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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
Ethics Commission to ‘pursue prosecution’ against Walters for alleged campaign finance violations: At the end of a nearly four-hour meeting — around three of which were spent in executive session — Oklahoma Ethics Commission members voted to pursue litigation against Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters over allegations of campaign finance law violations. [NonDoc]
- Ethics Commission moves to prosecute State Superintendent Ryan Walters [Tulsa World]
- Oklahoma Ethics Commission pursuing Ryan Walters for campaign finance violations [Oklahoma Voice]
- Ethics Commission pursuing prosecution in district court in one Supt. Walters’ case [Fox 25]
- ‘Doing the best they can’: Oklahoma lawmakers weigh in on Ethics Commission challenges [Fox 25]
Decade-old class action lawsuit over treatment of children in Oklahoma custody ends: Oklahoma’s foster care system is no longer under federal oversight for the first time in 13 years, officials announced Thursday. A federal judge on Thursday ended the case, halting a prolonged and intensive scrutiny of Oklahoma’s foster care system designed to improve conditions for children in the state’s care. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Judge ends federal oversight of Oklahoma foster care system [Tulsa World]
- Judge lifts 13-year-old consent decree after ‘complete turn-round’ of state foster care system [Public Radio Tulsa]
- Opinion, DHS Director Jeffrey Cartmell: Oklahoma delivered on Pinnacle Plan promise to do better in protecting children [Jeffrey Cartmell / Tulsa World]
- Editorial: Oklahoma’s Pinnacle Plan wasn’t always embraced, didn’t have an easy journey [Tulsa World Editorial Board]
State officials wait and see how layoffs at federal education agency will affect Oklahoma: Dismantling the U.S. Department of Education will provide flexibility to states regarding education spending, Gov. Kevin Stitt said the day after an announcement that roughly half of the federal agency’s workforce will be cut by President Donald Trump’s administration. [The Oklahoman]
State Government News
Bill creating new felony for undocumented Oklahomans advances to Senate: House lawmakers on Thursday approved a measure along partisan lines that would create a new felony for being in the country illegally, despite critics calling it “un-American” and saying it would create unnecessary fear. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Oklahoma House passes bill making undocumented arrests an automatic felony [Fox 23]
Lawmakers dispute ‘substantive’ changes to Parental Choice Tax Credit law: Senate leaders disagreed Thursday about the merits of a bill that would modify Oklahoma’s Parental School Choice Tax Credit law. Senate Bill 684, which passed through the upper chamber of the Legislature on a 35-11 vote, includes “substantive cleanup language” that will make the tax credit program more efficient for the Oklahoma Tax Commission to administer and easier for parents to navigate. Some said the measure is weak in that it includes no provision to increase the number of low-income families able to take advantage of the tax credit. [Tulsa World]
- Oklahoma lawmakers propose adjustments to Parent Choice Tax Credit [News 9]
Senate sends watered-down school cellphone ban to Oklahoma House: The Oklahoma Senate on Thursday passed a measure that would require school districts to ban cellphones and personal electronic devices next school year. But districts could choose to continue or discontinue the policy in following years. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Why Oklahoma is pushing for all-day cellphone restrictions in class [PBS NewsHour]
Oklahoma lawmakers aim to regulate ‘foreign adversary’ land ownership, commerce and more: China. Russia. North Korea. Iran, and depending on the bill, Syria, Cuba, and Venezuela. Those are the nations Oklahoma lawmakers are calling “foreign adversaries,” and thus looking to restrict from doing certain kinds of business in the state. [KOSU]
New bill seeks changes to how child custody is determined in Oklahoma: HB 1082 changes the way custody cases are handled in family court. The bill changes some of the wording already in state law. It says a court must decide what the best interest “is” for the child and not what “appears to be.” It also sets the legal starting point that what is in the best interest of the child is to have access to both parents. [Fox 23]
Oklahoma House passes bill to permit adjunct teachers in early childhood classes: House Bill 2125 would permit adjunct teachers to work at all grade levels, including early childhood classes from pre-K through third grade. Adjunct teachers would still be excluded from teaching special education. [Oklahoma Voice]
3 candidates advance to fill vacant Oklahoma Supreme Court seat: Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Still has until early May to pick a new Oklahoma Supreme Court justice from a list of three nominees. The Oklahoma Judicial Nominating Commission has provided Donna L. Dickinson, Travis V. Jett and Jon K. Parsley as potential candidates to fill the vacant Oklahoma Supreme Court seat. [KOSU]
