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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.
New from OK Policy
OK Policy comments on revenue numbers estimated during December 2025 Board of Equalization meeting: The Oklahoma Board of Equalization estimated $8.35 billion of funds available for the Governor’s budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2027, which starts on July 1, 2026. These early estimates indicate how much lawmakers may have available to appropriate next session but are not a guarantee. While the overall revenue projections indicated a modest increase next year, in reality this suggests Oklahoma lawmakers will face a nearly flat budget when inflation and population growth are taken into consideration. [Aanahita Ervin / OK Policy]
Oklahoma News
Held without bail in Oklahoma’s ICE facilities, immigrants turn to federal courts for release: Oklahoma has seen a spike in immigrants challenging their detention in federal court. Hundreds of detainees are being held in county jails and for-profit facilities across the state as the Trump administration ramps up deportation efforts. [The Frontier]
- From OK Policy: CoreCivic profits from incarcerating our loved ones and exploiting rural towns. Oklahomans have the opportunity to push back
State Government News
Oklahoma lawmakers eye $12B budget as estimated revenues increase: Leaders of the Oklahoma House and Senate budget committees could have an estimated $12.05 billion to work with for fiscal year 2027 heading into the 2026 legislative session. [The Oklahoman]
- Leaders will have 5.6% less to spend on Oklahoma’s next budget [Oklahoma Voice]
- State to have less to spend in fiscal year 2027 [Tulsa World]
- Oklahoma board forecasts $12 billion budget for upcoming fiscal year [KOSU]
Judge orders poultry companies to pay for cleanup in longstanding Illinois River lawsuit: A federal judge late Friday ordered some of the nation’s largest poultry companies to pay for the cleanup of the Illinois River watershed and limit the amount of bird waste that can be applied to land in the region. [The Frontier]
- After decades, federal judge issues cleanup plan in Oklahoma poultry pollution lawsuit [KOSU]
- Judge holds poultry companies liable for Illinois River pollution [The Oklahoman]
- Judge issues final judgment in Illinois River poultry pollution lawsuit [Tulsa World]
- Feud over pollution lawsuit escalates between Oklahoma governor, AG [The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma lawmakers challenge $1.5 billion utility charges, OCC audit concerns: Three Oklahoma Republican lawmakers are challenging $1.5 billion of charges by three Oklahoma public utilities. The lawmakers want the Oklahoma Supreme Court to overturn the approval orders by OCC, and require new lawful fuel audits and sensible reviews by outside, independent auditors, instead of the staff under OCC’s Public Utility Division (PUD). [KFOR]
OK SNAP regulations start in February, no soft drinks and candy: Oklahoma’s SNAP regulations are set to start in February, and there is a new list of items that recipients won’t be allowed to purchase. Several states nationwide set out for waivers from the United States Department of Agriculture requesting they modify their restricted food definitions as well as the implementation date. [KFOR]
Opinion: As Legislative Deadlines Loom, Disability Advocacy Matters More Than Ever: As we move into 2026, key deadlines are rapidly approaching for the Oklahoma legislature. Committee cutoffs, floor deadlines, and budget negotiations will soon determine which bills survive and which quietly disappear. For Oklahomans with disabilities and the families who support them, this moment is critical. Silence now could shape policy outcomes for years to come. [Rep. Ellyn Hefner / City News OKC]
Opinion, Oklahoma County Commissioner Jason Lowe: SQ 841 is the Grinch trying to steal counties’ lifeblood: Property taxes provide several crucial services at the local level across Oklahoma. In Oklahoma County, every dollar not collected would have a direct impact on public schools, career techs, community colleges, public health departments, public libraries, county government, as well as cities and towns. [Jason Lowe / The Oklahoman]
- From OK Policy: In Oklahoma, property taxes account for 56 percent of local tax revenue and fund critical services like fire response, law enforcement, emergency responders, trash collection, libraries, and schools. Without property taxes, counties, municipalities, and school districts would have to depend on the state to fund core services – and that money often shifts with politics. [Learn more]
Federal Government News
D.C. Digest: Oklahoma House delegation touts GOP health insurance bill: Oklahoma’s all-Republican House delegation repeated the company line after voting for the GOP’s Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act, which gets good marks from budget-watchers even if its title might be a little optimistic. [Tulsa World]
How proposed changes to the Endangered Species Act could impact Oklahoma wildlife: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering rule changes to the law, which could have impacts on the Sooner State’s flora and fauna. [StateImpact Oklahoma via KGOU]
Tribal Nations News
