In The Know: Oklahoma business leaders favor investment over tax cuts, poll says | More fallout from mental health agency inquiry | IRS-ICE tax data deal betrays public trust

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.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2025 Subscribe // View latest headlines IRS-ICE tax data deal betrays public trust and endangers immigrants (Commentary)   Contrary to popular rhetoric, undocumented immigrants pay billions of dollars in federal, state, and local taxes. Nearly three decades ago, the Internal Revenue Service created the Individual Taxpayer Identification Number so individuals ineligible for a Social Security Number could comply with U.S. tax law. This system was built on trust — immigrants were told their personal information would remain protected. Now, the Trump administration is moving to weaponize that trust by using the IRS to target immigrants who followed the law. [Gabriela Ramirez-Perez / OK Policy] Tell lawmakers to oppose tax cuts that benefit the wealthy and risk critical services   Help us protect state revenue for essential services by contacting legislators today! Oklahoma lawmakers are pushing forward bills that would overwhelmingly benefit the wealthiest Oklahomans while harming the fiscal health of the state during economically uncertain times. Learn more and take action. $313 billion   Estimated federal income and payroll tax losses over the next decade if tax compliance drops due to fear from the Internal Revenue Service's recent agreement allowing immigration officials to use tax data for confirming the names and addresses of people suspected of being in the United States illegally. [The Budget Lab] Weaponizing Immigrant Tax Data: How IRS-DHS Cooperation Would Undermine Tax Compliance, Increase Burdens, and Threaten Data Privacy   Immigrants, including undocumented immigrants, pay hundreds of billions of dollars in federal and state taxes each year, despite the fact that they do not receive many of the federal benefits that these taxes fund. Disclosing their tax records to the Department of Homeland Security for immigration enforcement would discourage tax compliance among immigrant communities, thereby weakening contributions to essential public programs and increasing burdens for U.S. citizens and nonimmigrant taxpayers. Furthermore, it would set a dangerous precedent for data privacy abuse, undermining the federal tax system and other federal programs more broadly. [Center for Democracy and Technology] "Because we will be back here next year with a giant headache on our hands if we shut these providers down. Because we all know that we're going to treat these people somewhere, and it's going to be somewhere in the system. And I'd much rather it be in the mental health system than in jails and in the court system."   - House Speaker Pro Tempore Anthony Moore of Clinton, speaking during a hearing this week about budget discussions to address shortfalls this year for the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Moore expressed concern that if "pended payments" for uninsured patients were not addressed in the current year's budget, it would cascade problems into next year's budget. [NonDoc]  THURSDAY, May 15, 2025 6:30-8:00 p.m. • [Join Meeting Online]   The Thriving Families affinity group meets regularly during Oklahoma's legislative session to track legislation and share resources related to housing, hunger and other reforms that impact everyday Oklahomans and their families. Affinity groups are designed to increase individuals' engagement in legislative and other efforts that advocate for policies that expand opportunities for all Oklahomans. Contact Northeast Regional Organizer Austin Webb for more info. [Join the meeting online] | [Learn more about all affinity groups and sign up for email updates] Oklahoma News   Oklahoma business leaders favor investment over tax cuts, poll says: Oklahoma business leaders would rather see further investment in education, infrastructure and mental health programs than receive a tax cut, according to a State Chamber poll released Tuesday. [The Journal Record] From State Chamber: 2025 Oklahoma Business Leaders Poll Immigration advocates renew lawsuit against Oklahoma crime of 'impermissible occupation': Several Oklahoma civil rights groups on Tuesday filed an amended lawsuit seeking to block the enforcement of a controversial anti-immigration law after they said state officials have been allowed to enforce it. [Oklahoma Voice] ACLU, civil rights groups renew attempt to block Oklahoma anti-immigration law [The Oklahoman] State Government