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.
New from OK Policy
Policy Matters: New federal budget bill would harm Oklahoma children, families: They’re calling it the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — a name so slick it sounds like a game show prize. But the name attempts to hide a grim reality: it’s a blueprint for hardship, designed to gut health care and food programs for millions of Americans while handing out tax breaks to the ultra-rich. Buried in the fine print, you’ll find a gut punch to everyday folks trying to earn a living, put food on the table, and keep their families healthy. [Shiloh Kantz / The Journal Record]
Oklahoma News
Governor signs income tax cut bill as Oklahoma lawmakers prepare to end session: Gov. Kevin on Wednesday signed a bill to cut the state’s top income tax rate. House Bill 2764 reduces the state’s top income tax bracket by .25% from 4.75% from 4.5% and contains a path toward eliminating it entirely. Most Oklahomans fall within the top bracket. The fiscal impact is expected to be about $350 million. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Gov. Kevin Stitt signs bill to reduce state income tax rate [Tulsa World]
- Oklahoma income tax cut signed by Gov. Stitt [News On 6]
- From OK Policy: The governor’s agenda isn’t a plan — it’s a power grab (Commentary)
Legislature signs off on creation of Oklahoma business courts: The Legislature on Wednesday advanced a measure to Gov. Kevin Stitt to create the state’s first business court system. Senate Bill 632 would create a business court in Tulsa and one in Oklahoma City. The specialized courts would only hear business-related disputes that involve at least $500,000. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Bill establishing business courts in Tulsa, OKC now on Stitt’s desk [Tulsa World]
- Business courts could soon be established in Oklahoma. Critics are worried. [The Oklahoman]
- Oklahoma business court bill sent to House for last vote [The Journal Record]
State Government News
Oklahoma lawmakers weigh veto overrides as session expected to end (video): Gov. Kevin Stitt defended his more than 40 vetoes from the 2025 regular session. “I am for limited government, lower taxes. More government regulations doesn’t fix these problems,” Stitt said. He acknowledged having conversations with lawmakers about his veto decisions, admitting, “There’s a couple that I’ve already talked to that they said ‘Hey, you missed this issue.’ I said, ‘You’re right. Y’all need to override that.’ There’s a couple that the legislature has come to me and said ‘Hey, we missed this.'” [KOCO]
Legislature acts to reinstate vetoed licensing boards for cosmetology, funerals: Late-session legislative legerdemain appears to have rescued two professional licensing bodies. With the usual procedural rules suspended, the House and Senate on Wednesday inserted a one-year reauthorization of the Board of Cosmetology and Barbering into an unrelated measure and passed it by a combined vote of 154-2. [Tulsa World]
- Oklahoma legislature revives state funeral board [KOSU]
- Oklahoma Governor and state lawmakers agree to keep State Cosmetology Board in place for one year [Fox 23]
Legislature slaps restrictions on who can oversee Oklahoma’s mental health settlement agreement: Amid ongoing turmoil, the Oklahoma Senate on Wednesday passed a bill that appears to require someone other than the state’s current mental health commissioner to oversee compliance with a landmark mental health settlement agreement. Under House Bill 2513, which heads to Gov. Kevin Stitt’s desk, the official tasked with overseeing the implementation of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services’ settlement agreement must be a medical doctor or hold a doctorate degree. [Oklahoma Voice]
While Oklahoma foster care payments stay stagnant, foster parents rely on community support: Lawmakers attempted to secure more financial support for Oklahoma foster parents this legislative session. While they weren’t successful, other resources are available. [StateImpact Oklahoma]
Federal Government News
5 ways the ‘big, beautiful bill’ could impact Americans: Congressional Republicans are moving quickly to pass a mammoth tax and spending cuts package that could have a direct impact on millions of Americans and drastic consequences for the economy. The 1,000-plus-page bill recently passed by the House would extend tax cuts set to expire as part of President Trump’s signature 2017 tax law, provisions aimed at nixing taxes on tips and overtime pay. It also includes a host of reforms to programs like Medicaid and food stamps that according to early estimates could reduce spending in those areas by hundreds of billions of dollars in the next decade. [KFOR]
