Weekly Wonk: OK Indigent Defense System budget request signals new focus on diversion and rural defense | Our prisons are terrible. We need a big, bold plan | Our history still has something to teach us

What's up this week at Oklahoma Policy Institute? The Weekly Wonk shares our most recent publications and other resources to help you stay informed about Oklahoma. Numbers of the Day and Policy Notes are from our daily news briefing, In The Know.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2026 Subscribe // View latest headlines OIDS budget request signals new focus on diversion and rural defense (Capitol Update)   Last week, the Senate Appropriations Public Safety and Judiciary Subcommittee — chaired by Sen. Todd Gollihare, R-Kellyville — held budget hearings from several agencies, including the Oklahoma Indigent Defense System (OIDS). Executive Director Debbie Maddox, on the job for less than a year, presented the agency's FY 2027 budget request that included a new look for OIDS. [Steve Lewis / Capitol Update] Policy Matters: Our history still has something to teach us   It's been said that history doesn't repeat, but it rhymes. You don't have to listen closely to hear familiar meters from the 1940s and today. In times of fear, our nation has been known to sacrifice its ideals for a sense of safety. Oklahoma is connected to one of those moments — and that should give us pause. [Shiloh Kantz / The Journal Record] THIS WEEK: Ardmore Advocacy Training   Thursday, February 26 6:00-7:30 p.m. Ardmore Public Library (Smith Room) REGISTER NOW Learn how advocacy actually works — and how YOU fit into it   Most people care about what's happening at the Capitol. Far fewer know how to actually influence it. We'll break down how advocacy really works — who to contact, when it matters most, and how everyday people have changed decisions simply by showing up consistently. You'll learn practical skills like making effective calls, writing letters, meeting with lawmakers, and telling your story in a way that lands. Find an advocacy training in YOUR community Join advocates and community activists from all across the state on March 3 for our 2026 Day of Action, hosted by OK Policy and Together Oklahoma.   Our Day of Action provides you with an opportunity to engage with legislators and get the information, tools, and resources you need to advocate for the changes that you would like to see in your community. Register Now Engrossed Bill   A bill that passes out of one chamber is engrossed, and then sent to the other chamber. If the bill passes the second chamber but not in its final form (e.g. it has been amended or has had its title or enacting clause stricken), it will again be engrossed. A bill that passes both chambers in its final form is enrolled.   To find the engrossed version of a bill, go to the Legislature's website, click on Legislation, select Basic Bill Search, enter the bill number (make sure to select the correct session and include HB for a House Bill or SB for a Senate Bill), and choose the "Versions" tab.   Look up more key terms to understand Oklahoma politics and government here. "What we see is that cuts continue the bleeding here in the state of Oklahoma. And ultimately, when that bleeding reaches a certain point, we wind up tax shifting again, where we will, for instance, remove additional exemptions on things that predominantly hurt poor people."   —Rep. Andy Fugate of Oklahoma City, speaking about the continued push for flat state budgets in the face of rising needs for vital public programs and services. [KOSU]  Editorial: Our prisons are terrible. We need a big, bold plan   To have one of the nation's worst correctional systems is a big problem, one that state leadership is just nibbling at around the edges, unwilling or unable to make the commitment to move in a big way to solve.   A 2021 U.S. Justice Department report on mortality in prisons found Oklahoma had the second-highest average annual rate of homicides in the nation, not counting executions. In 2024, the state recorded 24 homicides, up from 12 in 2023.    Even if leadership were to emerge with the vision to craft a sensible year-by-year plan to bring our correctional system to the head of the pack, would the funding be available to see it through to the end? Not without a revival in the shaky economy. And not as long as the governor and others are seeking more tax cuts.   [The Oklahoman Editorial Board] $1.6 billion - In just the past six years, Oklahoma lawmakers have approved tax cuts and tax credits for private schools that cost the state close to $1.6 billion in revenue each year (in 2026 dollars). [OK Policy]   $3.9 billion - In 2024, property taxes in Oklahoma brought in $3.9 billion for local governments and made up at least half of the budget in 62 of Oklahoma's 77 counties. [OK Policy]   47th - Oklahoma had the 47th highest cost for home insurance in 2025, with an average annual premium of $4,623. Oklahomans spend about 7.4% of their income towards homeowners insurance. [Bankrate]   72% - The share of Oklahoma adults who experienced at least one healthcare affordability burden in the past year, according to a fall 2025 survey of more than 1,300 residents. The findings show that rising healthcare costs are affecting a clear majority of households across the state. [Healthcare Value Hub] What Did 2025 State Tax Changes Mean for Racial and Economic Equity?: For years, many states have cut taxes for the wealthy, who are disproportionately white. Those cuts create a regressive tax system that is less fair and makes it harder to fund important programs for lower-income and working families. These kinds of tax cut decisions worsen economic and racial inequities, and the trend continued in several states in 