 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. Click here to subscribe to In The Know and see past editions. | New from OK Policy Too Much of a Good Thing? Exceeding Rainy Day Fund cap would leave critical needs underfunded: Oklahomans look to our state government to fund a wide range of critical investments – including schools, roads and bridges, public safety, and safety net supports – that contribute to our shared prosperity. For nearly a decade, year after year of shortfalls and revenue failures forced repeated cuts to critical services that caused grave harm to our families, businesses, and communities. Overall state appropriations fell by almost $1.5 billion compared to a decade before, adjusted for inflation. [OK Policy] In The News Oklahoma House approves eviction measure in marathon session: Evictions would increase under legislation approved by the Oklahoma House of Representatives on Thursday, opponents of the measure claimed. House Bill 2394, by Rep. Logan Phillips, R-Mounds, would change a section of law that allows landlords to initiate eviction proceedings for “any drug-related criminal activity on or near the premises by the tenant or by any member of the tenant’s household or any guest or other person under the tenant’s control” by deleting the phrase “on or near the premises.” [Tulsa World] Senate effectively kills legislation for minimum wage increase: Oklahomans likely won't see a minimum wage hike this year after the state Senate effectively killed three key pieces of legislation intended to boosted worker pay for the first time in a decade. State Sen. George Young, D-Oklahoma City, said he was disappointed that his measure increasing wages from $7.25 to $10.50 failed to even get a committee hearing in the Republican-controlled state Senate. [CHNI] Other states have raised their minimum wage through a citizen petition Bill making some crimes retroactive would reduce prison population but could have unintended consequences: Central to the argument for Smallwood’s release was State Question 780 — the overwhelmingly successful 2016 voter initiative that reduced felony punishments for drug possession and property crimes under a thousand dollars to misdemeanors. The worst punishment for those crimes now is a year in county jail — no prison time. [StateImpact Oklahoma] One of our 2019 policy priorities is making the sentencing reforms of SQ 780 retroactive. Judge directs every Oklahoma County jail inmate be checked after one was lost for almost eight months: For almost eight months, everyone agrees, Oklahoma County jail inmate Charles E. Lemons was lost in the criminal justice system. Still in dispute is why. What everyone involved also agrees on, though, is that it shouldn't happen. [NewsOK $] State lawmakers take another run at Oklahoma Supreme Court redistricting: State lawmakers are again trying to change Oklahoma’s Supreme Court districts. House and Senate bills would align five judicial districts with Oklahoma’s congressional districts and set the other four as at-large districts. Rep. Shane Stone said with Oklahoma’s population shifting to urban areas, the change is a matter of representation. [Public Radio Tulsa] Oklahoma lawmakers are trying to weaken vaccination laws despite outbreaks: In 2018, 14 bills were introduced in the Oklahoma legislature to weaken vaccination laws. Just 92.6% of kindergartners in Oklahoma had the measles vaccine down from 97.3% in 2010. Experts say a 95% vaccination is needed to prevent epidemics. [NowThis] Partisan lines drawn on Oklahoma agency proposal: Gov. Kevin Stitt on Wednesday accused Democrats of protecting the status quo after the minority party criticized his agency reform proposal, which Republican leaders expressed support for this week. [NewsOK] Despite continuing strong opposition from Democrats, legislation that would overhaul how major state agencies are organized and operated advanced toward becoming law on Thursday. [Journal Record | 
