In The Know: OKC mayor says ICE detention center deal is off | SoonerCare fears it won't make payroll without $495M lifeline | Oklahomans should speak up, stand up during 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.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2026 Subscribe // View web version (current and archived) All Oklahomans should speak up, stand up during this legislative session   The Oklahoma legislative session begins this Monday, and with it comes a familiar mix of hope, frustration, and fatigue. Over the next four months, lawmakers will debate hundreds of bills that could shape our schools, jobs, and communities. Too often, though, the loudest conversations focus on flashy, headline-grabbing issues instead of the practical problems families face every day. Add in a chaotic and divisive national political climate, and it's tempting to tune out altogether. But this session is exactly when staying engaged matters most. [Shiloh Kantz / OK Policy] $14.3 billion   The amount Oklahoma received in federal grants in 2024 to support child care, transportation, law enforcement, housing, food security, health care, and more. Because the state takes in far more federal dollars than it sends in taxes, federal cuts — combined with state tax reductions — could have an outsized impact on Oklahoma communities. [Oklahoma Policy Institute] Most States' Tax Revenue Falls Below Long-Term Trends Amid Federal Uncertainties   Most states are collecting less tax revenue than their long-term historical patterns would predict, reflecting a broader slowdown in fiscal performance and pushing budgets into tighter territory. This decline constrains state capacity to deliver expanded public services, prepare for recession, or implement tax relief, especially as one-off pandemic-era aid fades and uncertainty at the federal level persists. Without renewed revenue, states may face difficult trade-offs in funding priorities. Sound budget planning now depends on rebuilding fiscal resilience and ensuring sustainability in the face of ongoing volatility. [The Pew Charitable Trusts] "Oklahomans aren't choosing to live this way because it's easier or better than having a job or because someone hasn't created the perfect job board that will allow them to get the job. They're living this way because they fundamentally don't have other choices."   — Carly Putnam, Policy Director for OK Policy, speaking about the governor's recent executive order that seeks to decrease participation in certain public assistance programs through "welfare to work" initiatives. About 1 in 7 Oklahomans live in poverty, and hundreds of thousands of Oklahomans participate in these assistance programs. [KOSU] Learn how advocacy actually works — and how YOU fit into it   Most people care about what's happening at the Capitol. Far fewer know how to actually influence it. We'll break down how advocacy really works — who to contact, when it matters most, and how everyday people have changed decisions simply by showing up consistently. You'll learn practical skills like making effective calls, writing letters, meeting with lawmakers, and telling your story in a way that lands. View all upcoming Advocacy Training dates, locations, and registration details. Find an Advocacy Training in Your Community Join advocates and community activists from all across the state on March 3 for our 2026 Day of Action, hosted by OK Policy and Together Oklahoma.   Our Day of Action provides you with an opportunity to engage with legislators and get the information, tools, and resources you need to advocate for the changes that you would like to see in your community. Register Now Oklahoma News   OKC Mayor David Holt says ICE detention center deal is off: The Kansas owners of a southwest Oklahoma City warehouse targeted for immigrant detention are pulling out of a deal to sell the property to the Department of Homeland Security. [The Oklahoman] OKC warehouse no longer being considered for ICE detention center [KOSU] Proposed Oklahoma City ICE facility is off the table [Oklahoma Voice] OKC Mayor says landowners pull out of deal to sell to ICE for an OKC detention center [KFOR] 'Their voices actually count.' C.J. Webber-Neal speaks on OKC ICE facility deal failure (video) [The Oklahoman] 'Bring down the temperature': Gov. Stitt talks ICE facility in OKC, federal immigration tactics: Gov. Kevin Stitt emphasized the need for immigration policy reform Thursday, prioritizing pathways for non-U.S. citizens in Oklahoma to legally work and contribute to the economy. Stitt, a Republican, emphasized the need to deescalate tensions when it comes to federal immigration enforcement in cities, but he said the state has worked with President Donald Trump's administration to remove violent criminals from the state through Operation Guardian. [KOCO] 1,000+ Oklahomans Urge Congress to Reject DHS, ICE Funding [The Black Wall Street Times] Hundreds of Oklahomans share concerns on immigration in letters to Gov. Stitt [The Oklahoman] New research highlights issues with access to childcare in Oklahoma: A lot of Oklahoma families face barriers when it comes to childcare. New statewide research done by a national nonprofit and nonpartisan organization shows it can be better for families, providers, and the state as a whole. [KFOR] Tulsa hopes to keep more child care centers open with removal of sprinkler mandate [Tulsa Flyer] State Government News   Gov. Stitt wants to revamp welfare programs. Some Oklahoma advocates are worried: A recent executive order from Gov. Kevin