OKPOLICY.ORG
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
Teachers begin speaking out against Ryan Walters: ‘You’re putting students in jeopardy’: Oklahoma teachers are tired, and they’re blaming state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters for much of their fatigue. [The Oklahoman]
State Government News
Oklahoma state leaders renew pledge for budget transparency, but may end public negotiations: Leaders of the Oklahoma House and Senate made renewed vows Thursday for transparency in determining the state budget, although the process may look different this year. [Oklahoma Voice]
- From OK Policy: Steps to improve budget transparency this session
- From OK Policy: Oklahoma’s budget process has historically has been among the nation’s least transparent (2022)
Bills Affecting Initiative Petitions Set for Hearing This Week: Several bills affecting Oklahoma’s initiative petition process are set to be considered this week as the Legislature approaches its first major deadline. [Oklahoma Watch]
- From OK Policy: Initiative petition process is vital to Oklahoma’s democracy: Lawmakers should keep it accessible
Legislation moves state government closer to cryptocurrency investment: Oklahomans may soon be paying their bills in gold and silver and investing their taxes in Bitcoin, following actions Tuesday by the Oklahoma House of Representatives. [Tulsa World]
Three anti-abortion bills are progressing in the Oklahoma Legislature. What to know about them: Medical providers are barred from providing abortions in Oklahoma unless it’s necessary to protect the mother’s life, but still, several bills targeting the procedure were introduced in the state Legislature this year with some making progress. [The Oklahoman]
Bills Proposed In OKC Could Affect Child Caregiver Wages And More: Leading up to the current session, lawmakers filed bills to address the childcare shortage, combat the housing crisis, raise wages, and change education policy, among other initiatives. However, with pressure from Stitt to cut taxes further, some are wary that their bills could ever reach the governor’s desk. [The Oklahoma Eagle]
Bipartisan bill eases college access for Oklahomans with criminal records: A bill that would make college access easier for Oklahomans with criminal records has passed a state House committee and moves one step closer to a full House vote. [The Black Wall Street Times]
Women’s professional sports are excluded from a tax program. Oklahoma lawmaker seeks to change that: Officials on both sides of the aisle are backing a move to expand an exclusionary state tax program by allowing women’s professional sports to participate. [Oklahoma Voice]
Lawmakers discuss bill that would condense tax brackets for Oklahomans: A new bill authored by Republican Senator Dave Rader of Tulsa passed committee this week. He says the bill will help lower income Oklahomans by adjusting the tax brackets and raising the standard deduction. [KFOR]
Tulsa lawmaker’s bill would reward firearm safety: A Tulsa senator’s bill to make gun safes and gun locks cheaper to buy gained some momentum this week at the Capitol. [Tulsa World]
Political notebook: Former state COO John Budd rejoins Stitt administration: Gov. Kevin Stitt’s first state chief operating officer, John Budd, is returning to state government as chief executive officer of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. [Tulsa World]
- Gov. Stitt submits nominees for state commerce secretary, Department of Commerce CEO [The Oklahoman]
Tulsa-area freshman lawmakers open up about life at the Capitol after a month on the job: fter their first four weeks serving in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, three first-time lawmakers from around Tulsa talked about what it’s been like and shared how their personal and professional experience helped shape their legislative priorities. [Tulsa World]
Opinion, Flash Point: Lawmaker sues the governor, federal job cuts (video): State Rep. Andy Fugate of Del City joins the show to discuss topics including his lawsuit involving Gov. Kevin Stitt, federal job cuts, and possible state government job reductions. [KFOR]
Opinion, Capitol Insider: State Board of Education approves new social studies standards: The state Board of Education, with three new members recently appointed by Governor Kevin Stitt, approved new social studies standards for Oklahoma schools. These new standards are supported by State Superintendent Ryan Walters and feature a dramatic increase in references to Christianity and religion. Where do these standards go next? [KGOU]
Opinion: Do Oklahoma lawmakers see our state as a real-life ‘Twisters’ set? Two bills tell me they do: Lawmakers are proposing with boneheaded legislation that would empower a small group of predominantly male storm chasers to affix emergency lights to their vehicles, run red lights and stop signs and race around barricades erected by local and state officials to ensure public safety. [Janelle Stecklein / Oklahoma Voice]
