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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.
Oklahoma News
Office of Religious Liberty and Patriotism opens at Oklahoma Education Department: A new office within the Oklahoma State Department of Education will promote expressions of religion and patriotism in public schools. The office will investigate alleged abuses against religious freedom and patriotic displays, according to a news release from the Education Department. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Walters announces new office to ensure ‘right to pray’ in Oklahoma schools [KGOU]
- Oklahoma State Department of Education announces religious liberty office [Tulsa World]
- Ryan Walters says he’ll open religious freedom office in Oklahoma education department [The Oklahoman]
State Government News
Oklahoma Supreme Court hears arguments in case to disqualify a member of the Corporation Commission: The Oklahoma Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in a case filed against Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett seeking to bar him from voting on cases before the commission. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Oklahoma Supreme Court hears from attorneys in Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett case [Tulsa World]
Key Oklahoma Senate leaders named: Oklahoma Senate Pro Tem Designee Lonnie Paxton on Tuesday named three senators to key leadership posts. Paxton, R-Tuttle, tapped Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, to serve as Senate Majority Floor Leader. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Lonnie Paxton to be next Oklahoma State Senate leader [NonDoc]
- Oklahoma lawmakers identify Senate, House leaders [Tulsa World]
- Oklahoma Senate Republicans, Democrats name new leaders ahead of 2025 session [The Oklahoman]
- Sen. Lonnie Paxton chosen as Senate President Pro Tempore Designee by GOP caucus [Fox 25]
Federal Government News
Police, sheriff talk about what Trump’s mass deportation plan could mean for Tulsa: In Tulsa, a blue-ish blip in a red-hot conservative state, the idea of using local law enforcement to round up illegal immigrants is being met with an unequivocal “No!” by Mayor-elect Monroe Nichols and opposition from the Tulsa County sheriff. [Tulsa World]
The federal government is about to change hands. What is Trump’s marijuana policy?: Based on his previous statements, the incoming president appears to support the same kind of regulation found in Oklahoma where licensed cardholders can purchase marijuana, and any product sold to medical customers is tested for safety. [The Oklahoman]
How COLA, election affect Social Security benefits: Oklahoma retirees can expect a smaller cost-of-living adjustment for 2025 than last year. Social Security experts joined AARP Oklahoma for a town hall Tuesday to discuss the latest benefits, answer questions and learn how to spot the latest scams. [The Journal Record]
EPA to charge first-ever ‘methane fee’ for emissions waste: Oil and natural gas companies for the first time will have to pay a federal fee if they emit dangerous methane above certain levels under a final rule announced Tuesday by the Biden administration. [AP via The Journal Record]
Voting and Election News
One group thinks open primary elections in Oklahoma could boost voter turnout: A group is seeking to boost voter participation in Oklahoma by opening primary elections to all voters, regardless of political party. State-level races are often decided in Republican primaries in Oklahoma, because there are no Independent or Democratic candidates on the ballot, leaving many voters locked out. [The Frontier]
Despite Registration Gains, Oklahoma Voter Turnout Dips: A record number of Oklahoma voters cast ballots last week, but presidential election turnout was the lowest it’s been since 2012. Let’s break it all down. [Oklahoma Watch]
Education News
Better Outcomes for Oklahoma’s Kids: Grassroots initiative to develop education policy agenda launched in Tulsa: A new grassroots effort has been launched to gather input and then develop a policy agenda to rival the 1990 landmark education reform package known as House Bill 1017 to improve academic outcomes for Oklahoma public school students in the decade to come. [Tulsa World]
Long Story Short: Education Department Abruptly Cancels Search for Bible Vendor (audio): Keaton Ross breaks down the 2024 election results. Paul Monies continues to cover the fallout for utility customers from the massive winter storm that hit Oklahoma in February 2021. Jennifer Palmer with an update on the Education Department’s effort to buy 55,000 King James, leather-bound Bibles for Oklahoma classrooms. [Oklahoma Watch]
4-day calendar being considered at Broken Arrow Public Schools to retain teachers: Broken Arrow’s Board of Education got its first round of feedback from three of the six subcommittees tasked with looking into the feasibility of moving Broken Arrow Public Schools to a four-day calendar starting in 2025-26 in an effort to recruit and retain teachers. [Tulsa World]
