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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
Policy Institute, Democrats disagree with Gov. Stitt over tax cut, budget impacts: Gov. Kevin Stitt said last week that an agreement reached at the Capitol to reduce the state’s tax on personal income would be “very, very significant” for Oklahomans. Democrats in the Legislature, who were not included in the budget-making process, weren’t as enthusiastic about the plan. Neither was Shiloh Kantz, executive director of the Oklahoma Policy Institute, who said the budget skimped on spending for education, health care, roads, bridges and more and that lawmakers should have focused less on encouraging business and more on helping ordinary Oklahomans. [Tulsa World]
- Budget bills to start working their way through JCAB process beginning this week [Fox 25]
- Governor, Republican Legislative Leaders Strike Budget Deal [Oklahoma Watch]
- Bushel of Budget Bills [Monday Minute / NonDoc]
- Legislature to weigh $312M purchase of Lawton prison [The Journal Record]
- Capitol Insider: Lawmakers and governor reach state budget deal [KGOU]
- Opinion: Oklahoma Republicans leaders are cheering their budget deal, but who does it really help? [Janelle Stecklein / Oklahoma Voice]
- From OK Policy: What will Oklahomans see from these tax cuts? And when will they take effect?
Gov. Stitt signs deal with Emirates Global Aluminum for $4 billion Oklahoma plant: A $4 billion aluminum production plant with 1,000 new jobs is set to be built at the Tulsa Port of Inola in northeast Oklahoma as part of a deal signed by Gov. Kevin Stitt and representatives of Emirates Global Aluminum. The agreement calls for $820 million incentives package from state and local sources. The agreement is pending legislative and local approval. The agreement was signed on April 21 but not publicly announced until Friday. [The Oklahoman]
- Gov. Stitt expects Inola aluminum smelter construction to begin next year [Tulsa World]
- Gov. Stitt announces $4 billion aluminum smelter coming to Oklahoma [KOSU]
- Oklahoma inks deal with UAE company to build $4B aluminum smelting facility [Public Radio Tulsa]
State Government News
Lawmakers to ‘stop the bleeding’ with one-time appropriation to struggling mental health agency: The state Legislature is inching closer to determining how much money is needed to keep the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services afloat amid the agency’s financial turmoil. [The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma education leader urges Legislature not to increase school funding, cut more taxes instead: In what appeared to be a campaign stump speech in all but name only, state Superintendent Ryan Walters called to eliminate Oklahoma’s income tax and property tax and said the state should stop increasing funding for public schools. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Sounding like a candidate for governor, Ryan Walters calls to eliminate some state taxes [The Oklahoman]
- Supt. Walters upset after lawmakers reject several of OSDE’s budget requests [KFOR]
- Superintendent Ryan Walters slams state budget, tax cut plan [Tulsa World]
- ‘Cut, cut, cut, cut’: Walters calls for widespread spending cuts to fund income tax axe [KGOU]
- Walters blasts lawmakers over small tax cut, warns he might become ‘most hated’ at capitol [Fox 25]
- “I think it is absurd’: Walters calls for no income tax this year [Fox 25]
- Who is Ryan Walters? Here’s the latest on initiatives from Oklahoma’s top education official [The Oklahoman]
- Gross Misconduct: A Comprehensive Compilation of Ryan Walters’ Misdeeds in Office [Oklahoma Appleseed]
‘More audits that show more waste’: State Auditor calls for support in finding misuse: Cutting out waste and making your state government more efficient are a priority for Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt. He even created a new state office- DOGE-OK. But that’s hardly the first or only agency tasked with making sure your tax dollars are being spent properly. “I’ve been kindly reminded to stay in my lane during this time,” said Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd in an exclusive interview. [Fox 25]
Political notebook: Strong income tax receipts keep state revenue on track: Strong income tax collections continued to buoy otherwise torpid state general revenue fund deposits in April, the Office of Management and Enterprise Services reported. [Tulsa World]
Legislative Roundup
- Controversial utility bill likely headed to court, regulator says: [KGOU]
- Oklahoma law blocks state from rejecting foster parents based on anti-LGBTQ+ views [The Oklahoman]
- Author of vetoed juvenile misconduct reporting bill disputes Stitt’s reasoning for rejection [Public Radio Tulsa]
- After Oklahoma governor vetoed mammogram bill, lawmakers could attempt to override him [The Oklahoman]
- New Oklahoma law changes how guns can be used to protect property: What ‘defensive display’ means [The Oklahoman]
- Concealed carry for municipal officials in Oklahoma heads to governor’s desk [KSWO]
- Oklahoma passes meat labeling law for different protein products [KOSU]
- From shoplifting to protests, 4 crime-related bills to watch in Oklahoma Legislature [The Oklahoman]
Opinion, Rep. John Waldron: Running against the wind (turbines) at the Legislature: This year has seen unprecedented attempts to ban new wind turbine construction east of Interstate 35. This is a bad idea: It hurts rural investment and jobs, raises rates for energy consumers, undermines property rights and takes away a tax revenue source for rural schools. [Rep. John Waldron / Tulsa World]