Opinion, This Week in Oklahoma Politics: Federal cuts in Oklahoma, classroom Bibles delayed, initiative petition legislation and more: The panel talks about Gov. Kevin Stitt joining other states in asking to have a seat at the table in federal cuts and layoffs, the State Supreme Court puts a pause on plans by Superintendent Ryan Walters for Bibles and Bible curriculum in classrooms, and Walters questioning the integrity of school test scores released by his agency. [KOSU]
Opinion: There’s a little-known law that’s helping to keep grocery prices high in Oklahoma: Last year, the Oklahoma Legislature eliminated the state’s portion of sales tax on grocery items. This 4.5% cut was estimated to save the median Oklahoma household approximately $235 a year, but citizens in our state can be forgiven if they still feel a financial pinch when they go grocery shopping. [James Davenport and Samantha Johnson / The Oklahoman]
Opinion: It’s time for Oklahoma to ban corporal punishment like 33 other states have done: Oklahoma remains one of the states where corporal punishment is still legal in public schools. While its use varies by district and has significantly declined, a notable disparity in student protections remains. [AJ Griffin / The Oklahoman]
Opinion, Rep. Josh West: Oklahoma elections must be decided by the people, not undisclosed campaign funds: This resolution is about the future of our state. It’s about ensuring that our children and grandchildren inherit a democracy where every voter is well-informed and every election is fair. [Rep. Josh West / The Oklahoman]
Federal Government News
Amid NOAA layoffs reports, employees at OK’s National Weather Center haven’t seen notices: Employees at the National Weather Center in Norman said Wednesday they had not been notified of layoffs at the facility, despite national news that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration was laying off more than 1,000 workers. [The Oklahoman]
Protesters gather for detained U.S. resident as Trump admin dodges evidence questions: A crowd gathered outside of Tulsa City Hall yesterday to protest the looming deportation of a permanent legal U.S. resident. Syrian-born Mahmoud Khalil holds a green card, according to his attorney, but was targeted for leading pro-Palestine demonstrations at Columbia University. [Public Radio Tulsa]
- Trump campaigned as a protector of free speech. Critics say his actions as president threaten it [Associated Press]
- Explainer on First Amendment and Due Process Issues in Deportation of Pro-Palestinian Student Activist(s) [Just Security]
Oklahoma City man says social security benefits terminated without warning or explanation: A local retiree says his Social Security benefits were suddenly suspended without warning — and with no explanation given when he reached out. He worries it may have to do with the place he was born, and ongoing DOGE cutbacks. [KFOR]
Editorial: Sen. Markwayne Mullin’s comment about Americans facing ‘hurt’ not sitting well: Recently, Sen. Markwayne Mullin told CNN that Americans are willing to suffer higher prices due to tariffs to support President Donald Trump’s policies. A Tulsa World Facebook post with his quote about the topic was shared more than 500 times with more than 2,500 comments, most not favorable. The overall sentiment indicates that Mullin is out of touch with the challenges Oklahomans are facing. [Tulsa World Editorial Board]
Tribal Nations News
Native nations are concerned that Trump’s cuts have the potential to violate trust responsibilities: In Native nations across the United States, leaders are scrambling to respond to a directive from President Donald Trump and Elon Musk to close more than a quarter of Bureau of Indian Affairs offices, which provide vital services to Indigenous communities. [AP News via ICT News]
Voting and Election News
Multiple candidates join 2026 race to become state superintendent of public instruction: Two more candidates have filed paperwork with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission to run for state superintendent of public instruction in 2026 and a third candidate has announced he’ll also join the race. [The Oklahoman]
Education News
Proposed Oklahoma social studies standards suggest ‘discrepancies’ in 2020 election: A quiet addition by the Oklahoma State Department of Education to add “discrepancies” in the 2020 elections to proposed academic standards for social studies has raised questions at the state Capitol as lawmakers weigh whether to approve them. If enacted, the social studies standards would mandate the topics Oklahoma public schools must teach to students. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Walters’ office slips 2020 presidential election dispute into Oklahoma social studies standards [The Oklahoman]
- New social studies standards sent to state legislature differ from original draft [Fox 23]
- State Board of Education-approved social studies standards add 2020 election ‘discrepancies’ [KOCO]
Supreme Court asked to halt Ryan Walters’ Bible-donation plan for Oklahoma schools: Less than a week after the Oklahoma Supreme Court paused state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters’ attempt to spend millions in taxpayer money on so-called “Trump Bibles,” the plaintiffs in that lawsuit are asking the court to stop a Bible-donation plan implemented by Walters. [The Oklahoman]
- Supreme Court asked to halt Ryan Walters’ Bible-donation plan for Oklahoma schools [The Oklahoman]
- Coalition asks Oklahoma Supreme Court to pause Walters’ Trump Bible donation plan [KOSU]