- From OK Policy: Oklahoma Policy Institute condemns U.S. House passage of federal budget bill that harms vulnerable Oklahomans
A public conversation on SoonerCare was held on Wednesday following proposed budget cuts (video): A public conversation was held in midtown Tulsa on Wednesday about the possible cuts to SoonerCare, Oklahoma’s version of Medicaid. Last week, House Republicans made cuts to the budget which will include cuts to Medicaid. Speakers like Dr. Chris McNeil spoke to the public about these cuts and what effects they will have, if allowed to pass. [Fox 23]
Top Democrats in Congress decry White House ‘lack of transparency’ in spending plans: Two top Democratic lawmakers are calling on the Trump administration to detail exactly how it’s spending money that Congress approved earlier this year for government operations. House Appropriations Committee ranking member Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut and Senate Appropriations Committee ranking member Patty Murray of Washington released a two-page letter Wednesday demanding the White House budget office share that information this week. [Oklahoma Voice]
Opinion: House Republicans already on repeat with Medicaid cut talking points: You’d think that kicking 174,000 Oklahomans off their health insurance and jacking up premiums for those using the Affordable Care Act marketplace by at least 100% would at least bring down the national debt. Nope. The budget reconciliation bill passed by the U.S. House last week would add $3 trillion to $4 trillion to the debt, according to the Congressional Budget Office. [Ginnie Graham / Tulsa World]
Trade court blocks President Trump’s tariffs, ruling they exceed legal authority: A federal court ruled President Donald Trump can’t use an emergency-powers law to impose tariffs on foreign countries, dealing a blow to his trade agenda. The ruling notes that the U.S. Constitution gives Congress the authority to “regulate commerce with foreign nations.” [USA Today]
Homeland Security wants court to drop immigration policy lawsuit filed by Ryan Walters: The new Republican administration in charge of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is asking a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit concerning immigration policy filed in January by Oklahoma state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters and the state Department of Education, which he runs. Walters had demanded the federal agency pay the state $474 million to “recoup illegal immigration impacts on Oklahoma schools.” [The Oklahoman]
Trump administration contends U.S. courts can’t rule on Kilmar Abrego Garcia: The Trump administration is arguing that a Maryland federal court lacks the authority to require the return of wrongly deported Kilmar Abrego Garcia because he’s in prison in El Salvador — even though the U.S. Supreme Court has directed administration officials to “facilitate” his return. In addition, the judge in the highly publicized case has denied the Department of Justice’s request for another 30 days to extend its time to submit briefs. Abrego Garcia has remained in prison since March. [Oklahoma Voice]
Chinese students anxious and angry after Rubio vows to revoke visas: Chinese students studying in the U.S. are scrambling to figure out their futures after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Wednesday that some students would have their visas revoked. The U.S. will begin revoking the visas of some Chinese students, including those studying in “critical fields”, and “those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party,” according to the announcement. [Public Radio Tulsa]
Tribal Nations News
Oklahoma tribal nation sues U.S. government over federal Indian boarding schools: The Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, headquartered in Anadarko, and the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California filed a legal complaint last week to hold the United States accountable for the federal Indian boarding school system and its policies. It was made against the Department of the Interior, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and the Bureaus of Indian Affairs and Indian Education. [KOSU]
More than 4,100 Oklahomans have yet to claim Native American settlement awards: Descendants of Individual Indian Money account holders who should have received money in a class action lawsuit have until June 30 to submit probate information for compensation. More than $38 million is available for over 17,000 deceased account holders whose funds were not awarded after the 2009 settlement in the case Cobell v. Salazar. Around 4,100 deceased members’ accounts are in Oklahoma, according to William Dorris, a lead plaintiff attorney for the settlement. [KOSU]