2025. Lawmakers in Oklahoma and Mississippi passed legislation to eventually eliminate the states' personal income taxes through triggered tax-cutting approaches over a number of years, paving the way for fiscal instability and lower-quality public services. [Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy]   Policymakers Unwisely Propose Cutting Property Taxes in Favor of Sales Taxes: Lawmakers across the country are taking aim at property taxes with a new strategy: raising sales taxes instead. Doing so would create a regressive tax shift that puts unfair burdens on renters and reduces the strength of local government revenues. [Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy]   Rising Insurance Costs and the Impact on Housing Affordability (2024): Nationally, property insurance rates have been on the rise for 26 consecutive quarters, starting in the last quarter of 2017. From 2017 to 2022, homeowners insurance premiums rose 40% faster than inflation. Recent estimates for the national average cost of homeowners insurance premiums range from about $1,750 to about $2,500 annually, though average rates vary widely by region. In fact, in some states, homeowners pay as much as $500 per month for insurance. For millions of households already struggling to make their mortgage payments, these monthly insurance costs are a significant burden. They can also put homeownership out of reach for prospective first-time homebuyers. [Bipartisan Policy Center]   People Who Rely on the ACA Marketplaces Face Mounting Affordability Challenges: People purchasing coverage through the ACA Marketplaces are facing rising costs and shrinking affordability as enhancements to premium tax credits expire and insurers adjust prices upward. Without strong subsidies or other policy changes, many low- and moderate-income families will continue to see higher premiums and fewer affordable plan options, particularly in areas with less competition. These affordability pressures can lead some individuals and families to drop coverage entirely or delay needed care. Ensuring marketplace stability and affordability will require maintaining strong financial assistance and addressing underlying cost drivers in the health system. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities] From OK Policy: What Oklahomans need to know about expiring ACA premium tax credits Support Our Work with a Donation What's up this week at Oklahoma Policy Institute? The Weekly Wonk shares our most recent publications and other resources to help you stay informed about Oklahoma. Numbers of the Day and Policy Notes are from our daily news briefing, In The Know.   Click here to subscribe to In The Know. Contact Oklahoma Policy Institute 907 S. Detroit Ave #1005 Tulsa, OK 74120 United States  918-794-3944 | info@okpolicy.org   Connect with us:   If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive emails from us, please unsubscribe.

In The Know: Cutting property taxes would hurt schools, counties | Lawmakers fail to advance bills to rein in home insurance costs | Oklahoma ranks 47th in the nation for women's health

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.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2026 Subscribe // View web version (current and archived) 47th   Oklahoma had the 47th highest cost for home insurance in 2025, with an average annual premium of $4,623. Oklahomans spend about 7.4% of their income towards homeowners insurance. [Bankrate] Rising Insurance Costs and the Impact on Housing Affordability (2024)   Nationally, property insurance rates have been on the rise for 26 consecutive quarters, starting in the last quarter of 2017. From 2017 to 2022, homeowners insurance premiums rose 40% faster than inflation. Recent estimates for the national average cost of homeowners insurance premiums range from about $1,750 to about $2,500 annually, though average rates vary widely by region. In fact, in some states, homeowners pay as much as $500 per month for insurance. For millions of households already struggling to make their mortgage payments, these monthly insurance costs are a significant burden. They can also put homeownership out of reach for prospective first-time homebuyers. [Bipartisan Policy Center] "If you don't have [insurance], it's going to be horrible. I'm very, very concerned about the state of Oklahoma not having any type of oversight or regulation when it comes to [home insurance] rate increases."   -Rebekah Williams of Sulphur, speaking about her experience with rising home insurance costs. When her policy came up for renewal last year, her premium bill would be raised from $178 a month to more than $540. She said rising costs may force many seniors to drop their insurance, leaving them vulnerable to tornadoes or other disasters. Her comments came during Thursday's meeting of the Senate Business and Insurance Committee, which failed to advance two bills that seek to address rising home insurance rates. [Tulsa World] Learn how advocacy actually works — and how YOU fit into it   Most people care about what's happening at the Capitol. Far fewer know how to actually influence it. We'll break down how advocacy really works — who to contact, when it matters most, and how everyday people have changed decisions simply by showing up consistently. You'll learn practical skills like making effective calls, writing letters, meeting with lawmakers, and telling your story in a way that lands. View all upcoming Advocacy Training dates, locations, and registration details. NEXT WEEK: Ardmore   Thursday, February 26 6:00-7:30 p.m. Ardmore Public Library (Smith Room) REGISTER NOW Find an Advocacy Training in Your Community Join advocates and community activists from all across the state on March 3 for our 2026 Day of Action, hosted by OK Policy and Together Oklahoma.   