In The Know: Oklahoma has the highest insurance rates, despite lower incomes | Judge denies governor's request to intervene in city of Tulsa, Muscogee Nation lawsuit | Harold Hamm asked Stitt for Senate appointment

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.

MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2026 Subscribe // View web version (current and archived) $571 million   The total authorized budget for the state's Fiscal Year 2027 (which starts on July 1, 2026) is about $571 million less — about 4.5% — than its legislative expenditure authority from June 2025. This means that lawmakers this session have fewer dollars to spend to address the state's needs through its public budget. [OK Policy] Sound State Revenue Choices Essential to Counteract Harmful Policies and Build Forward   State and local policymakers nationwide are facing a one-two punch entering 2026. For one, last summer's harmful Republican megabill paired enormous tax breaks for wealthy households and corporations with historically deep cuts that will take away people's vital health care and food assistance, all while foisting considerable new costs and responsibilities onto states and localities. The resulting damage to people and communities is expected to be significant. And it comes at a time when many states are also facing intensifying budget pressures from the second threat: their own recent policy choices, like widespread income tax cuts, costly private school voucher programs, and a growing trend of property tax cuts and caps. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities] "You can reduce who's receiving benefits, or you can reduce how much you pay for it. I mean, I'm oversimplifying it, but it's essentially those two things. And neither of those measures are fun conversations, but it's an important topic that we're discussing this year."   —Oklahoma House Speaker Rep. Kyle Hilbert (Bristow), speaking about the status of Medicaid/SoonerCare funding negotiations among lawmakers. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority has requested $495 million of additional funding for FY 2027 in order to maintain current services due in large part to decreased federal funding because of 2026's One Big Beautiful Bill (H.R. 1). [NonDoc] From OK Policy: H.R. 1 could push Oklahoma's health care system past its breaking point Oklahoma News   Federal judge agrees Oklahoma is failing to implement mental health consent decree: The state of Oklahoma is making insufficient effort to fix a system that keeps people languishing in jail instead of getting mental health treatment, according to U.S. District Judge Gregory Frizzell. [KOSU]   Oil Tycoon and GOP Donor Harold Hamm Asked Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt for Senate Appointment: Oil and gas magnate Harold Hamm, one of the wealthiest people in America and a major Republican donor, called Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt on Thursday night, asking for the appointment to Oklahoma's newly open Senate seat. [Oklahoma Watch] These names are floating around as Markwayne Mullin's Senate replacement [The Oklahoman] Who plans to run for Markwayne Mullin's Senate seat? [KFOR] Gov. Stitt mum on pick for US Senate but says it will be a 'great Oklahoman' who fills the seat [KOCO] Tulsa Sheriff Vic Regalado 'considering' 1st Congressional District campaign amid shakeup [Tulsa World] Weekly rewind: U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin's resignation shakes up Oklahoma politics [Tulsa World] Opinion: Call it the Mullin Scramble. Who will come out on top? [Former Rep. Mark McBride / The Oklahoman] Partisanship perseveres: State Question 836 fails to hit signature threshold: A petition effort to change Oklahoma's primary system fell short of the required signature threshold to make it to a future ballot, the Oklahoma Secretary of State's Office announced Thursday. Organizers for State Question 836 turned in more than 200,000 signatures to the Secretary of State's Office, but it's unclear how many of the signatures were able to be verified. [NonDoc] Effort to open Oklahoma primaries falls short [Oklahoma Voice] Open primary state question fails; officials note invalid signatures [The Oklahoman] As open primaries in Oklahoma fail, a bill to codify partly closing them advances [KOSU] Grading Oklahoma: Oklahoma has the highest insurance rates, despite lower incomes: Even though the state's median household income are among the nation's lowest, the coverage rates are three times the average. [The Oklahoman]   Oklahoma riot law at the middle of years-long court dispute: Oklahoma's top criminal appeals court has ruled that a standard set by the U.S. Supreme Court about "true threats" of violence does not apply to the state's century-old law on prosecuting riots. [The Oklahoman]   Gov. Stitt signs executive order declaring a state of emergency for northeast Oklahoma: Governor Kevin Stitt signed Executive Order 2026-11 on Friday, declaring a State of Emergency in Alfalfa, Okmulgee, Grant, Major, Creek, Rogers, Tulsa, and Wagoner counties to ensure essential resources can quickly reach Oklahomans after the severe weather this week. [KFOR]   State Government News   Efforts move forward that could roll back Medicaid expansion: Despite voters already having voted in Medicaid Expansion, there is an effort that has moved forward that could allow the state to opt out of costs. This would ultimately restrict how many people could stay on Medicaid in Oklahoma. [KFOR]   Eliminating Oklahoma's medical marijuana industry would be 'death blow,' costly to state: A growing chorus of bipartisan voices, both inside and outside the industry, are pushing back against Gov. Kevin Stitt's recent calls to "shut down" Oklahoma's multi-billion dollar medical marijuana industry. [Oklahoma Voice]   Mulready Approves CompSource