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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: Voting matters: Who decides if you don’t?: Oklahoma voters say they want change — stronger public schools, safer communities, affordable health care, better roads, and an economy where hard work pays the bills. But change does not happen just because people are frustrated. It happens when people vote. Right now, too many Oklahomans are sitting on the sidelines. [Shiloh Kantz / The Journal Record]
Oklahoma News
Oklahoma Supreme Court to hear arguments on property tax SQ 843: Oklahoma Supreme Court justices are set to hear oral arguments regarding the constitutionality of State Question 843, an initiative petition to progressively eliminate property taxes on owner-occupied homes, at the court’s chamber in the Oklahoma State Capitol at 10 a.m. on Tuesday. [The Journal Record]
Why don’t Oklahomans vote? Advocates say there’s no single answer: Only 53% of eligible voters in Oklahoma turned out for the 2024 general election — the second-lowest percentage in the U.S. behind Hawaii. The low turnout during a presidential election was the latest example of a much larger trend as Oklahoma voters have consistently avoided the polls. Trying to get more people to weigh in on national and local elections has been an uphill battle. Tamya Cox-Touré, executive director of the ACLU of Oklahoma, told The Eagle she thinks it comes down to apathy. [The Oklahoma Eagle]
Editorial: Oklahoma (and America) need you to be voters: On July Fourth we will have the opportunity to celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary. It will be an opportune point at which to express pride in the good things we’ve accomplished as a country over the past two and a half centuries and to reaffirm our determination to continue making the USA an even better place to live. But we don’t need to wait. Some of us can start the improvement process even sooner by participating in the Oklahoma’s primary election on June 16. [The Oklahoman Editorial Board]
- From OK Policy: Policy Matters: Voting matters: Who decides if you don’t?
State Government News
Gentner Drummond sues Kevin Stitt-linked group over Oklahoma campaign ads: Oklahoma Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Gentner Drummond has filed a lawsuit in Osage County District Court against School Freedom Fund Oklahoma, Gov. Kevin Stitt and unnamed parties over statewide attack ads his campaign says were false and defamatory. [News 9]
Despite own ties, Stitt criticizes dark money groups, calls for release of mansion donor list: Following a series of News 4 investigations into dark money groups trying to influence Oklahoma elections, Gov. Kevin Stitt is calling for more transparency—and for the first time, says he supports releasing the donor list for the nonprofit funding his controversial plan for a new governor’s mansion. [KFOR]
Long Story Short: The Treasurer, the Whistleblower, and the Eviction Engine (podcast): A deeper dive into the state’s Invest in Oklahoma program, tracking a campaign contribution linked to State Treasurer Todd Russ’s re-election campaign. Plus, an exclusive look into a mysterious State Farm whistleblower with deep Oklahoma roots, and a breakdown of the proposed eviction reform bills from this year’s legislative session. [Oklahoma Watch]
Federal Government News
Trump struck a deal for China to buy $17B a year in US ag products. Farmers are skeptical: In a deal that could provide a major trade boost for American farmers, the White House said that during the recent summit, China committed to buying at least $17 billion in additional U.S. agricultural products annually for three years. But Beijing has not confirmed the figure and farm groups expressed skepticism that the deal would materialize. [Medill News Service via Oklahoma Voice]
Tribal Nations News
Outgoing Osage Nation leader reflects on ‘Killers of the Flower Moon,’ COVID and more: Geoffrey Standing Bear served 12 years in office as Osage Nation’s principal chief. During his tenure, he helped the tribe navigate the second-largest fee-to-trust acquisition in Bureau of Indian Affairs history, Killers of the Flower Moon production and cultural preservation. [KOSU]
Voting and Election News
Oklahoma Senate primaries test GOP’s conservative divide: The Make America Great Again-era fight over who’s most conservative and closely aligned with President Donald Trump is bearing its head in primary election races for Oklahoma’s open Senate seats. [The Oklahoman]
Election Roundup
- High school teacher James Taylor aims for Oklahoma’s top education office [Oklahoma Voice]
- Tulsa County DA: Race intensifies as Steve Kunzweiler seeks 4th term, Colleen McCarty calls for change [NonDoc]
- Race for lieutenant governor: Six candidates on GOP primary ballot [Tulsa World]
- With Myles Davidson out, race for OK County District 3 is up for grabs [The Oklahoman]
Education News