Our Day of Action provides you with an opportunity to engage with legislators and get the information, tools, and resources you need to advocate for the changes that you would like to see in your community. Register Now Oklahoma News   Cutting out property taxes would hurt schools, counties, assessor says: If state lawmakers eliminate property taxes without replacing the $5.7 billion in revenue now paying for local government services, it will drastically hurt public schools, counties, law enforcement and "essential constitutional services," Oklahoma County Assessor Larry Stein said. Rural Oklahoma would be especially hard hit even if taxes were cut, Stein said. [The Oklahoman] From OK Policy: Eliminating property taxes would devastate crucial local services   Republicans Push Back on Data Centers in Oklahoma, Other States: Republican state legislators in several states want to pause new data center construction, a break with President Donald Trump and most congressional Republicans. [Oklahoma Watch] Lawmakers advance bills to shield residents from data center utility costs [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma's high SNAP error rates could be costly for taxpayers. Here's how it might impact your wallet: Oklahoma taxpayers could pay the price for the state's high food stamp error rates, but that's likely a last resort. Changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act could cost the state an extra $270 million next year, according to State Auditor Cindy Byrd. SNAP provides upwards of $125 million a month in food benefits to more than 684,600 Oklahomans in need. [Tulsa Flyer]   Many of those fighting Oklahoma's fires this week are volunteers: Firefighters have been battling blazes across the Panhandle and the northwest part of Oklahoma for days now. The majority of them aren't getting paid. [KOSU]   State Government News   Bills to rein in home insurance costs fail to advance in Oklahoma Legislature: Two bills aimed at reining in soaring home insurance costs went down in flames Thursday, but Democrats and Republicans agreed that the state cannot afford a legislative punt on the issue. The bills, Senate Bill 1444, and Senate Bill 1438, both authored by Sen. Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, failed to advance through the Senate Business and Insurance Committee. [Tulsa World]   Oklahoma's highest criminal court adopts AI rule: The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, the state's highest criminal court, adopted a new rule on Wednesday regulating the use of generative artificial intelligence in court filings. The move has prompted the Oklahoma County District Court to consider following suit. [The Journal Record] Oklahoma court adopts new rule for AI use in legal filings; how it works [The Oklahoman] Legislative roundup Oklahoma lawmakers want to make dewormer drug ivermectin available over the counter [KOSU] House committees pass bills on school prayer, reading [Oklahoma Voice] Lawmakers nix attempt to allow guns in the Oklahoma Capitol [Oklahoma Voice] Session Watch: Week Three [Oklahoma Watch] House passes retro funding bills on Throwback Thursday [Tulsa World] Opinion, This Week in Oklahoma Politics: New budget numbers, student-led protest punishment, state worker pay and more (podcast): The panel talk about new budget numbers for state lawmakers for the 2027 fiscal year starting in July, a fiscal impact for the House Speaker's literacy legislation coming in at about $75 million and Mustang Public Schools suspending 122 students for participating in ICE protests. They also discuss the Trump Administration's Department of Justice asking Oklahoma election officials for confidential voter information and a new study showing state workers make 50% less in pay than their private sector counterparts. [KOSU]   Federal Government News   'A lot of drama.' What to expect at big Trump-governors White House showdown: A historically bipartisan affair, the National Governors Association winter meeting in Washington, DC, has only gotten more political. This time around, Trump initially tried to only invite GOP governors to meet with him during the conference. Pressure from the governor of Oklahoma – Kevin Stitt, the Republican chair of the NGA – caused the president to mostly back off. though not without criticism. [USA Today via The Oklahoman] 'Politics is in such a weird time right now,' Stitt says of pressure from 'fringes' [Tulsa World]  Trump wields abortion clinic law against church demonstrators, providers still fear violence: The Trump administration is using a law Congress passed in the 1990s after a wave of deadly violence at abortion clinics to prosecute demonstrators and reporters who were at a immigration-related church protest in Minneapolis last month. [Oklahoma Voice]   How groups in Oklahoma are responding to the EPA's repeal of greenhouse gas finding: Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency announced it is eliminating the agency's 2009 endangerment finding. The scientific standard found key greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and methane, are a threat to public health. [StateImpact Oklahoma via KOSU]   Lankford to visit ICE detention centers: Oklahoma's senior U.S. senator says he will be touring Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facilities, though he doesn't plan on bringing media and he's giving advance notice. [Public Radio Tulsa] Lankford: Americans must 'set tone' for rest of the world [Tulsa World] Immigration enforcement, AI and space testing center land on Lankford's priority list [The Oklahoma Eagle] Tribal Nations News   The People vs. AI: Two Oklahoma women were featured in the cover story about their work against a proposal to rezone a 5,500-acre Muscogee Nation ranch into a technology park in order to build a hyperscale data center. Jordan Harmon and Mackenzie Roberts objected to the proposal both for its potential strain on local resources and what the project stood for. [Time Magazine]   Cherokee Nation invests $2M into new north Tulsa community center offering food, classes and more: Meals for seniors, job fairs and a third space for people to call home are all possibilities at a new north Tulsa Cherokee community center. Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said opening the $2 million center was a defining moment for both him and the people he represents. [The Oklahoma Eagle] Cherokee Nation opens north Tulsa community center [Tulsa World] Voting and Election News   Oklahoma GOP candidates for governor speak at forum. How to watch: Republican candidates for Oklahoma governor introduced themselves to Oklahoma voters at a forum at Randall University in Moore Thursday night, Feb. 19. [The Oklahoman]   Primary Function: Governor debate set for GOP primary: In partnership with KSWO 7News, NonDoc is hosting a 2026 Oklahoma gubernatorial debate ahead of the Republican primary election at 5:45 p.m. Thursday, May 28, on the campus of Cameron University in Lawton. [NonDoc]   Opinion: Some misunderstand. SQ 836 is not anti-political party: At its core, SQ 836 is about fairness, transparency and voter inclusion. It ensures that every Oklahoman who helps pay for an election has the right to participate in that election. It does not abolish political parties, weaken them or silence their voices. In fact, it could give political parties more meaningful influence than they currently have. [Caedmon Brooks / The Oklahoman]   Education News   Tulsa Public Schools confirms potential administrative layoffs: Facing an anticipated multi-million dollar shortfall and a confirmed four-digit enrollment drop, Tulsa Public Schools has begun notifying about 50 employees that their positions will be recommended for elimination at the end of the current school year. [Tulsa World] Tulsa Public Schools confirms potential layoffs ahead of anticipated budget shortfall [Tulsa Flyer] Audit of Hofmeister's education department finds no wrongdoing but highlights systemic problems: An audit of the State Department of Education under former Superintendent Joy Hofmeister, requested by Gov. Kevin Stitt, found no evidence of financial wrongdoing. [KOSU]   Opinion, former Rep. Mark McBride: How to build an educational system that works: During a conversation with Oklahoma historian Bob Burke, our talk drifted into education. From there, it moved to former Gov. Dewey Bartlett and Francis Tuttle — what they did, what they started and why it lasted. What began as storytelling turned into something more serious. It raised a simple question that stayed with me after I left: How did Oklahoma once build an education system that worked — and endured? That question sent me back to do a little research. [Former Rep. Mark McBride / The Oklahoman]   Health News   Oklahoma ranks 47th in the nation for women's health. See the numbers: Oklahoma is ranked as one of the worst states in the nation for women when it comes to health, insurance and more, according to recent data. [The Oklahoman]   Criminal Justice News   Editorial: Our prisons are terrible. We need a big, bold plan: To have one of the nation's worst correctional systems is a big problem, one that state leadership is just nibbling at around the edges, unwilling or unable to make the commitment to move in a big way to solve. [The Oklahoman]   Housing & Economic Opportunity News   OIC-Oklahoma County celebrates 60 years of putting 'people first': Back when there was only one computer in the building, an instructor at the Opportunities Industrialization Center of Oklahoma County realized that her students needed to become computer proficient to prepare for an evolving job market. [The Oklahoman]   Economy & Business News   Oklahoma energy industry faces challenges as companies relocate to Texas: The Petroleum Alliance of Oklahoma has issued a warning to state lawmakers following the relocation of major energy companies to Texas, urging them to address legislative issues impacting the oil and gas industry. [KOCO]   Community News   'Jesus loves immigrants.' Christian clergy call for immigration reform: A group of Christian clergy this week urged elected leaders to enact policies leading to "just and compassionate" immigration reform in the wake of what they deemed divisive rhetoric surrounding immigrants and immigrant families being torn apart, as the federal government's immigration enforcement crackdown continues. [The Oklahoman]   Pew study shows low trust in media amid evolving news landscape: Fifty-seven percent of adults from across the United Stares say they have low confidence in journalists to act in the public's interest, according to a study released by the Pew Research Center this month. [The Journal Record]   Local Headlines Tulsa mayor nominates 3 for Tulsa Housing Authority Board as 2021 audit released [NonDoc] Tulsa trash-to-energy plan to burn medical waste fuels opposition [Tulsa World] Support Our Work with a Donation In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. Some stories included here are behind paywall or require subscription. OK Policy encourages the support of Oklahoma's state and local media, which are vital to an informed citizenry. You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail. Contact Oklahoma Policy Institute 907 S. Detroit Ave #1005 Tulsa, OK 74120 United States  918-794-3944 | info@okpolicy.org okpolicy.org    Connect with us:   If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive emails from us, please unsubscribe.