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
Controversial Immigration Bill Advances: House Bill 1362 by David Hardin, R-Stilwell, would authorize local and county law enforcement to inquire about a person’s immigration status when they are arrested for violating a criminal law, including traffic violations. If they can’t provide documentation, they could face deportation or be charged with a felony punishable by at least five years in prison. A $35,000 cash bond would be required to avoid pretrial detention. [Oklahoma Watch]
- OK Policy Advocacy Alert: Speak Out Against Separating Oklahoma Children from Their Parents (HB 1362)
State Government News
Walters to pay $5,000 for promoting Trump, violating Oklahoma rules about use of state social media: State Superintendent Ryan Walters has agreed to pay $5,000 and stop using his state social media account for personal reasons, according to a settlement agreement with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission released Monday. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Walters to pay $5,000 in Ethics Commission settlement over Trump-supporting social media posts [KGOU]
- Ryan Walters used his official-looking X account to support Trump. It cost him $5K to settle ethics complaint. [The Oklahoman]
- Ryan Walters, Ethics Commission reach settlement over social media violations [Tulsa World]
Bill addressing homeless shelters amended to address smaller municipalities: An amended version of the bill, which passed through a public safety committee and may now be heard on the Senate floor, would prohibit municipalities with populations under 300,000 from approving any proposed homeless shelter if it’s to be located within 3,000 feet of a school, library, municipal park or child day care facility. [Tulsa World]
Cleveland County backs OTA’s $8B ACCESS plan despite protests: The Cleveland County Board of Commissioners on Monday unanimously approved a partnership resolution with the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority in front of a crowd of close to 100 discontented residents. [The Journal Record]
- Cleveland County Commissioners Board met with backlash over turnpike vote [The Oklahoman]
Federal Government News
Federal court dismisses appeal of injunction issued against Biden-era Title IX rule change: A change in presidential administrations has resulted in the dismissal of an appeal by the federal government of an injunction granted to Oklahoma over a new interpretation of Title IX. [The Oklahoman]
DOJ retains lawsuits against Oklahoma DAs despite switch to Trump administration: After some speculation the administration of President Donald Trump might dismiss a pair of U.S. Department of Justice lawsuits filed against district attorneys pursuing criminal cases against tribal citizens who committed crimes on Indian Country Reservations, federal attorneys appeared to stay the course by submitting briefs in support of the Cherokee, Chickasaw and Choctaw nations’ motions to join the litigation. [NonDoc]
Q&A with Representatives Tom Cole and Stephanie Bice re: DOGE: In recent interviews, Reps. Tom Cole and Stephanie Bice discussed the controversial efforts of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, to streamline federal spending. [News 9]
Demonstrators protest DOGE activities at OKC Tesla dealership: Dozens of demonstrators gathered outside Oklahoma City’s Tesla store late last week to express their opposition to Elon Musk’s role in the federal government. [KOSU]
Opinion: Trump’s Cabinet is run by billionaires who don’t care about middle class America: In his farewell remarks, President Joe Biden warned that the country was poised to be taken over by an oligarchy, a small group that would run everything. But if Biden were more precise, he should have used the term plutocracy — rule by the rich — because there are 13 billionaires in the Trump administration. [Daniel Morrissey / The Oklahoman]
Youth Opinion: Protect U.S. founders’ vision for an impartial judiciary by making reforms: An independent judiciary is vital for protecting rights and maintaining the rule of law. In the U.S. system, designed with checks and balances, every branch of government has a role in limiting the powers of the others. [Ian Gilliland Youth Advisory Board / Tulsa World]
Tribal Nations News
Stitt seeks dismissal of lawsuit between Muscogee Nation, city of Tulsa: The governor claims that the case should be dismissed because the state was not named as a defendant. [Tulsa World]
Do Native American tribal members in Oklahoma pay taxes?: Yes. Though tribes are exempt from taxes as sovereign nations, individuals within the tribe–as U.S. citizens–pay income taxes to the federal government. A notable exception occurs with tribal land; income derived directly from tribal land is not taxable. [Oklahoma Watch]
- From OK Policy: Tribal-State Policy 101: Tribal Citizenship
Trump’s voucher plan could help embattled Native American students. But at what cost?: The order, according to Fast Dog and other supporters, could provide an important alternative to Native students who attend embattled public and government-operated schools. But for those who wish to see Native students in public and Bureau of Indian Education-backed schools excel, the order is seen as a potential death knell. [Rapid City Journal via Tulsa World]
Exclusive: Navajo Code Talkers disappear from military websites after Trump DEI order: Articles about the renowned Native American Code Talkers have disappeared from some military websites, with several broken URLs now labeled “DEI.” [Axios]
