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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
Policy Matters: Only smash the piggy bank in emergencies: Imagine you’re saving money in case your roof starts leaking during a storm. One day, instead of fixing the roof, you decide to hand that money to someone who already has a sturdy umbrella — and then tell your neighbors to hope the rain holds off. As irresponsible as that scenario sounds, that’s what happens when the governor and some lawmakers propose to use the state’s rainy day funds to pay for costly tax cuts, especially when those cuts mostly benefit the wealthy. [Shiloh Kantz / The Journal Record]
Oklahoma News
Oklahoma’s St. Isidore case will be heard by SCOTUS next week. Here’s what’s at stake: The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond case next week. The case will decide whether the St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School can be a state-funded public school. Oklahoma’s attorney general brought the lawsuit against the state charter school board that approved St. Isidore’s application. [KGOU]
- Republicans Split on St. Isidore [Oklahoma Watch]
State Government News
Proposal to check Oklahoma students’ citizenship status draws bipartisan concerns in state House: Proposed rules that would require schools to collect Oklahoma students’ immigration status and mandate that teachers pass the U.S. Naturalization Test face bipartisan opposition in the state House. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Democrats call for rejection of social studies standards; Stitt expresses frustration [Tulsa World]
- Questions surround records on Oklahoma ed board’s social studies standards vote [The Oklahoman]
- Ryan Walters’ rules on immigration status, teacher testing go before Oklahoma lawmakers [The Oklahoman]
- Oklahoma governor disapproves of social studies standards switch [KFOR]
- House committee wants to disapprove OSDE’s proposed citizenship status rule [KOCO]
- Oklahoma Democrats urge fellow lawmakers to reject proposed social studies standards [Fox 25]
- State Board of Education agenda omits Mannford calendar request [Tulsa World]
House committee OKs Stitt’s business courts: Establishment of specialized business courts, one of Gov. Kevin Stitt’s top priorities, appears to be rolling full speed downhill after a House committee’s unanimous approval on Tuesday. The Judiciary and Public Oversight Committee sent Senate Bill 632, by President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, to the full House on a 10-0 vote with little discussion. [Tulsa World]
Committee advances bill nearly doubling rate for transporting youth in Oklahoma custody: A Senate committee on Wednesday advanced a measure that would nearly double the reimbursement rate for transporting juvenile defendants. [Oklahoma Voice]
Nearly 50% of roads, highways across Oklahoma in bad condition, study says: A new report says bad roads in the Oklahoma City area cost drivers $2,571 annually. A new report says 48% of roads and highways across the state are in poor or mediocre condition. [Fox 25]
Oklahoma Turnpike Authority warns of text scam as 100 new websites identified in one day: The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority is warning motorists about a “significant increase” in text scams claiming people owe unpaid tolls, with 100 new websites identified in just one day. [Tulsa World]
Orphan oil wells dotting Oklahoma aquifers could pose risks to groundwater quality: Oklahomans get more than half the water they use from aquifers. But the same areas that hold those underground water supplies are also sprinkled with orphan oil wells. [KOSU]
Legislative Roundup:
- Lawmakers advance bills aimed at increasing regulation of hunting on Oklahoma’s public lands [Oklahoma Voice]
- Bill would add hurdles for doctors recommending medical marijuana [Tulsa World]
- Debate continues over declaring “Christ is King” in Oklahoma [KFOR]
- Oklahoma lawmakers eye investing millions to upgrade schools on Altus, Enid air force bases [Oklahoma Voice]
Opinion: Some Oklahoma farmers rely on wind power to survive. A new bill could stop that: Oklahomans recognize the benefits and willingly participate in renewable energy projects, driving Oklahoma to become the third-leading wind-producing state in the nation. New bills could punish them. [Destinee and Brady Weeks / The Oklahoman]
Federal Government News
Cutting federal Medicaid expansion funding could lead to 30k additional deaths: An attempt by Republican lawmakers to roll back the federal government’s share of Medicaid expansion could result in tens of thousands of additional deaths. [The Hill]
- Some states are reviving plans to require adults to work in order to get Medicaid [KOSU]