- Opinion: Hamilton: Thou shalt not let Walters win this one [Arnold Hamilton / The Journal Record]
Oklahoma House of Representatives graduates higher ed ‘deregulation’ bill: Legislation that could significantly change public higher education in the Tulsa area passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives on Thursday, two days after the Senate addressed approximately the same issue in much narrower legislation. [Tulsa World]
Opinion: This year, it could be a parent keeping a kid from high school graduation: Two years ago, the Oklahoma Legislature added to the long list of public school graduation requirements by mandating that students complete or opt out of completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as FAFSA. One parent noted that undocumented immigrant parents won’t sign. Another immigrant parent worried that a child’s receiving aid would negatively affect their residency status. A few parents hadn’t filed tax returns in awhile and were avoiding the government. [Ginnie Graham / Tulsa World]
Opinion: If Gov. Stitt wants to be OSU president, not having advanced degrees shouldn’t stop him: Gov. Kevin Stitt’s record as a graduate of Oklahoma State University shouldn’t automatically preclude him from consideration as the school’s next president. Certain OSU watchers are convinced that the school’s regents, in naming an interim president to replace Kayse Shrum, are playing coy until Stitt’s second term as governor ends in January 2027, when they can usher him into the presidency. [Ed Kelley / The Oklahoman]
Health News
OSU Medical Center breaks ground on $175 million expansion: Oklahoma State University’s plan to establish an academic medical hub in downtown Tulsa took its latest step forward Thursday with officials breaking ground on a $175 million expansion of OSU Medical Center. [Tulsa World]
Criminal Justice News
She reported sexual comments and groping from her prison boss. What happened next left her questioning everything: Records show one Oklahoma women’s prison rarely substantiated abuse allegations or forwarded cases for criminal prosecution. Victims sometimes fear reprisal from other prisoners and staff. [The Frontier]
Who is Robert Morris? What to know about megachurch founder, sex abuse charges: A Texas megachurch founder and former spiritual adviser to President Donald Trump has been indicted by an Oklahoma grand jury, which brought five felony counts of lewd or indecent acts against him this week. Robert Morris, 63, resigned as senior pastor of Gateway Church in June after admitting to “inappropriate sexual behavior” in the 1980s. [The Oklahoman]
Economy & Business News
OG&E raising rates for its customers: The price you pay for electricity is going up. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission gave OG&E the “OK” to charge customers more. Most customers will see their bills go up by about $13 each month. [KFOR]
Community News
Opinion: Tulsa Muslim youth director explains the meaning of fasting during Ramadan: For nearly 2 billion Muslims across the world — from Indonesia to Indiana and Sweden to South Africa — the month of Ramadan has now arrived. In this month, Muslims fast from dawn until dusk, refraining from food and drink. (Yes, including water!) Muslims believe this to be a Godly command, as God says in the Qur’an: “Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may be mindful of God.” [Shihab Ahmed / Tulsa World]
Local Headlines
- Back on pace? New adjustable-rate C-PACE ‘clean energy’ construction loans OK’d in OKC [The Oklahoman]
- City looks to raise $78 million for housing in north Tulsa with special tax district [Public Radio Tulsa]
- Tulsa city councilor opposes proposed redevelopment of Vista Shadow Mountain apartments [Tulsa World]
- City won’t say whether Route 66-themed project near Cry Baby Hill will move forward [Tulsa World]
- Oklahoma is preparing for a risky day of ‘red flag’ fire weather, high winds: What to know [The Oklahoman]
- Former Oklahoma Rep. Wes Hilliard facing embezzlement charges [KTEN]
Quote of the Day
“I wish that the United States had an immigration system that actually works, but the reality is that that’s not the case right now. Our immigration system is broken… But the bill itself is just flawed in so many different ways. It’s unconstitutional, and each one of us swore an oath to the Constitution.”
-Rep. Arturo Alonso-Sandoval, D-Oklahoma City, called HB 1362 “un-Oklahoman and un-American.” He said being in the U.S. illegally is a civil violation, so escalating the penalty to a felony with a minimum cost of $35,000 to bond out of jail is a “big jump.” [Oklahoma Voice]
Number of the Day
$544 million
The Oklahoma Department of Corrections had a $544 million budget for Fiscal Year 2025, which started July 1, 2024. That accounts for just over 4% of the overall state appropriated budget. [OK Policy]
Policy Note
Front-end criminal justice reforms are key to addressing systemic inequities: By the time someone walks through prison gates, they have already missed out on dozens of opportunities for more effective, less costly interventions. The greater opportunity lies in rewinding the process entirely—focusing on diversion programs and front-end reforms that prevent people from ever entering prison walls in the first place. [Brookings]
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