City moves forward with transfer of parks to Muscogee Nation: After a ceremony last year, Tulsa officials are still working to give Council Oak and Stickball parks back to the Muscogee Nation. The two parks are on either side of 18th Street at its intersection with Cheyenne Avenue. Council Oak was where the Muscogee Nation reconvened after they were removed from their original homeland, and Stickball Park is where tribes played the sport the park is named for. [Public Radio Tulsa]
Education News
Judge set to rule on future of controversial Oklahoma social studies standards: After nearly three hours of oral arguments Wednesday, an Oklahoma County district judge said he isn’t ready to rule on a legal challenge to the state’s controversial social studies standards. A group of seven Oklahoma parents, grandparents and teachers represented by former Republican Attorney General Mike Hunter have sued and asked Dishman to nullify the controversial academic standards, which include language about discrepancies in the 2020 election, the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic and biblical lessons. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Lawsuit challenging Ryan Walters’ and OSDE’s social studies standards set to be heard in court [KOCO]
- Marathon court hearing in social studies standards lawsuit ends without immediate ruling [The Oklahoman]
Parents push back against Oklahoma’s new social studies standards with opt-out form: Some public school parents in Oklahoma say they don’t want their child learning the new social studies standards. A non-partisan, non-profit called “We’re Oklahoma Education,” or “WOKE” for short, created an opt-out form for this. It’s a fill-in-the-blank template, where you can put your initial next to the material you don’t want your child learning in school.
[Fox 25]
- Nonpartisan Oklahoma Group Offers Parents Social Studies Opt-Out Forms Amid Controversy Over State Curriculum [Hoodline]
Oklahoma schools will not be required to track immigrant students despite Walters’ proposal: A controversial administrative rule proposal that would have required schools to collect the immigration status of students and their parents has been halted after a joint resolution blocking the policy went into effect without Gov. Kevin Stitt’s signature. [The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma Watch Files Transparency Lawsuit Against Education Department: Oklahoma Watch and reporter Jennifer Palmer sued State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters and the state Department of Education, asking a district court judge to order the release of public records the department refused to produce.At issue is a resignation letter from Kourtney Heard, who served as the agency’s chief compliance officer for approximately 13 months, beginning in April 2024. [Oklahoma Watch]
Oklahoma teachers could earn up to $10K in annual stipends: A new law signed by Gov. Kevin Stitt will change how Oklahoma recognizes and rewards high-performing teachers. House Bill 1412, which takes effect on July 1, 2025, introduces a tiered certification system that offers annual stipends instead of permanent pay raises. [News On 6]
$25 million in state budget officially approved for teacher pay raise schedule: Members of the legislature signed off on part of the state’s budget Tuesday, dedicating $25 million to public education. It’s tied to House Bill 1087, which was authored by Rep. Dick Lowe (R-Amber) and co-authored on the Senate side by Sen. Adam Pugh (R-Edmond). The bill would give long-standing, or senior teachers, an incentive to stay in the classroom by raising the teacher pay raise ceiling. [KFOR]
Health News
RFK Jr. ends COVID vaccine recommendation for healthy children, pregnant people: U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. changed the federal government’s recommendation for the coronavirus vaccine on Tuesday, saying healthy children and healthy pregnant people no longer need to get it. Kennedy, a longtime vaccine skeptic who had to broker several deals with Republican senators to secure confirmation, didn’t explain why he was making the change in a brief video. [Oklahoma Voice]
RFK Jr.’s ‘Make America Healthy Again’ report stresses emphasis on children’s well-being: The Make America Healthy Again commission, created earlier this year by President Donald Trump, released its first report Thursday, calling on the administration and lawmakers to improve the well-being of the country’s children. The 73-page report was published just after Trump and several Cabinet secretaries held an event highlighting their concerns with four areas — nutrition, physical activity, environmental factors and “overmedicalization.” [Oklahoma Voice]
Criminal Justice News
