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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
Oklahoma has seen how triggered tax cuts hurt state finances. Why is #okleg trying a third time?: Tax triggers enable policymakers to claim credit for cutting taxes while avoiding accountability for the consequences. Will Oklahoma have enough money to fix the important problems facing our communities, or will politicians risk our future by passing expensive tax cuts that most Oklahomans won’t even notice? [Aanahita Ervin / OK Policy]
Policy Matters: We know what works. Lawmakers are cutting taxes instead: Every session, Oklahoma lawmakers say the budget is too tight to spend money on services that help everyday residents. Yet somehow, they still find money for tax cuts that favor the wealthy and corporate giveaways. Over and over, they choose to hand state dollars to people and companies who don’t need it rather than investing in people who do. That’s because they aren’t prioritizing everyday Oklahomans. [Shiloh Kantz / The Journal Record]
Oklahoma News
Supreme Court deadlocks 4-4 on nation’s first religious charter school: Oklahoma will not be able to launch the nation’s first religious public charter school after the Supreme Court on Thursday deadlocked 4-4 in a major case on the separation of church and state. The decision by the evenly divided court means that a ruling by the Oklahoma Supreme Court that said the proposal to launch St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School violates both the federal Constitution and state law remains in place. [NBC News]
Bill putting restrictions on petition process heads to Oklahoma governor: The Oklahoma Senate on Wednesday sent Gov. Kevin Stitt a measure that would make it more difficult for residents to put things on the ballot. Critics said the measure is an unconstitutional legislative power grab, while supporters said it is necessary to ensure more input from rural counties and prevent fraud. [Oklahoma Voice]
- 5 things to know about Oklahoma legislation for new parameters around the initiative petition process [News 9]
- Is Oklahoma considering a bill that would alter the validity of collected signatures in its initiative petition process? [Oklahoma Watch]
- Concerned Oklahomans call bill ‘unconstitutional’; restricts signatures for ballot measures [KFOR]
- Bill to change initiative petition process sent to Gov. Stitt [Tulsa World]
- From OK Policy: SB 1027 would exclude millions of registered voters from signing initiative petitions
Oklahoma House Democrats Challenge Controversial Budget and Tax Cuts, Cite Risks to State’s Financial Health: In a recent confrontation on fiscal policy, members of the Oklahoma House Democratic caucus vociferously debated against two controversial bills – HB 2766, dealing with the state’s general appropriations, and HB 2764, aiming to slash personal income tax by a quarter percent. The Democrats assert that these measures fall short of serving Oklahomans’ needs and could spell trouble for the state’s financial stability. [Hoodline]
State Government News
A caveat on the budget, criticism for Ryan Walters: What Gov. Stitt has said this week: Gov. Kevin Stitt pledged not to veto the state’s nearly $12.6 billion budget if lawmakers approve a $255 million incentive for a newly announced aluminum production plant. The governor also accused two of his fellow Republican elected officials of trying to make waves in their endeavors for higher office. [The Oklahoman]
- From OK Policy: The governor’s agenda isn’t a plan — it’s a power grab
‘Top priority in the Senate’: Tort reform, workers’ compensation bills tied to budget deal: Behind the scenes of their budgeting process this spring, leaders of the Oklahoma Legislature empowered a pair of influential attorneys to negotiate a grand deal on policy topics that have pitted business groups against trial lawyers for decades. With a package of tort reforms and a workers’ compensation change announced as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 budget deal, some rank-and-file lawmakers have spent the past week realizing that one chamber’s leadership largely traded appropriation decisions for the litigatory legislation being heard over the final two weeks of session. [NonDoc]
Audit reveals mismanagement in Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services: The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services needs to make reforms after needing $28.7 million to make it through the fiscal year, according to a state audit released Tuesday. State Auditor Cindy Byrd released part one of the audit, highlighting issues within the department’s administration that span several administrations. [KOCO]
Opinion: Budget bills barrel forward as Oklahoma Legislature heads toward home: Discussion and debate on the annual general appropriations bill often serves as a summation of the legislation session. The same is true for whatever tax cut the people in charge have cooked up that year. Such was the case Tuesday in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, where the members’ 2-cents’ worth on this year’s general appropriations and tax policy bills added up to a victory lap for the Republican supermajority and frustration for the ultraminority Democrats. [Randy Krehbiel / Tulsa World]
Federal Government News
These are the key last-minute changes to Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’: House Republicans on Thursday morning passed a sweeping bill full of President Trump’s legislative priorities, marking a major win for Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) but kicking off what’s expected to be a bitter battle with the Senate over achieving key parts of the White House’s policy agenda. [The Hill]
- Giant tax and spending bill in U.S. House remains snagged by GOP disputes [Oklahoma Voice]
CBO analysis shows U.S. House GOP budget measure tilted toward upper-income taxpayers: As House Republicans continue to wrangle over the “one big beautiful bill,” a new analysis released late Tuesday projects the massive reconciliation package would decrease resources for low-income families over the next decade while increasing resources for top earners. [Oklahoma Voice]
