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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
Contentious budget negotiations opened door for governor’s business court plans (Capitol Update): During contentious budget negotiations between the House and Senate at the end of the 2024 session, Gov. Kevin Stitt seized the opportunity to make a deal with legislators not to veto the general appropriations bill — if lawmakers agreed to several measures, including passing a framework to start “business courts,” an idea he had touted in his State of the State address at the beginning of the session. [Steve Lewis / Capitol Update]
Oklahoma News
The 2025 legislative session is over. Who were the winners and losers?: The 2025 session of the Oklahoma Legislature ended in a dramatic fashion that featured last-minute negotiations, dozens of veto overrides and political squabbling. But the plot lines that emerged in the final 24 hours of the session starting on Thursday, May 29, were only part of the story. [The Oklahoman]
- How did Gov. Stitt’s priorities pan out this legislative session? [KOCO]
- Food trucks, minimum wage and liquor sales: 7 new Oklahoma laws in 2025 [The Oklahoman]
- SINE DIE: Oklahoma Legislature wraps up for 2025 [KJRH]
- Oklahoma passes REINS Act, legislative and executive oversight, and judicial nondeference bills [Ballotpedia News]
State Government News
Oklahoma’s female lawmakers condemn governor’s veto of mammogram legislation: A bipartisan group of 28 female lawmakers sent Gov. Kevin Stitt a letter expressing their “profound disappointment” that he vetoed a measure aimed at expanding access to mammograms. The women wrote Saturday that Stitt’s veto of House Bill 1389 was “disheartening to patients, doctors, families and the very values we all hold dear in our great state,” but said that female lawmakers were celebrating the Legislature’s overwhelming decision to override Stitt’s veto. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Female Oklahoma lawmakers praise veto override of breast cancer exam coverage bill, denounce Stitt [StateImpact Oklahoma]
- Women in Legislature chide Gov. Stitt after overriding his veto of breast cancer bill [Tulsa World]
Federal Government News
‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ faces opposing GOP forces in the Senate: The Senate will begin its work this week on the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which contains President Donald Trump’s tax cuts and spending priorities. The massive bill barely passed the Republican-controlled House a couple of weeks ago, and now the Republican-controlled Senate will grapple with the same difficult issues. [The National News Desk]
- The GOP megabill is moving to the Senate, where big changes could be in store [Public Radio Tulsa]
- From OK Policy: Oklahoma Policy Institute condemns U.S. House passage of federal budget bill that harms vulnerable Oklahomans
Trump ‘blatant’ refusal to comply in deportation case shows growing rift with judges: A federal judge in Maryland slammed the Trump administration Friday for its “blatant lack of effort to comply” with her order earlier this month to report steps taken to facilitate the return of a second wrongly deported man to a notorious mega-prison in El Salvador. [Oklahoma Voice]
Homeland Security’s list of ‘sanctuary cities’ pulled down after sheriffs object: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security over the weekend took down a public list of cities and jurisdictions that the Trump administration labeled as “sanctuary” cities, after a sharp rebuke from a group representing 3,000 sheriffs and local law enforcement. On Saturday, National Sheriffs’ Association President Sheriff Kieran Donahue slammed the list as an “unnecessary erosion of unity and collaboration with law enforcement.” [Oklahoma Voice]
DOJ files hate crime charge against suspect in Boulder attack: The man suspected of attacking a group of demonstrators with incendiary devices in Boulder on Sunday, leaving multiple people hospitalized with severe injuries, faces state and federal charges for attempted murder and a hate crime, law enforcement officials announced. [Oklahoma Voice]
- ‘Terror’ attack in downtown Boulder leaves multiple victims injured [Oklahoma Voice]
Opinion: Einstein would be deported under Trump’s immigration standards: President Donald Trump was ushered into office on promises to crack down on illegal immigration. The crackdown has extended to legal immigrants, particularly those with political views different from Trump’s administration. This is a new standard by which to approve immigration status. [Ginnie Graham / Tulsa World]
Opinion: For the Children – ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ puts Medicaid pressure on state governments, including Oklahoma: It is estimated that approximately $880 billion will be reduced over the next decade through the Medicaid provisions of the legislation, with much of that shifted to states if they want to continue providing services at current levels. The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates that 174,000 Oklahomans will lose SoonerCare benefits under this proposal, with uninsured rates increasing by roughly 95,000 or 2% of our population. [Joe Dorman / The Duncan Banner]
Tribal Nations News
Cheat Sheet: 3 seek open Cherokee Nation District 5 seat in Tulsa area: Three candidates are vying for the open Cherokee Nation District 5 seat on the Tribal Council, which covers the northern half of Tulsa, as well as Sperry and Owasso. Cherokee Nation District 5 is home to more than 9,300 Cherokee citizens. Either Ashley Grant, Frank Whitlock or Charles Wilkes will replace current Tribal Council Rep. E.O. “Junior” Smith, who is term-limited after serving two consecutive terms. [NonDoc]
Cheat sheet: Cherokee Nation District 4 open seat features 6-candidate field: On June 7, Cherokee Nation District 4 voters will cast their ballots for a new representative among six candidates: Janis Dearman, Uriah Grass, Stephen Maples, Mandy Scott, Joie Sneed and Elana Stroble Gallardo. District 4 covers the farthest southwest portion of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, encompassing the majority of Muskogee County plus portions of northeastern McIntosh County and western Sequoyah County. [NonDoc]
