His sentence was changed from death to life in prison after the Supreme Court halted executions. If not for that fact, Glynn Simmons would not be with us today. He would have been electrocuted in cell block H at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary, just another forgotten name in the ever-growing log of state executions. He served longer in prison than any wrongfully convicted person known in the U.S. This is the first installment of a multi-part series examining his long struggle to be free. [The Oklahoman]
- Actual Innocence: Glynn Simmons was innocent. Read the story of his 48-year fight to prove it. [The Oklahoman]
State Government News
Oklahoma lawmaker sues governor over executive order ending remote work: A lawsuit filed against Gov. Kevin Stitt Friday claims he does not have the power to order all full-time state employees to end remote work and return to in-office work environments. [Oklahoma Voice]
- State representative sues Stitt over return-to-office order, citing separation of powers [The Oklahoman]
- Lawmaker sues Gov. Kevin Stitt for ordering state workers to end remote work [Tulsa World]
- ‘Widespread anxiety’: Concerns mount over end to work from home for state employees [Fox 25]
- Oklahoma Lawmaker Sues Governor Over State Employee Return-To-Work Policy [Oklahoma Watch]
- Kevin Stitt ordered Oklahoma state agencies to end remote work. A new lawsuit says he can’t [KOSU]
- Opinion, Capital Insider: Lawsuit filed to stop implementation of Stitt executive order [KGOU]
Gov. Stitt announces state partnership with ICE to arrest undocumented immigrants: Gov. Kevin Stitt announced Friday the state of Oklahoma has finalized three agreements with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to grant state law enforcement agencies the authority to enforce federal immigration laws under Operation Guardian.[The Oklahoman]
- ICE lets local officials stop immigrants on the streets as task force program is back [Oklahoma Voice]
- State agencies partnering with ICE to detain undocumented criminals in Oklahoma [News 9]
- New Immigration and Customs Enforcement data shows administration isn’t just arresting criminals [NBC News]
Bills would reform court fines, fees after Stitt highlights ‘debtors’ prison’ concerns: Oklahoma’s criminal justice system is likely to remain dependent at least for a while on money generated by fines and fees paid by former inmates, despite widespread acknowledgement that the system needs to change. [Tulsa World]
Oklahoma House bill would lessen the effects of medical debt on credit scores: Nearly 20% of Oklahomans have medical debt that has been sent to collections, but a new House bill could prevent it from affecting their credit scores. Oklahoma is among the states with the highest rates of medical debt, coming in over the national average of 11.6%. [The Oklahoman]
Sen. Dave Rader’s sports betting bill clears Senate hurdle: Sen. Dave Rader’s sports betting bill passed the Senate Appropriations Committee late last week and is now teed up for consideration by the full body. The Tulsa Republican’s Senate Bill 125 allows for amendment of tribal gaming compacts to add sports betting, either in person or by mobile app. [Tulsa World]
Oklahoma lawmakers reject giving women death penalty, abortion abolitionists vow fight isn’t over: A bipartisan coalition of state senators rebuffed a bill that could have subjected women who receive an abortion to the death penalty, but supporters are vowing to resurrect it. The Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday in a bipartisan vote killed Senate Bill 456. [Oklahoma Voice]
Storm chasers concerned about potential Oklahoma ‘tracker’ bill as chasing grows in popularity: Weather enthusiasts across the Plains are concerned about a proposed Oklahoma bill that they fear could empower some storm chasers over others. [Oklahoma Voice]
For third time since 2020, Stitt orders state fleet downsized. Have those efforts worked?: Gov. Stitt announced the creation, via executive order, of the Division of Government Efficiency — modeled after a similar agency at the federal level — earlier this month. But two weeks earlier, he issued another, less-publicized executive order, saying he’s “dedicating state efforts to further reduce the number of state-owned vehicles in operation.” It’s at least his third effort, since taking office in January 2019, to reduce the number of state-owned vehicles. So, why the passion for that particular issue? [The Oklahoman]
Monday Minute: Another #election2026 announcement: The OSBI Commission meeting is rescheduled to Tuesday in the anticipated hiring of a new director, and the name of departing Cleveland County District Attorney Greg Mashburn is seeing a lot of action. As for the GRDA bonding bill? Well, more electricity seems like a strong contender every year. [NonDoc]
Opinion, Your Vote Counts: Former Speaker McCall joins AG Drummond in Oklahoma Governor’s race for 2026 Election: The race for Oklahoma governor is gaining momentum as Former House Speaker Charles McCall announces his candidacy, joining Attorney General Gentner Drummond in the competition. Political analysts predict more candidates will enter, setting off a domino effect for statewide offices. [News 9]
Opinion: Taxpayers were sold a load of bull about a school program that benefits wealthiest Oklahomans: There’s a terrible stench that smells a lot like bull excrement emanating from the halls of our state Capitol right now, and Republicans are hoping that Oklahomans plug their nose and pretend their highly touted voucher-like program doesn’t stink to high heaven. Many are also likely hoping that their constituents will suffer from a convenient bout of amnesia when it comes to recalling the promises made — and not kept — in 2023 about their Parental Choice Tax Credit Act. [Janelle Stecklein / Oklahoma Voice]