Artesian Arts Festival Set for April 5 in Sulphur: In the shadow of devastation caused by an EF3 tornado almost a year ago, organizers are preparing for the 12th annual Artesian Arts Festival, a daylong celebration of First American art and culture, Saturday, April 5, at the Artesian Plaza. [Native News Online]
Education News
When setting test rigor, Oklahoma education officials wanted to avoid a ‘thumb on the scale’: As Oklahoma prepared to set a new scoring method for statewide reading and math tests, state Superintendent Ryan Walters said he decided his administration would “not put our thumb on the scale in any way.” [Oklahoma Voice]
Oklahoma State University lays off Innovation Foundation staff admit release of scathing audit: Twelve Innovation Foundation employees were laid off by Oklahoma State University in the latest fallout of an internal audit that found legislatively appropriated funds were improperly sent to the foundation. [Oklahoma Voice]
Health News
As number of measles cases in Oklahoma grows, health officials release public exposure sites: As the number of measles cases in the state grew by two, health officials for the first time have publicly identified possible exposure sites in Owasso and Claremore. [Oklahoma Voice]
- State Health Department finds two more measles cases in Oklahoma [The Oklahoman]
Opinion: Oklahoma ranks 44th for colorectal cancer screening. Awareness, education needed: Every year, thousands of Oklahomans are in a battle against a disease that demands our immediate attention: colon cancer. It’s one of the leading causes of cancer deaths in the United States, yet its impact is often overlooked. [Rabeeya Nusrat, Tauseef Ali, Salman Nusrat and Fahad Khan / The Oklahoman]
Criminal Justice News
Oklahoma County jail reports third inmate death of 2025: The Oklahoma County jail reported its third inmate death of 2025, one week after its chief investigator said new security measures were preventing drug overdoses. Michelle Marie Young, 28, died Monday, one day before her birthday. [The Oklahoman]
Jury decides in favor of OKC police officer who shot teenage boy in 2019: Lorenzo Clerkley, now 20, was shot twice, in his right hip and left thigh, six years ago by Sgt. Kyle Holcomb when officers responded to a 911 call of a home burglary. [The Oklahoman]
Accused Texas megachurch pastor surrenders in Oklahoma: A former pastor of a Texas megachurch accused of child sexual abuse surrendered to Oklahoma authorities Monday. [Associated Press]
Economy & Business News
Bird flu detected in 2 backyard Oklahoma flocks: Deadly bird flu has been detected in two backyard flocks in western and central Oklahoma. About 170 birds were culled, according to the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture. [KOSU]
Community News
Local mental health experts share ways to heal in aftermath of Oklahoma wildfires: As the community continues to survey the damage and starts to recover, local mental health experts have advice about how to deal with the loss and how to help children struggling in the aftermath of natural disasters. [KOSU]
- Oklahoma leaders express condolences to families impacted by wildfires and high winds [Fox 25]
- As Oklahoma wildfire threat remains, first responders urge common sense [The Black Wall Street Times]
How Ahkamaye Perry turns art and play into community action: Oklahoma-based artist Lakeyshia AhKamaye Perry doesn’t just create art—she crafts cultural experiences that unite communities, turning everyday moments into movements of joy, creativity, and connection. [The Black Wall Street Times]
Local Headlines
- Tulsa Ports: Driving economic growth through jobs and commerce [Tulsa World]
- City of Tulsa mulls pitch for senior housing as it seeks to allocate $75 million [Public Radio Tulsa]
- OKC faces budget cuts, hiring freeze amid tax shortfall [The Journal Record]
Quote of the Day
“Bills like this threaten the very fabric of Oklahoma and put unnecessary strain on law enforcement agencies who have spoken with me on how bills like this actively make their jobs harder.”
– Rep. Arturo Alonso-Sandoval (Oklahoma City) responding in a statement to HB 1362, which would authorize local and county law enforcement to inquire about a person’s immigration status when they are arrested for violating a criminal law, including traffic violations. If they can’t provide documentation, they could face deportation or be charged with a felony punishable by at least five years in prison. [Oklahoma Watch]
Number of the Day
11.4%
The rate of Oklahomans without health insurance in 2023. Oklahoma’s uninsured rate has dropped in recent years thanks in large measure to expansion of Medicaid coverage to low-income residents. [U.S. Census via OK Policy]
Policy Note
Congressional Republicans Can’t Cut Medicaid by Hundreds of Billions Without Hurting People: Medicaid is a popular program that provides essential health care for 72 million people. The majority of U.S. adults across party affiliations oppose cuts to Medicaid. Nevertheless, Republicans in Congress want to pass deep and damaging cuts to Medicaid to pay for tax cuts for wealthy people as part of their budget legislation. This has led to enormous pushback, and some Republicans are now claiming their changes would not hurt eligible people who are enrolled in Medicaid to receive the health care they need. This is false. Republicans’ push to cut Medicaid by hundreds of billions of dollars has led them to consider a set of policies that would, indeed, harm Medicaid enrollees. [Center for Budget and Policy Priorities]
You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail.