Stitt is seeking to review federal welfare programs administered by the state and to decrease Oklahomans' reliance on them through employment. Advocates say the plan fails to address the real challenges Oklahomans are facing. [KOSU] From OK Policy: Governor's executive order on 'welfare reform' misses the real problems facing Oklahomans In some states, a push to end all property taxes for homeowners: It is a goal spreading among anti-tax crusaders — eliminate all property taxes on homeowners. Rising property values have inflated tax bills in many states, but ending all homeowner taxes would cost billions or even tens of billions in most states. It is unclear if lawmakers can pull it off without harming schools and local governments that rely on the taxes to provide services. [Associated Press] From OK Policy: Eliminating property taxes would devastate crucial local services Oklahoma lawmakers push sweeping immigration agenda touching colleges, jobs and land ownership: Dozens of bills filed this session would expand cooperation with federal immigration authorities, restrict access to public assistance, driver's licenses and higher education, and limit foreign land ownership. [The Frontier]   Oklahoma lawmakers propose changes to laws on housing, homelessness and eviction: Bills filed ahead of the 2026 session would let residents sue cities over camping enforcement, expand tenant protections and make it easier to build affordable housing. [The Frontier]   Insurance costs, reading outcomes likely on Legislature's agenda, Oklahoma Senate leader says: Lawmakers will return Monday to the Capitol seeking ways to reduce homeowners and health insurance costs. Regulating data centers and artificial intelligence, improving childhood literacy and reducing property taxes are also on the list. [Oklahoma Voice]   House Dems push for minimum wage increase to $15/hour: From raising the minimum wage to insurance reform to repealing the Parental Choice Tax Credit, the Oklahoma House Democratic Caucus has filled its policy priority plate ahead of the 2026 legislative session, which begins on Monday. [The Journal Record] From OK Policy: What you need to know about the minimum wage in Oklahoma Senate Democrat leader files new bills aimed to lower skyrocketing insurance costs: Insurance rates in Oklahoma have skyrocketed in recent years, adding to struggles for seniors and many other residents already stretched thin. To make premiums more affordable, the state's Senate Democrat leader has filed a trio of bills for the upcoming legislative session. [The Oklahoman]   Bill proposes more relief for family caregivers: Lawmakers have been asked to expand a state benefit to help more of the estimated 835,000 Oklahomans who identify as primary care providers for elderly or disabled parents or loved ones with dementia or other needs. [Tulsa World]   Oklahoma AG office seeks new staff to expand reach of opioid settlement funds: The Oklahoma Attorney General's Office is seeking to fill five new positions on the team responsible for disseminating millions of opioid settlement funds. [KOSU]   Opinion, This Week in Oklahoma Politics: State Question 836, Gov. Stitt's State of the State, Rep. Ajay Pittman, and more: The panel talk about supporters of a state question to open primaries in Oklahoma turning in their signatures, Gov. Kevin Stitt's response to the violence from immigration enforcement agents in Minnesota and Stitt kicking off the 2026 legislative session with his final State of the State address. They also discuss Stitt's plan to create an online school choice resource hub and Oklahoma City Democratic Representative Ajay Pittman resigning her seat after felony charges. [KOSU]   Federal Government News   US Senate poised to send House spending deal in race to avert partial shutdown: The U.S. Senate could vote as soon as Thursday night to approve a government funding package after Democrats brokered a deal with the White House to strip out the full-year spending bill for the Department of Homeland Security. [Oklahoma Voice]   US Senate Dems demand mask ban, body camera requirement, IDs for immigration agents: U.S. Senate Democrats on Wednesday detailed the "common sense" changes they want to implement for federal immigration enforcement, saying reforms must be added to a funding package that needs to become law before the weekend to avoid a partial government shutdown. [Oklahoma Voice]   Oklahoma Farmers Face Uncertain Future as Comprehensive Farm Bill Splinters: For more than half a century, the federal Farm Bill has served as one of Congress's most durable and complex pieces of legislation. Renewed about every five years, it has traditionally bundled together farm safety nets, conservation programs, nutrition assistance, research funding, trade promotion, and rural development into a single, sprawling compromise. That model is now under strain, as Congress has increasingly struggled to renew the bill on schedule. [Oklahoma Voice]   Republicans celebrate school choice in US Senate hearing, while Dems question fairness: The fierce debate surrounding school choice initiatives took center stage Wednesday during a hearing in a U.S. Senate panel. President Donald Trump's administration and congressional Republicans have made school choice a central point of their education agenda, including a sweeping national school voucher program baked into the GOP's mega tax and spending cut bill Trump signed into law in July. [Oklahoma Voice]   Tribal Nations News   Lawmakers to consider several bills focusing on Indigenous