Conversion Plan: Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready on Thursday approved CompSource Mutual Insurance Co.'s conversion plan, which drew immediate pushback from some policyholders, who still must vote to approve the plan. [Oklahoma Watch]   House Speaker Kyle Hilbert wants primaries moved to March: Oklahoma Speaker of the House of Representatives Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, wants Oklahomans to vote earlier and, he says, more often. Whether or not it's his intention, Hilbert would also make it harder for voters to switch party affiliations ahead of elections. [Tulsa World]   Oklahoma Chronicle: Investing in Education: Oklahoma lawmakers have come up with a plan to improve child literacy scores across the state. The move comes with a hefty price tag and many are not happy about where the money will come from. [KOCO]   Legislative Roundup Bills filed after scathing audit would tighten financial oversight of state agencies [Tulsa World] Lawmakers Advance Several Voting Bills [Oklahoma Watch] Bills to watch: lawmakers advance key bills on elections, education, and taxes [The Journal Record] Here are the cost of living bills still standing as Oklahoma legislative session barrels forward [Tulsa Flyer] Monday Minute: Appointment decisions [NonDoc]  Opinion: SB 1450 brings clarity to those seeking to reenter the workforce: For years, fines and fees have quietly limited the ability of many Oklahomans to fully reenter the workforce. Even after completing court-ordered requirements, relief from certain costs can depend more on discretion than on clear, consistent standards. SB 1450, authored by Sen. Julie Daniels and advancing this session, addresses that gap. The bill modifies Oklahoma's waiver and ability-to-pay provisions by requiring waiver of certain court costs and fees once defined conditions are met. It also clarifies timelines for payment and establishes a substantial compliance standard. [Tiffani Shaw / Tulsa World]   Opinion: How ironic: While Oklahoma Republicans stood for America, they bowed as Trump trampled voter rights: Bowing down to Trump might seem like politics as usual in the Republican-controlled Oklahoma House. But here's where it gets delightfully ironic and raises some uncomfortable questions for Republican lawmakers about whether they actually do intend to protect American citizens living in this state. As House Republicans were standing to honor Trump, his Department of Justice was busy suing Oklahoma's election chief to try to force the release of private voter data. That's data that American citizens living in Oklahoma have made crystal clear that they don't want in anybody's hands except our state election officials. [Janelle Stecklein / Oklahoma Voice]   Federal Government News   What's the cost of Trump's war in Iran? US House Dem asks budget agency to add it up: The top Democrat on the U.S. House Budget Committee sent a letter to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office on Thursday, asking its experts to determine how much the war in Iran could cost. [Oklahoma Voice] D.C. Digest: War cost adds to Cole's appropriations duties [Tulsa World] Listen Frontier: Why Trump picked Markwayne Mullin for Homeland Security (podcast): On this podcast, we're talking about one of the more surprising political shakeups in Washington — the firing of Kristi Noem and the appointment of Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin to replace her. [The Frontier] Native Americans react to Sen. Markwayne Mullin's DHS appointment [NPR via KOSU] From fighter to Trump adviser, is Markwayne Mullin a good fit for DHS? [The Oklahoman] Is the ICE budget for converting warehouses to detention facilities more than Oklahoma's total annual spending? Yes: According to a document released amid ICE's acquisition of warehouses, ICE plans to spend $38.3 billion to expand detention capacity to 92,000 beds–more than Oklahoma's 2024 expenditure of $30.7 billion. [Oklahoma Watch]   Tribal Nations News   Teeing up OK Supreme Court case, federal judge boots Stitt motion in Muscogee, Tulsa settlement: District Judge John Russell announced today he will enter an order denying Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt's intervention request aimed at preventing the enforcement of a settlement agreement in the Muscogee Nation's lawsuit against the City of Tulsa. The order portends a conclusion to the federal case, but it does allow the Stitt administration to continue making some of its arguments against the agreement in state court. [NonDoc] Judge denies governor's request to intervene in city of Tulsa, Muscogee Nation lawsuit [Tulsa World] Cherokee Nation Principal Chief optimistic for next Oklahoma governor, addresses Stitt on 'McGirt': Gov. Kevin Stitt, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, has repeatedly called for limits to tribal sovereignty and has claimed Oklahoma's reservations were disbanded upon statehood, despite the landmark McGirt case that ruled half the state was tribal land. [KOSU]   Black Creek leaders seek federal records tied to Freedmen citizenship debate: Attorneys representing Black Creek descendants in an ongoing citizenship dispute with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation are requesting records from the federal government they say could shed light on how national policymakers are understanding the decades-long fight over Freedmen citizenship. [The Black Wall Street Times]   Education News   Essay controversy spurs OU criticism across spectrum: After the University of Oklahoma gained national notoriety last year for terminating a teaching assistant over a religious essay controversy, President Joe Harroz said he relied on OU's Faculty Senate Executive Committee throughout the process — a claim the body quickly disputed in a formal resolution. [NonDoc]   Criminal