Editorial: David Boren’s legacy holds lessons Oklahomans need today: In today’s uncertain world that rewards political rancor, Boren’s life leaves us lessons. Boren brought a dignity and intellect to public office that served Oklahomans well. [Editorial / Tulsa World]
Federal Government News
Pentagon mum on potential job cuts at Tinker Air Force Base amid workforce review: U.S. Department of Defense officials remain tight-lipped about potential civilian layoffs at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City. [Fox 25]
- DOGE impacts federal employment in Oklahoma [KFOR]
- Federal layoffs leave mark on Oklahoma agriculture [KOSU]
- Federal workers sue over Elon Musk’s threat to fire them if they don’t explain their accomplishments [Associated Press]
Will an Oklahoma military base be used as a hub for deported immigrants? Here’s what we know: President Donald Trump is looking to use state military bases throughout the country as potential detention sites for illegal immigrants. While neighboring states are currently on the radar, Oklahoma may not be pinned as one of the sites. [The Oklahoman]
D.C. Digest: Mullin says Ukraine’s Zelensky not grateful enough to Trump: U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin, formally a staunch defender of Ukraine, changed his tune last week after President Donald Trump called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a “dictator” because he cancelled elections during the country’s invasion by Russia. [Tulsa World]
- Sen. Mullin says Trump has been ‘critical of Putin’ amid hostility toward Ukraine: Full interview (video) [Meet the Press / NBC]
House Republicans split over Medicaid changes to pay for Trump tax cuts: House Republicans are crafting a budget package that includes President Trump’s top agenda items – boosting border security and extending his tax cuts. To pay for it, they’re looking for cuts, and a large chunk is expected to come from Medicaid, the federal health care program for poor, elderly and disabled Americans. [NPR via KOSU]
Bureau of Land Management trims environmental review before $20M sale of oil and gas leases: The Trump administration eliminates environmental justice concerns and climate costs from assessment as officials work to overhaul handling of the National Environmental Policy Act. [ICT News]
Tribal Nations News
Freedmen appeal pending as Muscogee Supreme Court hears special justice law arguments: As the snow blanketing the reservation begins to thaw, attorneys representing the Muscogee Nation and the descendants of Muscogee Freedmen huddled around their webcams instead of a cozy fire Friday morning to argue the constitutionality of a controversial special justice law passed by the Muscogee National Council last year that some have called an attempt at “court packing.” [NonDoc]
- Muscogee Nation lawyer accuses freedmen descendant legal team of ‘racial fear mongering’ [Public Radio Tulsa]
- Muscogee Nation Supreme Court hears arguments over temporary judicial appointments [Tulsa World]
First tribally-owned resort OKANA celebrates grand opening: OKANA Resort and Indoor Waterpark, owned and operated by the Chickasaw Nation, is now open for visitors. The $400 million resort sits next to the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City. [KOSU]
- OKC’s OKANA resort opens with ‘100% occupancy tonight and for a while’ [The Oklahoman]
- OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark opens in Oklahoma City [Tulsa World]
How a tribe won a legal battle against the federal Bureau of Indian Education — and still lost: A much-touted federal reform effort, and a tribal lawsuit, sought to improve outcomes for BIE students. Now the Trump administration’s efforts to slash government threaten what little progress the agency has made. [ICT News]
Opinion: The president’s policies are yet another betrayal of Tribal communities: More than 100 tribal representatives and organizations will testify before the House Appropriations Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee this week, in one of the largest collective testimonies by Native communities in recent committee history. I hope the tribal witnesses we’ll hear from will share how this administration is affecting the lives and livelihoods of Indigenous people in their communities — and across the country. [U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree / ICT News]
Voting and Election News
Cheat sheet: Oklahoma Senate District 8 GOP primary set March 4: Six candidates will appear on the March 4 Republican primary ballot for the open Oklahoma State Senate District 8 race, but only five are actively campaigning. The eastern Oklahoma seat is open because former Senate Appropriations and Budget Chairman Roger Thompson (R-Okemah) resigned last year after he was ousted as chairman of the powerful committee. [NonDoc]
OKC Ward 7 candidates head to April 1 runoff: Camal Pennington won 45.5% of the vote for Oklahoma City (OKC) Council Ward 7 on Tuesday, Feb. 11. John A. Pettis, Jr. won 30.2% of the vote. Since no one garnered the required 50% plus one majority, the runoff will take place April 1. [The Black Wall Street Times]
Education News
Could Oklahoma schools start offering free three-year-old pre-k?: While some schools already offer three-year-old care through need-based programs like Head Start, a new bill would allow districts to offer early childhood programming to all. [KGOU]
St. Isidore agrees to not open for 2025-26, regardless of SCOTUS decision: Oklahoma Catholic leaders have agreed not to open what would be the nation’s first religious charter school in 2025 regardless of whether they prevail in their legal quest before the U.S. Supreme Court. [Tulsa World]
Education Department Seeks to Buy Bible Lessons for Elementary Kids: While its effort to buy Bibles for classrooms is tied up in court, the Oklahoma Department of Education initiated a new vendor search to purchase materials containing Bible-infused character lessons for elementary-aged students. [Oklahoma Watch]