communities in Oklahoma: A handful of newly introduced bills bring Indigenous communities in Oklahoma to the forefront, specifically in the areas of law enforcement, compacts and education. [KOSU]   Lawsuit argues AG opinion on tribal wildlife management is not legally binding: The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and Gov. Kevin Stitt are asking the Oklahoma Supreme Court to weigh in on Attorney General Gentner Drummond's authority in a months-long disagreement over tribal hunting and fishing rights. [KOSU]   Voting and Election News   Republican Colleen McCarty announces run for Tulsa County district attorney: Colleen McCarty, executive director of Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, announced Thursday she is running for Tulsa County district attorney — a position currently held by Steve Kunzweiler. [Oklahoma Eagle] McCarty launches GOP primary challenge to Kunzweiler in Tulsa County DA race [Public Radio Tulsa] Education News   Schools relying on virtual instruction days lose option next year: Next year, Oklahoma schools won't have the option; a new law means only two days of virtual instruction can count as instructional days, and even then, only in the event of an emergency declaration by the Governor. [News on 6]   Tulsa-area public schools challenged by state's historic decline in students: With students suddenly vanishing from public school rolls in record numbers, local school leaders are facing extraordinary challenges to provide equitable staffing and class sizes and questioning whether to close or repurpose certain school sites. Oklahoma's public school enrollment is the lowest it has been in more than 10 years after a sudden decline of nearly 11,000 students since fall 2024. [Tulsa World] From OK Policy archive: Private school vouchers/tax credits would reduce public school funding through two channels. First, the cost of vouchers will reduce what the state can spend on all services, including education. Second, state school funding is mainly determined by enrollment, so districts that lose students will receive a smaller share of a smaller state education budget. Rob Miller's defamation lawsuit against Ryan Walters can continue: A three-judge appellate panel has unanimously agreed that former Bixby Superintendent Rob Miller can continue suing former state Superintendent Ryan Walters for slander. [The Oklahoman] Appeals court allows defamation case to proceed against former state superintendent [Tulsa World] Health News   Oklahoma Medicaid agency fears it won't make payroll without $495M lifeline: The newly appointed director of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority says that if the agency does not receive $494.8 million in additional state funding, he fears he will not be able to make payroll. Clay Bullard, who Gov. Kevin Stitt tapped to lead the agency in October, asked for a 35% budget increase for the next fiscal year, which will start in July and run until June 2027. The agency's current budget is $1.41 billion, and Bullard wants to raise the amount to $1.91 billion. [The Oklahoman]   Mental Health Department still failing to meet consent decree terms: he Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services does not yet have an approved plan for meeting the terms of a nearly year-old consent decree, but estimates another $17 million will be needed to implement one once they do, legislators were told Thursday. [Tulsa World]   Criminal Justice News   OKC Council to consider deal cut with county to house jail detainees: Oklahoma City and Oklahoma County negotiators have finally come to another late agreement on how much the city will pay the county for jailing its arrestees, including a lump-sum infusion of cash especially timely for the financially fragile county jail. [The Oklahoman]   Housing & Economic Opportunity News   With rental registries, cities try to track housing and hold bad actors accountable: As many people struggle to afford housing and tenant populations grow in some regions, more cities are turning to official registries to answer questions about their rental housing market. Who owns this rental property? Are they up-to-date on matters of code such as having working fire alarms? Are they keeping their building heated and habitable during the cold winter months? [Oklahoma Voice]   Opinion: Oklahoma can be a model on solving homelessness crisis: The Housing First model for addressing homelessness rests on a simple but counterintuitive premise: People need permanent housing before anything else can reliably work. Housing is not the reward for sobriety, employment or compliance. It is the necessary foundation that makes those things possible. Supportive services follow housing — not the other way around. [Veronica Spark / The Oklahoman]   Community News   Amid Trump deportation campaign, Tulsans feel new urgency to obtain dual citizenship: While there has been a rise in Mexican nationals seeking dual citizenship for their U.S.-born children, more adults are also seeking the same status for themselves. Tulsans say they have different reasons for doing so, including taking care of their parents' property in Mexico and protecting themselves amid the Trump administration's deportation campaign. [Tulsa Flyer]   Local Headlines Tulsa County receives $8 million to rebuild Garnett Road, address flooding [Tulsa Flyer] Cheat sheet: As council composition turns over, 3 run for Norman Ward 2 [NonDoc] 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. 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