In The Know: Governor renews calls to cut, eliminate personal income tax. How would it impact Oklahomans? | Lawmakers questions state superintendent's priorities | Staying engaged this legislative session

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.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025 Subscribe // View latest headlines FACT CHECK: How would governor's proposal to cut, eliminate personal income tax effect Oklahoma?   Gov. Stitt has proposed a 0.5% cut to the state's individual income tax rate as the first step to eliminating it. The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy has estimated how much this would cut taxes for Oklahomans by income level, and the results show that the proposed cut would would provide little relief to everyday Oklahomans who need it most. [OK Policy] Policy Matters: We must stay engaged this legislative session   The Oklahoma legislative session kicks off Monday. And if you're anything like me, you're already bracing yourself for a four-month rollercoaster ride. Especially as we've seen too many lawmakers and state officials prioritize headline-grabbing, hot-button issues instead of tackling the challenges that actually affect everyday Oklahomans and their families. But here's the truth: this is the moment when we need to stay engaged, not check out. [Shiloh Kantz / The Journal Record] 42.8%   Oklahoma received 42.8%, or $14.5 billion, of its total revenue from federal grants in fiscal year 2022. Oklahoma was one of 30 states during the same period with a higher share of federal funds when compared to the prior year. [Pew Charitable Trusts] Lawmakers Face Budget Crunches, Tough Decisions to Close Expected Shortfalls   After two years of relative stability, 2025 marks an inflection point for many state budgets. Although tax revenue has declined nationwide since the record highs of 2021 and 2022, most states had large surpluses and leftover federal aid that helped lawmakers pass budgets with a minimum of fuss in 2023 and 2024. Now, however, lawmakers face tougher budget decisions as the post-pandemic transition period ends. [Pew Charitable Trusts] "Are we shortchanging Oklahomans in terms of services or programs? We need to look at the burden on folks who are paying a higher percentage of their income on sales tax and property tax and make sure that we're focusing any relief on those folks who need it the most. I want to work on real solutions and make sure we're targeting it so we're not just doing blanket cuts for political points instead of actually looking at what the numbers are."   - Sen. Julia Kirt (Oklahoma City) responding to the governor's seasonal push for sweeping cuts to Oklahoma's personal income tax. The proposals being considered this year would reduce the state's budget by at least $660 million, and overwhelmingly benefit the wealthiest taxpayers while providing little relief for low and middle-income Oklahomans. [The Journal Record] From OK Policy: FACT CHECK: How would governor's proposal to cut, eliminate personal income tax effect Oklahoma? Oklahoma News   Oklahoma lawmakers address fear and anxiety in immigration enforcement: A surge in immigration enforcement operations has heightened fear and uncertainty within the immigrant community. The Oklahoma Legislative Latino Caucus stood united at the state capitol on Wednesday to put some of those concerns to rest, clear up misconceptions, and prepare families. [News on 6] Know Your Rights Toolkit [Immigrant Legal Resource Center] What to do after a loved one is detained by ICE [New York Legal Assistance Group]  State Government News   Oklahoma governor renews push for income tax cut in 2025 session: Gov. Kevin Stitt remains optimistic about the possibility of an income tax reduction, but more support than last year from legislative leaders will be key to getting a cut to his desk. [The Journal Record] Oklahoma governor plans to push Legislature to pass additional $660 million in tax cuts [Oklahoma Voice] OK Governor Kevin Stitt reignites push for state income tax cut ahead of next legislative session [Fox 23] Stitt renews call for income tax cut, wants Legislature to eventually eliminate it [The Oklahoman] From OK Policy: Comments on revenue numbers estimated during December's Board of Equalization meeting What to watch for during Oklahoma's 2025 legislative session: More than 3,100 bills have been filed leading up to the legislative session, and from the looks of it, cutting the state's income tax is a top priority carried over from last year for the majority Republican legislature. [KOSU]   Humphrey files bill to rename DOC to 'Department of Corruption': State Representative Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, has introduced House Bill 1310, proposing to rename the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (DOC) to the "Oklahoma Department of Corruption." [The Journal Record]   Oklahoma lawmakers consider changes to wind turbine development, hunting and