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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
Second attempt at adding Medicaid expansion to August ballot heads to Oklahoma Senate: Lawmakers are taking a second run at adding controversial state questions to the Aug. 25 ballot despite concerns that it could violate the Oklahoma Constitution. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Oklahoma physicians group criticizes second effort to place Medicaid expansion on August ballot [StateImpact Oklahoma via KGOU]
State Government News
New Questions Emerge Over Oklahoma’s Invest in Oklahoma Contract After Shared Lobbyist Discovered: Oklahoma Treasurer Todd Russ hired the same lobbying firm as the parent company of a financial firm he later recommended for a state contract, raising more questions about whether the treasurer’s compressed selection process was fair and transparent. [Oklahoma Watch]
Oklahoma Governor signs several priority bills before key legislative deadlines: The deadline for bills to pass round two of committee hearings and head to the floor for final votes is Thursday, but a few of Republicans’ top priority bills have already been signed into law. [KOSU]
- Oklahoma governor signs landmark childhood reading bill into law [Oklahoma Voice]
- Oklahoma early literacy policy overhaul signed into law, includes third-grade retention [StateImpact Oklahoma via KOSU]
- Gov. Stitt touts new law aimed at improving Oklahoma education [KFOR]
Oklahoma Legislature sends governor measure allowing mail tracking of driver’s licenses: Oklahomans would be able to track their driver licenses and state IDs in the mail under a bill heading to Gov. Kevin Stitt. [Oklahoma Voice]
Cyndi Munson delivers farewell speech as gubernatorial bid looms: Weeks ahead of an anticipated early sine die adjournment, House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, gave her farewell speech in front of colleagues, staff and gallery spectators less than an hour into Tuesday’s floor session. [The Journal Record]
Opinion: It takes more than a ‘Top 10’ lapel pin to make it real: So yes, we’ve had successes. No doubt about it. But it’s fair to ask: What have we actually improved beyond what we already were? Because many of the things we point to today are the same areas we’ve always been strong in. [Former Oklahoma Rep. Mark McBride / The Oklahoman]
Federal Government News
Republicans in US Senate unveil road map for 3 years of immigration crackdown: Republican leaders in Congress appeared to be on the same page Tuesday about how to fund immigration activities for the next three years as they released a party-line measure that will pave the way for a special process known as budget reconciliation. [Oklahoma Voice]
Trump’s DOJ sued over campaign to amass data on millions of voters: Voting rights groups launched a legal challenge Tuesday against the Trump administration’s effort to sweep up sensitive data on millions of Americans with the aim of identifying noncitizen voters, arguing that the U.S. Department of Justice is building a dangerous centralized national voter list ahead of the midterm elections in November. [Oklahoma Voice]
Interior’s Burgum accused of ‘kneecapping’ wind and solar power in favor of oil, gas: Interior Secretary Doug Burgum defended the Trump administration’s approach to energy production Monday, as Democrats on a U.S. House Appropriations panel accused the department of kowtowing to oil and gas interests at the expense of renewable energy. [Oklahoma Voice]
Tribal Nations News
Osage Nation Attorney General Clint Patterson resigns: Osage Nation Attorney General Clint Patterson has resigned, effective May 29, following months of Congressional investigation and a pending removal process. Patterson has faced accusations over the past year, including allegations he unlawfully obtained a tribal membership for his former non-Osage adopted daughter in 2010, which he denied. [KOSU]
Criminal Justice News
Disability rights watchdog opens probe into Tulsa city jail after Frontier investigation: A federally designated watchdog is examining conditions at the municipal jail, citing concerns over medical care and treatment of people with mental illness. [The Frontier]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Tulsa leaders turn to churches to help solve housing crisis: A Minneapolis-based consultant is showing Tulsa church leaders how they can develop nearly 3,000 acres of their land to help meet the city’s need for 13,000 housing units. [The Oklahoma Eagle]
- From OK Policy: Let’s be clear: nonprofits should not bear the burden of providing essential public services that governments are obligated to deliver
Economy & Business News
Oklahoma City passes moratorium to block new data centers through 2026: The Oklahoma City Council has unanimously voted to pass an emergency moratorium blocking new applications for data center developments, following dozens of other cities that have moved to regulate land use and zoning for encroaching tech giants. [The Oklahoman]
- OKC Council places emergency moratorium on data centers [The Journal Record]
- Oklahoma City leaders approve data center moratorium [KOSU]
- Oklahoma City pauses new data centers through end of year amid rapid growth, community concerns [KFOR]
It’s official: Meta will operate hyperscale data center in east Tulsa: Meta confirmed Tuesday afternoon what had become the city’s worst kept secret: The tech giant will be the operator behind Project Anthem, the first data center to be constructed within the city limits. [Tulsa World]
- Meta breaks ground on over $1 billion data center in Oklahoma’s Tulsa [Reuters]
‘Establish a baseline of impact’: Piedmont residents raise questions about possible data center: While economic growth is usually welcomed, it can come with complications. In Piedmont’s case, a proposed data center has stirred concerns about the impacts that big infrastructure projects can have on small towns, ranging from water use to noise pollution. [NonDoc]
Local Headlines
- Edmond council could raise water base rates by double digits [The Oklahoman]
Quote of the Day
“At the end of the day, families don’t live in rankings. They live in whether their child can read at grade level, whether they can see a doctor when they need one, whether help is there when someone is struggling, and whether they’re getting ahead or just getting by.”
– Former Oklahoma Rep. Mark McBride, arguing that headline rankings and political talking points can distract from the realities families face day to day, and emphasizing that real progress should be judged by outcomes — not branding. [The Oklahoman]
Number of the Day
86%
The share of nonworkers in the U.S. who are children, elderly, disabled, or students. Together, these groups make up the vast majority of people not in the workforce, while only about 2% fall into the unemployed or other categories. [People’s Policy Project]
Policy Note
The Simple Math of Poverty: Poverty in wealthy societies stems fundamentally from four structural realities: income is distributed only to workers and capital owners; capital ownership is highly concentrated; a significant share of the population is not working at any time; and nonworkers are unevenly clustered across households. Together, these dynamics create predictable income gaps that persist across families. Addressing poverty effectively requires shifting how income is shared — such as through universal dividends or social wealth funds — and strengthening public income supports that reach nonworking groups like children, the elderly, students, and caregivers. [People’s Policy Project]
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