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
Measure heading to August ballot could cost counties, Oklahoma schools millions: Currently, the state is required to reimburse counties and schools for the five-year ad valorem property tax exemption that qualified manufacturers receive for moving or expanding into counties. The Senate on Thursday passed House Joint Resolution 1087 by a vote of 38-7 that would let voters decide how much if any is reimbursed by the state. [Oklahoma Voice]
- From OK Policy: Policy Matters: Ready, fire, aim – Lawmakers shouldn’t pull trigger on property tax changes before knowing the impacts
The rest of the money: Other FY 2027 budget bills revealed, advanced: In companion meetings Monday at the State Capitol, the Oklahoma Legislature’s joint budget committees reviewed 47 bills outlining specific spending decisions and advanced them for floor consideration one week after passing the year’s general appropriations bill historically early. [NonDoc]
- Opinion: When it comes to Oklahoma budget, flat ain’t flat. It’s a cut [Former Oklahoma Rep. Mark McBride / The Oklahoman]
- Statement from OK Policy: A handful of lawmakers have negotiated in closed rooms how they intend to spend billions of taxpayer dollars.
Opinion: Tribal and Rural Healthcare at Risk in Oklahoma Gov. Stitt’s Attack on Medicaid: Oklahoma leaders often visit Cherokee Nation’s Health System and celebrate our progress and tout our unmistakable impact on the health and economy of rural communities. Now, Governor Stitt is putting us on a path that will damage that very system. [Cherokee Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr. / Native News Online]
State Government News
Legislative Roundup
- Oklahoma Senate moves forward with state question on judicial reform [KOSU]
- Major changes to reading education laws pass Oklahoma House [Oklahoma Voice]
- Lawmakers to continue funding Oklahoma’s mental health hotline [Oklahoma Voice]
- Oklahoma lawmakers nix bill to extend black bear hunting season [KOSU]
- Oklahoma lawmakers plan for penniless future [Tulsa World]
Oklahoma Legislature reaffirms partnership with Taiwan: The Oklahoma Legislature reaffirmed its commitment to supporting and partnering with Taiwan commercially on Monday, hosting officials from the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office in Houston. [The Journal Record]
Opinion: Big Mac fit: Oklahoma Republicans want to honor Trump in kids physical test: Maybe a future administration wouldn’t be so keen on a Trump-named [fitness] test. Could they try to penalize us for it by withholding funding? Republican Sen. Kristin Thompson tried to drive that point home with her colleagues who were obsessed with paying homage to Trump. [Janelle Stecklein / Oklahoma Voice]
Federal Government News
Oklahoma sees decline in SNAP participation in wake of Big Beautiful Bill: Participation in the nation’s biggest program to help pay for groceries fell across the U.S. last year. In a year, Oklahoma saw a 10% drop in the number of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participants. [KOSU]
- Opinion: U.S., Oklahoma governments making it worse for the poor [Tiffany Tagbo / The Oklahoman]
- From Hunger Free Oklahoma: HR 1 severely cuts the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), harming the thousands of Oklahoma residents who rely on this program for food.