more: Several bills filed in the Oklahoma Legislature seek to expand regulations on the state's environment and energy industries. [KOSU]   State lawmakers will remain busy through May 30: While, at first, it looks simple, the Oklahoma Legislature's 2025 calendar is one of the rare documents that both the House and the Senate agree on. Still, even with that, four months doesn't leave a great deal of time for debate. And today, both houses of the Legislature have new leaders. [The Oklahoman] New session, new faces: These are the newest leaders in the Oklahoma Legislature [The Oklahoman] New leaders, new challenges: A lot is changing for Oklahoma's 2025 legislative session [The Oklahoman] Federal Government News   Oklahoma Policy Institute measures impact of federal aid freeze: Amidst confusion over President Donald Trump's unexpected move to freeze federal aid for grant and loan programs, Oklahoma Policy Institute released information measuring just how much the conservative state relies on federal funding for core services. [The Black Wall Street Times]  From OK Policy: Facts and figures on federal grant dollars in Oklahoma Trump spending freeze memo that provoked confusion, chaos rescinded [Oklahoma Voice] How a federal funding freeze would impact Oklahoma [KFOR] Opinion: Immigration directive to allow arrests in church violates my conscience: President Donald Trump's directive that U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents may enter houses of worship to extract illegal immigrants crosses an inviolable line and sets a dangerous pattern for future presidents. [Pastor Jon Odom / Tulsa World]   Tribal Nations News   Muscogee Nation sues two state district attorneys over jurisdiction issue: The Muscogee Nation has filed two lawsuits in separate federal courts that seek an end to two district attorneys' practice of prosecuting tribal members in Indian Country. [Tulsa World]   Tribal leaders concerned for self-governance funds under Trump: Hours after a judge temporarily blocked a federal funding pause that would've significantly affected tribes, a group of leaders tasked with advocating for Indigenous people met to touch base at Tulsa City Hall. [Public Radio Tulsa]   Dean McGee Eye Institute seeks answers on glaucoma disparities for Native Americans: Researchers and clinicians at the Dean McGee Eye Institute are trying to unravel the puzzle of why Native Americans seem to have a higher incidence of the eye disease glaucoma and why they seem to suffer a more aggressive and alarming form of the disorder. [The Journal Record]   Voting and Election News   OKCPS chairperson debate: Lewis defends record as Spriggs, Barrick call for change: Pressed on their stances Tuesday night, the three candidates for board chairperson of Oklahoma City's largest school district agreed that immigration enforcement should not occur on campuses but disagreed about how best to reduce cell phone "distraction" in classrooms. [NonDoc]   Tulsa-area special elections: HD 71, HD 74 draw crowds: From a comedian to a Marine Corps veteran and a Pennsylvania Republican field organizer, candidate filing at the State Capitol concluded Wednesday with a baker's dozen running for two Tulsa-area special elections in House District 71 and House District 74. [NonDoc]   Education News   As Oklahoma test scores languish, lawmakers question Walters' Bible, citizenship check policies: As national testing again ranks Oklahoma in the bottom 10 for academic results, lawmakers on Wednesday debated whether the state is headed in the right direction or is pursuing policies that distract from better outcomes. [Oklahoma Voice] Oklahoma lawmakers ask Ryan Walters to consider free Bibles instead of using tax dollars [The Oklahoman] Walters cites administrative cost savings in budget request with $3 million for Bibles [Tulsa World] Multiple Oklahoma school districts going remote amid flu outbreaks to clean, halt spread: Schools like Lindsay Public Schools and Piedmont Public Schools are among the districts taking action while the entire state of Oklahoma is above the baseline for percent of flu tests coming back positive. [The Oklahoman]   New initiative lets Tulsa teachers get $50,000 toward a Habitat for Humanity home: Green Country Habitat for Humanity and Tulsa Public Schools on Wednesday announced a new, $5 million down payment assistance fund for qualified teachers amid Oklahoma's historic teacher shortage. [Tulsa World] Tulsa launches $50K home down-payment program for teachers [The Black Wall Street Times] Facing a continued shortage, Tulsa's school district wants to help teachers become homeowners [Public Radio Tulsa] New legislation could enhance safety for Oklahoma students with mandatory bus seat belts: Rep. Judd Strom introduced House Bill 1244. The bill would require all school buses to have seat belts or harnesses, aiming to enhance safety for young passengers. [Fox 25]   Health News   StateImpact's 2025 Oklahoma legislative session policy