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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
“It Made Me Feel Like a Sucker”: Long-Running Lawsuits Accuse State Farm of Billion-Dollar Hail Scheme: In April, a Broken Arrow family took legal action, becoming one of upwards of 200 cases of policyholders waging years-long — and ongoing — battles against State Farm. Thousands of pages of filings in the their case and many others, in two waves of deceptively modest civil actions, revealed allegations of an insidious scheme worth billions of dollars, perpetrated by Oklahoma’s largest writer of homeowners insurance. [Oklahoma Watch]
State Government News
Former, Current Legislators File Initiative to Eliminate Property Taxes: One former and two current state lawmakers are leading an effort to gradually reduce residential property taxes to zero by the end of the decade. State Question 841, filed with the Oklahoma Secretary of State’s office on Nov. 21, looks to eliminate residential property taxes in Oklahoma by 2029. A 33.5% reduction would take effect in 2027, followed by a 67% decrease in 2028. [Oklahoma Watch]
State Medicaid leaders must decide who’s too ‘medically frail’ to work: New federal rules will require more than 18 million Medicaid enrollees nationwide to show they’re working, volunteering, or going to school for 80 hours a month starting in 2027 to keep their coverage. [Oklahoma Voice]
- From OK Policy: “Work requirements” won’t work for Oklahoma
Drummond pushes back on Stitt’s call for compromise in state’s lawsuit against poultry companies found polluting Oklahoma water: Attorney General Gentner Drummond is pushing back after Governor Kevin Stitt urged him to compromise with major poultry companies on fines the state seeks to impose after courts found the companies are polluting Oklahoma’s water with poultry waste, calling Stitt’s warning that the industry may leave the state a “misinformation campaign.” [KFOR]
Former Oklahoma state parks restaurant operator now facing lawsuit: The state of Oklahoma has filed a breach of contract lawsuit against the former operator of the Lookout Kitchen, which was a privately managed restaurant concept placed in half a dozen state parks. [The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma leads nation in innovative pay for success financing model: Oklahoma has quietly become a national leader in an innovative financing approach that pairs private investors with social programs while ensuring taxpayers only pay for proven results. [The Journal Record]
Capitol Insider: End of year economic outlook shows strength in Oklahoma economy: Dr. Robert Dauffenbach, professor emeritus at the Price College of Business at the University of Oklahoma, discusses significant findings from the latest jobs report. [KGOU]
2 years later, Oklahoma discloses public records requested under Ryan Walters: Nearly two years after The Oklahoman asked the Oklahoma State Department of Education for public records about controversial proposed changes to administrative rules for alternative schools, the agency has provided the records. [The Oklahoman]
Opinion, Rep. Gerrid Kendrix: There’s been a big change in the rules we all live by: Administrative rules — the detailed regulations written by agencies to enforce laws — determine which forms you fill out, what fees you pay and what penalties you face. Once approved, rules have the force of law. Until this year, most rules automatically took effect unless lawmakers specifically stopped them. [Rep. Gerrid Kendrix / The Oklahoman]
Opinion: Oklahoma lawmakers are getting a pay raise, and the state board that did it kept voters in the dark: A big thumb’s up to state Rep. Molly Jenkins, the first Republican lawmaker to have the courage to publicly proclaim that the bizarre shenanigans of Oklahoma’s Board on Legislative Compensation stink to high heaven. [Janelle Stecklein / Oklahoma Voice]
Opinion: Let’s remember the largely invisible ‘other Oklahoma’: Poverty across America isn’t as bad as it was 60 years ago. But there is still an “Other Oklahoma.” About 15% of our population, or about 594,000 people, live below the poverty line, and overall we’re the eighth-poorest state in the nation. [William C. Wertz / The Oklahoman]
- From OK Policy: Persistent poverty and growing income inequality remain significant factors for many Oklahomans and their families.