U.S. Sen. James Lankford: ‘Obviously, with 4 million people in Oklahoma, we don’t all agree’: Inside the Hyatt Regency hotel on Wednesday, U.S. Sen. James Lankford told a Tulsa Regional Chamber lunchtime audience the United States has become “a nation (whose) signature emotion is anger.” Outside the Hyatt Regency, about 100 people vented some of that anger. Most of it involved the wide swaths cut by President Donald Trump during his first few months in office and Oklahoma’s all-Republican congressional delegation’s reluctance, if not outright refusal, to confront what many see as excessive use of executive power. [Tulsa World]
- James Lankford Explains How Potential Cuts To Medicaid Would Affect Oklahoma Hospitals (video) [Forbes]
Trump touts manufacturing while undercutting state efforts to help factories: Tariffs are the main tool President Donald Trump is wielding to try to boost manufacturing in the United States, calling the achievement of that goal “an economic and national security priority.” But the higher levies have led to retaliation and suspended shipments, and some small manufacturers said they are just one of several Trump administration actions squeezing his small manufacturing business. [Oklahoma Voice]
Opinion, Former U.S. Prosecutor: The Department of Justice under President Trump is failing our country: The government’s appalling behavior in the Abrego Garcia case is the most shocking example of the rot at the top of this Justice Department. You may not care about Abrego Garcia’s fate, but if you care about freedom, you will care intensely about his case. The facts are simple. A judge determined in 2019 that the government could not remove Garcia to El Salvador, his home country, because a gang had threatened to kill him. [Scott Williams / The Oklahoman]
Tribal Nations News
Rift over compacts widens between Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, Muscogee Nation: Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt accused Muscogee Nation officials of refusing to negotiate with him over car tag and tobacco tax compacts and said they were trying to work around him instead. [The Oklahoman]
- ‘No other state would deal with this:’ Gov. Kevin Stitt talks Muscogee Creek Nation car tags, tobacco (video) [The Oklahoman]
Cherokee Nation celebrates water investment milestone across the reservation: The Cherokee Nation celebrated its $23.8 million investment in improving water quality and accessibility across its reservation through the Wilma P. Mankiller and Charlie Soap Water Act last week. [KOSU]
Tribal roundup: Kiowa Tribe COVID spending concerns, UKB gaming approval, Choctaw candidate filing: A review requested by the U.S. Department of the Treasury has alleged the previous administration of the Kiowa Tribe improperly spent several million dollars in COVID-19 relief funding between 2020 and 2022. [NonDoc]
Voting and Election News
Aletia Timmons, JeKia Harrison file for special HD 97 Democratic primary: JeKia Harrison and Aletia Timmons have filed to run in the June 10 Democratic primary election for House District 97, which was vacated by former Rep. Jason Lowe (D-OKC). Lowe resigned this month after being elected to the Oklahoma County Board of Commissioners in February. No GOP candidates filed for the HD 97 primary, meaning the winner of the Democratic primary will win the seat. [NonDoc]
Education News
New records reveal even more unexplained five-figure payouts to Ryan Walters’ chief of staff: After already uncovering records Monday, News 4 found additional records on Tuesday revealing State Superintendent Ryan Walters’ new chief of staff received yet another extra paycheck worth thousands of dollars, with Oklahoma State Department of Education officials still unwilling to explain why. Last week, News 4 reported the Oklahoma taxpayers footed the bill for a more than $76,000 final paycheck to the Oklahoma State Department of Education’s (OSDE) former spokesperson. [KFOR]
- Education Watch: Payroll Records Reveal Large Payouts at Education Department [Oklahoma Watch]
Stitt picks Rainey Williams for OU Board of Regents, Tracy Poole for OSU: Choosing a pair of leaders from financial investment firms, Gov. Kevin Stitt has announced his annual appointments for the boards of regents governing Oklahoma’s two largest university systems. [NonDoc]
- Gov. Stitt names new member to University of Oklahoma’s governing board [Oklahoma Voice]
Shawnee schools names Jason James as superintendent after Aaron Espolt’s exit: Shawnee Public Schools has a new superintendent, months after the state Board of Education suspended the teaching license of the district’s former leader. [The Oklahoman]
Opinion: Oklahoma school districts should resist efforts to cut back needed programs: Nonprofits that often receive support from federal grants, are contributing critical services for families, schools and our social infrastructure. However, due to presidential executive orders, they could face a “sweeping funding freeze for nonprofit work.” [John Thompson / The Oklahoman]
Health News
