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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.
State Government News
Oklahoma turnpike tolls to see average 15% increase Jan. 1: Oklahoma turnpike users will see an average 15% increase in tolls effective Jan. 1. At the time of the announcement for a 15-year improvement project, turnpike officials had predicted a 10% toll increase, with 5% hikes every other year after that. After the Jan. 1 hike, tolls could rise an additional 6% every two years to compensate for a 3% yearly inflation rate. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Oklahoma Turnpike Authority approves increase in tolls starting Jan. 1 [Tulsa World]
- Most Oklahoma drivers will face toll increases up to 20% on turnpikes in 2025 [The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma State Rep. files bill to eliminate personal, corporate state income tax: State Representative Jay Steagall (R-Yukon) filed a bill on Tuesday that proposes gradually phasing out the personal and corporate state income taxes over the next decade. [KFOR]
- From Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: Growing Trend to Phase in or Trigger State Tax Cuts Is Irresponsible, Skirts Accountability
Oklahoma House launches government efficiency portal: The Oklahoma House will take into account complaints of “government waste” by Oklahomans as they work to craft the fiscal year 2026 budget this upcoming session. The House launched a government efficiency portal Tuesday, allowing Oklahomans to report examples of “state governmental waste or duplication” directly to budget leaders. [Oklahoma Voice]
Todd Hiett remains a voting member of Oklahoma Corporation Commission, state Supreme Court rules: The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled that Todd Hiett can continue to vote on Corporation Commission cases. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Oklahoma Supreme Court won’t disqualify Corporation Commissioner for conflict of interest allegations [KGOU]
Oklahoma lawmaker works to address overcrowding in animal shelters: An Oklahoma lawmaker is working to address overpopulation in animal shelters. It’s an issue we’re continuing to see across the state. [Fox 25]
Oklahoma narrowing ‘digital divide’ in high-speed internet access: Oklahoma has significantly narrowed a “digital divide” defined by lagging access to high-speed internet in rural parts of the state. [Tulsa World]
Long Story Short: How Ex-Secretary’s Investment Ties Sparked Lawsuits, Audits and Controversy (audio): Paul Monies examines how the Commissioners of the Land Office invested in an Oklahoma City-based rent-to-buy company. Paul also discusses the state’s new mental health hospital’s massive cost overruns just months after officials held a ceremonial groundbreaking. Keaton Ross reflects on his top stories of 2024 regarding prison conditions in Oklahoma and the influence of money in politics. [Oklahoma Watch]
Federal Government News
Cole: Trump plan to kill Education Department won’t be easy and must ensure Impact Aid continues: Though he’s broadly supportive of President-elect Donald Trump’s plan to shutter the federal Department of Education, U.S. Rep. Tom Cole isn’t quite sure the agency will actually be closed, and it probably won’t happen quickly, he said. [The Oklahoman]
Mullin predicts all Trump nominees will be confirmed: U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin said Tuesday he expects all of President-elect Donald Trump’s nominees to be confirmed, but he acknowledged that defense secretary pick Pete Hegseth “has the hardest road.” [Tulsa World]
Despite doubts on legality, Trump pledges to sign order revoking birthright citizenship: President-elect Donald Trump vowed to sign an executive order on his first day in office to end the constitutional right to U.S. citizenship for anyone born in the country, during an extensive Sunday interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” [Oklahoma Voice]
Social security issues leave some Oklahomans in financial limbo: Millions of Americans rely on social security benefits to make ends meet, but for some, a series of delays and system errors have left them in financial limbo. [KFOR]
Tribal Nations News
Federal Agencies Announce Native Language Revitalization Plan: Federal agencies announced a 10-year plan to revitalize Native languages, with the Cherokee Nation contributing resources like film studios to support documentation and preservation efforts. [News 9]
The Shawnee Tribe revives winter storytelling tradition, strengthening language preservation: For the first time in decades, the Shawnee Tribe held a winter stories gathering — a community effort to restore a tradition that strengthens language revitalization. [KOSU]
Voting and Election News
