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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
Trump taps Markwayne Mullin for Cabinet, sets up uncertain Senate race: President Donald Trump has named U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin as his new Cabinet secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. If confirmed by his colleagues in the U.S. Senate, Mullin will fill the post held by Kristi Noem for the past 14 months. [NonDoc]
- Mullin to Replace Kristi Noem as DHS Secretary [Oklahoma Watch]
- Kristi Noem out as DHS secretary; Trump to nominate Oklahoma Sen. Mullin [Oklahoma Voice]
- Markwayne Mullin has been a Noem defender and hawk on immigration [The Oklahoman]
- From cage fights to Jan. 6, inside five of Mullin’s most controversial moments [The Oklahoman]
- Did Markwayne Mullin serve in the military? See DHS appointee’s service history [The Oklahoman]
- Trump taps Markwayne Mullin for Secretary of Homeland Security [KOSU]
- What you need to know about Sen. Markwayne Mullin, Trump’s new pick to lead DHS [NPR]
Gubernatorial appointee would become Oklahoma’s next U.S. senator until voters can decide: Gov. Kevin Stitt would have 30 days to appoint a new U.S. senator should Markwayne Mullin resign to accept a Cabinet position in the Trump administration. [Oklahoma Voice]
- When is Markwayne Mullin up for reelection? Oklahoma legislator’s election history [The Oklahoman]
- Who will Gov. Kevin Stitt appoint to replace Sen. Markwayne Mullin? [The Oklahoman]
- U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin’s resignation shakes up Oklahoma politics [Tulsa World]
- Markwayne Mullin tapped to lead Homeland Security. Here’s what happens to his Senate seat [KOSU]
- Speculation begins over who could replace Mullin in the Senate [KFOR]
- How Trump’s Firing of Noem Sets Off a Political Scramble in Oklahoma [The New York Times]
Open primaries state question fails to make it on to Oklahoma ballot: The Oklahoma Secretary of State’s office says State Question 836 did not receive the signatures it needed to appear on an Oklahoma ballot. The question asked whether Oklahoma voters would like to switch from closed to open primary elections, meaning the races would not be separated by party affiliation. [KOSU]
- Too few signatures validated to secure vote on open primaries state question [Tulsa World]
- State Question 836, which would open Oklahoma’s primary elections, falls short of valid signatures [KOCO]
- State Question 836 falls short meeting required signature count [KFOR]
State Government News
Lawmakers advance resolution that asks voters to overhaul state, federal and partisan county elections: House Joint Resolution 1019, authored by Rep. Eric Roberts, R-Oklahoma City, would require every recognized political party in Oklahoma be given the opportunity to nominate a candidate for every general election. The candidate must win the party’s primary or runoff election, or be unopposed. The measure carves out exceptions for unopposed candidates. [Oklahoma Voice]
Contractors named their own prices on ACCESS Oklahoma work, audit finds: Records show that Poe & Associates, a firm being paid millions by the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority for its work on ACCESS Oklahoma, hired the son of the agency’s former director Tim Gatz when the firm was hired to oversee the $8.2 billion toll road expansion program. [The Oklahoman]
- Contractors named their own prices on ACCESS Oklahoma work, audit finds [The Oklahoman]
- Pike Off OTA President Amy Cerato responds to OTA audit findings (video) [The Oklahoman]
- Audit finds no ‘egregious wrongdoing’ at Oklahoma Turnpike Authority [Tulsa World]
Oklahoma commissioners reject OG&E rate increase for data center power plants: In a two-to-one vote on Thursday, Oklahoma Corporation Commissioners rejected an OG&E utility rate increase request to offset construction costs of two new power generation facilities east of Oklahoma City. [The Journal Record]
- OG&E to appeal to Oklahoma Supreme Court as regulators deny bid to charge customers for construction [KGOU]
- Corporation Commission rejects OG&E’s charge plan for power plants [The Oklahoman]
Lawmakers advance bill to prevent Medicaid coverage under names of deceased people before consulting OHCA: A bill that would require the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to prevent deceased individuals from getting approved for Medicaid and ensure no payments or coverage are authorized on their behalf advanced through the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. [KGOU]