News   Amid budget meetings, legislators told latest ODMHSAS shortfall figure is $27.4 million: As the Oklahoma Legislature works to finalize a Fiscal Year 2026 budget agreement — by this week, should lawmakers want to ensure time to override gubernatorial vetoes and avoid special session — the lingering uncertainty of fiscal figures at the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services has been a key puzzle piece lost in the Capitol couch cushions. [NonDoc] Oklahoma mental health department needs $27.4M to finish out budget year [Oklahoma Voice] Oklahoma lawmakers concerned mental health agency funding issues could shut down clinics [The Oklahoman] Donahue Behavioral Health Hospital takes new shape amid funding struggles [News 9] Veto of public records transparency measure draws ire from Oklahoma Attorney General: Gov. Kevin Stitt's veto of a bill that would provide Oklahomans more recourse in pursuing open records has drawn the ire of the state's attorney general. [Oklahoma Voice] Stitt, Drummond spark fireworks over vetoed bills [KFOR] Oklahoma Turnpike Authority seeks public input on revised south extension turnpike route: The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority is hosting two public meetings next week on the future south extension turnpike. The agency wants input from residents, property owners and businesses on where the turnpike might be located. [KGOU]   Long Story Short: Tom Cole's Bipartisan Reputation Gets Put to the Test (audio): Oklahoma Watch reporters discuss Rep. Tom Cole's bipartisan reputation at the Capitol, an influential order in an ongoing lawsuit alleging Oklahoma mistreated several state prisoners, and an investigation into who qualified for Oklahoma's new program to provide tuition and fees for private school students through a state income tax credit. [Oklahoma Watch]   Legislative Roundup From tips to credit cards, Oklahoma legislature still considering these changes [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma Senate advances rule requiring school donation disclosures, rejects citizenship checks [Oklahoma Voice] Lawmakers move to reject immigration status tracking at Oklahoma schools [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma Senate rejects education rules on immigration; keeps donation tracking rule [KFOR] Oklahoma Senate advances education rule changes, rejects immigration proposal [News 9] Stitt signs bill adding hurdles for doctors to recommend marijuana, vetoes task force [Tulsa World] New law bans corporal punishment of disabled students [Tulsa World] Opinion: OK students lose in the fight over District 4 representation. Say yes to Tinney: Attorney Michael Tinney's efforts to ask tough questions and demand oversight have already ruffled political feathers — a likely reason Sen. Lisa Standridge withdrew her support. [Erika Wright / The Oklahoman]   Opinion: OK Legislature must override mammogram bill veto. Women's lives depend on it: Oklahoma's Legislature should override Gov. Kevin Stitt vetoed of a bill that would remove financial red tape for mammograms. [Marek Cornett / The Oklahoman]   Federal Government News   U.S. House GOP mandates Medicaid work requirements in giant bill slashing spending: U.S. House Republicans plan to debate and approve the three final pieces of their "big, beautiful bill" in committee this week, including the tax measure, major spending cuts to Medicaid that will change how states run the program and an agriculture bill. [Oklahoma Voice] GOP Medicaid cuts spark outrage, parents warn "children will die" [The Black Wall Street Times] Amid protests and Democratic pushback, U.S. House GOP launches work on Medicaid cuts [Oklahoma Voice] From Center on Budget: Harsh Work Requirements in House Republican Bill Would Take Away Medicaid Coverage From Millions, Including 31% of Medicaid Expansion Enrollees in Oklahoma House Republicans propose $5 billion for private school vouchers: House Republicans want to set aside up to $5 billion a year for scholarships to help families send their children to private and religious schools, an unprecedented effort to use public money to pay for private education. [Associated Press]   Tribal Nations News   Treaty Day brings tribal leaders together with lawmakers at the Capitol: Leaders of tribal nations across Oklahoma gathered Tuesday at the state Capitol to meet with lawmakers and discuss the history and importance of treaties — many dating back centuries — that shape intergovernmental relations to this day. [Tulsa World]   A bill Gov. Kevin Stitt vetoed could have helped get state money to solve cases of missing and