Edmond council welcomes Nichols; uncontested races announced: Maggie Murdock Nichols, a third-generation Edmond resident and business owner, will fill the vacant Ward 1 seat on the Edmond City Council following a swearing in to be announced later. [The Journal Record]
Opinion: The best political solution: Open all primary elections to all voters: What would work is if all primaries were open to voting across all political lines regardless of one’s registration as Democrat, Republican and Independent. [Andre Snodgrass / Opinion]
Education News
New behavioral health degree program at Oklahoma City Community College: It’s the first degree of its kind in Oklahoma and is designed to prepare students for jobs at places like behavioral health agencies, community organizations, hospitals and rehabilitation centers. [KOSU]
Health News
US health insurance claims more often denied for Blacks, Hispanics: Black, Hispanic, and Asian Americans seeking preventative care are “substantially” more likely to have their claims denied by their health insurance company, a 2024 study finds. [The Black Wall Street Times]
Ruling blocks undocumented immigrants from using health insurance under ACA: A North Dakota federal judge’s ruling will temporarily keep undocumented immigrants in 19 states from getting federally subsidized health insurance. Oklahoma is not one of the states that sued to block access. [Oklahoma Voice]
Opinion: Dental insurance failures are hurting Oklahomans: As the year winds down, Oklahomans rush to make final dental appointments, hoping to use their insurance “benefits” before they expire. Unfortunately, for far too many, these visits come with surprise costs, delays and denials from their insurance providers, revealing a troubling truth: Dental insurance is failing the people it’s supposed to cover! [Daryn Lu / The Oklahoman]
Criminal Justice News
Parole Rate on the Rise: Oklahoma’s parole grant rate increased in 2024 after years of decline, an Oklahoma Watch analysis found. Nearly 29% of state prisoners seeking parole from January through November received a favorable recommendation, up from 24% in 2023. [Oklahoma Watch]
Oklahoma County jail inmate found dead Tuesday morning: An inmate at the Oklahoma County jail died this week in what authorities suspect is a suicide. [The Oklahoman]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Oklahoma state housing agency faces an $8-million shortfall: Inflation, skyrocketing rent and a lack of affordable housing options have put a strain on federal voucher funding. Nearly 16,000 people are on the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency’s waitlist for Housing Choice vouchers in 2023, also known as Section 8. [The Frontier]
Interest in affordable housing partnership exceeds expectations: Housing Partnership Network CEO Robin Hughes and others explained the 110-plus member collaborative’s potential impact on Tulsa’s affordable housing market through a new entity called Housing Forward and the relatively new Community Development Financial Institution Friendly Tulsa. [Tulsa World]
Landlords Are Using AI to Raise Rents: Eight states and the U.S. Justice Department have sued over the practice. The company whose software is used by many landlords says it helps renters as well. [Governing]
Economy & Business News
Workforce issues remain priority for State Chamber: The Oklahoma State Chamber announced its focus on three areas for 2025 at its annual luncheon Tuesday at the Oklahoma City Convention Center: taxes, legal reform and workforce. [Journal Record]
Community News
Darrell Davis found opportunity in a former ‘sundown town,’ becoming its first Black mayor: Edmond’s history as a “sundown town” didn’t deter Darrell Davis from moving to Edmond in the 1980s, becoming one of its first Black residents and in 2021 being elected as its first Black mayor. [The Oklahoman]
Local Headlines
- Muskogee city manager tapped to be Tulsa’s city administrator [Tulsa World]
Quote of the Day
“The waitlist is so long. When you’re fleeing with your family, you really don’t have 18 months to spare.”
-Anden Bull, the chief operating officer at Palomar, which helps victims of domestic violence in Oklahoma City, said lengthy housing waitlists make it difficult to place clients in housing. [The Frontier]
Number of the Day
29%
Nearly 29% of people imprisoned in Oklahoma who sought parole from January through November 2024 received a favorable recommendation, up from 24% in 2023. [Oklahoma Watch]
Policy Note
Lawmakers grapple with post-Covid budget deficits: Fiscal Year 2026 is set to be a lean one for many states, as revenues stabilize after a Covid-era boom and lawmakers reckon with recent tax cuts and spending increases that now look less affordable. [Pluribus News]
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