Tulsa councilors get firsthand look at mental health, substance abuse treatment facilities: The city itself contributes a relatively small amount — about $2 million annually, primarily in federal dollars — to fund mental health services. But it plays a critical role in bringing together stakeholders and assisting in helping coordinate services to address the city’s growing need for mental health and substance use services. [Tulsa World]
Poll: Belief in false measles claims correlated with lower vaccination rates: Americans are increasingly unsure what to believe about measles as an outbreak spreads throughout the country, according to a survey released Wednesday by the nonpartisan health research organization KFF. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Oklahoma measles case count now at 13 after new confirmed case reported [KFOR]
Criminal Justice News
OKC Council agrees to pay just over $2 million to house city detainees in county jail: The Oklahoma City Council took a step toward reducing tension with Oklahoma County officials Tuesday when it voted to pay just over $2 million for the housing of city detainees in the county jail. [The Oklahoman]
Inaction puts OK County land swap near new jail site on pause, could cost earnest money: Oklahoma County Commissioner Myles Davidson’s yearlong attempt to get the county to buy land to swap with Crooked Oak Schools “in support of the new detention center site” at 1901 E. Grand Blvd. appeared to die with a sigh. [The Oklahoman]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Oklahoma City passes resolution to remove discriminatory language from housing plats: Oklahoma City is catching up with the times as its city council plans to start removing discriminatory language from old housing covenants and plats. [The Oklahoman]
Community News
Muslim Day at the Capitol returns April 28: The 11th Annual Muslim Day at the Capitol (MDAC), organized by CAIR Oklahoma, is set for Monday, April 28, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Oklahoma State Capitol, 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd, Oklahoma City. The event will take place in the Fourth Floor South Conference Rooms 7-9. [The Journal Record]
What to know about Mexican consulate services available in Oklahoma City (video): The Consulado de México offers essential services like passport renewals, legal assistance, support during emergencies, as well as hosting job fairs. [The Oklahoman]
Opinion: Fall of Saigon, 50 years later: From refugee, to US citizen, to district judge: I was 16 years old, only six years removed from fleeing a Communist regime in Vietnam with my mother to be reunited with my father in the U.S., and now I was standing next to them as I became an American citizen. It was one of the proudest days of my life. Today, I have the daily privilege of entering another courthouse in downtown Oklahoma City, the Oklahoma County Courthouse, to preside over my court docket as an Oklahoma County district judge. [Oklahoma County District Judge Natalie Mai / The Oklahoman]
Local Headlines
- Residents of a Stillwater neighborhood say data center construction is killing their pond [KFOR]
- Norman City Council pushes back vote on entertainment district phasing plan [The Journal Record]
- Army Corps of Engineers closes Fort Gibson Dam bridge due to safety concerns [Tulsa World]
- First Community Conversation allows residents to meet with Tulsa officials [Tulsa World]
- Confusion plagues Tulsa’s discrimination complaint process [Public Radio Tulsa]
- There are 2 new Oklahoma sites on the National Register of Historic Places [KOSU]
Quote of the Day
“The governor has refused to sign it (the compact) without adding unreasonable demands that have nothing to do with the issue at hand. The nation is not trying to circumvent anything by communicating with the legislature, we’re simply engaging the only respectful partners we have to co-govern with us as sovereigns.”
-Muscogee Nation Principal Chief David Hill spoke about the governor’s claims that the Nation wasn’t negotiating its compacts in good faith. Chief Hill responded by saying the governor was the person refusing to negotiate in good faith. [The Oklahoman]
Number of the Day
11.7%
Oklahoma is projected to see monthly unemployment costs rise by 11.7% because of federal workforce cuts. This is the nation’s sixth highest projected rate. [Urban Institute]
Policy Note
State Unemployment Programs Will Likely Face Budget Pressures Because of Federal Layoffs: Unlike federal employees who receive unemployment benefits paid by the federal government through the Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees program, people who lose private-sector jobs rely on state unemployment insurance (UI) programs, which primarily fund benefits through state payroll taxes. As a result, any increase in UI claims will put additional financial pressure on state UI programs. [Urban Institute]
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