Justice News   SCOTUS considers whether plea deals block all appeals in Oklahoma: The ability to appeal or not to appeal was the question before the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday, as justices considered how broadly appeal waivers in plea agreements should be enforced in the case of Texas defendant Munson Hunter. [Gaylord News via The Black Wall Street Times]   OK County Commissioner Myles Davidson will not be charged over sexual accusations: Oklahoma County Commissioner Myles Davison will not face criminal prosecution over accusations he groped a woman last year. [The Oklahoman]   Ex-Oklahoma cop arrested after investigators say he admitted to lying: A former police officer has been arrested on accusations he lied about an arrest in a rural western Oklahoma city. [The Oklahoman]   Family of armed man fatally shot by Tulsa Police officer seek answers, transparency: The family of an armed, suicidal man fatally shot by Tulsa Police are searching for answers nearly one month later. Karmen Glunt is asking that an outside, independent oversight committee be formed to review police shootings such as the Feb. 8 shooting of her brother. [Tulsa World]   Community News   Opinion: God knows we can and must do better. The choice is ours: Our beloved country is not in a good place, and life is getting worse. The inhumanity, injustice, racism and violence happening in our country is beyond comprehension, yet true. And just think how fortunate, even blessed, our country has been for 250 years! Sure, we have had our wars, famines, depressions, controversies and other challenges along the way, but we have always come back — even prospered. We still have the freedom and ability "IF" we have the desire and determination to correct our course. [The Rev. Lee Stephens / The Oklahoman]   Opinion: Jesse Jackson's words transformed my life at 10 years old: As a young Black boy attending a predominantly white school, where daily microaggressions came not only from students but sometimes from teachers, that declaration reshaped how I saw myself. The Rev. Jackson had an uncanny ability, through both word and presence, to make you feel seen and heard. [The Rev. A. Byron Coleman III / The Oklahoman] 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.

Weekly Wonk: Property taxes aren't just bills — they're the price of a functioning community. Lawmakers shouldn't change them without knowing the impacts. | Senate plan would shift $254 million to schools by capping teacher retirement funding | More

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, MARCH 8, 2026 Subscribe // View latest headlines Fact Sheet: Property taxes are vital to the health of local government in Oklahoma   Property taxes are essential for Oklahoma's local communities. Also referred to as ad valorem taxes, they pay for the basics we all count on—public schools, safe roads, and reliable police and fire protection. Unlike other taxes, property taxes go straight to local needs, keeping our towns and counties strong and vibrant. Oklahoma has some of the nation's lowest property taxes, with state law already providing protections for homeowners, especially seniors and disabled veterans. [Aanahita Irani Ervin / OK Policy] From OK Policy: Property taxes are one of the main mechanisms reserved for local governments to raise revenue and meet the needs of local residents quickly and efficiently. They allow local governments to tailor services to their community's priorities. Paying property taxes: What's in it for me? (Commentary)   At a time when calls for property tax cuts dominate headlines and dinner table debates, more people are asking a simple question: What's in it for me? It's a fair question. Why should I pay for services I don't use, schools my family doesn't attend, or roads I rarely drive? The short answer: taxes are less about what I use today and more about the kind of community I want for tomorrow. My taxes – including property taxes – are not just bills. They are investments in safety, stability, and the unspoken promise of what we owe the next generation. [Dave Hamby / OK Policy] Senate plan would shift $254 million to schools by capping teacher retirement funding (Capitol Update)   Senator Adam Pugh, R-Edmond — with the support of Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle — made an interesting proposal for increasing common school funding by $254 million next year. The plan sets a $200 million cap on earmarked revenue for the Teachers' Retirement System (TRS). Based on current law, TRS is projected to receive $454 million next year in revenue, which is taken "off the top" before it reaches the general revenue fund. The $200 million cap would enable $254 million to go to the general revenue fund for legislative appropriation. [Steve Lewis / OK Policy] Policy Matters: Ready, fire, aim – Lawmakers shouldn't pull trigger on property tax changes before knowing the impacts   Oklahoma lawmakers are debating sweeping changes to property taxes without knowing how much schools, roads, or emergency services would lose. More than 100 bills have been filed, but none explicitly explain how counties or schools would be affected. Without this information, lawmakers are making decisions in the dark and putting communities at risk. [Shiloh Kantz / The Journal Record] Thank for making our Day of Action a huge success!   Our 2026 Day of Action brought more than 200 advocates from across Oklahoma to the State Capitol — and you really showed up! Thank you for bringing your voice, your stories, and your community to the table. This is how change happens.   