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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.
New from OK Policy
The Legislature is Working Against Itself: Once again, the Legislature is ready to work against itself when it comes to Oklahoma’s criminal justice system. The Legislature has advanced some bills that will remove barriers placed on justice-involved people. However, it has also entertained a number of bills that needlessly increase punitive measures. The Legislature risks setting Oklahoma back as the number one incarcerator in the country. Fortunately, there is still plenty of time for lawmakers to break this cycle and move Oklahoma in the right direction. [Cole Allen / OK Policy]
Policy Matters: State leaders, are you listening?: Many Oklahoma families are struggling right now, but you might not know it from listening to some of our elected leaders. In the past two weeks alone, some politicians have shown how disconnected they are from everyday Oklahomans’ financial hardships. [Shiloh Kantz / The Journal Record]
Oklahoma News
Oklahoma counties declare disaster emergency, call for statewide burn ban amid fire risk: Oklahoma County commissioners declared a disaster emergency to get assistance in fighting out-of-control wildfires that would have kicked up again Wednesday morning if not for a 47-degree-point increase in humidity in less than three hours. [The Oklahoman]
- Tulsa firefighters respond to 26x more fallen wires than normal since Friday [Public Radio Tulsa]
- Did this week’s ‘extreme’ wind set a wind speed record? See Oklahoma weather records [The Oklahoman]
Hundreds voice opposition to counting undocumented students in Oklahoma schools: Hundreds of public comments were submitted in opposition to an Oklahoma Board of Education proposed rule that would count undocumented students and their families. After an open records request and two months, the public comments were sent to News 4 from the Oklahoma Department of Education. The document was nearly 1,200 pages long with most of the comments against the proposed rule. Only three public comments supporting the change were found in the nearly 1,200-page document. [KFOR]
- From OK Policy: Statement: All children have the fundamental right to an education
State Government News
Crime of ‘impermissible occupation’ now enforceable in Oklahoma, feds say: People who enter the United States without legal authorization can now be arrested and jailed in Oklahoma, the federal government said, but groups challenging the controversial anti-immigration law say enforceability remains unclear. [Oklahoma Voice]
More money, more school days? Senate passes bill to ‘catch Oklahoma up’ in common ed: Students in Oklahoma would have to spend more time in school each year under mandates related to a bill supported by the Senate. Senate Bill 409 would require the school year to be lengthened by one day for each additional $25 million appropriated by the state to support public education. [Tulsa World]
New bill could criminalize misrepresentation of service animals in Oklahoma: A new bill authored by Rep. Marilyn Stark would make it a misdemeanor for individuals to misrepresent animals as service animals to obtain benefits reserved for people with disabilities. [News on 6]
Oklahoma bill reforming initiative petition process passes Senate: A bill increasing restrictions on initiative petitions has passed the Oklahoma Senate. Senate Bill 1027, authored by state Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, establishes that no more than 10% of the total number of signatures to get an initiative petition on the ballot come from any one county with more than 400,000 residents. It also requires 4% or less from counties with populations less than 400,000. [The Journal Record]
Opinion: Oklahoma lawmakers are attacking direct democracy; time to fight back: Oklahoma’s constitution guarantees citizens the right to petition their government, giving the people a direct voice in shaping policy when elected leaders fail to act. But over the past several years, the Legislature has systematically chipped away at this right, making it harder and harder for citizen-led initiatives to reach the ballot. Now, with Senate Bill 1027, lawmakers are launching one of the most aggressive attacks yet on the petition process — limiting voter participation, adding bureaucratic red tape and making it nearly impossible for grassroots movements to succeed. [Dr. Kenneth Setter / Tulsa World]
Opinion: Rep. Melissa Provenzano didn’t expect legislative pink as show of support: Once in a while, legislators do something so right, so good that it deserves a viral moment. That happened on March 10 when Rep. Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa, was presenting House Bill 1389 for passage out of the House. The bill would ensure that health benefit plans cover diagnostic mammograms and supplemental screenings for breast cancer without cost sharing. [Ginnie Graham / Tulsa World]
Opinion, Sen. Micheal Bergstrom: What casket will you be buried in? In Oklahoma, you have too few choices: Oklahoma is only one of three states in the country where residents must purchase urns and caskets from funeral directors when purchasing them within the state. [Sen. Micheal Bergstrom / The Oklahoman]
Federal Government News
Exclusive: Trump to sign order Thursday aimed at eliminating Education Department: President Donald Trump is set to sign a long-anticipated executive order Thursday that seeks to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education, delivering on a signature campaign promise to try to dismantle the agency, according to senior Trump administration officials. [USA Today]
- Trump will order a plan to shut down the US Education Department [AP News]
Trump ‘breaks things’ but also gets things done, Lankford tells Owasso audience: President Donald Trump “moves fast and breaks things,” U.S. Sen. James Lankford acknowledged Wednesday. But, Lankford continued, Trump promised to be a catalyst for change, and so Americans should be patient until the bubble and fizz die down a little. [Tulsa World]