Federal Government News
Homeland Security wants state driver’s license data for sweeping citizenship program: The Trump administration wants access to state driver’s license data on millions of U.S. residents as it builds a powerful citizenship verification program amid its clampdown on voter fraud and illegal immigration. [Oklahoma Voice]
Farmworkers sue over Trump’s low wages for foreign guest workers: A California union and a group of farmworkers from around the country are suing to stop new, lower-wage federal guidelines that save money for farmers but cut pay for temporary foreign agriculture workers — hurting local laborers as a result, the suit alleges. [Oklahoma Voice]
Congress just banned many hemp products. How is Oklahoma affected?: When Congress reopened the government by passing a funding bill in November, it also redefined “hemp” in a way that could destroy the market for THC-infused drinks and gummies that have been sold under a federal loophole since 2018. [The Oklahoman]
Three Oklahoma congressmen ranked as ‘highly effective’ lawmakers: Three of Oklahoma’s congressional delegation members were ranked as “highly effective” lawmakers, according to a report. Senators James Lankford and Markwayne Mullin and U.S. Rep. Tom Cole were highlighted in the report as being some of the most effective. [Oklahoma Voice]
- D.C. Digest: Cole rated one of Congress’ most effective members [Tulsa World]
Voting and Election News
Focusing on rural issues, 5 Republicans campaign for HD 35 special election: Five Republican candidates are running to represent the rural hills west of Tulsa in a special primary election to succeed former Rep. Ty Burns (R-Morrison), who resigned earlier this year after pleading guilty to misdemeanor domestic assault. On Tuesday, Dec. 9, Republican voters will cast their ballots for Amber Roberts, Dillon Travis, Mike Waters, James Win or Kevin Wright, with the winner set to face Democrat Luke Kruse in a Feb. 10 general election. [NonDoc]
Democrats are sweeping key races. What does that mean in deep-red Oklahoma?: Oklahoma Democrats hope the party’s recent wins across the country and the apparent frustration with the GOP can signal success for them in the 2026 gubernatorial election. [The Oklahoman]
Oklahomans spending on 2026 congressional elections — just not in Oklahoma: Oklahoma may be a backwater for next year’s congressional elections, but the stream of campaign cash flowing from the state seems to be strong. [Tulsa World]
Filing period opens Monday for area school board seats: The filing period opens Monday for more than 20 area school board seats. The filing period runs through 5 p.m. Wednesday and candidates may file with their county election board. [Tulsa World]
- See the Oklahoma Election Board website for more information and the candidate filing packet
Oklahoma City’s mayor election is coming up: See deadlines, dates to know: A new year ahead brings new elections, and that goes for the mayor of Oklahoma City. Mayor David Holt’s term ends May 5, 2026, and the Oklahoma City Council authorized a resolution that called for a general election and a runoff election in 2026. [The Oklahoman]
Opinion: State Question 836 would reform twisted system: Beholden to their parties’ most strident members, politicians cannot make the compromises required to govern effectively. Oklahoma Question 836 would reform this twisted system by replacing party primaries with one primary where all candidates would compete. The two top vote-getters advance to the general election. Any voter regardless of party affiliation can vote for any candidate. Period. [Adam Kupetsky / Tulsa World]
Education News
Stallings recuses from EPIC case after defense attorney backs her judicial opponent: After learning that defense attorney Joe White has become the campaign committee chairman for a man seeking to unseat her in the 2026 election cycle, Oklahoma County District Court Judge Susan Stallings recused Tuesday from the lingering criminal case against Ben Harris and David Chaney, the owners of Epic Youth Services who are accused of carrying out what is alleged to be the largest embezzlement scheme in state history. [NonDoc]
- Political notebook: New judge in Epic Charter School case [Tulsa World]
Employment report tracks Oklahoma college graduates: A report, produced by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, shows 91.5% of in-state graduates of the state’s 25 public colleges and universities remain in Oklahoma and work in the state one year after they graduate, and 83.5% still work in the state five years after graduation. [The Oklahoman]
Colleges are expanding in Tulsa after change in state law: The higher education market in Oklahoma’s second-largest metropolitan area is expanding. [The Oklahoman]
OU reacts to essay controversy, puts teacher on administrative leave: University of Oklahoma leaders have placed the graduate student instructor, who failed a student for citing the Bible in an essay, on administrative leave. [The Oklahoman]
Third Oklahoma college receives multimillion gift from MacKenzie Scott: Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott’s string of gifts to Oklahoma higher-education institutions has continued with an $8 million gift to a tribal college. The College of the Muscogee Nation announced Scott’s gift on its Facebook page on Friday, Nov. 28. [The Oklahoman]
