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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
Short state funding, Oklahoma is losing child care providers: For years, Oklahoma has only minimally contributed to a state program to help low-income families access child care. Advocates say without additional state funding, the industry won’t be able to meet growing demand. [The Frontier]
SB 633: A Dangerous Overreach That Threatens Juvenile Privacy and School Equity: The Oklahoma Legislature is currently considering SB 633, a bill that would grant all school districts access to the entire Oklahoma Juvenile Authority (OJA) information system. While proponents claim this bill is necessary for school safety, in reality, it creates more problems than it solves—including legal conflicts, potential harm to vulnerable youth, and a breach of longstanding confidentiality protections. [Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law and Justice]
State Government News
Oklahoma lawmakers pass each measure on first day of extensive floor debates; 1 House bill stood out: On the first day of extensive floor work, lawmakers in both chambers passed measures across the Oklahoma Capitol rotunda at a breakneck speed. Dozens of bills were considered Monday. All of them passed. [KOSU]
Speaker says bills could help protect Oklahoma military bases, infrastructure: With the federal government still threatening contract closures and layoffs at military installations across the country, the Oklahoma House of Representatives recently passed legislation that, House leaders say, would allow for additional state investments in infrastructure with the state’s five military bases. [The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma lawmakers look to plug teacher, National Guard gaps simultaneously: Oklahoma lawmakers are working to plug a shortage of teachers and recruits in the state’s National Guard. Legislators are making efforts to deal with both shortages simultaneously. [KOSU]
Oklahoma House approves bills to accept Classic Learning Test, remove chronic absenteeism metric: Education policies that passed the Oklahoma House on Tuesday would remove chronic absenteeism from school evaluations and permit scores from a lesser-known college entrance exam to qualify for state-funded scholarships. [Oklahoma Voice]
Bill banning energy companies from using eminent domain moves through OK Senate: Senate lawmakers voted to move forward with a bill that would ban certain green energy companies from using eminent domain on private property. [KFOR]
Long Story Short: Bill to Boost Rural Mental Health and Diversion Programs Advances (audio): Reporters talk about an effort to boost rural participation in a statewide county mental health program, the latest effort by Oklahoma Treasurer Todd Russ to rein in what he calls “woke investing” and Superintendent Ryan Walters, and an OKC woman who was evicted and has filed an appeal to buy herself more time to move. [Oklahoma Watch]
Federal Government News
USDA cancels 2 local food programs for schools, food banks and tribal nations in Oklahoma: The U.S. Department of Agriculture has canceled two programs providing tribal governments, states, schools and food banks money to buy local food from producers. [KOSU]
- USDA cancels $1 billion in local meal funding for schools and food banks [CBS News]
Trump administration halts $1 billion program that keeps aging affordable housing livable: The Trump administration is halting a $1 billion program that helps preserve affordable housing, threatening projects that keep tens of thousands of units livable for low-income Americans, according to a document obtained by The Associated Press. [Associated Press]
The US agency that monitors weather will cut another 1,000 jobs, AP sources say: he Trump administration is starting another round of job cuts — this one more than 1,000 — at the nation’s weather, ocean and fisheries agency, four people familiar with the matter tell The Associated Press. [Associated Press]
U.S. Supreme Court won’t hear case from Oklahoma, other states to restrict legal action against oil and gas giants: Lawsuits against oil and gas companies cite deception over the effects of human-induced climate change and the billions of dollars spent cleaning up after disasters such as wildfires and hurricanes. The federal government estimates climate-related disasters in 2024 accounted for $182.7 billion in damages. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the lawsuit Monday. [KGOU]
Trump tariffs take effect, higher tariffs not ruled out: President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs on imported steel and aluminum imports took effect Wednesday, part of the administration drive for better global trade deals that has triggered tremors through financial markets and fueled fears of inflation and recession. [USA Today via The Oklahoman]
Tribal Nations News
