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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
Eliminating taxes is a trade-off most Oklahoma families can’t afford (Commentary): The promise sounds simple enough: eliminate taxes and let people keep more of what they earn. No property taxes. No income taxes. No April deadlines. More money in your pocket. But when taxes disappear, everyday life doesn’t stay the same. It changes fast — and the damage is hard to undo. [Dave Hamby / OK Policy]
Lawmakers can make modest gains in housing this session: Bills that make relatively small changes to Oklahoma’s Landlord Tenant Act — the laws that define the rights of landlords and tenants — and the eviction process can improve housing stability for Oklahoma renters. Other bills filed can help close the gap between demand for affordable housing and the number of available rental units. Furthermore, legislators should reject efforts to further criminalize and stigmatize Oklahomans experiencing homelessness and vote against creating more barriers for the shelters trying to serve them. [Sabine Brown / OK Policy]
Oklahoma News
Tax Day 2026 is here. What to know about deadlines, refunds, extensions: State and federal income tax forms are due on Wednesday, April 15, and statistics show a large chunk of the population wait until the last minute to turn in their taxes. Here are the important things to know about Tax Day and what you can do if you still haven’t filled out your forms. [The Oklahoman]
Senate puts kibosh on Aug. 25 Medicaid election plan: Far right Republicans joined Democrats in the Senate to block plans to put major changes to Medicaid expansion on August’s low voter turnout ballot. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Oklahoma Senate passes Medicaid expansion measures [The Journal Record]
- Oklahoma lawmakers advance measures to change Medicaid expansion, block special election [KOSU]
- Medicaid state questions pass Senate, Oklahoma voters to see reform questions soon [KOCO]
- Senate passes measures proposing state votes on Medicaid [Tulsa World]
State Government News
Legislative Roundup
- Oklahoma House advances $26 million early literacy overhaul bill with third grade retention [StateImpact Oklahoma via KGOU]
- Bill banning public funds for gender-affirming care moving through OK Capitol [Fox 25]
- Senate approves cost of living adjustments for Oklahoma’s retired public employees [Oklahoma Voice]
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt wants states to have say in immigration: Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican businessman from Tulsa, is in the midst of serving his eighth and last term as Oklahoma’s 28th governor. A KOSU journalist sat down with him one-on-one to talk about immigration enforcement in Oklahoma and how to manage increased welfare administration costs imposed on states by Congress. [KOSU]
Oklahoma Lawmakers Move to Close Revolving Door Loophole Exposed by Former Prison Chief’s Job Switch: Oklahoma lawmakers could tighten the state’s conflict-of-interest laws after the former Department of Corrections director signed off on a million-dollar vendor contract and promptly took a job with the company. [Oklahoma Watch]
Federal Government News
Has the Trump Administration recovered more than 160,000 children who were trafficked or lost under the Biden Administration, as Secretary Mullin claimed? No: Claims about vast numbers of children being lost misrepresent a 2024 Department of Homeland Security report regarding 291,000 unaccompanied migrant children who had not received notices to appear in court, and 32,000 who received one but failed to appear in court. [Oklahoma Watch]
Several ICE detainees on bus hospitalized after suffering heat-related illnesses in Oklahoma: A bus full of people detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement made a stop in Canadian County to get medical treatment for some of the people on board. [KOCO]
SNAP work requirements don’t boost jobs, but drop participation, research finds: As states enact stricter work requirements for the federal food stamp program, a new analysis suggests those requirements won’t enhance employment and will push more people off of food assistance. [Oklahoma Voice]
“DEI is Dead”: Dept. of Ed. Faces Backlash Over Social Media Post: The U.S. Department of Education, led by Linda E. McMahon under Donald Trump, is facing backlash. A social media post declaring “DEI is DEAD!” and featuring a gravestone labeled “DEI” is drawing scrutiny. [The Black Wall Street Times]
Tribal Nations News
Bison graze Choctaw lands for first time in 150 years: The last bison to walk the tallgrass prairie adjoining what is now the Choctaw Cultural Center in Durant disappeared more than 150 years ago, driven out by westward expansion, market hunting and the systematic destruction of the grasslands that had sustained them for millennia. As of April 10, bison once again graze Choctaw lands. [The Journal Record]
Voting and Election News
Rep. John Waldron suspends reelection campaign amid AI scandal, colleagues call for his resignation: Rep. John Waldron suspended his reelection campaign Monday, days after confirming he resigned as chairman of the Oklahoma Democratic Party in December after sending a woman an AI-generated GIF of them “making out.” [NonDoc]
Education News