Expanded SNAP Work Requirements Would Reduce Benefits for Millions of Families: As of May 13, 2025, Congress is currently considering legislation that would substantially increase the number of people who must work 80 hours per month to receive benefits from the nation’s largest food assistance program—the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The SNAP work requirements proposed in the House reconciliation bill would be a major change to the program. [Urban Institute]
U.S. House spending panel indicates it will boost Interior funding above Trump request: Just after President Donald Trump rallied U.S. House Republicans to pass a giant legislative package containing most of his domestic policy goals Tuesday, members of both parties on a U.S. House Appropriations subcommittee told Interior Secretary Doug Burgum they would likely provide his department more funding than Trump requested. [Oklahoma Voice]
Democrats on U.S. House spending panel grill Education Secretary McMahon over planned cuts: U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon took heat from U.S. House Democrats on Wednesday over the drastic cuts and proposed changes at her federal agency in the months since President Donald Trump took office. [Oklahoma Voice]
Tom Cole Fights Against EPA Budget Cuts for His District: The Trump administration’s proposed budget cuts billions in Environmental Protection Agency funds, but Rep. Tom Cole, the top appropriator in the House, doesn’t want environmental research in his district to become collateral damage. [Oklahoma Watch]
Democrats in Congress decry ‘outrageous’ DOJ charges against New Jersey colleague: Congressional Democrats on Tuesday blasted the assault charges the Trump administration is pursuing against New Jersey U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver following a clash with law enforcement earlier this month outside an immigration detention center in Newark. [Oklahoma Voice]
The DOJ plans to pause police reform plans with two US cities. What is a consent decree?: The Justice Department announced it will abandon negotiations for court-approved settlements with police departments in two U.S. cities despite previous findings that authorities regularly violated Black people’s civil rights. [USA Today]
Trump administration violated order in deportations to South Sudan, judge says: A federal judge in Boston Wednesday found the Trump administration violated his preliminary injunction barring third-country removals of migrants without due process, after immigration lawyers say their clients were placed on deportation flights to South Sudan. [Oklahoma Voice]
Voting and Election News
New Oklahoma Republican senator takes office in final days of legislative session: New Oklahoma Sen. Bryan Logan has joined the state Senate as the Legislature prepares for the stretch run of its current session. With Logan now seated, the Senate’s 40-person GOP caucus appears to be evenly divided between moderate and far-right political groups. Logan, a Republican from Paden, pledged to “stand firm on the biblical and constitutional principles” that had guided him throughout his life. [The Oklahoman]
- Newly elected Oklahoma senator takes oath of office [Oklahoma Voice]
Education News
Lawmakers vote to limit Ryan Walters’ ability to revoke teaching licenses as more suspensions loom: Lawmakers have voted to limit the Oklahoma State Board of Education’s ability to revoke teaching licenses, a move that could effectively impede state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters’ control over educators. If approved by the governor, House Bill 1277 would set specific reasons why Walters and the Board of Education could revoke or suspend a teaching license. Reasons listed in the bill include: a willful violation of federal or state law, the abuse or neglect of a child or moral turpitude. [The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma ed board members continue disagreement over meeting minutes from social studies passage: At last month’s meeting, board member Ryan Deatherage objected to certifying the minutes of the February board meeting, in which controversial social studies standards were passed. Deatherage had been the only “no” vote on the standards, but the meeting minutes said he made the motion to approve them. Other members also complained about the lack of context around the board’s discussions. [KGOU]
- OSBE delays vote on minutes tied to social studies standards vote for second time [KFOR]
Oklahoma to require schools to teach Trump’s 2020 election conspiracy theories: Oklahoma’s public school history teachers will soon be required to teach the disproved conspiracy theory that the Democratic Party stole the 2020 presidential election from President Donald Trump. The Republican-led state’s new high school history curriculum says students must learn how to dissect the results of the 2020 election, including learning about alleged mail-in voter fraud, “an unforeseen record number of voters” and “security risks of mail-in balloting.” [USA Today]
The grief and relief of rural school annexation in Oklahoma: Without a voluntary annexation, districts like Paoli stare down the possibility of a dying school, which means the state could intercede and may divide its students between neighboring districts. If the annexation were to happen, Whitebead, which has an enrollment of more than 300 students, would gain a high school and use of Paoli’s facilities. But Whitebead superintendent and principal, Jason Midkiff, said merging the schools together would come with challenges. [KGOU]
Education Watch: What’s in the Budget Deal for Education?: A budget agreement struck by legislative leaders last week will increase funding to public schools by $25 million — with a catch. The extra money, which will be distributed to districts through the funding formula, is tied to a one-day increase to the minimum length of a school year — from 180 days to 181 days. [Oklahoma Watch]
New state school board member expresses concerns with emergency certification numbers: A career teacher newly appointed to the Oklahoma State Board of Education raised concerns Wednesday about the state’s ever-growing reliance on underqualified teachers. [Tulsa World]