Oklahoma higher education leaders continue to explore potential of expedited college degrees: Supporters say reducing the time it takes Oklahoma college students to get their degree from about 120 credit hours to 90 could make college more affordable, but critics warn that it could ultimately lead to the state having a less prepared workforce and underdeveloped degrees. [Oklahoma Voice]
Oklahoma schools to implement new education laws targeting literacy, classroom days and device use: Oklahoma schools will see significant changes starting next school year, following the conclusion of the 2026 legislative session and the signing of several education-focused laws by Gov. Kevin Stitt. [KOCO]
New partnership supports Oklahoma students during mental health treatment: For many Oklahoma families, getting mental health treatment for a child means leaving the state and missing school. Oklahoma Children’s OU Health and Oklahoma City Public Schools (OKCPS) are working together to address that by recruiting and placing seven teachers who will staff the new Oklahoma Children’s OU Health Behavioral Health Center when it opens in late 2026. [KFOR]
Justice System News
Commissioners again keep sheriff from spending funds to fight Drummond: Oklahoma County commissioners declined again to approve outside attorneys for the sheriff − because they’d be hiring a law firm likely to sue them as he fights the attorney general over jail inmate transports. [The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma City residents raise privacy concerns over license plate reader cameras: Residents in Oklahoma City gathered Wednesday evening for a town hall to discuss privacy concerns surrounding automated license plate reader cameras made by Flock Safety, as critics and police debated their impact. [KOCO]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
After three years of increasing, Tulsa’s homeless population stabilizes: Results from January’s snapshot of Tulsa’s homeless shows a leveling off of the population after significant increases since the expiration of pandemic-era federal funds. The count of 1,443 people is six less than the previous year, where 1,449 were counted. [Tulsa Flyer]
Economy & Business News
Education among top concerns of state business leaders, State Chamber poll finds: Oklahoma business leaders remain confident in the state’s economic direction but remain concerned about workforce availability, infrastructure needs and education, according to a new poll. [Tulsa World]
Community News
Commemoration Fund Announces $1 Million Investment in Tulsa Organizations Focused on Equity: The Commemoration Fund announced Tuesday it will invest $1 million into Tulsa organizations working to reduce racial disparities and expand opportunities for marginalized communities. [The Black Wall Street Times]
Local Headlines
- Bixby city manager suspended after DUI arrest [Tulsa World]
- Oklahoma City named one of best places to live in nation for second year [The Oklahoman]
- OKC offers $3 million brownfield loan for redevelopment projects [The Journal Record]
Quote of the Day
“It’s more than just voting in your general election. It’s making sure that you are part of the decision-making process that impacts our daily lives.”
– Tamya Cox-Touré, executive director of the ACLU of Oklahoma, speaking about civic participation and voter turnout in Oklahoma. She explained that Oklahoma’s consistently low voter turnout is driven in part by voter apathy and barriers that make voting less accessible, but also emphasized that civic engagement should extend beyond the ballot box. [The Oklahoma Eagle]
Number of the Day
53%
The share of eligible Oklahoma voters who turned out for the 2024 general election, giving the state the second-lowest voter turnout rate in the nation behind only Hawaii. Despite presidential elections typically driving higher participation, Oklahoma has faced consistently low voter turnout for years. [UF Election Lab]
Policy Note
Increasing Voter Participation in America: America can build an election system based on pro-voter policies and practices that drive participation by all eligible voters. To do so, first, barriers to registering to vote and to voting must be eliminated, and reforms must be implemented in order to enable all eligible Americans to cast a ballot that will be securely counted. Implementing automatic voter registration (AVR) in all 50 states and the District of Columbia could result in more than 22 million newly registered voters in just the first year of implementation. In addition, eliminating ex-offender disenfranchisement laws would bring more than 6 million new voters into the electorate. At the same time, civic engagement tools must be designed to encourage voting, particularly for those who have become alienated from the democratic process and do not feel heard by their elected leaders or represented in government. [Center for American Progress]
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