Oklahoma tribe joins coalition suing feds over education cuts: A coalition of tribal nations and students is suing the federal government over major cuts to a pair of colleges and a federal agency serving Native American students. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Cheyenne, Arapaho Tribes join legal fight over Bureau of Indian Education cuts [KOSU]
Education News
The Education Department was created to ensure equal access. Who would do that in its absence?: As the Trump administration moves to dismantle the Education Department, officials have suggested other agencies could take over its major responsibilities: civil rights enforcement to the Justice Department, perhaps; student loans to Treasury or Commerce; oversight of student disability rights to Health and Human Services. Less clear is what could happen with a more lofty part of its mission — promoting equal access for students in an American education system that is fundamentally unequal. [Associated Press]
- Education Department cuts half its staff as Trump vows to wind the agency down [Associated Press]
In wake of scathing audit, Oklahoma State University hires a new chief financial officer: In the wake of a scathing internal audit — one that quite possibly led to the surprise resignation of a popular president — Oklahoma State University has hired a new chief financial and administrative officer for the OSU system. [The Oklahoman]
- New chief financial officer named at OSU [Oklahoma Voice]
- OSU discontinues funding of foundation whose audit led to Shrum resignation [Tulsa World]
OU president Joseph Harroz comfortable with plan, despite federal upheaval from DOGE: Despite the current upheaval in federal government concerning grants, employees, leases and such — some of which is affecting higher education — University of Oklahoma President Joseph Harroz remains comfortable with an update to OU’s strategic plan. [The Oklahoman]
Idaho State U. dean with Oklahoma ties chosen to be new president at Cameron University: Shane Hunt, a business dean at Idaho State University who has Oklahoma ties, will serve as the next president of Cameron University, the school’s regents have decided. [The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma City Public Schools Board of Education reviews finances after Tulsa schools audit: The Oklahoma City Public Schools Board of Education held a work session Monday night to review the district’s budget after an audit into Tulsa Public Schools found financial irregularities. [The Oklahoman]
Montessori school to open in NE Oklahoma City amid approval by the charter school board: A nonprofit organization can start a new Montessori charter school in northeast Oklahoma City after its application was approved Monday by the Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board. [The Oklahoman]
Court Blocks Superintendent Walters’ Bible Purchase, For Now: A court order issued Monday bars Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters, the Department of Education, the Board of Education and the Office of Management and Enterprise Services from further implementing or enforcing Walters’ Bible mandate until a lawsuit over the Bibles is resolved. [Oklahoma Watch]
- Opponents of Walters’ Bible plan laud Supreme Court stay [The Journal Record]
- Oklahoma high court halts Bible purchases for public schools [Public Radio Tulsa]
Opinion: Have Charter Schools Become the Gateway Drug for Religion in Public Education?: With the U.S. Supreme Court taking up a case in which the Oklahoma Supreme Court has already invalidated the approval of an application by the Catholic Church to open a religious based virtual charter school, I now find myself concerned we have crossed the Rubicon, forever merging public and private school policy while dismantling the foundational belief in the separation of church and state. [Andrew Lewis / The 74]
Health News
First measles cases reported in Oklahoma, but public health officials remain mum on details: State health officials on Tuesday said they’ve confirmed the first two cases of measles in Oklahoma amid an ongoing outbreak in Texas and New Mexico. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Oklahoma State Department of Health reports first 2 measles cases [KOSU]
- Two measles cases confirmed in Oklahoma, state health agency reports [Tulsa World]
- OSDH reports Oklahoma’s first two measles cases confirmed, no risk to public [The Oklahoman]
Drug overdose deaths declining in Oklahoma, nationwide: Drug overdose deaths in Oklahoma are starting to decline. A new analysis of U.S. overdose data suggests a 28% drop in deaths since the state saw its highest peak between June 2022 and May 2023. [KOSU]
Criminal Justice News
Competent to Die: State’s Arbitrary IQ Rule Defies Scientific Recommendation: Wendell Grissom’s brain damage was not introduced in his murder case, outside of appeals court proceedings, until a February 5 clemency hearing, when the five-member Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board saw detailed reports on significant abnormalities in Grissom’s brain, as revealed by CT and MRI scans. The board voted 4-1 to deny clemency, anyway. Now, only a possible pardon from Gov. Kevin Stitt stands in the way of his March 20 execution. [Oklahoma Watch]