Lawmakers push to anonymize people receiving Oklahoma’s private school tax credit: In an effort to “protect family privacy,” Oklahoma lawmakers fast-tracked a bill to the governor on Wednesday that will no longer allow the public to view the names of Oklahomans who received a controversial private school tax credit. [Oklahoma Voice]
House resoundingly rebuffs Walters’ plan to collect Oklahoma student immigration info: With bipartisan support, House lawmakers on Wednesday sent a series of altered education rules to the governor that eliminate the requirements for public schools to collect proof of U.S. citizenship and for teachers to pass the U.S. Naturalization Test. [Oklahoma Voice]
Oklahoma board raises rigor to restore ‘truth and transparency’ to student testing: The Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability voted unanimously Wednesday to throw out performance expectations, known as cut scores, that the state set in 2024 and to restore the nationally aligned standard used from 2017 to 2023. Cut scores define what knowledge students should demonstrate on annual state tests to be considered proficient, or performing on grade level. [Oklahoma Voice]
Health News
FDA plans to limit COVID vaccine to only high-risk people: What Oklahomans should know: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration plans to stop recommending annual COVID-19 vaccines for anyone under the age of 65 without medical conditions that could make them more susceptible to serious illness. [The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma law makers comment on Governor Stitt’s veto of bill to protect rural healthcare: State Representative Preston Stinson and Senator Brent Howard commented on Governor Kevin Stitt’s veto of a bill designed to protect rural health care on Wednesday. House Bill 2048 would stop drug manufacturers and distributors from limiting the number of pharmacies 340B hospitals and healthcare providers can contract. This practice makes it extremely difficult for all qualified patients to be covered under this federal program. [Fox 23]
Criminal Justice News
Trump Administration cancels investigation of Oklahoma City Police Department: The Trump Administration announced Wednesday it will end Department of Justice investigations into six law enforcement agencies, including the Oklahoma City Police Department. The DOJ began its investigation of OKCPD, the City of Oklahoma City and the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health in 2022. Although the investigation focused on behavioral health disabilities, it came on the heels of nationwide protests of how law enforcement officers treat Black people. [KOSU]
- The new DOJ is retracting prior findings against OKC police. Why?[The Oklahoman]
Tulsa police union agrees to release of most officer disciplinary records: The legal wrangling between the city of Tulsa and its police union over the release of officers’ disciplinary records to a local online media outlet has all but come to an end. Attorney Sean McKenna, representing the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 93, told a Tulsa County judge Wednesday that he had reviewed the 66 pages of documents and that the FOP had no objection to releasing most of them. [Tulsa World]
Mass Oklahoma City street racing arrests leave teens sitting in troubled county jail: More than 30 teenagers found themselves at Oklahoma County’s troubled jail over the weekend, waiting to be booked after being accused of “unlawful assembly” and witnessing an “illegal speed contest.” Three days later, some of them were still sitting in the jail and missing school, according to Brigitte Biffle, the county’s chief public defender. [The Oklahoman]
Another suspect in catalytic converter theft ring bust pleads guilty: A Texas woman who was alleged to have received $6.1 million from the sale of catalytic converters, many of them stolen, pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge Wednesday in Tulsa federal court. [Tulsa World]
Economy & Business News
Oklahoma sees $11 million broadband grant cancellation, though officials remain confident: Oklahoma officials lost a broadband grant, but they said there won’t be a negative impact on projects underway. The national Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program has been canceled, and as a result, Oklahoma officials said they were told a $11.2 million grant was lost. [KOSU]
Local Headlines
- Oklahoma City Council eases restrictions on accessory dwelling units [KOSU]
Quote of the Day
“(SB 1027) threatens something fundamental to our freedom as Oklahomans to decide on what kind of state we want to live in. They’re not rewriting this process to improve it, they’re rewriting the rules so they can get what they want instead of what the people want. The current process works and it has delivered results that voters of both parties want.”
– Sen. Carri Hicks of Oklahoma City, speaking out against SB 1027, which would disenfranchise millions of Oklahomans from signing citizen-led initiative petitions to change state laws. [News 9]
Number of the Day
60.4%
Overall, 60.4% of people under age 65, or about 164.7 million people, had employment-sponsored health insurance in 2023. Employer-sponsored health insurance is the largest source of health coverage for non-elderly U.S. residents. Unlike many other nations, the U.S. relies on voluntary, private health insurance as the primary source of coverage for residents who are not elderly, poor or disabled. Employer-sponsored health insurance often results in uneven coverage, especially for those with low wages or those working at smaller firms. [KFF]
Policy Note
Top 10 Reasons Why Work Requirements Should Not Be Added to Medicaid: Work requirements in Medicaid risk creating unnecessary administrative burdens and increasing costs for states without achieving their intended goals. Evidence shows that these requirements often result in coverage loss for hardworking Americans, such as care givers, rural residents, people with disabilities, and older adults, who face barriers to meeting monthly documentation mandates. Programs like Medicaid already support individuals in maintaining employment by providing access to critical healthcare. [National Health Law Program]
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