U.S. citizen detained by ICE in Puerto Rico: “You fit the description”: U.S.-born nurse from New Jersey tells the Black Wall Street Times she was racially profiled by ICE at Puerto Rico Airport in what alleges to be the latest instance of immigration agents targeting U.S. citizens. [The Black Wall Street Times]
- Lawyers and advocates say 48 people are unaccounted for after ICE raid in New Mexico [NBC News]
- From OK Policy: Anti-immigration raids harm all communities
Oklahoma office among 47 nationwide Social Security closures: Dozens of Social Security Administration offices across the country are slated to close this year due to actions taken by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency as part of the Trump administration’s unprecedented effort to shrink the size of government. [The Journal Record]
Justice department removes disability guidelines for US businesses: The Department of Justice removed 11 guidelines for US businesses on compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), including some that deal with Covid-19 and masking and accessibility. [The Guardian]
‘Segregated facilities’ are no longer explicitly banned in federal contracts: After a recent change by the Trump administration, the federal government no longer explicitly prohibits contractors from having segregated restaurants, waiting rooms and drinking fountains. While there are still state and federal laws that outlaw segregation and discrimination that companies need to comply with, legal experts say this change to contracts across the federal government is significant. [NPR]
Trump funding cuts could threaten public libraries, Native American cultural institutions: Public libraries in Oklahoma offer services beyond their book selections, like summer reading programs, research databases and internet service, but these resources could be nixed from some vulnerable libraries, especially those in small, rural communities after President Donald Trump signed an executive order calling for the federal library agency to cut funding. [The Oklahoman]
Opinion: I’m the Canadian who was detained by ICE for two weeks. It felt like I had been kidnapped: There was no explanation, no warning. One minute, I was in an immigration office talking to an officer about my work visa, which had been approved months before and allowed me, a Canadian, to work in the US. The next, I was told to put my hands against the wall, and patted down like a criminal before being sent to an ICE detention center without the chance to talk to a lawyer. [Jasmine Mooney / The Guardian]
Opinion: Trump revives ‘with us or against us,’ labeling anything he opposes ‘terrorism’: Republicans would be wise to limit how much Trump weaponizes things. Trump also mulled last week labeling as “domestic terrorists” anyone who attacks Tesla dealerships because they’re angry at Elon Musk’s attempt to dismember the federal government. Side note: Protesting at Tesla dealerships is a First Amendment right. Causing damage to Tesla dealerships is vandalism and should be treated as a property crime, not terrorism. [Chris Brennan / USA Today]
Tribal Nations News
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt moves to intervene in Muscogee Nation, Tulsa lawsuit: Amidst settlement negotiations, Gov. Kevin Stitt has filed a motion to intervene in the Muscogee Creek Nation v. City of Tulsa lawsuit.
The lawsuit filed by the Muscogee Nation asks for a judge to declare the tribe has the right to prosecute tribal citizens for traffic infractions. [KOSU]
- Gov. Stitt wants to intervene in tribal-city jurisdictional lawsuit that’s in settlement talks [The Oklahoman]
‘The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away:’ Historic Kiowa church to be rebuilt after Oklahoma wildfire: Last week, wildfires raged across Oklahoma, claiming thousands of acres of land and hundreds of buildings. KOSU’s Sarah Liese reports for StateImpact that the flames also destroyed a historic church in Kiowa County, leaving a congregation to rebuild. [KOSU]
Voting and Election News
Seven eye vacant Oklahoma House seat representing Tulsa County: Seven candidates have thrown their names in to run for an open seat in the Oklahoma House representing Tulsa County. The House District 71 seat is open after Rep. Amanda Swope, D-Tulsa, stepped down prior to session for a position in the Tulsa city government. [Oklahoma Voice]
Education News
OSU’s once-prestigious vet school is at a crossroads. Can it repair its reputation?: Starting in 1981, Oklahoma State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine set the standard while training thousands of veterinarians. But the school now stands at a crossroads as it tackles a second probationary accreditation, administrative infighting, a tarnished reputation and a 44-year-old teaching hospital in need of recapitalization. [The Oklahoman]
Supt. Walters settles ethics complaint, still faces separate investigation: Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters reached a settlement with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission over a complaint that he used his official office and social media accounts to share politically charged messages. [KFOR]
- Oklahoma lawmaker says news release by Supt. Ryan Walters possibly violates ethics law [KOCO]
- Education Watch: Walters Settles One Ethics Complaint, Another is Pending [Oklahoma Watch]
Opinion: I’m a Christian. Don’t force educators to teach the Bible: Faith — true, living faith — once wielded as an instrument of law, becomes something brittle and false. If we welcome the government’s hand in enforcing the Bible, what will we say when that same hand enforces something else? [Brian Montgomery / The Oklahoman]
Opinion, Fort Gibson Superintendent: One-size-fits-all school budget mandate would hurt districts: Many Oklahoma lawmakers and educators agree that strong classroom funding is essential for positive education outcomes. However, recent legislative proposals — touted as efforts to increase classroom funding — take the wrong approach. Instead of providing additional resources for students and teachers, these proposals dictate how school districts must spend their existing budgets, requiring an arbitrary percentage to be allocated to specific instructional expenditures. [Scott Farmer / Tulsa World]
