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
Report shows 40% of school choice tax credits go to households earning $150K or more: More than 40% of the tax credits issued as part of Oklahoma’s Parental Choice Tax Credit program for the 2025-26 school year went to families with an annual income of $150,000 or more, according to a new report from the Oklahoma Tax Commission. [The Oklahoman]
- High-income families claim majority of Oklahoma’s parent tax credits [News 9]
- Most Private School Tax Credit recipients came from families making $75K+ [KFOR]
- From OK Policy: Private school tax credits will give everyone’s taxes to people who don’t need our help
State Government News
Stitt’s Oklahoma DOGE portal sought to find savings. People used it instead to troll Republicans: Dozens of people suggested that state government could be made more efficient without state Superintendent Ryan Walters and Gov. Kevin Stitt, according to submissions made to a statewide portal that asks the public for ideas about how to save money. [Oklahoma Voice]
How an attempt to limit Ryan Walters’ authority failed in the Oklahoma Senate: On a key bill deadline day inside the Oklahoma Capitol, an apparent legislative maneuver to remake the Oklahoma State Board of Education, and provide its members access to meeting agendas, failed to receive a hearing in the House. Whether or not a strongly worded email and social media post on May 8 from state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters played a role isn’t publicly known. [The Oklahoman]
Business courts, Tulsa Race Massacre scholarships beat House deadline: Enhancement of a scholarship program associated with Tulsa’s 1921 Race Massacre, new business courts sought by Gov. Kevin Stitt and a measure aimed at truck drivers who don’t speak English were among the matters dealt with by the Oklahoma House of Representatives on Thursday. Those and most of the other measures passed before the 5 p.m. deadline for third reading of Senate bills in the House must go back to the Senate, and many must survive the final budget decisions for the fiscal year that begins July 1. [Tulsa World]
Bill to extend maternity leave for teachers heads to Gov. Stitt’s desk: A bipartisan bill that would allow Oklahoma teachers who have a baby to extend their maternity leave by using annual accrued leave is headed to Gov. Kevin Stitt’s desk. [The Oklahoman]
Why Oklahomans won’t be able to bet on Thunder games any time soon: Oklahoma will remain one of the only states without legal sports betting after attempts in the Legislature didn’t clear the necessary hurdles to reach the governor’s desk. Lawmakers couldn’t agree with the governor as to what role the state’s tribal nations should play in the market. [The Oklahoman]
Wind tower setback bill revived after failing on Oklahoma House floor: Senate Bill 2 may get another chance to convince lawmakers of new regulations on wind turbine placement in certain parts of the state. [KGOU]
Opinion, This Week in Oklahoma Politics: Mental health agency testimony, Catholic charter school arguments, The Heartland Flyer’s future and more: The panel discusses the struggling Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, the U.S. Supreme Court taking up the issue of a Catholic charter school in Oklahoma, one of Gov. Kevin Stitt’s four nominees to the State Board of Education failing to get a sponsor, the Ethics Commission’s dismissal of an investigation against Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett, and Texas lawmakers’ choice to not fund their portion of the Heartland Flyer. [KOSU]
Opinion: Will lawmakers stand up to Gov. Stitt’s vetoes?: Past Legislatures would have wasted little time overriding a governor who vetoed three broadly supported, public policy winners – if for no other reason as a reminder of their constitutional authority as a co-equal state government branch. But it remains to be seen if these lawmakers have the chops to do so. [Arnold Hamilton / The Journal Record]
- Oklahoma lawmakers react to bills Governor has vetoed so far [Fox 25]
Opinion: Lifelines for vulnerable Oklahomans, disability services are under attack: Budget cuts are often sold to the public as necessary belt-tightening — an unfortunate but unavoidable step toward “fiscal responsibility.” But what happens when those cuts target the most vulnerable among us? What happens when the programs being slashed aren’t luxuries, but lifelines? [Meske Owens / Oklahoma Voice]
Federal Government News
Congressional budget agency projects sweeping Medicaid cutbacks in states under GOP plans: The Congressional Budget Office said Wednesday that potential major cuts and changes to Medicaid under consideration by Republicans could mean states would have to spend more of their own money on the program, reduce payments to health care providers, limit optional benefits and reduce enrollment. [Oklahoma Voice]
Army Corps of Engineers staff shortage leads to temporary closure of lake recreation sites: Several Oklahoma lake recreational areas will be closed temporarily or have their services reduced due to staffing shortages at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. [The Oklahoman]
Tribal Nations News
Charged with 6 counts of sexual battery, Ron Perry resigns from Choctaw Nation Tribal Council: Facing allegations of serial sexual misconduct against women who work for the tribe, former Choctaw Nation Tribal Council member Ron Perry was charged April 1 with six counts of sexual battery in Choctaw Nation District Court. [NonDoc]