murdered Indigenous people: Oklahoma was required to create a special office to help with missing and murdered cases involving Indigenous people under a 2021 state law, but federal funding legislators planned for never materialized. [The Frontier] Some Oklahoma lawmakers push to override Gov. Stitt's veto of MMIP bill [KOSU] Voting and Election News Beverly Atteberry, Kevin Norwood win GOP nominations in HD 71, HD 74 [NonDoc] SD 8 election: Bryan Logan wins eastern Oklahoma seat [NonDoc] See Oklahoma election results: Senate District 8, House Districts 74 and 71 primaries [The Oklahoman] Logan claims Senate seat, 2 advance to general election for Tulsa area House districts [KOSU] Education News   Making the grade: Go behind the scenes of some of Oklahoma City's top-performing schools: The Oklahoman recently visited five schools in central Oklahoma — a suburban high school, a suburban elementary school, a K-12 elementary and high school, a charter school and a school in a dependent district. Among the questions: What are their formulas for success, and what can they teach other schools across the metropolitan area and the rest of Oklahoma? [The Oklahoman]   Oklahoma charter school board approves new online alternative school: What to know: An Arizona company plans to open Oklahoma's second alternative online school in the 2026-27 academic year. [The Oklahoman]   Health News   'Help the state': Oklahoma cancer survivor advocates for more preventative care access: rom lawmakers to people across the state, access to preventative care is on top of many Oklahomans' minds this legislative session. [Fox 25]   OSDH reports 17 cases of measles in Oklahoma this year: Measles in Oklahoma has increased to almost 20 cases since the outbreak began in West Texas in January. [The Oklahoman]   Opinion: Oklahoma City's new mobile mental health unit improves crisis response: Earlier this month, the city of Oklahoma City officially launched a new alternative response model with its Mobile Integrated Healthcare Program (MIH) designed to ensure that individuals experiencing behavioral or mental health symptoms receive the right kind of help at the right time. [Jessica Hawkins / The Oklahoman]   Criminal Justice News   Oklahoma County jail trust lumbers on despite leadership vacuum: Outside of the courts, stand-ins are in charge of administering criminal justice in Oklahoma County. The Criminal Justice Authority, responsible for running the deadly county jail, has no permanent chairman since Joe Allbaugh resigned last month. Steven Buck, vice chairman, agreed to be appointed as chairman but only until June 30. Trustee AJ Griffin agreed to be serve as vice chairman with the same limitation. [The Oklahoman]   For second time in 2025, murder charge filed over OK County jail inmate death: An Oklahoma County jail inmate confessed to beating his cellmate to death in April and said afterward he was proud of himself, a jail trust investigator reported in a court affidavit. [The Oklahoman]   Economy & Business News   Gov. Kevin Stitt announces $10 million award to arms manufacturer for new factory: A Brazilian arms manufacturer plans to locate its American operations in a Pryor industrial park. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt's office announced a contract for a $300 million small arms facility in Pryor on Monday, including a $10 million award to incentivize its construction. [KOSU]   Community News   OKC's community centers are losing staffing, leaving kids without summer services: Publicly funded community centers across Oklahoma City will serve far fewer children this summer following staff cuts as the Parks and Recreation Department deals with adjusting its budget. [The Oklahoman]   Opinion, Oklahoma Tourism Executive Director: Saving the USS Batfish is a smart investment in Oklahoma's history, tourism: Plans for reopening the USS Batfish in Muskogee to on-board visitors have been on hold since 2019, when severe flooding damaged and displaced the vessel. Without urgent action, this iconic symbol of military valor risks being lost forever. [Sterling Zearley / The Oklahoman]   Local Headlines What is an extreme heat warning, watch? What to know about NWS alerts in Oklahoma heat wave [The Oklahoman] Edmond developer officially cans long-delayed downtown brewery [NonDoc] Tulsa Councilors, City Leaders to Host Fourth Community Conversation in Midtown on Thursday, North Tulsa on Monday [The Oklahoma Eagle] Plan to move LA Zoo elephants to Tulsa incurs wrath of activists [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. 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