In The Know: House committee rejects bill that would violate Tribal data sovereignty | Feds revoke visas for 8 int’l students at state colleges | Forestry department fallout continues

Dave Hamby // April 9, 2025 // Updated: April 9, 2025
In The Know

In The KnowIn 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

Tribal leaders in Oklahoma flag OTA data collection bill as sovereignty infringement: Multiple tribal representatives in Oklahoma are raising concerns over a new bill, arguing that it infringes on tribal and data sovereignty. Senate Bill 675 would allow the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority to access the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Telecommunications Systems network — or OLETS, a program of the Department of Public Safety — to help ensure the OTA receives its toll money. [KOSU]

State Government News

Oklahoma governor backs down on forestry abolishment proposal after backlash: During a Tuesday interview with Oklahoma City television station News 9, the Republican governor said he no longer plans to abolish that state agency tasked with wildland fire detection and preserving the state’s forests. Stitt’s about-face came less than a day after he doubled down on his controversial call to shutter the agency and reallocate the funding to volunteer fire departments. [Oklahoma Voice]

  • Forestry Firing: Gov. Stitt defends decision to fire chief after wildfires [News 9]
  • Stitt creates working group to improve fire response [Tulsa World]
  • Stitt fires more forestry officials, House Speaker says Stitt ‘misinterpreting’ data [KFOR]

On a quest to cut waste, Oklahoma House releases its list of ‘DOGE Ideas of Note’: Over 30 complaints of government waste and inefficiency in Oklahoma have been flagged as “ideas of note” and considered by House lawmakers during budget discussions. [Oklahoma Voice]

Possible changes to the Medicaid expansion formula could impact Oklahoma’s budget: Looming federal cuts to Medicaid left one state senator sounding the alarm at a Tulsa Chamber of Commerce breakfast last week. The coming federal budget is expected to include changes to the Medicaid funding formula. Currently, the federal government pays 90% of the Medicaid expansion that started during the pandemic, while Oklahoma pays 10%. [Public Radio Tulsa]

Oklahoma House, Senate consider each other’s bills banning cellphones in schools: A Senate committee has approved a House bill calling for cellphone bans in public schools, setting the stage for final negotiations on a major policy priority for Oklahoma lawmakers. [Oklahoma Voice]

  • Proposed ban on student use of cellphones in Oklahoma school approved by Senate committee [The Oklahoman]

Oklahoma bill to codify Gov. Kevin Stitt’s DEI ban at universities clears hurdle: An Oklahoma Senate bill that would codify Gov. Kevin Stitt’s executive order prohibiting state funds from supporting diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at higher education institutions is inching closer to becoming law. [The Oklahoman]

House committee advances DEI, Tulsa higher ed bills: Legislation that could significantly alter public higher education in the Tulsa metro area continued its advance in the Oklahoma House of Representatives on Tuesday, as did a formal campus ban of what is commonly called diversity, equity and inclusion. [Tulsa World]

Oklahoma libraries brace for funding delays as lawsuit over gutting federal agency filed: Oklahoma state library officials are preparing for funding delays and complications as the Trump Administration guts the country’s library and museum agency’s staff and directs it to eliminate funding to states. [The Oklahoman]

Long Story Short: Free Speech in Crisis (audio): Reporters talk about a new initiative petition that aims to legalize recreational marijuana in Oklahoma, pension board changes that some retirees fear favor a powerful police union, and an old law getting new life in Oklahoma. [Oklahoma Watch]

Federal Government News

Nervous senators from both parties press Trump trade rep on tariffs as high as 104%: U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer defended the Trump administration’s sweeping tariffs Tuesday as he faced senators from both sides of the aisle who relayed their constituents’ economic anxiety. [Oklahoma Voice]

  • Republicans are going public with their growing worries about Trump’s tariffs [Associated Press]
  • U.S. trade battle ‘headed to a good spot long-term,’ GOP Sen. Lankford says [PBS News Hour]
  • Hill Republicans worry about Trump’s tariffs and nudge him to negotiate [Washington Post]
  • D.C. Debrief: Oklahoma delegation backs tariffs, prepares for budget fight and Survivor Tree planting in D.C. [News 9]

IRS to share immigrants’ tax info with DHS: The IRS and Department of Homeland Security reached an agreement Monday to share tax information of immigrants who have final orders of removal to help immigration agents find and deport the immigrants, according to documents filed in court. [Oklahoma Voice]

Supreme Court permits Trump to use wartime law for deportations, for now and with limits: The U.S. Supreme Court Monday said the Trump administration could continue for now to use the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to carry out rapid deportations of Venezuelans suspected of being gang members — but they must be given a chance to challenge their deportations in court. [Oklahoma Voice]

After efforts to address historic discrimination, future federal programs to help Oklahoma Black farmers are in question: Thousands of Oklahomans got payments from a Biden-era program to help address generations of farm lending discrimination. Now the Trump Administration wants to end programs that could be labeled as DEI. Some Oklahoma programs have already seen funding freezes. [The Frontier]

Federal directive to open more logging in Oklahoma’s public lands: In a move to grow domestic timber production, the Trump administration designated more than half of national forests for increased logging. Acreage within the Ouachita National Forest in far-eastern Oklahoma and what appears to be the Black Kettle National Grassland to the west were targeted in a memo from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. The new policy would expand and speed up harvesting on public lands to produce timber products in the U.S. [KGOU]

USPS changes to mail delivery this month will affect millions. What to know in Oklahoma: The United States Postal Service will be changing how it serves the millions of customers across the country this month. While the move is targeted to make it more efficient and cut costs, some may get certain mail more slowly. [The Oklahoman]