United Keetoowah Band sends Oklahoma gaming compact to Department of Interior: In a major step in the United Keetoowah Band’s battle to rebuild a casino, the tribe signed the Model Tribal Gaming Compact with the state of Oklahoma. It now awaits federal approval. [KOSU]
Voting and Election News
State Superintendent Ryan Walters says he’s considering running for Oklahoma governor: While many have thought Ryan Walters was going to run, his statements on Friday were the first time he’s publicly said he’s considering running for governor. [KOCO]
Health News
Oklahoma health officials ask schools to warn vax-exempted families about measles outbreak: As the U.S. closes in on 1,000 confirmed measles cases in the past four months, Oklahoma health officials are asking schools to be more proactive about warning parents about the spread of the disease — especially those who have chosen not vaccinate their children. [The Oklahoman]
Criminal Justice News
Death penalty sought in federal case for third time since Trump’s return, this time in OKC: The U.S. government is seeking the death penalty for a convicted robber accused of murdering his cellmate at the Federal Transfer Center in Oklahoma City. [The Oklahoman]
- From OK Policy: Oklahoma Death Penalty Tracker
Oklahoma City police raid wrong house, traumatize Black family: Oklahoma City police raided the home of a Black family with a 9-year-old child inside. The incident reflects a broader national pattern of wrongful police raids that have left lasting trauma and taken lives. [The Black Wall Street Times]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Economist: Oklahoma housing demand ready to surge: Homes in Oklahoma on average have appreciated 49.5% since 2020. Housing inventory remains very low because homeowners who have a 3% or 4% mortgage rate don’t want to give that up, and they will only sell if a life-changing event pushes them to move. [The Journal Record]
Oklahoma City Council delays vote on guesthouse ordinance: What to know: The Oklahoma City Council delayed a long expected vote on a proposed ordinance change that would make building a guesthouse easier for homeowners. [The Oklahoman]
- From OK Policy: Zoning reform is a key step to increasing housing in Oklahoma, especially as the need for more affordable housing continues to grow.
Tulsa faces ‘crisis-level’ eviction situation due to federal uncertainty: The Tulsa Housing Authority is freezing its housing voucher waitlist thanks to federal decisions, leaving hundreds of Tulsans in potentially precarious circumstances. [Public Radio Tulsa]
- ‘No new vouchers’: Tulsa Housing Authority approves emergency plan, hopes to avoid terminations [NonDoc]
Community News
‘Big surprise’: Oklahomans express shock over American being chosen as new pope: Oklahoma Roman Catholics expressed joy about the election of a new pope, but many said there was another emotion that rose to the surface after the pontiff’s name and nationality were announced at the Vatican: Surprise. [The Oklahoman]
- New pope previously served on governing board at Tulsa’s Cascia Hall [Tulsa World]
- Local Catholic leaders shocked by American’s selection as pope, optimistic about church’s future [Tulsa World]
- New Pope Leo XIV has surprising ties to Oklahoma diocese, school: What to know [The Oklahoman]
Local activists rally against lawmakers’ push to overturn gay marriage ruling: Local LGBTQ activists are reacting after some state lawmakers are calling on the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn its ruling making gay marriage legal. [KTUL]
City of Tulsa welcomes new citizens at naturalization ceremony: Seventeen new citizens completed the U.S. citizenship process Thursday in a naturalization ceremony. [Tulsa World]
Opinion: America needs a come-to-Jesus meeting about helping the poor, feeding the hungry: Like Paul, we’ll assuredly find ourselves caring for the poor instead of enacting violence against them. May we see the light. [Rev. Lori Allen Walke / The Oklahoman]
Local Headlines
- Two organizations respond to request for proposals to run transitional living center [Tulsa World]
- Sales tax slump leaves Edmond in a rare position: A lean city budget, no growth in services [The Oklahoman]
Quote of the Day
“Budget cuts would send a message loud and clear that our needs are not a priority. Without programs like these, future advocates won’t get the chance to find their voice. The leaders, policy changers, and community builders of tomorrow will be silenced before they ever begin.”
- Meske Owens, who is raising a son on the autism spectrum, writing in an op-ed about the impact of cuts to public programs designed to support and protect people with disabilities. [Meske Owens / Oklahoma Voice]
Number of the Day
92%
A report from the Oklahoma Tax Commission shows that 92% of private school tax credit recipients already had children in private schools. [KOCO]
- From Oklahoma Tax Commission: Parental Choice Tax Credit report for the 2025-2026 school year
Policy Note
Oklahoma tax triggers well-intended, but lack economic sense (2016): What we’ve learned from the modern income tax cutting era is that triggers don’t make economic sense. They change a rate more or less permanently, in one direction (down), but there’s no provision for triggering a rate increase when the times call for it. [The Oklahoman Editorial Board Archive]
- From OK Policy: Tax triggers are a preferred vehicle for lawmakers to achieve the governor’s stated goal of eliminating the state’s income tax. But this so-called “path to zero” is a treacherous road.
You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail.