Editorial: Three vetoes by Gov. Kevin Stitt should be overridden by the OK Legislature: As the Oklahoma Legislature moves into the final days of its 2025 session, bills that passed both the House and Senate are being sent to Gov. Kevin Stitt to be signed into law. [The Oklahoman Editorial Board]
Federal Government News
House Budget panel approves reconciliation package on second try: Four House Freedom Caucus members on the Budget Committee who held up the GOP’s massive reconciliation package last week reversed course late Sunday night, opening the path to a floor vote on the measure later this week. The holdouts who blocked the bill in Friday’s Budget panel markup — including Rep. Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma — were satisfied enough with the changes promised to them during weekend negotiations. They allowed the package to move forward by voting “present,” enabling the panel to report out the bill on a 17-16, party-line vote. [Roll Call]
- Oklahoma’s Brecheen, U.S. House right wing help tank budget package in committee [Oklahoma Voice]
- Brecheen joins Democrats in committee vote against reconciliation bill [Public Radio Tulsa]
Cole and Fellow Republicans Are Uneasy About Trump’s Slash-and-Burn at FEMA: Many Republicans in Congress are uncomfortable with the Trump administration’s proposed overhaul of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and some of them are going public with their concerns. [Oklahoma Watch]
D.C. Digest: Mullin on board with Trump plane deal: Oklahoma’s congressional delegation was mostly silent on President Donald Trump’s decision to accept a $400 million Boeing 747 from a foreign nation, but U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin was quick to sharply defend it. [Tulsa World]
Tribal Nations News
These Tribes Want a Key Piece of Oklahoma Land Returned: The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, a Native American nation in Oklahoma, is trying to negotiate with the Trump administration to see if it can help win back a piece of land that was taken over by the federal government more than 150 years ago. [Oklahoma Watch]
HUD awards Oklahoma tribal nations $163 million for affordable housing: Tribal nations in Oklahoma have collectively received $163,602,742 in Indian Housing Block Grant funding to support affordable housing efforts. [Tulsa World]
Opinion: Missing, murdered Indigenous people are a silent epidemic in Oklahoma: Oklahoma ranks second in the nation for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People MMIP cases, with 85 tribal members currently missing, according to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. [Karrisa Newkirk / The Oklahoman]
Education News
Emails shed light on financial conflicts before OSU President Kayse Shrum’s departure: The pressure that ultimately led to Dr. Kayse Shrum’s departure from the Oklahoma State University presidency had been building for months, communications obtained through an Oklahoma Open Records request show. [Tulsa World]
Opinion: Much content still the same in social studies standards: If state legislators were evaluated by the same social studies standards they refused to bring to a floor vote, their act of refusal would clearly demonstrate a failure to meet a proficiency level. The revised social studies emphasize understanding the democratic process, evaluating evidence, asking critical questions and taking informed action. These practices are not just academic goals — they are tools for civic preparedness. [Emily Harris / Tulsa World]
Health News
Blind Owasso resident fights Medicaid cuts, says she’s $12 too rich for SoonerCare: Melissa Smith, a blind woman from Owasso, is voicing her concerns over proposed federal cuts to Medicaid and Medicare programs, which she and many other disabled individuals rely on. Smith, who lost her vision two years ago due to complications from diabetes, has been dependent on Medicaid and SoonerCare, Oklahoma’s state insurance program. However, she recently received a notice from the Oklahoma Department of Human Services stating she no longer qualifies for SoonerCare. [KTUL]
Why OKC’s American Rescue Plan Act funds are still going toward new mental health facility: Oklahoma City is sticking by its plan to provide $1 million in COVID relief money toward a new state mental health center, despite uncertainty about the project’s future. [The Oklahoman]
Critical care: Retiring nurses join patient rosters, leaving staff shortages: America’s aging population presents a double blow to the nursing profession as fewer nurses are left to care for a larger number of older adults, many with chronic diseases and comorbidities. The U.S. Census Bureau projects the number of Americans aged 65 and older will reach 82 million by 2050, representing 23% of the population. [The Journal Record]
Criminal Justice News
Former jail trust chairman: ‘There are no leaders, let alone statesmen’ stepping up for jail: Not even Joe Allbaugh, a no-nonsense ramrod who commands attention “by merely walking into a room,” as The New York Times once put it, who once literally commanded the state prison system, who managed national emergencies, including 9/11, as head of FEMA, could do much to fix the Oklahoma County jail. [The Oklahoman]