Opinion: Lack of public comment fosters ‘failure to communicate’ with citizens: Most boards and commissions governing state agencies don’t include a section for public comment on their agendas. And while it’s within their legal right not to hear from the public at meetings, the message it sends and the problems it causes constitute my birthday rant. [Michael McNutt / NonDoc]
Opinion: For the Children – Government budgets have real impacts on Oklahoma children, families: The budget changes happening with the federal government will certainly have an impact on our state. Our state budget split has about 47% coming from federal funding. [Joe Dorman / Duncan Banner]
Federal Government News
Budget cuts, layoff rumors and more create chaos for federal workers in Oklahoma: The effects of the Trump administration’s efforts to consolidate the federal government are being felt nationwide, including in Oklahoma. That includes efforts to consolidate real estate, layoffs and more. [KOSU]
- Meteorologists, OU students lose jobs in NWS layoffs as tornado season looms [The Oklahoman]
- Ruling may have paused layoffs at Tinker Air Force Base, but many officials remain concerned [The Oklahoman]
- DOGE site lists cancellation of U.S. Attorney’s Office lease in Muskogee, others across state [Tulsa World]
- As more firings loom, 2 Oklahomans laid off from federal jobs share their stories [KGOU]
- DOGE closures in Oklahoma spark concerns over federal jobs and services [The Black Wall Street Times]
Republicans once maligned Medicaid. Now some see a program too big to touch: Republicans lined up last week to defend Medicaid, in a departure from long-held GOP policies. Republicans, who already have ruled out massive cuts to Social Security and Medicare, are turning their attention to siphoning as much as $880 billion from Medicaid over the next decade to help finance $4.5 trillion in tax cuts. [Associated Press]
D.C. Digest: Lankford warns of looming power grid problems: U.S. Sen. James Lankford defended President Donald Trump’s energy emergency declaration, although not necessarily in a way most people would think. Electric generation, not gasoline prices, seemed to be first on his mind. [Tulsa World]
Tribal Nations News
Federal memo finds United Keetoowah Band ‘successor in interest’ to Cherokee Reservation: Ahead of the presidential administration change in January, a last-minute solicitor general memo from the U.S. Department of Interior recognized the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians “has an ownership interest in the Cherokee Reservation as a successor in interest to the tribal signatory of the Treaty of 1846.” [NonDoc]
Opinion: ‘It’s about control’: Why Trump renamed Denali to Mount McKinley: The version of “king of the mountain” that the Trump administration is keen on playing replaces physical violence with aggressive tariffs, hostile dealings with foreign officials, and fraudulent business practices. It’s also involved petty actions, changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico and punishing those who refuse to adhere to the order, and renaming Mount Denali, in Alaska, to Mount McKinley; a change nobody — not even Republicans in Alaska — wanted. [Taylar Dawn Stagner / ICT News]
Opinion: In a Time of Change, Cherokee Nation is a Steady Voice for Indian Country: As the largest tribe in the United States, Cherokee Nation has the responsibility to be an advocate and leader for all of Indian Country. That means engaging with the U.S. Congress and other federal leaders in Washington, D.C. [Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. / Native News Online]
Opinion: ICE Raids Negatively Impact American Indians: Recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids have raised the alarms for Tribes whose citizens are being unjustly detained and questioned. The Trump Administration claims raids target illegal immigrants with criminal histories, however, at least some agents are making judgments based on appearance, including the skin color and language of an individual rather than concrete information about immigration status or criminal record. [Cheryl Crazy Bull / Native News Online]
- From OK Policy: Anti-immigration raids harm all communities (Commentary)
Education News
Conflict of interest found by audit in Tulsa Public Schools bond office could have wide-ranging consequences: Auditors found longtime TPS executive Chris Hudgins was running a personal consulting business on district time and computers — and accepting payments from a firm that was a district vendor. [Tulsa World]
- Tulsa school board airs grievances over critical state audit [Public Radio Tulsa]
- Two Tulsa Public School board members call for second audit [Tulsa World]
Interim Oklahoma State President Jim Hess prioritizing student engagement in new role: Three weeks into his role as Oklahoma State University’s interim president, Jim Hess is navigating the institution’s challenges after the sudden resignation of former President Dr. Kayse Shrum. [KOSU]
- After 40 years of making university presidents look good, Jim Hess is one himself [Tulsa World]
