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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
Candidate filing for 2026 Oklahoma elections begins: Candidates can officially file to appear on midterm election ballots that will decide several new state leaders and possibly shake up the balance of power among Republicans in the Legislature. [The Oklahoman]
- Who’s running as Oklahoma candidate filing opens? [The Journal Record]
- From OK Policy: Oklahoma voters deserve choices at the polls (Policy Matters)
Exclusive: Oklahoma earning millions from ICE for immigration enforcement: Oklahoma law enforcement agencies have received millions of dollars from partnerships with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain and deport undocumented immigrants, according to a leaked federal ledger analyzed by The Oklahoman. [The Oklahoman]
State Government News
Oklahoma Democrats criticize FY 2027 budget secrecy: Democrats in both the Oklahoma House and Senate have largely been kept in the dark about budget negotiations for the 2027 fiscal year, Senate Minority Leader Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, said in a Tuesday press conference. [The Journal Record]
- Oklahoma Democrats highlight concerns about state budget transparency [Fox 25]
- From OK Policy: Oklahoma among least transparent states for state budget process
Federal Government News
Supreme Court to consider birthright citizenship case. How would it affect Oklahoma?: The Supreme Court will begin hearing oral arguments Wednesday in a lawsuit challenging whether children born to “unauthorized immigrant parents” in the U.S. have a constitutional right to citizenship — otherwise known as birthright citizenship. [La Semana / Tulsa Flyer]
- Supreme Court to decide if Trump can end birthright citizenship [Oklahoma Voice]
Trump Dismantles Education Department as U.S. Literacy Crisis Deepens: As the Trump administration quietly strips down operations at the U.S. Department of Education headquarters, advocates say the move comes as classrooms face a deepening literacy crisis, with reading outcomes falling and calls for reform growing louder. [The Black Wall Street Times]
As gas spikes to an average $4 a gallon, Hegseth says Iran ground war still an option: The White House defended skyrocketing gas prices Tuesday as a “short-term disruption” during the ongoing war in Iran, as Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said the administration will not “foreclose any option” in the conflict, including boots on the ground. [Oklahoma Voice]
Tribal Nations News
FBI Director Kash Patel travels to Oklahoma to discuss prosecuting crimes in Indian Country: FBI Director Kash Patel met with Oklahoma tribal leaders to discuss improving coordination in prosecuting crimes following the McGirt v. Oklahoma decision. [KOCO]
Voting and Election News
Four Oklahoma governor candidates debate at Freedom Caucus forum: Four of the top Republican candidates for governor embraced far-right platforms on immigration, abortion and states’ rights in their first high-profile debate. Yet gubernatorial frontrunner Gentner Drummond’s absence became the highlight of the night. [The Oklahoman]
- Hear GOP candidates for governor discuss immigration at latest debate (video) [The Oklahoman]
- Hear what GOP candidates for governor said about abortion at debate (video) [The Oklahoman]
Lawmakers aim to circumvent Oklahoma voters by putting state questions on low turnout election: Oklahoma lawmakers are quietly trying to buck tradition and manipulate election outcomes in hopes that a small, but energized Republican voting bloc will revisit issues voters have already decided. [Oklahoma Voice]
Election Roundup
- Norman Ward 5 runoff: Trey Kirby, Dianna Hutzel talk turnpike, rural priorities [NonDoc]
- Norman voters face decision on $8 million homeless shelter [The Journal Record]
- Buses, drivers’ ed among the transportation asks in Tulsa Public Schools’ bond proposal [Tulsa World]
- Meet the candidates: Two vying for Tulsa Public Schools District 4 board seat [Tulsa World]
- Tulsa’s tourism leaders put their support behind hotel tax hike on August ballot [Tulsa Flyer]
Education News
Opinion: Misunderstanding tenure leads to harmful outcomes for Oklahoma colleges, universities: Gov. Kevin Stitt sent shockwaves through Oklahoma’s higher education academic community earlier this year when he abruptly recommended the State Regents for Higher Education prohibit regional universities and community colleges from granting “lifetime tenure appointments.” [Sue Lynn Sasser and James Davenport / Oklahoma Voice]
Health News
New synthetic opioid linked to death in Oklahoma raises concern among health experts: Cychlorphine is a lab-made opioid that has recently emerged in the U.S. drug supply. It is not well-studied, but early reports indicate it is powerful and dangerous. It’s part of the third phase of the opioid epidemic, in which synthetic drugs, like fentanyl, are driving overdose deaths. [KOSU]
Criminal Justice News
Is Oklahoma No. 3 in the nation for law enforcement turning people over to ICE? No: There is currently no publicly available state-by-state data regarding people turned over to ICE by local law enforcement; however, a recent analysis of ICE arrest data ranks Oklahoma No. 13 and No. 5 for total ICE arrests and arrest rate per 100,000 residents, respectively. [Oklahoma Watch]