- OSDE looking to buy Bible lessons for Oklahoma elementary students [KFOR]
- Ryan Walters, OSDE looking to integrate Bible in elementary schools across Oklahoma [KOCO]
Opinion: Regional universities in Oklahoma aiming to lead the nation in affordability: For the last seven years, I’ve served as a regent for the Regional University System of Oklahoma (RUSO). One motivation has driven me through it all: the belief that every Oklahoma student who desires an education deserves an affordable path to a college degree. [Jane McDermott / The Oklahoman]
Health News
An increase in Texas measles numbers has spurred an OK State Department of Health alert: Oklahoma State Department of Health officials are considering measles when viewing patient symptoms after neighboring states, New Mexico and Texas, have seen sharp increases in infection rates. [The Oklahoman]
Criminal Justice News
Domestic violence review board chairman shares what Oklahoma can do to prevent homicide: Domestic violence homicides in Oklahoma reached a record high in 2023, rising 16% from the previous year, according to an annual report released last week by the Oklahoma Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board. [KOSU]
Oklahoma County Sheriff Tommie Johnson III wanted his own lobbyist. Here’s why he got one: Oklahoma County Sheriff Tommie Johnson III says he needs a lobbyist, so the Board of County Commissioners got him one: Edwards Capitol Partners, in Tulsa. Steve Edwards, chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party from 1999 to 2001 and former chief of staff for the late former U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, is president of Edwards Capitol Partners. [The Oklahoman]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Tulsa Mayor to announce new housing initiatives: Tulsa’s mayor is holding a press conference Monday morning to discuss housing. Beyond that, the city isn’t saying much about what he plans to talk about. It’s likely, however, that he’ll spend some of his time explaining a pilot initiative called the Community Builder Program. [Tulsa World]
Community News
Activist groups get together with bracelets, brews and plans to fight Trump agenda: Tulsans are organizing after President Donald Trump’s first month in office, marked by mass federal firings, executive orders targeting transgender and immigrant communities and a wave of lawsuits against the administration. [Public Radio Tulsa]
‘Focus: Black Oklahoma’: Enid affordable housing, Tulsa fitness movement, protecting girls in Kenya (audio): This episode of Focus: Black Oklahoma features stories on affordable housing in Enid, a grassroots fitness movement in Tulsa and an effort to protect young girls from violence in Kenya. [KOSU]
Opinion: Leverage our experiences to enrich our community: My commitment to service extends beyond my military retirement, and I bring a deep sense of duty to my community. I am dedicated to advocating for Family & Children’s Services programs and supporting mental health initiatives while collaborating with policymakers and community stakeholders. We all have a role in creating a better future. [Lori A. Campbell / Tulsa World]
Opinion: Rue L. Ramsey on Tulsa’s Future: The spirit of Greenwood is in our DNA: As a Black woman growing up here, I’ve seen this city evolve and grow in ways I’m proud to be a part of. While many people left Tulsa in search of bigger opportunities, I always knew I wanted to change the world, right from home. [Rue L. Ramsey / Tulsa World]
Opinion: Prioritize relationships over rules: I want to co-build a Tulsa where we prioritize relationships over rules — where justice, healing and transformation happen not because policies demand it, but because our connections to one another make them necessary. Too often, our justice, education and social services systems are built on rules that dictate who is punished, excluded or denied support. I want to co-build this Tulsa so future generations can experience the safety that is foundational to thriving. [Xavier Graves / Tulsa World]
Local Headlines
- Norman TIF saga continues as judge blocks public vote [NonDoc]
- Judge rules petition insufficient to turn Rock Creek Entertainment district to public vote [KGOU]
- Norman support group to help family members of those struggling with addiction, mental health [KGOU]
Quote of the Day
“We know that high fees keep people trapped in this cycle and contribute to higher recidivism. I want to change that structure and make sure that a second chance is actually a second chance and get rid of fines, fees and court costs for good. It’s time to reform this system and get rid of what is essentially debtors’ prison.”
-Gov. Kevin Stitt, speaking at his State of the State address about the need to reform Oklahoma’s over-reliance on fees and fines in order to fund basic justice functions. [Tulsa World]
Number of the Day
-4.7%
Oklahoma’s state tax collections were 4.7% lower when compared to the state’s 15-year trend levels, adjusted for inflation and seasonality. Oklahoma had the nation’s 11th largest share of revenue decrease during that period. [Pew Research]
Policy Note
Belt-Tightening Budgeting on the Horizon: State budget challenges are brewing after years of historic growth. Tax revenue has dropped, federal COVID dollars have expired and general fund spending is expected to decline in fiscal year 2025. Officials in Maine, Colorado and Washington are anticipating budget shortfalls, and long-term budget projections in California, New York, Pennsylvania and Florida estimate future deficits. Widespread shortfalls typically occur during economic downturns, but the continued growth of the U.S. economy signals potential structural imbalances in state budgets. [National Conference of State Legislatures]
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