Opinion: OK must fix our education system. Better schools are possible: Simply put, we have turned our back on public education in our state. We have allowed some to drive policy and divisiveness into forcing good and talented people to walk away from public education. Some are leaving due to the feeling they will be publicly blasted for their perceived views or teaching style and because of a lack of support from the top down. Many potential employees turn us down, solely over education or the lack thereof. [Brian Busey / The Oklahoman]
Health News
As bird flu spreads, feds might undercut states by firing scientists, removing data: As bird flu cases inundate more poultry and dairy farms, state officials worry that the Trump administration’s firings of federal scientists and other actions will undermine efforts to track the virus and protect Americans. [Oklahoma Voice]
- From OK Policy: Hiding federal data hurts all of us [The Journal Record]
Oklahoma kids most vaccinated against whooping cough in years, though cases rising: While the whooping cough vaccination rate is high for Oklahoma, the state still sees high numbers of the disease at the start of the year as the health department looks for ways to prevent a wider spread. [The Oklahoman]
- Measles death puts vaccine exemptions in spotlight: Are Oklahoma children vaccinated? [The Oklahoman]
Researchers estimate 1 in 10 abortions provided by online-only clinics one year after Roe: Despite its widespread use and high safety record, medication abortion could soon become much harder to access if the Trump administration — in line with the GOP blueprint Project 2025 — tries to ban telemedicine abortion or prevent the mailing of abortion pills, which are also used to treat miscarriages and other health conditions. [Oklahoma Voice]
Criminal Justice News
Oklahoma’s ‘failure to protect’ law has left some abuse victims with longer sentences than abusers: State Sen. David Rader says he wants to protect victims of violence. He is working to pass legislation which he believes will better protect victims of child abuse and those of domestic violence. Rader’s legislation isn’t a new concept. [The Oklahoman]
TEEM leader: After six months, pretrial release is saving OK County money, changing lives: TEEM saved Oklahoma County $5.4 million in its first six months of supervising released criminal defendants rather than the courts and county jail trust keeping them incarcerated — but money isn’t everything. [The Oklahoman]
Murderer returned to Oklahoma to face execution after Trump issues executive order: Convicted murderer John Fitzgerald Hanson was returned to Oklahoma Saturday from a federal prison in Louisiana to face execution. The transfer came 40 days after President Donald Trump issued an executive order “restoring” the death penalty. The Biden administration had blocked Hanson’s return in 2022. [The Oklahoman]
Economy & Business News
Economics conference featuring national speaker set in Tulsa: An economics conference titled “Beyond Exploitation: Workers’ Self-management for a New Era” will be held Friday in downtown Tulsa. The University of Tulsa’s new Center for Heterodox Economics is sponsoring the event, which will feature nationally known speakers. [Tulsa World] | [Learn more or register]
Local Headlines
- Bryan County taxpayers to decide on one-cent ambulance sales tax [KTEN]
- Norman petitioners want OK Supreme Court to hear entertainment district funding case [KFOR]
Quote of the Day
“If we were to post anything like he has posted about our students or schools, we would be fired immediately. Why are legislators, and people that hold him accountable, looking the other way? It is frustrating and sad. The morale of teachers is at an all-time low.”
-Robin Needham, a veteran teacher in a rural district in southern Oklahoma, speaking about the negative impacts created by the rhetoric shared by state Superintendent Ryan Walters that has undermined public school teachers statewide since he took office in 2023. [The Oklahoman]
Number of the Day
Nearly half (49.6%) of Oklahoma children who live in small towns and rural areas have health care coverage through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). A House budget blueprint, approved largely along party lines, indicated that the Republican majority was aiming to reduce Medicaid spending by $880 billion. [Center for Children and Families]
Policy Note
2025 Budget Stakes: Poverty and Hardship Could Rise for Millions: Millions of people would be pushed into, or deeper into, poverty under Republican proposals that Congress could consider this year. A range of spending cuts and other proposals that House Republicans are reportedly considering would increase hardship for individuals and families in every part of our nation by taking away health coverage, food assistance, and other supports to people who struggle to afford the basics. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities]
You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail.