Oklahoma County Budget Board bails out jail ahead of possible layoffs: Jobs at the Oklahoma County Jail are safe, at least for now, after about $4.6 million in supplemental funding was approved Tuesday amid a series of back-to-back meetings that included clashing jail trust members and admonishments from elected officials about how the facility’s governing body needs to do a better job managing its finances. [NonDoc]
- Oklahoma County jail gets $4.6 million to avoid layoffs, National Guard help [The Oklahoman]
- Concerns remain for Oklahoma County jail’s 2027 budget even after temporary funding [KOCO]
- Jail trustee Rev. Scobey, chairman Holman get into shouting match at special meeting (video) [The Oklahoman]
10th Circuit reverses dismissal of Terence Crutcher civil rights suit against City of Tulsa, Betty Shelby: The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals published an opinion Monday reversing the dismissal of a civil rights lawsuit brought by the estate of Terence Crutcher against the City of Tulsa and former Tulsa Police Department officer Betty Shelby. The decision in Manning v. Tulsa sends the case back to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma. [NonDoc]
- Crutcher family, attorneys celebrate ruling reviving lawsuit over fatal police shooting [Tulsa World]
- Nearly 10 years after Tulsa police officer killed Terence Crutcher, family’s lawsuit is moving forward [The Oklahoma Eagle via Tulsa Flyer]
Judge orders lists of money seized by OKC police be reexamined: An Oklahoma County judge has ordered city attorneys to review potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars collected through civil asset forfeitures to ensure the transfers were legal. [The Oklahoman]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
National Landlord Left Oklahoma Family in Barely Habitable Home, Then Evicted Them for Withholding Rent: When Jackie and Karis Long’s rental house was damaged from a severe water leak caused by the HVAC condensation line, they expected their landlord, the national real estate investment company American Homes 4 Rent, to repair the damage in a timely manner. Instead, they got months of headaches, arguments with their property manager and an eviction on their record after withholding rent in protest of the company’s failure to fix potentially dangerous problems with the home. [Oklahoma Watch]
Construction starting on former OKC motel to create affordable housing: The Oklahoma City Housing Authority is set to begin construction, turning a former motel into affordable housing, years after buying the property for over $3 million. The new complex is known as “Vita Nova” and is supposed to create 73 new affordable housing units. [KFOR]
Economy & Business News
Opinion: Oklahoma must strengthen its playbook for data centers: Because data centers are large electricity loads, they need dependable service, strong infrastructure and long-term planning. That means states that can add power intelligently and predictably will have an advantage. Oklahoma can be one of those states. [William Langdon / The Oklahoman]
Community News
Oklahoma Rabbi aims to deliver symbolic food in time for Passover: The holiday commemorates the Israelites’ liberation from Egyptian slavery as told in the Book of Exodus. Matzah is a flat unleavened bread often resembling a cracker, that is featured prominently at the traditional Passover Seder, an interactive sacred meal in which each part of the meal symbolizes a part of the Passover story. [The Oklahoman]
Quote of the Day
“If the budget is a moral document for the state of Oklahoma, it should bear light, and it should be able to withstand the light of public scrutiny.”
– Michael Brooks, Democratic caucus chair in the Oklahoma Senate, calling for greater transparency in budget negotiations as lawmakers weigh potential across-the-board cuts and proposals that could impact major programs like Medicaid expansion. [The Journal Record]
- From OK Policy: It’s past time for Oklahoma lawmakers to open the books on the state budget (Policy Matters)
Number of the Day
$12.17 billion
The total authorized Oklahoma state budget for FY 2027, which begins July 1, 2026. This represents a $571 million (4.5%) decrease from the prior year’s legislative spending authority, largely due to fewer one-time and cash funds available. [OK Policy]
Policy Note
Tools for Sustainable State Budgeting: State budgets are often built around short-term decisions, which can lead to problems when revenues drop or costs rise in the future. To create more stable budgets, states can use tools like long-term budget assessments and budget stress tests to look ahead, identify risks, and plan for potential deficits or economic downturns. These tools help policymakers understand whether current spending and tax decisions are sustainable and what adjustments may be needed over time. States that use them are better able to avoid sudden cuts or tax increases and make more informed, long-term investments. [The Pew Charitable Trusts]
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