In The Know: Oklahoma ranks 4th most illiterate state in new study | Immigrants lose access to food aid in more states, as federal restrictions take effect | Oklahoma’s property tax cap proposal raises equity concerns

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.

TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2026 Subscribe // View web version (current and archived) Oklahoma's property tax cap proposal raises equity concerns (Capitol Update)   Property taxes are unpopular in Oklahoma. And an ill-advised initiative petition proposal, State Question 843, would eliminate property taxes on homesteads without replacing the funding for schools, cities, and counties. So, it's not a surprise that House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, and Senate President Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, want to offer voters an alternative property tax cut. [Steve Lewis / Capitol Update] More from OK Policy: Fact Sheet: Property taxes are vital to the health of local government in Oklahoma (2026) Apply Now for the 2026 Oklahoma Summer Policy Institute   OK Policy's Oklahoma Summer Policy Institute (SPI) brings together highly-qualified college students, recent graduates, and new policy professionals for a three-day learning experience that informs participants about Oklahoma's policy landscape and provides tools and resources to create change in our state. Apply by 11:59 p.m., Sunday, May 10, 2026. Learn More & Apply Know someone who would be a good fit for SPI? Please send them the link above. 153,000   The number of U.S.-born Oklahoma residents living with at least one immigrant parent. That's about 4% of all U.S.-born residents in the state. [American Immigration Council] Birthright Citizenship Under the U.S. Constitution   The Constitution's 14th Amendment ensures that nearly everyone born on U.S. soil is a citizen, based on long-standing legal consensus and landmark rulings. Recent executive actions attempting to restrict this principle — such as barring children of undocumented or temporary-status parents — challenge established case law and face deep constitutional scrutiny. Protecting birthright citizenship will depend on legal clarity and reinforced judicial and legislative commitment to uphold this foundational right. [Brennan Center for Justice] "The claim is that they're transients, passing through, they're going from one place to the next. However, if you get to know the people who are actually homeless, they are long-time Mayes County residents. They grew up as children here, they have family here. They have a full history of being in our area."   — Janice Bell, founder of a Pryor resource center for the homeless, challenging the assumption that the area's unhoused population are outsiders and should be removed from the area. [Oklahoma Watch] Oklahoma News   Oklahoma ranks 4th most illiterate state in new study: Oklahoma ranks 47th in the nation in literacy, placing it fourth among the most illiterate states in America, according to a new study by CustomWritings. Eighth-grade reading scores sit 3.1% below the national average, with math scores nearly as low. [The Journal Record] From OK Policy: For more than two decades, Oklahoma lawmakers have prioritized tax cuts that have weakened sustained funding for strong public education - 2025 KIDS COUNT Data book State Government News   Oklahoma Department of Commerce to open OK-Taiwan trade office: Representatives from the Importers & Exporters Association of Taipei and the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce signed a collaboration agreement at the chamber office on Monday. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed with a goal of creating a direct business liaison between the two cities, linking Oklahoma with Taiwan. [The Journal Record]   Which immigration bills are still alive at the Oklahoma Capitol? We dig in.: March 26 was the deadline for the Oklahoma legislature to pass Senate and House bills off the floors and send to the other chamber to be considered. We broke down the immigration bills moving forward and what is no longer on the table. [La Semana / Tulsa Flyer]   Legislative Roundup Oklahoma Senate advances maternal health bill expanding Medicaid services [News 9] Oklahoma House passes bill restoring eighth-grade reading requirement for teen drivers [News Channel 8] Oklahoma bill would require schools to allow time for voluntary prayer [News Channel 8] Oklahoma Bill Aims to Allow Expert Testimony in Human Trafficking Cases [News Channel 8] Oklahoma bill favoring volunteer firefighter benefits fails to be heard on floor [KFOR] Oklahoma House passes bill expanding epilepsy care insurance coverage [News on 6] Oklahoma House passes bill clarifying tenant, landlord rights [News 9] Federal Government News   Immigrants lose access to food aid in more states, as federal restrictions take effect: Refugees and other immigrants are no longer eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, as states implement a federal rule change. The restriction is one of many moves that has made it harder for immigrants to access federal benefits. [Harvest Public Media via KOSU] From OK Policy: Closing the door on lawful immigrants: How HR 1 reshapes the safety net in Oklahoma How Trump's expansion of federal power threatens states' authority: As the United States of America marks its 250th anniversary this year, the relationship between the states and the federal government is approaching a breaking point. