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
The cost of cutting SNAP goes beyond the dinner table: Grocery prices continue to rise, but fewer Oklahomans are receiving help buying food. Since July 2025, more than 130,000 Oklahomans have lost Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits — a decline of more than 19 percent. For families losing assistance, the immediate result is a tighter grocery budget and harder choices among food, rent, utilities, and medication. But the damage won’t stop at the checkout line. SNAP cuts also drain spending from local businesses, increase demand on food banks, and undermine the health and economic stability of communities across Oklahoma. [Kati Malicoate / OK Policy]
Oklahoma News
State Question 847 explained: Lower caps on property tax increases, slower growth for local funding (video): State Question 847 on Oklahoma’s November ballot would lower the existing limits on how much property taxes can go up each year—but opponents say it would leave local governments and schools with less money to keep up with rising costs. [KFOR]
- From OK Policy: SQ 847 Fact Sheet
State Question 845 would remove political party limits on Oklahoma’s judicial nominating commission (video): State Question 845 on Oklahoma’s November ballot would eliminate the rules limiting how many members of the state’s judicial nominating commission can come from the same political party—a change supporters call fairer to the majority party and opponents say undercuts the reason the commission exists. [KFOR]
- From OK Policy: SQ 845 Fact Sheet
State Government News
Committee directs millions to drought relief for Oklahoma agricultural producers: Oklahoma officials on Tuesday voted to potentially allocate up to $12 million to agricultural producers looking to complete drought relief projects on their properties. [Oklahoma Voice]
Oklahoma deer season brings new rules for out-of-state hunters: Oklahoma’s deer season starts next week, and hunting license rules have changed a bit for hunters from outside of the state. Non-resident hunters will need to purchase their licenses at least two days before they go deer hunting in Oklahoma. [KOSU]
Federal Government News
Medical groups, patients sue Trump administration over Medicaid work requirements: Medicaid enrollees from five states and leading medical organizations filed a lawsuit Friday challenging new Medicaid work requirements. [Oklahoma Voice]
- From OK Policy: “Work requirements” won’t work for Oklahoma
Is the current foreign-born population in the U.S. among the highest in U.S. history at 15%, as Rep. Josh Breechen claimed?: Yes. Preliminary July 2026 data from the Current Population Survey estimates the foreign-born population – including naturalized citizens, lawful permanent residents, long-term temporary visitors, and illegal immigrants – to be about 50.5 million, or about 14.7% of the total population. [Oklahoma Watch]
Tribal Nations News
Seminole Nation’s first female chief reflects on difficulties one year into office: Seminole Nation of Oklahoma’s principal chief is sounding the alarm over the tribe’s finances. [KOSU]
Education News
“Delay Usually Favors the Defense”: What’s Really Taking So Long in the Epic Charter Case: In a courtroom in April, defense attorneys and prosecutors gathered to choose a date for the next major step in the embezzlement case against Epic Charter Schools’ co-founders, David Chaney and Ben Harris. After checking their calendars, the attorneys agreed on June 24 for an arraignment, when the two men would enter a plea and the 4-year-old criminal case could move toward trial, court records show. [Oklahoma Watch]
Where do Oklahoma universities rank among the nation’s best colleges?: An annual ranking of best U.S. colleges again rated the University of Oklahoma the highest in the state. Despite falling six spots, OU led all Oklahoma-based higher education institutions in U.S. News & World Report’s 2027 Best Colleges rankings, which released Tuesday. [Oklahoma Voice]
Opinion: A three-year college degree makes sense — if done carefully: Over the years, though, I’ve seen education from a lot of different angles. One thing I’ve learned is this: Education looks different depending on where you stand. [Former State Rep. Mark McBride / The Oklahoman]
Health News
Oklahoma oil executive Harold Hamm commits $150 million to advance health education, research: The University of Oklahoma announced a $150 million donation from billionaire oil executive Harold Hamm Tuesday. [KGOU]
How do you approach people unaware of their mental illness? Tulsa first responders are learning: Sponsored by the Maxine & Jack Zarrow Family Foundation, the training at OU-Tulsa is the first significant effort to educate first responders and social workers together on anosognosia and mental health. [Tulsa Flyer]
- From OK Policy: Community-led crisis response is working, but Oklahoma needs a statewide solution (Commentary)
Justice System News
Grady County Sheriff’s Office facing several lawsuits for keeping residents’ seized, stolen items: The Grady County Sheriff’s Office is being accused of keeping seized or stolen property. Several people have sued the sheriff, hoping to get their stuff back. [KGOU]
- Rural Oklahoma sheriff’s office facing several lawsuits for keeping residents’ seized, stolen items [KOSU]
Attorney describes TK Health as ‘entity of chaos, cruelty and corruption’: In a press conference Monday, Oklahoma families pushed to hold TK Health accountable for what happened to their loved ones. TK Health, formerly known as Turn Key Health, offers health care services to inmates across the state. The company is also in the middle of multiple lawsuits. [KFOR]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Housing stability cannot be addressed through homeownership alone: Last week, Oklahoma lawmakers gathered at the State Capitol to explore the shortage of affordable housing. The need is significant. According to Oklahoma Policy Institute, Oklahoma is short more than 84,000 rental homes for extremely low-income households. Only 38 affordable and available homes exist for every 100 extremely low-income renter households. [Mental Health Association of Oklahoma via Tulsa World]
Economy & Business News
Oklahoma’s unemployment rate inches above the national average for the first time since pandemic: Since recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States’ unemployment rate has consistently decreased. However, in Oklahoma, the unemployment rate has slowly and steadily increased for years. Economic experts say the state’s rate has now risen above the national average. [KOSU]
Local Headlines
- Broken Arrow water has taste, odor issues but is safe to drink, officials say [Tulsa World]
- Shifting lines: Outlining proposed school boundary changes under Tulsa Public Schools’ proposal [Tulsa World]
- Edmond weighs decade of street projects from $50K fixes to $100M plan [The Oklahoman]
- These 13 construction projects are closing streets across Oklahoma City [The Oklahoman]
Quote of the Day
“Creating barriers to healthcare coverage for the most vulnerable needlessly puts people’s lives at risk and inevitably drives up the cost of care for everyone. These are folks who should be focused on getting the help and care they desperately need, not overcoming even more obstacles.”
– Columbus City, Ohio Attorney Zach Klein, speaking about a lawsuit challenging the federal rule for medical exemptions from Medicaid work requirements. [Oklahoma Voice]
Number of the Day
18,000
The number of Arkansas adults who lost Medicaid coverage in the first seven months of the state’s work requirements during the first Trump administration — about 1 in 4 people subject to them. Arkansas was the first state to fully implement Medicaid work requirements, and many people lost coverage because of reporting and administrative hurdles. Research found no increase in employment. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities]
Policy Note
State Legislative Sessions Highlight Choice Between Protecting Coverage and Deepening Harm After Federal Medicaid Cuts: The $900 billion in Medicaid cuts in the harmful 2025 Republican reconciliation law (H.R. 1) will take away health coverage and raise costs for millions of families. Roughly 7.5 million people could lose Medicaid and become uninsured by 2034 due to the law, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Restrictive federal rules issued recently to implement the law could lead to even larger coverage losses. Although the cuts’ full impact will build over time — some do not take effect until 2027 or later — states’ 2026 legislative sessions provide a revealing first look at their differing responses to the federal cuts. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities]
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