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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
Justice Department sues Oklahoma for access to detailed voter records: On Thursday, Feb. 26, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Oklahoma was one of five more states being sued to give the federal government access to records kept by the Oklahoma State Election Board. [The Oklahoman]
- US Justice Department sues five more states over voter registration lists [Reuters]
- DOJ sues Oklahoma for not sharing voters’ personal data [KOSU]
- DOJ sues Oklahoma over failure to provide full voter registration lists [KFOR]
- Oklahoma joins list of states sued by DOJ over voter registration info request [Tulsa World]
- DOJ Civil Rights Division sues Oklahoma and four other states over voter lists [Fox 25]
- Department of Justice sues Oklahoma, claims state failed to produce full voter registration lists [News 9]
- DOJ sues Oklahoma over voter registration list, Drummond pledges cooperation [KOCO]
Immigration bills cause heated back-and-forth on House floor: Despite undocumented immigrants not being able to apply for certain benefits, Oklahoma lawmakers in the House passed a set of bills that would have state agencies report them to the Department of Homeland Security if they did. [KFOR]
- Oklahoma House Republicans approve bills targeting unauthorized migrants applying for welfare benefits [KOSU]
- State representatives clash over legislation requiring proof of citizenship for SNAP, Medicaid benefits [News 9]
- House passes two bills to verify immigration status when applying for certain benefits [Fox 25]
State Government News
Drummond orders state Medicaid agency to withdraw proposed rule on dental extractions: Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond instructed the state Medicaid agency to withdraw a proposed rule that establishes prior authorization for certain dental extractions. [StateImpact Oklahoma via KGOU]
- Drummond orders OHCA to withdraw new rule affecting dentists, SoonerCare members [KSWO]
Fourth company agrees to settle Oklahoma poultry case: Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has reached an agreement with a fourth, now dissolved, poultry company to bring an end to a two-decade old federal lawsuit. [Oklahoma Voice]
Twin Chickasha Hearings Reveal Agents Knew of Hail Claim Practice: As the Oklahoma Supreme Court weighs a motion to assume original jurisdiction — that is, overturn — Oklahoma City District Court Judge Amy Palumbo’s decision to permit Attorney General Gentner Drummond to intervene in Oklahoma’s ongoing hail claim saga, two back-to-back hearings in State Farm cases in Chickasha on Feb. 19 provided surprising insight into how rapidly the legal actions against State Farm have expanded since December. [Oklahoma Watch]
- Oklahoma City child care center closes after DHS subsidy cuts, leaving parents scrambling [Fox 25]
Oklahoma conservatives push to shrink state government during conference: Some of the most conservative state lawmakers and groups will meet during a first-of-its-kind conference to promote civic engagement with the goal of reducing the size of government. [The Oklahoman]
Legislative Roundup:
- House advances bill to prevent public funds from being used for adult gender-affirming care [Oklahoma Voice]
- ‘A balancing act’: Oklahoma lawmakers consider relaxing restrictions of raw milk sales [KOSU]
- Oklahoma schools to teach students about fentanyl dangers [KOCO]
- Bill that would reduce screen time for young students moves forward in Oklahoma legislature [KJRH]
- Bill aimed at helping domestic violence, trafficking victims moves forward in Oklahoma legislature [KJRH]
- Oklahoma counties could tax medical marijuana sales under a new House bill [News 9]
- OK lawmaker pushes AI safeguards with 3 new house bills [Fox 23]
- Lawmakers propose “Toby Keith Expressway” for ACCESS Oklahoma Project, drawing backlash [Fox 25]
Opinion: Oklahoma senators take aim at governor’s control over agency directors: What the Oklahoma Legislature giveth, the Oklahoma Legislature can taketh away. Case in point: The Senate’s initial steps this week to correct boneheaded decisions by previous legislatures that gave the governor CEO-like authority over some of the state’s largest and most consequential agencies. [Arnold Hamilton / The Journal Record]
Opinion, This Week in Oklahoma Politics: Senate education plan, Department of Education audit, human trafficking funds and more (podcast): Reporter Michael Cross talks with Civic Leader Andy Moore and Legislative Advisor Jennifer Monies about Senate leaders unveiling their $254 million education plan using money from teachers’ retirement, a look back at the first month of the 2026 legislative session and an audit of the State Department of Education under then-Superintendent Joy Hofmeister. [KOSU]
Federal Government News
FEMA shutdown drags on amid stalemate over reforms to immigration enforcement: The nation’s main agency for handling disaster response and recovery is shuttered for the third time in recent months and its workers are on the verge of missing paychecks, as members of Congress and the White House remain divided in a separate dispute over immigration enforcement. [Oklahoma Voice]
VA says it won’t enforce rule that would have affected veterans’ benefits (audio): The Department of Veterans Affairs has rescinded a new rule after an outcry from veterans, who said it could have lowered their monthly benefits. [NPR via KOSU]
Tribal Nations News
Opinion: Why Redefining Public Health Degrees Would Harm Native and Rural Communities: A proposed federal policy change could have profound health consequences — especially for Tribal and rural communities. The proposal from the U.S. Department of Education, which is open for public comment until March 2nd, would exclude public health and nursing from a new definition of “professional degree programs,” and could potentially affect eligibility for scholarships and financial aid. [Donald Warne, MD, MPH / Native News Online]
Voting and Election News
Republicans running for Oklahoma governor will square off at GOP forum: Candidates vying for the Republican bid for governor are meeting again, this time in Oklahoma City. Gentner Drummond, Chip Keating and Mike Mazzei are among the hopefuls set to appear on stage at a sold-out event on Saturday, Feb. 28. [The Oklahoman]
