OKPOLICY.ORG
p>
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
Local voices matter—SQ 847 puts them at risk: Schools use property taxes for classrooms, buses, and other voter-approved needs. Communities use bonds for public safety, county government, and libraries. In McCurtain County, where I live, more than 60 percent of property taxes go to local public schools; libraries get almost 5 percent. It also helps fund the sheriff’s office and emergency medical services in the county. SQ 847 puts that local funding at risk. [Read the full commentary from Kent Hendon, a retired educator from Broken Bow] | [Read more voices of Oklahomans speaking out against SQ 847]
Swadley case shows anomalies of Oklahoma’s criminal justice system (Capitol Update): I’m a big fan of Attorney General Gentner Drummond, but I wish he hadn’t called for the resignation of the judge who recently sentenced Brent Swadley to probation. Drummond is unhappy because the judge suspended the jury’s recommended sentence. Swadley was found guilty of cheating Oklahoma taxpayers out of $1.2 million. [Steve Lewis / Capitol Update]
State Government News
Lawmakers move to close loophole in law on license plate readers like Flock: Oklahoma law already limits automatic license plate readers, including controversial Flock cameras, by limiting agencies’ use of data to enforcing the state’s car insurance requirements. But lawmakers worry that the statute has holes and that its current language can be interpreted far from its original intentions. [The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma State Department of Education requests $123 million budget increase for fiscal year 2028: The Oklahoma Department of Education is seeking a $123 million budget increase for fiscal year 2028 to address rising insurance costs, establish regional training centers and expand literacy coaching. [KOCO]
KanOkla completes $1.94M broadband projects in rural Oklahoma: The Oklahoma Broadband Office is celebrating the completion of two broadband expansion projects by KanOkla that bring high-speed fiber-optic internet to 213 locations in Cherokee and Medford. [The Journal Record]
Federal Government News
‘Constitutional absurdity’: Sotomayor, Gorsuch condemn double prosecution of immigrant in Oklahoma: On Tuesday, Oct. 13, U.S. Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Neil Gorsuch condemned the double prosecution of an immigrant in eastern Oklahoma. They said the case was a “constitutional absurdity” and questioned whether the court gave the Double Jeopardy Clause its full weight and meaning. [KOSU]
Tribal Nations News
Oklahoma lawmakers give district attorneys $500K for Tulsa, Muscogee Nation jurisdiction fight: The legislature’s Joint Committee on State-Tribal Relations voted 6-1 to allocate the funds to Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler’s case during a meeting last Thursday. That case questions whether the state can try non-Muscogee tribal citizens within the reservation for minor crimes. [KOSU]
United Keetoowah Band removes official looking to impeach the chief: The United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians tribal council removed a representative who sought to impeach the chief on Friday, ending the investigation in the process. [KOSU]
Voting and Election News
Open seats in Oklahoma Senate could reshape the Capitol in 2027: The Oklahoma Legislature’s upper chamber will see several fresh faces in 2027 after a busy election cycle. Many state senators were either defeated in their primary bids for reelection, opted not to run for another term or are terming out of office. [The Oklahoman]
Early voting to begin Wednesday in Oklahoma: Thousands of Oklahoma voters are expected to go to the polls early this week to cast ballots before the Nov. 3 general election. Oklahoma’s four-day in-person early voting window begins Wednesday and ends Saturday. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Find your closest early polling site and a copy of your sample ballot
Election Roundup
- Hitting the polls in Oklahoma on Nov. 3? Here’s everything you need to know about key races [KOSU]
- Oklahoma elections: Meet the candidates for governor [OU Daily]
- Democracy Watch: Previewing Oklahoma’s Lieutenant Governor Race [Oklahoma Watch]
- Democracy Watch: Previewing Oklahoma’s U.S. Senate Race [Oklahoma Watch]
- SD 32: As Deevers departs, 3 candidates offer visions for southwest Oklahoma [NonDoc]
- Oklahoma County treasurer race: 33 years of experience vs. new ideas [The Oklahoman]
- Hotel guest tax would be ‘critical part’ of getting downtown Tulsa hotel project done, mayor says [Tulsa World]
Editorial: Oklahoma’s midterm election nears. Here’s our advice: Less than than two weeks remain before the 2026 election takes place. The Oklahoman’s Editorial Board, which in recent years has made few election endorsements, made three recommendations to voters this year. [The Oklahoman Editorial Board]
Education News
Oklahoma retains declining share of its college graduates: Graduates of Oklahoma public colleges are remaining in the state’s workforce at a declining rate, a new report shows. [Oklahoma Voice]