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has warned that the expanding power and spending of the federal government is dangerous no matter which party controls Washington. [Oklahoma Voice]   TSA officers finally get paid amid ongoing Homeland Security shutdown: Most Transportation Security Administration officers received a paycheck Monday covering four weeks of back wages that were held up by the funding lapse at the Department of Homeland Security, a TSA spokesperson said. [Oklahoma Voice]   Tribal Nations News   Cherokee Nation principal chief talks about his fight to preserve tribal rights (audio): NPR's Steve Inskeep asks Chuck Hoskin Jr., Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, about his fight with Oklahoma's governor and tribal rights in America today. [NPR via KOSU]   Voting and Election News   Election Roundup Education hall of famer Robert Franklin joins Oklahoma state superintendent race [Oklahoma Voice] Young candidates create rare contested school board race in southeast OKC [Oklahoma Voice] Meet the candidates: Two vying for Tulsa Public Schools District 7 board seat [Tulsa World] Education News   'Play fair with any partner': How Tulsa Public Schools is expanding Special Olympics to increase participation: The "unified" approach to Special Olympics sports allows students with disabilities to play on the same teams as their peers without disabilities. That model is growing at TPS, from just 20 participants to nearly 300 in the last three years. [Tulsa Flyer]   Opinion: Oklahoma needs shared purpose to strengthen talent pipeline: Across industries, employers are facing persistent hiring challenges. At the same time, too many students are graduating unsure whether their skills match what the workforce actually demands. [Tara Crowley / The Oklahoman]   Health News   'Uphill in a snowstorm': How one rural Oklahoma county is fighting the opioid epidemic: Local governments in Oklahoma are taking an active role in funding mental health care with opioid settlement funds, but some are struggling to manage new responsibilities while existing services are cut. [KOSU]   What we learned about mental health in Oklahoma at the Flyer and Eagle's free forum: Mental health is at the heart of some of Oklahoma's most pressing social issues. It drives trends in homelessness, incarceration and systemic instability — yet access to care remains a major challenge for those in the thick of it. [Tulsa Flyer]   Criminal Justice News   New federal data reinforces nationwide drop in crime since pandemic peak: Crime in the United States continued to fall in 2024, according to two new federal reports from the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, with declines in both violent and property offenses even as some states had higher-than-average crime rates. [Oklahoma Voice] From OK Policy: Oklahoma voters still back the 2016 justice reforms, which are producing results Cuts at Oklahoma County Detention Center possible if funding isn't approved at emergency meeting: A big decision could come down Tuesday for the Oklahoma County Jail, with leaders warning of possible layoffs and calling in outside help. [KOCO]   Neal Center for Justice files complaint seeking resignation of Oklahoma jail trust chair: The Neal Center for Justice filed a formal complaint against the Oklahoma County Jail Trust Chairman, Jim Holman, calling for his resignation Monday. This comes after a laundry list of issues at the jail, including pay raises given to detention center officers after the jail trust board voted against them. [Fox 25]   Ruling sends civil case over Betty Shelby shooting Terence Crutcher back to court: A judge partially erred when he dismissed a civil rights lawsuit brought on behalf of Terence Crutcher Sr., an unarmed man who was fatally shot in 2016 by a Tulsa Police officer, an appellate court ruled Monday. [Tulsa World]   Housing & Economic Opportunity News   Homelessness Among Families with Children is Rising and It's Expected to Get Worse: When Joe Martin became a father, he wanted to give his children the stability he never experienced growing up. For six years after his separation, he lived with his daughter and son in the same trailer park, close to family, in Talala near Oologah. He and his children were about to join the ranks of the invisible homeless, a problem so prevalent in Oklahoma that experts estimate the numbers in the thousands. [Oklahoma Watch] From OK Policy: Homelessness in Oklahoma – Information and Resources | Okla-Homeless: The State of Homelessness in Oklahoma (video) 'It will fill a huge need': Norman mayor hopes voters will approve homeless shelter: Six years after Norman voters narrowly rejected a proposal for a city-owned homeless shelter, many municipal leaders are hoping they will change their minds for an April 7 election that proposes an $8 million permanent shelter owned by the city, but operated by a third party. [NonDoc]   Half of Oklahoma City homes were built before 1985, study finds: The typical home in Oklahoma City is 39 years old, and nearly half of the metro's housing stock predates 1985, according to a new analysis from Construction Coverage. [The Journal Record]   Economy & Business News   Project Anthem withdraws rezoning application for phase two of data center in Tulsa: The developer behind Project Anthem has withdrawn its application for zoning changes needed to construct phase two of the planned data center project. Lou Reynolds, the attorney for Project Anthem, said he expects the rezoning application to be refiled at some point. [Tulsa World] Developer scraps plan for Coweta data center dubbed Project Atlas [Tulsa World] Opinion: Oklahoma must strengthen its playbook for data centers [William Langdon / The Oklahoman] Community News   International canoe, kayak competition offers glimpse at Oklahoma's role in 2028 summer games: Oklahoma City is hosting two events for the 2028 Summer Games. Most Oklahomans are probably familiar with softball, but what about canoe slalom? [KOSU] Could Edmond host qualifier for new Olympic event? [The Oklahoman] These 4 women are shaping the future of east Tulsa. Here's how.: Janice Thoumire helps children feel safe in the classroom. Toni Ramos inspires young women to focus on their goals. Gloria Arias connects with first-generation and immigrant students on the higher education landscape. Shayna Talton connects her neighbors to resources. As Women's History Month comes to a close, we're highlighting four women who are shaping the eastside in our latest edition of our "Heart of East Tulsa" series. [La Semana / Tulsa Flyer]   Local Headlines Shawnee sues fire truck makers over alleged price fixing [The Oklahoman] East Tulsa arts group will pause operations this summer after funding struggles [Tulsa Flyer] This Tulsa park's new trail makes it easier for people with disabilities to enjoy nature [Tulsa Flyer] 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.