Fact Check: Sorting truth from spin in Stitt and Drummond’s fight over tribal hunting rights: Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has accused Gov. Kevin Stitt of “spreading misinformation” in an ongoing dispute over tribal hunting rights in Oklahoma. Stitt launched a series of social media attacks on Drummond after the Attorney General – a candidate to replace Stitt as Governor – warned state wildlife officials to stop prosecuting tribal members for hunting and fishing in Indian Country. [Tulsa Flyer]
Voting and Election News
Oklahoma’s Campaign Finance Database is Back Online: The Oklahoma Ethics Commission voted unanimously on Friday to restore public access to the state’s online campaign finance database and seek legal action against a software developer that failed to deliver on a revamped system. [Oklahoma Watch]
- Oklahoma ethics watchdog to implement original election reporting system [Oklahoma Voice]
- Ethics Commission halts plan for new campaign finance site; AG considering suit [The Oklahoman]
As the Oklahoma GOP begins to fracture and a far-right takeover looms, open primaries are a threat: The state Republican Party is fracturing from within. And the Oklahoma Freedom Caucus is using the internal division to campaign against moderate party-mates, hoping to replace them with far-right Christian Nationalists. But open Republican primaries in Oklahoma could ruin the plan. [KOSU]
Opinion: An independent revolt may be coming. Sooner than we think: Next year the nation will celebrate the 250th anniversary of American revolution, a world-changing event in history. A smaller version of that political revolt may be shaping up in Oklahoma — sooner than expected because of an apparently accidental missed deadline. [William C. Wertz / The Oklahoman]
Opinion: Barring independents from Oklahoma primaries promises to make an even messier 2026 election season: I suspect the decision to prohibit nearly 500,000 independent voters from all three parties’ (Libertarians being the third) primaries is going to be a major headache for establishment Republicans who are already attempting to fend off a state question that seeks to allow all voters to cast a ballot during primaries. [Janelle Stecklein / Oklahoma Voice]
Education News
Inside a High School Project Tackling Homelessness: After finding black mold in his rental property a few years ago, a Broken Arrow teacher packed up and left the property with his wife and their child. During that time he and his family stayed with relatives, but the emotional stress of not knowing where they would live opened his eyes: homelessness was often not a personal failing, it could happen to anybody. Now he’s used that experience to create an opportunity for Vanguard Academy students to spend a full semester working with a Tulsa homelessness nonprofit with the hopes that the students would gain a better understanding of their community. [Oklahoma Watch]
A ‘jewel’ for north Tulsa: TPS Parent Resource Center connects families with critical resources: Tulsa Public Schools’ Parent Resource Center first opened six years ago, dreamt up by the North Tulsa Community Education Task Force in 2019. The site offers families diapers and formula, enrollment assistance for health and food programs, connections to parenting resources, career coaching or training and much more. [Oklahoma Eagle]
Rural schools hit by Trump’s grant cuts have few options for making up for the lost money: Federal dollars make up roughly 10% of education spending nationally, but the percentage is significantly higher in rural districts, which are not able to raise as much money on property taxes. When the funding is reduced, many districts have no way to make up the lost money. [Associated Press]
Capitol Insider: Court finds State Department of Education violated Open Meeting Act: Actions taken by the State Department of Education during Ryan Walters’ partial four-year term as state superintendent are continuing to be scrutinized. On Wednesday, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled that the State Department of Education violated the Oklahoma Open Meetings Act when it approved new social study standards and then invalidated them. [KGOU]
Health News
Oklahoma adult, childhood obesity rates are trending downward, per CDC data: Obesity rates are declining for Oklahoma adults and children, according to the CDC. The State Department of Health is celebrating these results and crediting the progress, in part, to statewide initiatives meant to reduce chronic disease and improve quality of life. [StateImpact Oklahoma via KGOU]
Tulsa youth saw mental health issues spike after COVID. This program aims to address that: Public health organizations have reported a rise in mental illness among kids ages 3 to 17. It was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, causing major medical associations to declare in 2021 a national state of emergency in child and adolescent mental health. [The Oklahoma Eagle]
Trump health agency proposes rules to limit gender-affirming care for youth: President Donald Trump’s administration took major steps Thursday in a campaign to block minors’ access to gender-affirming care nationwide. [Oklahoma Voice]
Dr. Syeachia Dennis on Why Community-Based Investment Is Central to Medicaid Care: For Dr. Syeachia Dennis, improving health outcomes in Oklahoma starts long before a patient walks into a doctor’s office. As food insecurity and financial strain impact thousands of Medicaid members statewide, Dennis says investing in community-based organizations is critical to preventing crises rather than reacting to them. [The Black Wall Street Times]
Criminal Justice News