Never miss an event — Subscribe to updates from OK Policy and Together OK. Ad Valorem Exemptions (Property Tax Exemptions)   Oklahoma provides partial or full exemptions from ad valorem taxes (property taxes) for various categories of homeowners: All homesteads (a person's primary residence) are exempted $1,000 of the assessed value. Households with gross income under $30,000 for the prior calendar year are entitled to an additional $1,000 homestead exemption. The limit was raised from $20,000 as of January 2024.  Property values are frozen for seniors whose gross household income is at or below the median of their county or metropolitan area (SQ 714). In July 2022, three Republican House members announced an initiative petition (SQ 822) that would have frozen property values for all seniors regardless of income; however, signatures were not submitted by the deadline. Seniors with income below $12,000 may claim a credit against income tax in the amount that their property tax exceeds 1 percent of total income, up to $200. Seniors with income under $10,000 who reside in manufactured homes are allowed a $2,000 exemption. An honorably discharged veteran who is 100 percent disabled, or a surviving spouse of a veteran killed while in active duty, is fully exempted from ad valorem taxes for his or her homestead (SQ 715). Look up more key terms to understand Oklahoma politics and government here. "It's time that we be honest with the voters. It's time that we look at voters in the face and stop telling them that taxes are so bad for them."   —Mike Fina, executive director of the Oklahoma Municipal League, pushing back on proposals to freeze or cap property taxes and arguing that the conversation around taxation should focus on whether public revenues are sufficient to fund essential local services like infrastructure, public safety, and community programs. [The Oklahoman] Opinion: Working Oklahomans don't have time for political theater   Working families don't have time for political theater. They're trying to make payroll. They're trying to raise their kids. They're trying to run a business or hold down a job. They want stability. They want predictability. They want someone to listen before decisions are made that affect their lives.   But many look at what's happening at the Capitol and feel like they're watching a performance. They're hearing that everything is going well. We're leading the nation in this or that. Things couldn't be better.   [Former State Representative Mark McBride / The Oklahoman] From OK Policy: Oklahomans need better policy choices, not campaign headlines (Policy Matters) 15% - More than 100 million Americans will likely vote in the 2026 general election, but only an estimated 15% of voters will cast a meaningful vote in deciding who gets elected. Most races will be decided in low-turnout primaries. [Unite America]   $12.17 billion - The total authorized budget for Fiscal Year 2027, which begins July 1, 2027. This represents a $571 million decrease (4.5%) from the Oklahoma Legislature's expenditure authority in June 2025. [Oklahoma Board of Equalization – February 2026]   68% - The share of Oklahoma property tax revenue that went to fund public schools in 2019. Property taxes are the single largest local funding source for education across the state. [Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector]   0 - As of 2025, there is no county or metro area in the country where a minimum-wage worker is paid enough to meet the requirements of their local family budget on their wages alone. [Economic Policy Institute] The Effect of Open Primaries on Turnout and Representation: Open and nonpartisan primaries tend to produce more representative electorates than closed primaries. Voter turnout increases when states allow unaffiliated voters to participate in primaries for the first time, and the electorate grows more demographically and politically representative. [Bipartisan Policy Center] | [Read the Report]   States That Raised Revenue Offer Brighter Roadmap for Others: Several states have recently raised new revenues instead of cutting taxes, allowing them to protect and expand investments in priorities like schools, child care, housing, transportation, and paid leave. These approaches show how stronger tax systems can help states respond to rising costs and fiscal pressures while supporting families and communities. By contrast, tax cuts can weaken state budgets and limit the ability to maintain essential services, especially during economic downturns. States that prioritize sustainable revenue sources — particularly from higher-income households and corporations — are better positioned to maintain services and invest in long-term prosperity. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities]   Untargeted Property Tax Cuts and Limits Shortchange Schools and Local Economies: Untargeted property tax cuts — such as broad rate reductions or caps on local taxing ability — often shift the tax burden away from wealthier homeowners while undermining local budgets for essential services. These policies can force communities to slash funding for schools, infrastructure, and other public goods, or resort to more regressive revenue sources. A more balanced approach relies on targeted relief (like income-based credits or circuit breakers), more equitable assessments, and preserving local fiscal flexibility to maintain service levels. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities]   EPI's updated Family Budget Calculator shows that higher minimum wages are needed in states like Oklahoma to afford the cost of living: EPI's updated Family Budget Calculator shows how much income it takes to afford basic expenses in every metro area and county across the United States in 2025. The Family Budget Calculator can be used to assess a living-wage level and shows that states like Oklahoma need a higher minimum wage. The state's minimum wage falls short by over $12 an hour in meeting a one-person budget in the state's lowest cost county. [Economic Policy Institute] 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.