CareerTech didn’t exist in the Oklahoma Panhandle. That’s changing: Oklahoma Panhandle State University has used the resources it has to create a program dubbed “Panhandle Tech,” which provides access to technical education through concurrent enrollment for high school students in the Panhandle. The goal of Panhandle Tech is to create career pathways for students who might not ever attend college. [The Oklahoman]
Former National Teacher of the Year back at Union to grow the next generation of teachers: With Oklahoma public schools consistently operating short of at least 5,000 certified teachers, one leader at the Tulsa-based school district is spearheading a new grow-your-own effort, and nearly 40 high school seniors are already enrolled. [Tulsa World]
Google is backing a Tulsa initiative giving badges to STEM students. Here’s how they’re expanding: Google is investing millions in teaching AI skills across Oklahoma, and Tulsa students are reaping some of those rewards. [Tulsa Flyer]
Opinion: We need more school social workers to support students carrying heavy burdens: Many students are navigating challenges far beyond what any child should carry alone: trauma, housing instability, food insecurity, caregiver loss and overwhelming stress. [Austin McCoy / Tulsa World]
Health News
Families worry as cost of autism therapy comes under state scrutiny: State Medicaid agencies are struggling to pay for an intensive therapy for children with autism — and looming federal Medicaid cuts are likely to make the problem worse. [Oklahoma Voice]
Pilot program aims to help Oklahomans, cut Medicaid spending: As states scramble to adjust to drastic cuts to Medicaid, Oklahoma is testing out a pilot program designed to help people live on their own while saving the state money. [The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma program aims to fill long-term care shortages by certifying high schoolers: As Oklahoma employers struggle with shortages of certified nursing assistants – mirroring a national trend – hundreds of high school students that have completed an Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education program aimed at filling that gap. Through the program, students earn nursing certifications that can lead to employment opportunities or serve as a bridge to other health care professions after they graduate. [Oklahoma Voice]
TSET awards $9.9M to research foundation to study chronic health conditions: A $9.9 million Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust grant will boost Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation’s efforts to focus on chronic health conditions. [The Oklahoman]
Criminal Justice News
Opinion: I visited Tremane Wood. I saw a man who needed redemption: The belief that every human life is sacred and that people are capable of transformation is at the core of my objection to the death penalty. I am also deeply distrustful of a government system that has made so many mistakes. More than 200 innocent people have been sentenced to death in this country, only to be exonerated years later, some coming within days or hours of execution. [Demetrius Minor / The Oklahoman]
Opinion: Recent book on lethal injections criticizes Oklahoma: Corinna Barrett Lain, the author of “Secrets of the Killing State: The Untold Story of Lethal Injection,” recently spoke at OKC’s Full Circle Bookstore. Lain shared the findings from her seven years of research, as well as powerful stories she learned from inmates, attorneys, wardens, and prison guards — and Oklahoma, the birthplace of lethal injections in America, played a huge role in her narratives. [John Thompson / NonDoc]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Study says Tulsa families need $205K a year to live comfortably. Most aren’t making half that: A family of four in Tulsa needs more than $200,000 each year to live comfortably, according to a new study by the travel publication Upgraded Points. Yet the median family income is less than half that, sitting at about $90,000. [Tulsa Flyer]
Affordable housing in Oklahoma City: State approves funding for more units: The OHFA Board approved tax credits, grants, and loans supporting hundreds of new or rehabilitated homes across more than a dozen communities. [News 9]
Federal shift away from ‘housing first’ puts 150 people at risk in Oklahoma City: As many as 150 people could lose housing in Oklahoma City under new federal guidelines about how to use homelessness assistance funds, local officials say. [KOSU]
Opinion: It takes community to bring about change for unhoused youths: While a shelter bed provides safety for the night, long-term, sustainable change for unhoused youths happens when they have a community that offers guidance, support and consistency. [Rachel Bradley / The Oklahoman]
Opinion: Fighting homelessness requires more than providing a home: Patterns of mental illness make it difficult to maintain employment, stable housing and supportive relationships, causing some people to find themselves homeless. Once homeless, mental illness often increases or is at least not remediated. Though day shelters and other supportive services help to address this issue, research in conjunction with the “Housing First” model shows that the location of stable housing and mental health rehabilitation is the best long-term solution. [Patrick Clowe / The Oklahoman]
Economy & Business News