watchlist: Health: This legislative session, Oklahoma lawmakers will consider a range of health bills on topics like abortion, maternal health, parental leave and improving rural health. [KGOU]   Are you permanently unable to go through puberty after taking puberty blockers? No.: Puberty blockers only work while being taken; once they're stopped, puberty resumes. At least 26 states restrict youth access to some form of gender-affirming care, including Oklahoma, which bans surgeries, puberty blockers, and hormone replacement therapy for people under 18. [Oklahoma Watch]   Criminal Justice News   Oklahoma County inches closer to a county sales tax election to help pay for new jail: A public safety sales tax election in Oklahoma County to help pay for a new jail is closer after the Board of County Commissioners voted Wednesday to receive the unanimous recommendation of the Citizens Bond Oversight Advisory Board. [The Oklahoman]   Should surprise health inspectors be let in or kept out? Jail case could touch 77 counties: State health officials want inspectors allowed into the dangerous Oklahoma County jail anytime without notice, and county jail trustees want them barred from ever conducting surprise inspections — two diametrically opposed arguments before two different courts of law. [The Oklahoman]   Housing & Economic Opportunity News   There's a shortage of Oklahoma landlords willing to lease to people with rental assistance: Lack of federal funding has forced some housing authorities to indefinitely close their waitlists, while others have only enough funding to help those with priority status for vouchers because they're experiencing homelessness or have a disability. But even for those who receive a voucher, housing isn't a guarantee. [The Frontier] From OK Policy: For every 100 extremely low-income Oklahoma renter households, the state only has 42 rentals that are available and affordable. Economy & Business News   Oklahoma lawmakers will weigh dozens of agriculture bills in upcoming session: Oklahoma lawmakers filed dozens of agriculture-related bills for this upcoming session, from changing food ingredients to who can own land. Here are a few bills introduced for the 2025 legislative session. [KOSU]   Oklahoma offers incentive for company to build biofuel refinery here: A nontraditional energy company has tapped into state incentives to build a demonstration refinery at a yet-to-be-determined location in Oklahoma. [Tulsa World]   Oklahomans push back on transmission projects, even as the state's energy needs continue to grow: In Oklahoma, energy companies and the regional grid are racing to build infrastructure that can meet the state's growing electricity needs. But some Oklahomans aren't happy about plans to festoon rural areas with towering transmission lines. [KOSU]   StateImpact's 2025 Oklahoma legislative session policy watchlist: Energy and environment: Amid the backdrop of a recent anti-renewable energy rally at the State Capitol and the return of President Donald Trump's pro-drilling administration and energy executive orders are bills targeting wind energy, carbon capture technology and other environmental programs. [KGOU]   Community News   Tulsa filmmaker earns Sundance award for documentary film 'Tiger': Loren Waters, an award-winning Cherokee and Kiowa filmmaker based in Tulsa, earned good news at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. Waters was awarded the Short Film Special Jury Award for directing. [Tulsa World]   Youth documentary camp kicks off Black History Month at Black Wall Street Art Gallery: Inspire Expressions Media is launching Keepin' It REEL: Truth 2 Screen, a documentary filmmaking camp designed to empower young storytellers. Kicking off Black History Month on February 1st at the Black Wall Street Art Gallery, the program will give students ages 10 to 18 hands-on experience under the guidance of Emmy-winning filmmakers. [The Black Wall Street Times]   OKC National Memorial & Museum announces expansion: What to know ahead of 30th anniversary: The expansion is expected to be a three-story, $12 million structure built against the current building. The upcoming space, called "Foreword," is important to continue the mission and future growth of the memorial with education and programming as the memorial marks the 30th anniversary of the attack on Oklahoma City. [The Oklahoman] OKC National Memorial unveils $12M expansion plan [The Journal Record] Local Headlines Edmond to hire firm for city manager search [The Journal Record] Integris Health Baptist Medical Center in OKC becomes level II trauma center [KGOU] Muskogee County voters to decide on sales tax hike for public safety complexes [News Channel 8] Councilors discuss balancing natural beauty around Gilcrease Museum with development needs [Tulsa World] You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail. 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. 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