Justice System News
Norman child advocacy center director embezzled $219K, indictment says: The former executive director of a child advocacy center in Norman has been accused of embezzling funds from the nonprofit for personal gain that included plastic surgery. [The Oklahoman]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
How an alleged $5.4M property scheme exposed Oklahoma’s land records: While the alleged attempt was thwarted before the deed was transferred, it highlights systemic vulnerabilities facing property owners and county clerks’ offices in Oklahoma and throughout the U.S., and raises questions of how bad actors so easily manipulate land-record systems and what can be done to modernize these records. [The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma City health fair removes hepatitis C testing barriers for people experiencing homelessness: People experiencing homelessness are at increased risk for infectious and non-infectious diseases, including the bloodborne illness hepatitis C, and underlying medical conditions and limited access to care can exacerbate their negative health outcomes. [KOSU]
Economy & Business News
This oil company is linked to 1,000 pollution incidents and other violations. Oklahoma never punished it.: Staff at an Oklahoma regulatory agency spent over a year building a case against Citation Oil & Gas, a company notorious for oil field pollution. Instead of disciplining the company, agency leaders chose to let it resume operations. [The Frontier]
Oklahoma farmers weigh diesel relief as harvest continues: As Oklahoma farmers continue harvesting crops and managing rising operating costs, a temporary change involving dyed diesel could offer some relief. But farmers say the impact will depend on how the policy works in practice and whether it meaningfully reduces their expenses. [KTUL]
Paycom fired worker with onion allergy legally, company says in filing: Paycom has denied violating federal disability law in response to a lawsuit alleging the company didn’t provide reasonable accommodations to an employee who has a severe onion allergy before illegally firing her. [The Oklahoman]
Community News
Oklahoma lineworkers bring electricity to two Guatemalan villages: For the families of Montenegro and El Estucal, two rural villages in Guatemala, the flip of a switch is something new. Eighteen lineworkers from electric cooperatives in Oklahoma, Iowa and Colorado recently returned from a three-week mission that brought electricity to both villages for the first time. [The Journal Record]
‘This Isn’t Just A Sport. It’s A Whole Way of Life’: Ivan McClellan On Documenting Black Cowboy Culture In New Book ‘Eight Seconds: Legacy In Motion’: Acclaimed photographer and director Ivan McClellan challenges long-held myths of the American West while preserving the stories, style and living traditions of Black cowboys and cowgirls. [The Black Wall Street Times]
Could Oklahoma’s pesky redcedars find use in soil health and orphan well plugging?: Lawmakers heard from experts about transforming eastern redcedar trees into a new material to benefit the state. [StateImpact Oklahoma via KGOU]
Local Headlines
- Mustang replaces 8,000 water meters in $5.9M project [The Journal Record]
- Piedmont council spent hours debating Beltline Energy data center concerns [Fox 25]
- Oklahoma City Council to consider rezoning for two proposed data centers after delays [Fox 25]
- OKC climbs to 3rd best big city for retirees in latest US News ranking [The Oklahoman]
- Tulsa City officials gather, discuss public safety at Community Conversation [Tulsa World]
Quote of the Day
“People should feel secured by their government, not stalked by it.”
— Oklahoma Sen. Mary Boren (Norman) said while leading an Oct. 21 Senate interim study on automatic license plate readers (ALPRs), including Flock cameras. Oklahoma law limits ALPR data to enforcing the state’s compulsory insurance law, but it ends with the clause “or as otherwise permitted by law.” Those six words have led to conflicting interpretations, court challenges, and concerns that the technology violates Oklahomans’ privacy rights. Lawmakers are working to tighten the language ahead of the legislative session. [The Oklahoman]
Number of the Day
$270,000
On August 18, 2026, the Oklahoma City Council voted to renew a $270,000 agreement with Flock Group for license plate reader software and hardware. The agreement is effective through June 2027 and will be reviewed and voted on annually by City Council. [OKC.gov]
Policy Note
Flock Camera Systems and Mass Surveillance in Fourth Amendment Perspective: We have seen enormous progress in information technology thanks to the twinned advances of miniaturization and digitization. We have surrounded ourselves with digital sensors that easily capture and store information, making it available for transfer and processing. The benefits are tremendous, but these advances also come with costs. Privacy costs are one. [American Enterprise Institute]
You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail.