Cleveland County Detention Center inmate dies after suffering medical emergency: Shortly after 2:30 a.m., the inmate appeared to go into medical distress and became unresponsive. Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office officials said life-saving measures were conducted by detention center staff and medical personnel. [KOCO]
Three years ago, OKC got 39 police reform recommendations. How many were put into action?: Nearly two years since Oklahoma City’s Public Safety Partnership was formed in response to calls for police reform, two-thirds of the proposals have either been put in place or are on track to be implemented by the end of 2025. [The Oklahoman]
Cash assistance may curb recidivism among people leaving prison, study says: A new independent evaluation of direct cash payments to people released from prison suggests that short-term aid may have positive long-term effects. The study comes as some states are considering whether direct financial support is an effective, or appropriate, tool for reducing recidivism especially in the weeks following release — a period often marked by high risk of recidivism and reincarceration. [Oklahoma Voice]
Editorial: A 911 call for 911 public records in the name of public safety: The Tulsa Police Department doesn’t own public records when it comes to the 911 call center. The public does. So it’s time to start turning them over. [Tulsa World Editorial Board]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
2,000 Tulsans potentially affected by housing voucher losses with possible federal cuts: With more federal housing cuts potentially on the way, the anticipated loss of hundreds of rental assistance vouchers has Tulsa Housing Authority officials sounding the alarm. [Tulsa World]
OKC mom says rental home overrun by mold and sewage, child diagnosed with mold poisoning, landlord not helping: An Oklahoma City mother says her rental home is so overrun with mold and raw sewage, her son has been diagnosed with mold poisoning—and now, she says her landlord is offering her a new place to live, but at a much higher cost. [KFOR]
Economy & Business News
Opinion: Social workers vital for the future of Oklahoma families: Oklahoma is facing a critical shortage of social work professionals, who are vital to the well-being of our community, providing essential services to vulnerable populations. [Austin McCoy / Tulsa World]
Opinion: Downtown Tulsa’s neighborhood needs an evolving public safety model: To boos development of downtown Tulsa, our work must be focused on one central goal: attracting more residents, employers and visitors to downtown Tulsa. Achieving this goal requires targeted investments and strategies to address the No. 1 concern among stakeholders — one that is directly impacting market trends: the safety and security of our neighborhood and its residents, workers and visitors. [Brian Kurtz / Tulsa World]
Community News
As Trump targets DEI, some Oklahoma nonprofits say donors are backing out: Some organizations in Oklahoma are facing a new wave of funding challenges as corporate donors pull back their charitable giving to nonprofits aimed at diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. The Trump administration has applied increasing pressure to defund DEI initiatives, even outside of the public sector. [The Oklahoman]
Opinion: 150 years after Kate Barnard’s birth, state still fighting same battles: Sometimes, when we’re looking for courageous leaders, we’re better off looking back in time. Oklahoma’s Kate Barnard is one of those people. Among her ceilings shattered: first woman elected to statewide office in Oklahoma and 11th voted into a state office in the U.S. But it was her willingness to lose power and social status in standing up for the vulnerable and against corruption that propels her into inspirational status. That is brave. That is courage. [Ginnie Graham / Tulsa World]
Local Headlines
- These 10 Oklahoma cities grew the fastest last year, according to the latest census data [The Oklahoman]
- Final Community Conversation event with Tulsa mayor rescheduled to Thursday [Tulsa World]
Quote of the Day
“(You need to make) $1,200 or less a month now for quality for Medicaid or SoonerCare. I am $12.27 too rich.”
– Melissa Smith, a blind woman from Owasso, is voicing her concerns over proposed federal cuts to Medicaid and Medicare program. She was recently notified by SoonerCare (Oklahoma’s Medicaid program) that a small change in her income made her ineligible for her health insurance. [KTUL]
Number of the Day
603,560
Of the more than 1 million Oklahomans who participate in SoonerCare (the state’s Medicaid program), 603,560 are children and families. An additional 164,000 qualify for coverage through their status as aged, blind, or disabled. [Oklahoma Department of Health]
Policy Note
Cutting Medicaid to pay for low taxes on the rich is a terrible trade for American families: Low taxes for the rich and for corporations is the highest legislative priority of the Trump administration and congressional Republicans. To get there, they are willing to cut federal programs that are utterly vital to the incomes and security of vulnerable families. These cuts will not just cause harm to individual families, they will cascade, leading to hospital closures in rural counties, higher medical debt, lower earnings from future workers who will suffer from poorer health decades from now, and could even put upward pressure on federal budget deficits in the long run. [Economic Policy Institute]
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