Experts warn Oklahoma retention plan may harm students long term: Oklahoma lawmakers want to hold back third graders who are struggling to read, but experts say requiring those students to repeat grades creates short-term improvements and long-term negative effects that carry into adulthood. [The Oklahoman]
University of Tulsa investigating report of hazing: The University of Tulsa is investigating after a report of hazing on campus. TU Security officers responded at 8 p.m. March 24 to the Kappa Sigma fraternity house, according to a report shared by the university. [Tulsa World]
School safety expert reflects on security policies in Oklahoma: School safety is a partnership, according to the National Association of School Resource Officers. The organization’s executive director, Mo Canady, has been following news of Pauls Valley principal Kirk Moore, who tackled a former student who was seen on video entering the school with a gun last week. [News 9]
Opinion: If OK wants to boost reading outcomes, we must start early: Oklahoma’s political and business leaders, across party lines, have made their goal clear: more children reading on grade level by third grade. But reading proficiency does not begin in third grade, or even in kindergarten. It begins much earlier in the home. [Erin Bell / The Oklahoman]
Health News
GRAND Mental Health launches ApexCare app: GRAND Mental Health has launched a new digital platform to expand behavioral health care across Oklahoma. On April 6, the organization announced ApexCare, an app-based platform designed to improve access and coordination. The platform also delivers a more seamless digital experience for clients. [The Black Wall Street Times]
Criminal Justice News
Joseph Harp Correctional Center inmates face felony charges, Cleveland Co. District Attorney says: The Cleveland County District Attorney’s Office announced on Tuesday that a prison contraband ring has been taken down. [KFOR]
- Former death row inmate Julius Jones charged in prison contraband case (video) [The Oklahoman]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Tulsa City auditor is following the money for homelessness programs. He found a problem: For the first time in city history, the Tulsa city auditor asked the public last year what they wanted the office to examine. The answer — ranking roads and tracking programs for the unhoused — created an unforeseen problem: There was no way to capture all the nonprofit money coming into the city to help combat homelessness. [The Oklahoma Eagle]
Some say it’s a buyer’s market, but maybe not for these young Tulsa homeowners: You may have read it’s a buyer’s market right now, with more homes for sale than active buyers. Mortgage rates also fell below 6% in February for the first time in years, but that doesn’t necessarily mean housing is becoming more affordable. [The Oklahoma Eagle]
- From OK Policy: Housing is out of reach for working Oklahomans, seniors and people with disabilities
Community News
Oklahoma exhibit offers immersive look at refugee’s path: Photos, adhesive bandages, heirloom jewelry, documents, a child’s handprint pressed in clay, a laptop, blanket and infant bottles. Joni Brandenburg had less than 15 minutes to decide which items to take as she and her family escaped into the night, leaving the only home they had ever known. [The Oklahoman]
- See inside immersive OKC exhibit displaying experiences of refugees (video) [The Oklahoman]
Local Headlines
- Oklahoma City Public Schools initiates renaming process for Cesar Chavez Elementary School [NonDoc]
- Another round of Community Conversations set to help Tulsans connect with city leaders [Tulsa World]
- Appeal filed in lawsuit over Tulsa superintendent hiring process [Tulsa World]
- Edmond’s economic development agency wants more money for incentives [The Oklahoman]
Quote of the Day
“I am now of the mind that SNAP should be an anti-hunger program, and there are many, many ways to do workforce development, career ladders, career training, job search — all of those things. That’s not an anti-hunger program, and it shouldn’t be associated with it.”
– Lauren Bauer, a fellow in economic studies at Brookings Institution and the associate director of The Hamilton Project, arguing that SNAP’s purpose should remain focused on reducing hunger, not serving as a workforce policy tool. She notes that research shows work requirements primarily remove people from food assistance rather than improve employment outcomes. [Oklahoma Voice]
Number of the Day
69,970
The total number of Oklahomans who have lost SNAP benefits since passage of the harmful Republican megabill, whose work requirements push people off food assistance without boosting employment. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities]
Policy Note
A primer on SNAP work requirements: SNAP work requirements have not been shown to meaningfully increase employment, but they do significantly reduce participation in the program by causing many eligible people to lose benefits. Research suggests many SNAP recipients already work or want to work, but struggle with unstable schedules, inconsistent hours, and barriers common in low-wage jobs that make meeting strict monthly thresholds difficult. The report finds that work requirements often function more as administrative barriers than employment incentives, cutting off food assistance without improving long-term labor market outcomes. Overall, the evidence suggests SNAP work requirements reduce access to food assistance more than they increase workforce participation. [The Hamilton Project]
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