Google, Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance and RECF host Girls Robotics Workshop: Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance, Google and the Robotics Education and Competition Foundation hosted a full-day Girls Robotics Workshop on Saturday, bringing hands-on STEM experiences to Tulsa-area girls in grades 6 through 10. [The Journal Record]
Opinion: In Oklahoma, don’t count out regional universities to pursue STEM career options: As an entrepreneur and scientist, it is becoming evident that for Oklahoma to thrive, collaboration between industries and educational institutions is essential. [Thomas Kupiec / The Oklahoman]
Health News
Report: Oklahoma maternal mortality rate remains significantly above national average: Oklahoma’s maternal mortality rate increased slightly, according to an annual state report. The uptick was consistent with elevated rates nationally that are linked, in part, to COVID-related deaths. [KGOU]
Oklahoma slashes developmental disabilities waitlist from 13 years to two: The Oklahoma Department of Human Services announced the reduction of the Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS) waitlist. The waitlist is now estimated to be two years. [Fox 25]
Criminal Justice News
Memorial held for C.L. Daniel, whose grave was first found in Tulsa Race Massacre search: A memorial honoring C.L. Daniel and unidentified 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre victims took place Tuesday at Oaklawn Cemetery. C.L. Daniel was the first person identified in the search for mass graves of Tulsa Race Massacre victims. Daniel, a World War I veteran, was travelling across the U.S. to get to Georgia when he stopped in Tulsa. [Public Radio Tulsa]
- Oaklawn memorial service an ‘inflection point,’ Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum says [Tulsa World]
Oklahoma police chase deaths surged. One agency curbed pursuits; another erased policies: In June 2022, Oklahoma City Police announced additional and tighter policy restrictions on vehicle pursuits. Meanwhile, the Highway Patrol went the other direction, removing all policy language in March 2024 that governed troopers who engage in chases. [Tulsa World]
- More from the fatal high-speed pursuits in Oklahoma series from Tulsa World
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
End of Pandemic-Era Rental Assistance Could Cause Evictions Spike: More than $400 million of pandemic-era federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program finally ran dry for Oklahomans in September, signaling a new era of scarcity for tenants behind on rent and for landlords who extended grace periods. [Oklahoma Watch]
First Watch: Stuff You Should Know: Oklahoma utility customers might be in for another round of rate hikes due to the 2021 winter storm. [Oklahoma Watch]
Licensing barriers hamper child care access, study says: Topping the list of barriers to providing Oklahoma’s working families quality child care are red tape and burdensome paperwork, according to a new study that looked at what providers face when going through the licensing process. [The Journal Record]
- What issues are Oklahoma’s child care workers facing? Study looks at licensing, low wages [The Oklahoman]
Local Headlines
- Oklahoma City Community Foundation awards $412K in cultural heritage grants [The Journal Record]
- Health fair in downtown Oklahoma City offers vaccines, health services at no cost [KGOU]
- OKC Community College’s first female president talks goals, next 50 years [The Oklahoman]
- Outgoing Mayor GT Bynum talks about his hopes for the future of Tulsa [News on 6]
Quote of the Day
“When you’re in (an open) system, you are beholden to everybody in your district. Which means it’s your responsibility, as it always should be as an elected leader, to meet with, represent and lead everybody.”
– Former State Sen. AJ Griffin speaking about the benefit of an open-primary voting system. Oklahoma United, the group behind the push for open primaries in Oklahoma, hopes to get the measure on the ballot as a State Question in 2026. [The Frontier]
Number of the Day
2x
Middle-income taxpayers (those in the middle 20% of wage earners) pay nearly twice as much for sales and excise taxes (4.8% of their income) as they do for income taxes (2.4% of their income). Nationally, middle- and low-income taxpayers typically pay more taxes to their state and local governments based on what they buy (sales and excise taxes) than on what they earn (income taxes). [Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy]
Policy Note
- Note: Oklahoma lawmakers have previously introduced bills that would move Oklahoma to a flat tax system.
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