- Former Chair of Oklahoma Board of Pardons and Parole Speaks Out Against the Death Penalty as Pending Moratorium Bills Gain Support in Legislature [Death Penalty Information Center]
Bill would mandate prisoners use only facilities for their biological sex: Prison inmates would, as a rule, have to use showers and restrooms designated for male- or female-only use under a bill that passed in the Oklahoma Senate. [Tulsa World]
Overdoses at the Oklahoma County jail plummeted for a month: Here’s what changed: Drug overdoses plunged in the Oklahoma County jail in February after authorities made changes in the booking area and mail room and used drug dogs to sniff out contraband in employee break rooms and the parking lot, an administrator told the jail trust. [The Oklahoman]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Bills aim to protect renters facing eviction: Oklahoma law makes eviction easy for landlords; tenants who are as little as five days late on rent can find themselves in eviction court. SB 128, a bill at the state capitol to expand that deadline to 10 days, cleared its first hurdle without opposition, surprising its author. [KJRH]
- From Oklahoma Access to Justice Foundation: Lengthening the eviction timeline will increase access to justice for Oklahoma renters
Mayor promises ‘aggressive’ work to decommission homeless camps in new executive order: Mayor Monroe Nichols rolled out another executive order on Tuesday, this one focused on achieving functional zero homelessness in the city by 2030. [Tulsa World]
- Tulsa city officials announce new steps to address homelessness [Fox 23]
Economy & Business News
Opinion: My company adopted DEI practices 10 years ago. Our business is flourishing: There’s a misnomer floating around that needs to be quashed: that DEI is the opposite of “merit.” That’s false. When it’s done right, DEI actually promotes merit. It ensures that equally qualified people who otherwise may be overlooked are given the same chance. That’s equity. And in our experience, it’s great for business. [Russ Florence / The Oklahoman]
Community News
Oklahomans rally to support Ukraine as Trump pauses aid, weighs refugee legal status: On Saturday, dozens gathered in the cold and rain, wrapped in Ukrainian flags, to show their support for the war-torn Eastern European country. Many of them are from Ukraine and still have family there. [The Oklahoman]
Opinion: Contrary to what many believe, social work helps state economy: There is sometimes a perception, or misconception, that the field of social work is somehow separate from the economic interests of the state. Rather, social work is focused on enhancing the well-being of individuals, families and communities ― the core of what makes a society and drives economic prosperity. [David McLeod / The Oklahoman]
Local Headlines
- City manager warns OKC tax collections remain below target by $8.3 million this year [Fox 25]
- Mark Nash, Tom Robins agree to ‘Runoff Rematch’ Edmond mayoral debate [NonDoc]
- ‘Extreme’ fire danger this weekend as even more wind reaches Oklahoma: See forecast [The Oklahoman]
- Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols looks back on his first 100 days in office [Tulsa World]
- Construction team chosen to build $1 billion OKC arena to open in 2028 [The Oklahoman]
Quote of the Day
“But that’s kind of what’s happening right now, is little cuts, without a lot of thought as to that long term impact or combined impact that will ultimately really shake the foundation of some of these systems.”
-Chris Bernard, president and CEO of Hunger Free Oklahoma, speaking about the continued cuts to food assistance programs that allow entities to buy food directly from local producers. He expressed concern about the recent federal budget proposal that would cut about $230 billion to the agriculture committee. [KOSU]
Number of the Day
60%
Federal rental assistance helps seniors, people with disabilities, veterans, and working families keep a roof over their heads, often by helping them afford rental units they find in the private market. In 2023, about 60% of Oklahomans who received rental assistance were in families with children. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities]
Policy Note
DOGE-Driven HUD Cuts Will Make It Harder for People to Afford Housing, Exit Homelessness: A record number of people are struggling to afford housing, and leaders from across the political spectrum have called for action. But the Trump Administration, including Elon Musk and the “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), has taken one step after another that will undermine the most effective policies to help people afford housing, including cutting Housing and Urban Development (HUD) staff, withholding urgently needed funds, and making harmful policy changes. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities]
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