Who’s running for 2026 Oklahoma State Superintendent?: A full breakdown of candidates in the 2026 Oklahoma State Superintendent race, including party affiliation, background and key education priorities. [News 9]
Education News
Oklahoma adds 83 emergency-certified teachers amid ongoing debate: Oklahoma’s State Board of Education approved 83 new emergency-certified teachers, increasing the total to over 3,000, as discussions continue about the program’s impact on education quality. [KOCO]
Attorney for Epic founder defends use of student Learning Funds as private money: The co-founders of Epic Charter Schools appear to be setting the stage for a criminal defense based on their claim that tens of millions of taxpayer dollars allocated for educating Oklahoma children became their private funds to do with as they wished once they received them in their private business bank account. [Tulsa World]
- Preliminary hearing for criminal case against Epic co-founders continues [KFOR]
Health News
Oklahoma is taking over the ACA insurance marketplace. How will that change what you pay?: For the some 300,000 Oklahomans getting health insurance through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace, there’s a small user fee built into your premium going straight to Washington, D.C. Oklahoma is making a move to claim that money and the power to lower such fees later on. [Tulsa Flyer]
When segregation limited care, Black hospitals filled gaps, served ‘as community hubs’: Before integration, segregation shaped where Black patients could receive care, where Black physicians could practice and what kinds of medical institutions could exist. In response, a network of Black-run hospitals, clinics and mutual aid systems emerged across Oklahoma, operating quietly and leaving few surviving records decades later. By the late 20th century, most had disappeared. [NonDoc]
Criminal Justice News
Oklahoma to execute man in May for 2007 killings of ex-girlfriend, infant: A confessed killer is set to be executed May 14 for murdering his former girlfriend and her infant daughter at their home in Tulsa in 2007 after a breakup. [The Oklahoman]
Actor Macaulay Culkin asks Oklahoma court to expunge 2004 arrest: Actor Macaulay Culkin has requested that the state of Oklahoma expunge his arrest record stemming from an arrest 22 years ago. In 2004, he was a passenger in a speeding car that was pulled over by Oklahoma City Police. During a search, police found drugs and arrested him. [The Oklahoman]
Taxing vapes and marijuana? A new approach to funding a new Oklahoma County Jail: County leaders seek new revenue options after rejecting a broader sales tax proposal to fund jail construction and operations in Oklahoma County. [News 9]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Evictions fuel housing crisis that’s disrupting classrooms across Oklahoma: Evictions are at the heart of Oklahoma’s housing crisis and educators say the ripple effects are showing up in classrooms across the state. State Representative Amanda Clinton says housing instability is directly tied to how well students can learn. [Fox 23]
Oklahoma nonprofit’s reevaluation of affordable housing could have implications for Tulsa: Mental Health Association Oklahoma has acquired thousands of housing units over 35 years. Now its leaders are wondering if it can afford them. [Tulsa Flyer]
Economy & Business News
Data center tax breaks are on the chopping block in some states: After years of states pushing legislation to accelerate the development of data centers and the electric grid to support them, some legislators want to limit or repeal state and local incentives that paved their way. [Oklahoma Voice]
Community News
Black History Month Turns 100, But the Fight to Teach It Isn’t Over: As the United States marks a century of Black History, Black educators continue to lead efforts to honor Dr. Carter G. Woodson, who founded Black History Month. Black teachers have long served as “the griot” of their communities, carrying forward the African tradition of storytelling and oral history. [The Black Wall Street Times]
- Opinion, Oklahoma State Senator: U.S. has celebrated Black history for 100 years. OK can be proud [State Sen. Nikki Nice / The Oklahoman]
Local Headlines
- Townhomes planned for the edge of one of Edmond’s early neighborhoods [The Oklahoman]
- Cost to repair Oklahoma County building could be as high as building a new one [The Oklahoman]
- Lawton Public Library receives $5,000 health literacy grant [The Lawton Constitution]
- Norman City Council could revive a citywide vote despite Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling [Fox 25]
- Deal signed to build aluminum fabrication plant in Inola [Fox 23]
Quote of the Day
“I cannot support a bill that will push families — that will push kids who are American-born citizens — from receiving benefits they are entitled to.”
– Rep. Arturo Alonso Sandoval (Oklahoma City) opposing House Bills 4422 and 4423, which would require immigration status checks and potential ICE notification for applicants seeking SNAP, TANF, or Medicaid. While undocumented immigrants have never been eligible for public assistance, the bills could deter parents from seeking benefits on behalf of their U.S.-citizen children out of concern that their own information would be reviewed and potentially shared with immigration authorities. [News 9]
Number of the Day
49%
The share of Oklahoma Medicaid enrollees who are children. Nearly half of everyone covered by SoonerCare is under age 18, showing how central the program is to children’s health and access to care across the state. [KFF]
Policy Note
Medicaid Plays an Important Role in Providing Health Coverage to Key Populations: Medicaid provides health coverage for many of the country’s most vulnerable groups, including children, pregnant people, seniors, and people with disabilities, and plays a central role in financing long-term care and essential health services. The program helps people who are less likely to have access to employer-sponsored insurance and often have greater health needs, improving access to care and financial stability. Because eligibility and benefits vary by state, coverage levels and access can differ widely across the country. Changes to Medicaid policy therefore have broad effects on health coverage and care for low-income families and other key populations. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities]
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