State Supreme Court opens the door to surprise health inspections of Oklahoma County jail: The Oklahoma State Department of Health may perform unannounced inspections of the deadly Oklahoma County jail, the state Supreme Court ruled Wednesday, May 28. The court ruled: “The legislature requires jail inspections by the OSDH, the legislature has stated specific requirements for jail management and care for prisoners, and the OSDH is required to examine whether a jail meets those requirements. The OSDH is required to perform an inspection and a jail must admit an OSDH inspector to inspect the jail.” [The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma prosecutors can seek death penalty for child rape on first offense: People convicted of sex offenses against children can be sentenced to death or life without parole on their first offense under a new law signed by Gov. Kevin Stitt. Senate Bill 599, authored by Sen. Warren Hamilton, R-McCurtain, allows prosecutors to pursue the death penalty for the rape of a child under 14 for first-time offenders. Under existing law, the offender must have been previously convicted of the sex crime to be eligible for the death penalty. [Oklahoma Voice]
Bixby man, former coach gets 22 years in prison for child sexual abuse: A Bixby man who prosecutors say “used his position as a coach to groom and seek out minor children” has been sentenced to 22 years in federal prison for child sex abuse and other crimes. [Tulsa World]
Economy & Business News
Is carbon storage the next big industry in Oklahoma? Lawmakers are looking to regulate: Researchers and private companies in the U.S. are seeking ways to limit emissions from burning fossil fuels through carbon storage. The emerging industry traps carbon dioxide, sometimes before it enters the atmosphere, and injects it into deep geological formations underground. [StateImpact Oklahoma]
3D-printed rocket fuel factory to open in southwest Oklahoma, governor says: A 3D-printed rocket fuel factory is coming to Lawton, a facility that its founders say will be the first of its kind in the United States. Firehawk Aerospace, headquartered in Texas, plans to invest $22 million and create 100 jobs, Gov. Kevin Stitt announced Wednesday, May 28, during his weekly news conference. [The Oklahoman]
Community News
OK County, unlike OKC, wants ARPA money back from troubled state mental health agency: Oklahoma County commissioners want the $1.5 million in pandemic money back that they provided for a new state mental health center to replace Griffin Memorial Hospital, since plans to build a new facility from the ground up have been scrapped. [The Oklahoman]
‘We need the TIF’: Capitol Hill area sees proposal for redevelopment in SWOKC: The ranks of Oklahoma City’s tax increment finance districts may be expanding soon with the addition of one in the Capitol Hill area that could go before the city council in the coming months. TIF districts offer a slightly complex and sometimes controversial method of creating opportunities for the development and redevelopment of areas that need a makeover. [NonDoc]
Local Headlines
- Norman residents protest South Extension turnpike at heated OTA meeting [KGOU]
- Edmond’s $44M City Center Complex to open in July [The Journal Record]
- Tulsa school board approves principal contract renewals on second try [Tulsa World]
Quote of the Day
“Are we growing government or shrinking it?”
– Sen. David Bullard of Durant, asked during floor debate about creating a new system of business courts in Oklahoma. The proposal, which passed the Senate, would cost about $2 million a year, plus additional costs for physical offices. [The Oklahoman]
Number of the Day
$500 billion
If the federal reconciliation bill is enacted into law in its current form, and Congress takes no further action, the increase in the deficit would trigger mandatory cuts, also known as sequestration, under the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010. These cuts would total approximately $500 billion to Medicare from 2026–2034, according to CBO. [KFF]
Policy Note
Congress is Neglecting its Best Tools for Oversight and Efficiency: For over a century, Congress has relied on nonpartisan support entities to help it gather and process information and monitor the executive branch for waste, fraud, and abuse. Given the growth and prevalence of these sophisticated investigators and analysts, why have problems persisted? One explanation may be that Congress is simply not listening as much as they used to or could be. There has been a decades-long decline in witness testimony and implementation of recommendations from Congress’s key oversight entities: the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and Offices of Inspectors General (OIG). [Bipartisan Policy Center]
You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail.