Health News
Oklahoma City among top U.S. cities for obesity rates: Obesity is a serious and costly chronic disease affecting 42% of adults ages 20 and older, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In a report released this week, Oklahoma City is ranked the 12th fattest city among 100 of the most populous U.S. cities. [The Journal Record]
Opinion: Accurate sexual health education leads to healthier outcomes: When people have access to accurate, evidence-based reproductive health education, they make better decisions, experience fewer health complications and lead healthier lives. Yet, here in Oklahoma, some lawmakers favor legislation that would restrict what young people can learn about their bodies and their health. I understand that sex education can be scary for some people, but restrictions can cause harm. [Dr. Grant Cox / Tulsa World]
Criminal Justice News
Wendell Grissom will be first Oklahoman executed in 2025: Wendell Grissom is scheduled to receive a lethal injection Thursday morning at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary. Grissom’s death will mark the first execution performed by the state in 2025. [KOSU]
Five things to know about The Frontier’s reporting on prison sexual abuse: A whistleblower went public with allegations that the Oklahoma Department of Corrections wasn’t thoroughly investigating sexual abuse allegations. Our reporting found that the Department of Corrections rarely substantiated sexual abuse reports as sexual assault or forwarded cases for criminal prosecution at an Oklahoma women’s prison. Do you have information about sexual assault and harassment in prison? We want to hear from you. [The Frontier]
OKC police officer involved in use-of-force case with elderly man has resigned, police say: An Oklahoma City Police Department officer involved in a use-of-force incident with a 71-year-old man last year is no longer employed at the department, officials say. [The Oklahoman]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
OKC City Council could streamline process for ADUs: Following several delays, the OKC City Council is soon expected to consider changing city ordinance to grant property owners in certain neighborhoods an inherent right to build accessory dwelling units beside their existing homes, with the long-term aim of getting more affordable housing into the marketplace. [NonDoc]
Pop-up clinic for homeless people offers help for pets, wraparound services: The idea behind the clinic was a simple one: to make as many services available to as many homeless people as possible as easily as possible. Individuals arriving at the clinic were greeted and given a list of available services, starting with a table to get their names on the list for housing through the Tulsa Housing Authority. Next was a station to sign into the Homeless Management Information System, a database used by service providers, followed by a station to connect with case managers. [Tulsa World]
Economy & Business News
Black Futures Hackathon empowers Tulsa’s youth in tech: The Black Futures Hackathon held in February was an initiative that fused Black History Month with hands-on technology training. More than just a competition, the event provided students with real-world coding skills, a deeper understanding of Tulsa’s Black entrepreneurial history, and the confidence to see themselves as future leaders in tech. [The Black Wall Street Times]
Community News
This Oklahoma Church Is Hosting Some of the Biggest Names in Republican Politics: A nondenominational church in Oklahoma has become a political hot spot for President Donald Trump’s inner circle. The 1,700-member Sheridan Church, which has locations in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, is led by the pastor Jackson Lahmeyer, an unsuccessful 2022 Senate candidate who has backed Trump since 2015. Lahmeyer, who also founded Pastors for Trump, a coalition to engage the evangelical Christian voter base during Trump’s 2024 campaign, has turned all of that early support for the president into a new role in the White House. He said he’s now part of the White House Faith Office and was in the Oval Office when Trump signed the executive order creating it on Feb. 7. [NOTUS via Oklahoma Watch]
Opinion, Former Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor: Speak up, stay informed and stay engaged: We live in a time of extreme polarization. Speaking up — whether about policies, politics or social issues, often comes at a cost. People have lost friendships and jobs and even faced financial and legal consequences. In response, too many have chosen to remain silent. But silence is not a solution; it is surrender. [Kathy Taylor / Tulsa World]
Quote of the Day
“This clearly and intentionally limits the ability of voters in larger counties to petition their government. This is not democracy — it is voter suppression.”
-Dr. Kenneth Setter, writing in an op-ed about proposed changes to Oklahoma’s state question process (SB 1027) that would make it substantially harder to put state questions up on the ballot. [Dr. Kenneth Setter / Tulsa World]
Number of the Day
352,998
In 2022, the Oklahoma Child Tax Credit was claimed on 352,998 Oklahoma tax returns for a total amount of $42.6 million, according to the Oklahoma Tax Commission. [2023-2024 Tax Expenditure Report]
Policy Note
Red States Embrace the Idea of Child Tax Credits: If an Ohio measure for a state child tax credit passes, it would mark the first time a Republican-controlled state has implemented a refundable child tax credit. Advocates view that type of credit as key because it delivers cash even to poor families with little or no income tax liability. State interest in creating or expanding child tax credits boomed after the pandemic-era expansion of the federal child tax credit delivered cash directly to millions. That move quickly lifted millions of children out of poverty. But the expanded tax credit expired in 2021 — leading to a doubling in the nation’s childhood poverty rate in 2022. [Governing]
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