Voting and Election News

Lowe resigns as state representative as he prepares to become Oklahoma County commissioner: Fresh off his election as an Oklahoma County commissioner, state Rep. Jason Lowe, D-Oklahoma City, resigned Monday afternoon from the state Legislature, opening up a third seat in the 101-member House of Representatives. [The Oklahoman]

Education News

Federal government revokes visas for international students at Oklahoma universities: Oklahoma State University and the University of Central Oklahoma say some of their international students have had their visas revoked. [KGOU]

  • Trump administration revokes at least 8 student visas at Oklahoma universities [The Oklahoman]
  • OK immigration attorney: Students with visas revoked in for ‘painful experience’ [KFOR]
  • What to know about international student visas being revoked [Associated Press]
  • Academic, Norman native arrested in Thailand for allegedly insulting the monarchy [KGOU]

Opponents of religious charter school: St. Isidore poses threat to all public charters: Advocacy groups that helped establish and expand public school choice for parents over the past three decades say the authorization of a religious charter school in Oklahoma, if successful, would spark years of litigation across the nation and could spell the end of the only means of school choice altogether in some states. [Tulsa World]

Like ‘reforming things with grenades:’ DOGE’s cuts to NEH funds disrupt OU research projects: Like many other researchers at OU and nationwide, an OU researcher had her project thrown into turmoil last week by the sudden termination of her National Endowment for the Humanities grant at the direction of the federal Department of Government Efficiency, also known as DOGE. [The Oklahoman]

Housing & Economic Opportunity News

There’s a growing call to restrict junk food purchases by SNAP users, but experts say it’s complex: Efforts to keep junk foods from being paid for by Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, are increasing at the federal and state level. Lawmakers proposing such bills say they want to encourage healthy habits, but some food advocates say the restrictions would have harmful effects. [KOSU]

Scholarships for child care are drying up. Now families are paying the price: For parents who need to work but can’t afford the steep cost of child care, federally funded scholarships can be a lifeline. Delivered through state child care assistance programs, the scholarships can mean the difference between a parent working full time — or not at all. [Associated Press]

OKC introduces ordinance for accessory dwellings in urban core: Building accessory dwelling units on single-family lots is one way to address the need for more affordable housing in the city. The City Council introduced an ordinance Tuesday that would allow the development of ADUs by right in the urban core and set a public hearing and vote on the matter for May 6. [The Journal Record]

OKC Council rezones lot, allows Sisu Youth Services to expand its campus. Here’s what could change: A center serving unsheltered youth will be able to expand its mission after the council approved a zoning change, but the plan was still met with opposition from neighbors. [The Oklahoman]

  • ‘Lifesaving’: Oklahoma City Council approves housing program for homeless veterans [Fox 25]

Economy & Business News

Markets worldwide take another dive as Trump threatens higher tariffs on China: Global markets plummeted Monday for the third consecutive trading day since President Donald Trump announced his “Liberation Day” tariffs — and the administration gave mixed signals on meeting other nations at the negotiating table. [Oklahoma Voice]

Community News

Oklahoma group’s refugee resettlement efforts are ‘paused’ by federal contract cuts: Catholic Charities of Oklahoma City welcomed a group of refugees on Jan. 17 as part of the agency’s resettlement program, but things changed drastically just three days later when the Trump administration took over and suspended federal contract agreements for such programs. [The Oklahoman]

Former Oklahoma Faith Network leader takes role as director of Faithful America: A faith leader who has been one of the prominent voices speaking out against Christian nationalism in Oklahoma expects to do more of the same, but on a national level in a new role as head of the Christian organization Faithful America. [The Oklahoman]

Local Headlines

  • Oklahoma Caring Vans providing free immunizations throughout April [Fox 23]
  • Cry Baby Hill roadside attraction on hold, along with hotel project, Route 66 experience [Tulsa World]
  • Tulsa school board reviews proposed foundation policy [Tulsa World]

Quote of the Day

“Maybe there needed to be reforms. But they didn’t say, ‘Oh, this is good, and that’s bad.’ It’s just, ‘We’re doing this to everything.’ And you don’t get very far reforming things with grenades.”

-Hunter Heyck, director of OU’s Center for Creativity and Authenticity in AI Cultural Production, said the disruptions from federal efficiency efforts have harmed research at OU and other universities nationwide. [The Oklahoman]

Number of the Day

104% 

The Trump administration began levying a 104% tariff against goods imported from China starting Wednesday, as part of its trade war to create more trade balance.  a week after the president used his emergency powers to unveil new import taxes on products from nearly every country around the world. China has since increased its reciprocal tariffs to 84%. [ABC News]

Policy Note

Federal Reports Show Path to Youth Justice Reform: Recent federal reports show the many opportunities to meet the needs of youth and families through a Continuum of Care model, a vision that provides a variety of diversion strategies and community-based interventions that prevent our children and adolescents from becoming more deeply involved in the formal justice system. [The Sentencing Project]

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dave Hamby // dhamby@okpolicy.org

A fourth generation Oklahoman from Pawhuska, Dave Hamby has more than three decades of award-winning communications experience, including for Oklahoma higher education institutions and business organizations. Before joining OK Policy, he oversaw external communications for Rogers State University and The University of Tulsa. He also has worked for Oklahoma State University and the Chamber of Commerce in Fort Smith, Arkansas. A graduate of OSU's journalism program, he was a newspaper reporter at the Southwest Times Record in Fort Smith. Dave joined OK Policy in October 2019.