Opinion: Same Old Story: Trump Budget Delivers Symbolic Gestures Instead of Real Investment in Indian Health: The Trump administration released new details about its 2026 budget, which includes the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Budget in Brief. As with past budgets, this document was rolled out with the usual talking points: commitment to tribal sovereignty, honoring federal trust obligations, and improving health outcomes for Native people. But reading between the lines — and looking at the numbers — reveals a familiar story: symbolic gestures, flat funding, and broken promises. [Levi Rickert / Native News Online]
Education News
Oklahoma teachers will soon have to teach 2020 election conspiracies (audio): In Oklahoma, public school teachers will soon be required to teach about the widely debunked conspiracy theory that Democrats stole the 2020 election from President Trump. [WBUR]
Health News
Oklahoma Enacts Legislation Significantly Modernizing PA Practice: In a reminder to PA advocates in every state, the Oklahoma Academy of Physician Associates (OAPA) proved a familiar saying this week: It’s not over ‘til it’s over. HB 2584, Oklahoma legislation that includes provisions to remove the requirement for a PA-physician practice agreement for PAs with more than 6,240 hours, was vetoed by Oklahoma Governor Stitt earlier this year. However, on May 29, the Oklahoma Legislature overrode the governor’s veto with bipartisan support – passing 68-16 in the House and 33-13 in the Senate. [AAPA]
How does Oklahoma’s new law for nurse practitioners compare to other states?: With the passage of House Bill 2298, Oklahoma joins a growing list of states granting nurse practitioners full practice authority, meaning they can prescribe medications and manage patient care without physician oversight. To understand how Oklahoma’s law fits into the national landscape, it’s helpful to look at where other states stand. [News 9]
- What are the qualifications required for nurse practitioners to obtain independent prescriptive authority in Oklahoma? [News 9]
New moms see slight improvement to mental health care, but Medicaid cuts could reverse that: States across the country improved policies and support for maternal mental health — but only slightly. The country’s overall grade increased from a D+ to a C- this year, according to a new report. Oklahoma saw a decline, dropping from a D+ to a D. [Side Effects Public Media via KOSU]
Criminal Justice News
Oklahoma GOP lawmaker sues state Department of Corrections in prison records dispute: A lawmaker with a history of disagreements with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections has sued the agency, its leaders and House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, alleging “ongoing violations” of the Oklahoma Open Records Act. [The Oklahoman]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Trump administration orders shutdown of Job Corps Centers, including 3 in Oklahoma: Job Corps is a federally funded residential educational and career training program for eligible low-income young adults, ages 16 to 24. They come to Job Corps for academic education, to learn skills, get real-life experiences and job opportunities in construction, welding, security, culinary arts and other fields. [OPMX]
OK County cites slow progress, stuns OKC youth homeless shelter by taking back ARPA money: A nonprofit Oklahoma City youth homeless shelter with multimillion-dollar plans to expand was dealt a setback from which it might not recover when Oklahoma County commissioners, without giving it notice, voted to take back nearly $375,000 in pandemic relief funds. [The Oklahoman]
Economy & Business News
Egg prices trend lower as avian flu wanes in Oklahoma, nationwide: The threat of avian flu has declined in Oklahoma and nationwide, but egg prices remain elevated after spiking to historic levels triggered by the most recent outbreak of the illness in 2022. No new outbreaks of avian flu have been reported in Oklahoma since February, and commercial operations that were affected in the state at that time have resumed more normal day-to-day routines, Oklahoma State Veterinarian Rod Hall said. [Tulsa World]
Seller demands that Oklahoma County buy $6 million property in rescinded jail land swap deal: Allen Contracting Inc. is apparently ready to go to court to try to force Oklahoma County to buy the land it agreed to buy under a $6 million purchase contract that commissioners approved, then later rescinded. [The Oklahoman]
Community News
Oklahoma’s Summer Feeding Program offers free meals to kids statewide until August 8: The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma is offering free meals and snacks to children across the state throughout the summer months as part of its Summer Feeding Program. The initiative, which runs from June 2 to August 8, aims to ensure that children aged 18 and under continue to receive nutritious meals even when school is out. [Fox 25]
Local Headlines
- Norman Regional lays off 10% of staff; entire clinics cut [KOCO]
- Oasis Fresh Market launches free breakfast, lunch for Tulsa kids [The Black Wall Street Times]
- Downtown church sells to local developer, moves services temporarily to Circle Cinema [Tulsa World]
- OKC voters may see a $2.5 billion bond issue on the ballot this year: What to know [The Oklahoman]
- Oklahoma City Board names new middle school Skyline, opening August 2026 [Fox 25]
Quote of the Day
“We did hand the governor an awful lot of power and we missed some opportunities to hold him accountable.”
– Representative John Waldron weighs in on the clash between the Legislature and Governor Stitt during the 2025 legislative session, marked by a flurry of vetos from the governor. [KJRH]
Number of the Day
44th
Oklahoma’s rank in the 2025 State LGBTQ+ Business Climate Index that ranks the most and least welcoming states for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer Americans. The state was ranked 47th the previous year. [Oklahoma Report, Outleadership]
Policy Note
2025 State LGBTQ+ Business Climate Index: Outleadership’s 7th annual State LGBTQ+ Business Climate Index shows which U.S. States are safe and which are unwelcoming for millions of LGBTQ+ Americans. It also shows a country growing more polarized on LGBTQ+ rights–and this divide is influencing where people choose to live, work, and do business. For the third year in a row, the national average score declined, driven by the introduction of more than 550 anti-LGBTQ+ bills and a wave of newly-elected conservative officials pushing restrictive agendas. [Outleadership]
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