Officials blame stigma, lack of state funding for skilled labor shortage: Whether you’re a homeowner, trying to get a bathroom sink unclogged or a developer building a multimillion-dollar data center, the questions are often the same: “Why is it always so hard to find good tradespeople when you need them?” [The Journal Record]
- Career Tech asks for $68 million to help prepare youth for workforce [News 9]
ONEOK benefits from ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ and poised to help with AI data centers, officials say: ONEOK has benefited from President Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill and is poised to help provide energy for a multitude of new AI data centers, company leaders said. [Tulsa World]
Opinion: Shortage of rural vets endangering the nation’s food supply: America is facing a food system shortage. Across rural communities, livestock veterinarians are the new endangered species. Farmers and ranchers are losing access to the experts they need to keep their animals healthy and our food supply safe. [Justin Welsh / The Oklahoman]
Opinion: High beef prices are frustrating for ranchers: Most ranchers understand industry’s cycles. We know tight supplies and higher prices are part of a normal pattern. It is not a sign that the system is broken. Yet that has not stopped people from looking for ways to fix a problem that is not there. [Shelby Horn / Tulsa World]
- 5 things to know about increasing beef prices [Tulsa World]
Community News
Neighbors of new Tulsa data center offered ‘preblast inspections,’ but not everyone got the same offer: A Tulsa woman lives not far from a 500-acre data center site. She didn’t receive a notice for an inspection of her home before heavy construction began — but her neighbor four homes down the road did. Hers is one of about half a dozen homes on the north side of 82nd Street North that did not receive the notice because they’re just outside the blasting radius. Instead, she says, she heard about the notices in a neighborhood Facebook group. [Tulsa Flyer]
After completing fundraising mission, OKPOP gets rolling with plans to open in 2028: Tulsa’s downtown Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture, which will showcase the impact Oklahoma creatives have made on popular culture, is finally and officially on the way to the finish line now that a fundraising mission has been completed. [Tulsa World]
As tech gaps widen, these Oklahoma libraries step up for communities: Over the last decade, Oklahoma’s libraries have rapidly evolved from quiet, book-centered spaces into digital hubs, expanding online services, technology access, streaming resources and remote programming to meet the needs of 21st-century patrons across urban and rural communities. [The Oklahoman]
How old do kids have to be to stay home alone? What Oklahoma law says: As parents juggle the realities of daily work schedules and the challenges of keeping their kids occupied and safe, some might wonder at what age they can actually stay home alone. Oklahoma doesn’t have a law dictating the age, but the state’s Department of Human Services does have some guidelines. [The Oklahoman]
Volunteering at local nonprofits fills gaps, community needs: At a time when financial giving is out of the question for many due to rising costs and economic hardship, volunteering provides an alternative way for giving on Giving Tuesday. [The Oklahoman]
Local Headlines
- Edmond sales tax collections down in first third of fiscal year [The Journal Record]
- Council OKs new Edmond Plan for residential, commercial development [The Oklahoman]
- Developer Chet Hitt and Jim Cowan discuss developments in downtown Chickasha (video) [The Oklahoman]
- Holiday season is here, and Tulsa’s mayor is reflective, grateful and determined as ever [Tulsa World]
- Lower temps mean higher gas bills. This is how those charges are calculated. [Tulsa Flyer]
Quote of the Day
“While research, legislation and outreach initiatives are prime movers for progress (in addressing homelessness), true development in this area requires gratuitousness, solidarity, and a sense of shared responsibility. Just as our physical health is both given and cared for despite natural inequalities, so, too, the health of our cities ought to be cared for in view of those who live as the least among us.”
-Patrick Clowe, writing in an op-ed about how unhoused people can better connect with mental health support if they have stable housing. [The Oklahoman]
- From OK Policy: Homelessness in Oklahoma – Information and Resources
Number of the Day
6,000
Raising Oklahoma’s minimum wage would prevent more than 6,000 unnecessary emergency room visits per year,
saving the public about $5 million annually in medical costs, according to a new report. White Oklahoma residents would account for the largest number of avoided deaths, but Black residents and rural communities would experience larger proportional improvements in health outcomes. [Scioto Analysis]
Policy Note
New Report Finds Raising Minimum Wage to $15 Improves Health Outcome in Oklahoma: A new report conducted by Scioto Analysis and released by This Land Research and Communications collaborative reveals that raising Oklahoma’s minimum wage to $15 per hour would lead to improved health outcomes across the Sooner state by raising household incomes, reducing financial stress, supporting healthier behaviors, and increasing access to care. [This Land Research and Communications]
- Read the full report: Minimum Wages and Health Outcomes in Oklahoma
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