Worry for teacher pensions prompts criticism of Oklahoma education funding plan: An Oklahoma Senate plan to fund education initiatives with money designated for teacher pensions has drawn mixed reactions in the week since Republican leaders unveiled it. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Lawmakers hear from teachers, retirees about education funding [Tulsa World]
Resolution calls for state vote on property tax reform: Oklahomans could get to vote for new limits on how much their property taxes might be raised in the future if lawmakers continue to support a resolution gaining momentum at the Capitol. [Tulsa World]
Legislative roundup
- Data center legislation takes shape in Oklahoma House [Tulsa World]
- Oklahoma lawmakers consider changing groundwater metering requirements [KOSU]
- House lawmakers try again to reform Oklahoma tobacco settlement trust board, spending [Oklahoma Voice]
- Amid concern over Reworld plan, Oklahoma lawmakers shut the door on stricter waste regulations [The Oklahoma Eagle]
- Session Watch: Week Five [Oklahoma Watch]
Opinion, This Week in Oklahoma Politics: DOJ lawsuit over voter info, Sooner State Party, OSSAA bill fails and more (podcast): The panelists talk about President Trump’s Justice Department suing Oklahoma after refusing to share voter personal data, the State Ethics Board launching a temporary online portal for local candidates to report campaign finances and a new political party fails to get enough signatures to be officially recognized by the state. The trio also discusses Republican state lawmakers passing immigration bills backed by President Trump and a Senate Education Committee blocking legislation to add transparency to the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association. [KOSU]
Federal Government News
State Medicaid budgets will decline by $665 billion under new federal law, report finds: State Medicaid budgets will be reduced by a total of $665 billion over the next decade, after President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act cuts federal investment in the health insurance program, according to a new analysis. State general funds in Oklahoma could see more than a 2% savings due to lowering Medicaid enrollment or reducing the types of care covered. [Oklahoma Voice]
Oklahoma Rep. Tom Cole hopes to end DHS shutdown; Democrats say “no shot” for bill: U.S. Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) is leading a new effort to reopen the Department of Homeland Security. However, Democrats say his efforts are nothing more than “political theatre.” [Gaylord News via The Black Wall Street Times]
Lankford says strikes on Iran ‘last resort’: One criticism of the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran has been inconsistent explanations of why and what next. On Thursday, U.S. Sen. James Lankford gave it a try. [Tulsa World]
Tribal Nations News
Judge declines to confirm Osage Nation reservation, but offers path forward: An Oklahoma federal judge ruled he can’t rule the Osage Nation’s reservation is still intact, denying a legal maneuver to resurrect an old lawsuit. [The Oklahoman]
OKC-based Indigenous Leaders of North America backed by controversial South Korean church: With Kiowa Tribe officials on its board, an Oklahoma City nonprofit tied to a controversial South Korean church quietly recently began working with tribal governments, two of which have disavowed association after learning more about the organization. [NonDoc]
Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizes more than $5M in health grants for diabetes, substance abuse and more: The Muscogee (Creek) National Council authorized the use of more than $5 million in grant funding for tribal health programs during its Feb. 28 meeting. The funds will support initiatives including diabetes prevention, public health infrastructure, substance abuse treatment and infectious disease response. [Tulsa Flyer]
Cherokee Nation releasing documentary about Cherokee Freedmen: The Cherokee Nation, as part of its Black History Month observance, announced that its production company, Cherokee Film Productions, will soon release a feature-length documentary exploring the highly charged topic of Cherokee Freedmen. [Tulsa World]
Education News
Opinion: Oklahoma children deserve gift of literacy. We must deliver: We know what works for education. The challenge is not a lack of evidence — it is a lack of political will. This legislative session, we face a choice — will we make real commitments to our children or continue to accept outcomes we know are failing too many of them? [Sen. Carri Hicks / The Oklahoman]
Criminal Justice News
Former Oklahoma prosecutor found guilty of child pornography offenses: A former top prosecutor has been found guilty of possessing child pornography. Kevin Etherington was the first assistant district attorney of Payne and Logan counties at the time of his arrest in 2022. Jurors took only 80 minutes to reach their verdict on Thursday, March 5, at the Payne County courthouse. [The Oklahoman]