IRS Flags Potential Excess Benefit Transactions at Epic Charter Schools, State Criminal Trial Looms: Newly obtained public records reveal Oklahoma’s largest charter school is out of the woods when it comes to keeping its tax-exempt status. However, federal investigators identified “potential excess benefit transactions” between Epic and its founders’ for-profit management company, which could result in significant financial penalties. [Oklahoma Watch]
Oklahoma City Archbishop to Trump: pope is not ‘rival’ or ‘politician’: The Oklahoma City archbishop, as the leader of an influential coalition of U.S. Catholic bishops, spoke out against President Donald Trump’s verbal attack on Pope Leo XIV, in the latest development of a rapidly evolving — and unprecedented — exchange of words between an American president and the head of the Roman Catholic Church. [The Oklahoman]
- Trump’s criticism of Pope draws no response from Tulsa diocese [Tulsa World]
Whistleblower to get cut of $3.25 million to settle lawsuit involving McAlester company: The federal government and a whistleblower will divide the proceeds after a McAlester chemical company agreed Monday to pay $3.25 million to settle a civil lawsuit brought about regarding a COVID-19-era Paycheck Protection Plan loan. [Tulsa World]
NATO allies refuse to join Trump’s Strait of Hormuz blockade: NATO allies said on Monday they would not get involved in U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to blockade the Strait of Hormuz nL6N40V09S, proposing instead to intervene only once fighting ends, in a move likely to anger Trump and increase strains in the alliance. [Reuters via The Journal Record]
Reps. Swalwell, Gonzales to quit Congress as 2 more US House members may face expulsion votes: California Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell and Texas Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales both announced Monday evening that they would resign from Congress amid sexual misconduct allegations. [Oklahoma Voice]
Tribal Nations News
The Muscogee cemetery in a parking lot: Sand Springs oddity marks Charles Page’s lingering influence: South of the intersection of Adams Road and Charles Page Boulevard, a patch of green in an otherwise grey parking lot carries historical significance and modern curiosity. [NonDoc]
Voting and Election News
Oklahoma lawmaker suspends reelection campaign following AI kissing video: A Tulsa Democrat will no longer seek reelection following reports he used artificial intelligence to fabricate images of him kissing a woman. [Oklahoma Voice]
Opinion: Oklahoma’s petition process empowers the people. Protect it: Instead of limiting the public’s voice, lawmakers should focus on improving transparency around the organizations that attempt to shape public policy behind the scenes. [Caedmon Brooks / The Oklahoman]
Criminal Justice News
Oklahoma corrections adds online “Deaths in custody” dashboard: The Oklahoma Department of Corrections has launched a new online “Deaths in Custody” dashboard aimed at increasing transparency and providing the public with updated information about deaths occurring within the state prison system. [News Channel 8]
After tension, hot mic incident, sheriff gives vans to county for detainee transport: Oklahoma County Sheriff Tommie Johnson III is donating four low-mileage vans to the county jail to help it transition away from his deputies transporting detainees to court. [The Oklahoman]
- Former county commissioner Myles Davidson heard arguing on hot mic with sheriff (video) [The Oklahoman]
Community News
After months of preparation, Black Wall Street Chamber unveils new strategic plan: The Black Wall Street Chamber of Commerce unveiled its new multi-year strategic plan Friday to advance and accelerate Black entrepreneurship. [The Oklahoma Eagle]
Losing historic places means losing ‘connection to the community,’ preservationists say: With U.S. 66 celebrating its 100th anniversary and the Declaration of Independence its 250th, historic preservation — and not just of things — is more than usual on the minds of Americans. [Tulsa World]
Making plans for National Park Week? Here are 7 sites near Oklahoma: National Park Week is typically held around Earth Day, which this year will take place on April 22. An executive order issued by President Donald Trump, however, pushed back the week-long celebration of national parks into late August. [The Oklahoman]
Local Headlines
- What to know about finalized plans for OKC’s Clara Luper Civil Rights Center [The Oklahoman]
- Work begins on 91st Street improvements between Harvard and Yale [Tulsa World]
Quote of the Day
“If Governor Stitt succeeds in restricting or revoking Medicaid expansion, Cherokee Nation and other tribes will take a gut punch. Our progress in primary care, specialty care and wellness will be stalled. Even more rural hospitals will close. Everyone in Oklahoma, tribal citizens and our neighbors, will get less healthcare, resulting in more chronic disease and death.”
—Cherokee Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr., writing in an op-ed that the current effort to undo voter-approved Medicaid expansion jeopardizes investments made by the Cherokee Nation and other Tribes in Oklahoma, as well as the health and wellbeing of all Oklahomans. [Cherokee Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr. / Native News Online]
Number of the Day
-10.01%
Participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) fell by 10 percent, or 30,000 Oklahomans, between July and December 2025, after the enactment of H.R. 1, or the “Big Beautiful Bill.” Many of the policies that states are already adopting in an effort to lower error rates are likely to result in eligible households losing SNAP food assistance because of administrative burdens. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities]
- From OK Policy: What’s That? Error Rates
Policy Note
SNAP Tracker: People Are Losing Food Assistance as the Republican Megabill Is Implemented: H.R. 1, the Republican megabill enacted July 4, 2025, poses great harm to families, including higher food costs, poverty, and hunger. It makes deep cuts to federal funding for food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), shifting significant new costs to states. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities]
You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail.