Greater OKC Chamber lists building ‘modern jail’ as priority, mum on tax: “Constructing a modern jail” is among the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce’s top priorities in 2026. Does that mean the chamber would back a county sales tax election to pay for a new Oklahoma County jail? [The Oklahoman]
Court overturns manslaughter conviction of former lawmaker from Tulsa: A federal appellate court Tuesday overturned a former state lawmaker’s involuntary manslaughter conviction after finding fault with how the trial judge handled a jury question during the trial. [Tulsa World]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Oklahoma City renters face rising costs, high eviction rates as lawmaker pushes for safeguards: As the cost of living climbs in Oklahoma City and more residents rely on renting, a state lawmaker says the city’s unusually high share of corporate-owned homes and fast eviction process are contributing to a system stacked against renters and their families. The cost of living has never been higher in Oklahoma City. [KFOR]
Economy & Business News
‘People notice’: Chickasha leg lamp spurs economy as Warner Bros. complaint lingers: In downtown Chickasha, a 50-foot leg lamp glows over a city plaza, drawing tourists, sparking small-business sales and anchoring a new holiday identity fueled by a kind of fragile — or perhaps fra-gee-lay — optimism that whoever owns the rights to A Christmas Story will see the tribute as affection rather than infringement. [NonDoc]
Community News
Trump’s new immigration restrictions hit Tulsa hard, expert says: ‘It’s terrifying’: The Trump administration’s latest immigration restrictions are hitting Tulsa hard, according to a local expert. “It’s terrifying,” said Robin Sherman, director of legal services at the YWCA. “I mean, it’s terrifying for them. It’s terrifying for us as legal representatives. We don’t even know what to do because there’s not enough information to know exactly how to respond or prepare.” [Tulsa World]
Greenwood Legacy Corp. has been surrounded by controversy. Now it has a new leader: Known to some as the fix-it man, the new executive director assumes the role at a crucial time for Tulsa’s Greenwood Legacy Corp. It’s been dogged by concerns of a lack of transparency and accountability, including by sitting city councilor. The master plan aims to revitalize nearly 60 acres of publicly-owned land in the Greenwood District. [The Oklahoma Eagle]
John Hope Franklin Foundation announces capital campaign: The John Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation is undertaking a $10 million capital campaign for a building on the grounds of Reconciliation Park in downtown Tulsa. The endeavor would to some extent complete the original intentions for the 3.4-acre site acquired from the city some 20 years ago as the prospective home of a museum and library dedicated to the history of Tulsa’s Greenwood District. [Tulsa World]
Opinion: Mary found courage in her vulnerability. We can, too: When we do not feel up to the task of meeting the needs of the world in our time and place, rather than pat us on the head, scripture offer us stories of people who also felt like they were not up to the task — and still decided to do what they could, with what they had, with all the courage they could muster. [The Rev. Lori Allen Walke / The Oklahoman]
Local Headlines
- Tulsa City Council approves mid-year spending increases for police, crisis response [Tulsa Flyer]
- New garden and visitation area are coming to Tulsa County jail [Tulsa Flyer]
- Ripe for development: Edmond’s former city hall, court, downtown land [The Oklahoman]
- OKC moves ahead on first phase of MAPS 4 parks upgrades [The Journal Record]
Quote of the Day
“When we can recognize our misconceptions, that’s when learning happens.”
-Reese Hundley, a teacher at Vanguard Academy in Broken Arrow, talking about the semester-long project to help students better understand the causes of homelessness. His students quickly deduced that key factors in homelessness included a lack of mental health support services, eviction rates, post-incarceration and a lack of affordable housing in the state. The students began to understand that homelessness was not a personal failing; it could be structural. [Oklahoma Watch]
- From OK Policy: Homelessness in Oklahoma – Information and Resources
Number of the Day
352,998
The number of Oklahoma families who claimed the state’s Child Tax Credit in 2022. The Child Tax/Child Care Tax Credit is an Oklahoma tax credit that can be claimed by parents of dependent children. Taxpayers can claim the greater of five percent of the federal Child Tax Credit or twenty percent of the federal Child Care Tax Credit. In both cases, federal adjusted gross income cannot exceed $100,000 for married couples filing jointly. [Oklahoma Tax Commission via OK Policy]
Policy Note
State Tax Credits: An Underused Tool to Boost Family Incomes: Across the country, Americans are feeling the squeeze. From groceries to rent to utility bills, the rising cost of living is straining household budgets. But there’s good news: State leaders have powerful tools to help. Among the most effective are state versions of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC). The federal versions of these tax credits lift millions of families above the poverty line. Recognizing their impact, many states have created their own versions to supplement the federal credits. Yet these benefits only work if people are aware of them and take advantage of them. [Governing]
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