- Former Payne County prosecutor Kevin Etherington convicted for child pornography [NonDoc]
- Former Oklahoma prosecutor found guilty of child pornography offenses [The Oklahoman]
Man sentenced for injuring ICE agent as he fled OKC traffic stop: A Honduran man has been sentenced in Oklahoma City federal court to more than six years in prison for assaulting and resisting an immigration officer, authorities said. [The Oklahoman]
Tulsans point to police shootings and past payouts in new calls for an independent monitor: Some Tulsans are calling for an independent monitor for the Tulsa Police Department. The request stems from concerns over police shootings and multimillion-dollar payouts. Community members say the need for an independent monitor is increasingly urgent, citing the recent deadly police shooting of Michael Glunt. The Oklahoma Eagle reported this week that after Glunt’s family asked for police video of the Feb. 8 shooting, city officials told them it didn’t exist. [The Oklahoma Eagle]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Tenant Problems Pile Up At Tulsa-Based Vesta Realty: Vesta Realty’s portfolio includes 30 properties in Oklahoma, with 16 in Oklahoma City, 12 in Tulsa, one in Stillwater and one in Bartlesville, according to their website. Tenants at the properties have complained of unresponsive property managers, lack of heat in winter, no hot water, mold, ceiling collapses, flooding and more. The conditions made their apartments barely-habitable, and have gone unresolved for months. Oklahoma’s poor tenant protections leave them few options. [Oklahoma Watch]
- From OK Policy: Renters need protection against landlord retaliation
What makes it hard to solve Oklahoma’s affordable housing dilemma? New report offers insight: Oklahoma’s policies are holding back affordable housing development by leaving millions of federal tax credits unused and restricting who can build, according to researchers who uncovered the gaps and say fixes are within reach. [Tulsa Flyer]
Economy & Business News
Opinion: Energy project limits would hurt households, property rights: At a time when Oklahoma needs more power generation from an all-of-the-above strategy to stabilize prices and meet future demand, some lawmakers are considering policies that would restrict private landowners from placing one type of energy production, wind turbines, on their own property. What Oklahoma should be doing instead is allow landowners to pursue all types of energy production — oil, gas, solar and yes, wind. Restricting one type of energy is not just bad policy. It is bad for households and bad for property rights. [Charlie Kolean / The Oklahoman]
Local Headlines
- Judge makes room for disputed Walmart at Covell and Coltrane in Edmond [The Oklahoman]
- Tulsa County Election Board moves to new headquarters with more room for early voting [Tulsa World]
Quote of the Day
“It means someone might have a fighting chance. This is empowering courts to have the tools to hold landlords accountable, which is an area where they’ve had their hands tied by the law.”
-Katie Dilks, Executive Director of Access to Justice, speaking about legislation that would level the playing field between tenants and property owners. House Bill 2015 would amend sections of the Landlord Tenant Act, giving tenants the ability to sue a landlord should the landlord not provide repairs or maintain a habitable property. [Oklahoma Watch]
- From OK Policy: Oklahoma is 1 of only 6 states without tenant protections against landlord retaliation
Number of the Day
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As of 2025, there is no county or metro area in the country where a minimum-wage worker is paid enough to meet the requirements of their local family budget on their wages alone. [Economic Policy Institute]
Policy Note
EPI’s updated Family Budget Calculator shows that higher minimum wages are needed in states like Oklahoma to afford the cost of living: EPI’s updated Family Budget Calculator shows how much income it takes to afford basic expenses in every metro area and county across the United States in 2025. The Family Budget Calculator can be used to assess a living-wage level and shows that states like Oklahoma need a higher minimum wage. The state’s minimum wage falls short by over $12 an hour in meeting a one-person budget in the state’s lowest cost county.[Economic Policy Institute]
- From OK Policy: SQ 832: Minimum Wage Increase | Information and Resources
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