In The Know: OKC residents voice opposition to planned ICE detention facility | What to watch for during Oklahoma's 2026 legislative session | Oklahomans need better policy choices, not campaign headlines

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. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. Some stories included here are behind paywall or require subscription.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 2026 Subscribe // View web version (current and archived) Policy Matters: Oklahomans need better policy choices, not campaign headlines   When the Oklahoma Legislature resumes on Monday, lawmakers may feel pressure to chase headlines, especially as election season approaches. Tax-cut promises and culture-war debates may grab attention, but the real work should be more focused: making choices that help Oklahoma reach its full potential. Lawmakers should not ask what will get the loudest applause, but what will help Oklahomans for years to come. [Shiloh Kantz / The Journal Record] 64.2%   The percentage of children under age 6 in Oklahoma who had all available parents in the workforce in 2023. That makes access to high-quality child care essential — not just for child development, but for families' ability to work and thrive. [United States Census Bureau] Fact Sheet: What To Know About the Child Care for Working Families Act   The Child Care for Working Families Act would establish a federal–state partnership to significantly reduce child care costs for families, ensuring that care is either free or capped at an affordable portion of household income. The legislation expands access to early childhood education, including universal preschool, while also providing sustained funding to strengthen the child care workforce and improve compensation to be on par with public school educators. It also enhances support for programs like Head Start and Early Head Start to increase access and quality. [Center for American Progress] "We're real people, we're real providers, servicing real families and they need to know that we are dependent upon this funding. And in addition to that, we also are dependent upon accountability and transparency."   — Janell Wheat, with the Licensed Child Care Association of Oklahoma, calling on state leaders to see the human faces behind the child care industry. Her comments came as the Department of Human Services requested more than $57 million to stabilize the child care subsidy program after months of funding reductions. [Fox 25] 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 UPDATE: Altus Advocacy Training postponed   Due to inclement weather this week and continued impacts on travel, OK Policy and Together Oklahoma have decided to reschedule our Altus Advocacy Training that was scheduled for Thursday night. We hate having to postpone, and we appreciate your understanding. We look forward to sharing updated event details soon. 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 residents pack city council, voice opposition to planned ICE detention facility: 'We must fight.': Oklahoma City residents packed the City Council chamber on an icy Tuesday, Jan. 27, morning to oppose a proposed Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility on the city's south side, pressing local officials to resist federal plans even as attorneys warned that the city's legal options are limited. [The Oklahoman]   State population growth slows, latest census numbers show: Population growth in the past year in Oklahoma slowed to its lowest level since the COVID-19 pandemic, with the state having an estimated 25,530 more residents on July 1 when compared to the same date in 2024, according to U.S. Census Bureau data released Tuesday. [Tulsa World]   State Government News   What to watch for during Oklahoma's 2026 legislative session: With the 2026 legislative session starting Monday, lawmakers have thousands of bills to consider. Here is what to expect, and what Oklahoma's public radio reporters are following. [KOSU] Jail conditions and police conduct: bills to watch for as Oklahoma starts new legislative session [KGOU] How politics and power could shape Oklahoma Legislature in 2026 [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma legislative leaders discuss 2026 session priorities [The Journal Record] From criminal justice to AI, here's what Oklahoma lawmakers are considering — and what went into law in January [Tulsa Flyer] Oklahoma Human Services asks state legislature for nearly $70 million to fund child care: Over several months, Oklahoma Human Services (DHS) has made significant cuts to the child care subsidy program it administers, citing factors like rising enrollment and the expiration of temporary federal COVID-era funding. Now, it's asking the state legislature to help it undo those changes with a $57 million appropriation. [StateImpact Oklahoma via KGOU] 'Put a face with the industry': Child care providers attend OKDHS House budget hearing [Fox 25] New bills seek to rein in oil companies' pollution of Oklahoma groundwater: An Oklahoma state senator has introduced legislation to strengthen regulations on how oilfield wastewater is injected underground following an investigation by The Frontier and ProPublica. [The Frontier]   Legislative leaders debate plans to improve Oklahoma education: Oklahoma's highest-ranking state representative has touted a plan to improve student literacy, but other top lawmakers aren't quite convinced that's the best strategy for getting the Sooner State out of the bottom of education rankings. [The Oklahoman] Lawmakers eye bringing a literacy 'miracle' to Oklahoma [StateImpact Oklahoma via KGOU] Lawmakers sue to prevent sharing of Oklahoma driver's license information: Thirty-four lawmakers are asking Oklahoma's high court to prevent a state agency from providing driver's license information to a Virginia-based nonprofit. [Oklahoma Voice]   Oklahoma lawmaker moves to ban his colleagues from drinking alcohol while working: A Republican senator has filed legislation to bar lawmakers from drinking alcohol on the job after he accused some of them of being drunk while taking critical votes. [Oklahoma Voice]   Oklahoma lawmakers consider limits for pesticides, THC content in weed, among other measures: Medical marijuana continues to be a focus for Oklahoma legislators this session. Nearly two dozen measures have been filed. [KOSU]   Drummond charges Rep. Ajay Pittman, longtime legislative aide with forgery: Rep. Ajay Pittman and longtime legislative aide Trena Byas were charged with three felony counts related to the alleged forgery of a $2,500 check Wednesday morning. Pittman resigned her seat, pleaded guilty and will receive a seven-year deferred sentence, according to a press release from Attorney General Gentner Drummond. [NonDoc] Oklahoma City lawmaker pleads guilty to felony charges, resigns [Oklahoma Voice] Oklahoma state lawmaker Ajay Pittman pleads guilty to felony charges; resigns from office [KGOU] State Rep. Ajay Pittman resigns and pleads guilty to three felonies [The Oklahoman] Facing political pressure, Drummond will appeal poultry pollution case: As Attorney General Gentner Drummond faces political pressure over the result of a decades-long poultry pollution case in federal court, he has given notice that he will appeal the judge's final order. [The Oklahoman]   Federal Government News   Trump proposal signals Medicare austerity: While President Donald Trump went easy on insurers in his broader health plan, he's drawing the line at trouble-ridden Medicare Advantage. [Politico]   Oklahoma rare earth mining and manufacturing firm to get loan, funding from Trump admin: The federal government will give $277 million in funding and $1.3 billion in a loan to USA Rare Earth (USAR) in a deal announced Monday. The Department of Commerce will also get 16 million shares in the company. The agreement is expected to be finalized this financial quarter. [StateImpact Oklahoma via KGOU]   Tribal Nations News   Gov. Stitt challenges AG Drummond in new tribal hunting lawsuit: Oklahoma's wildlife department is asking the state Supreme Court to rule Attorney General Gentner Drummond overstepped his bounds when he declared Gov. Kevin Stitt's tribal hunting policy was "illegal." [The Oklahoman]   Attorneys give tribal citizens guidance on navigating ICE encounters: Two national Indigenous organizations are reminding tribal citizens how to assert their rights during encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents amid growing ICE presence across Indian Country and Oklahoma. [KOSU]   Education News   She Protested a Book Ban. Oklahoma Revoked Her Teacher's License: Summer Boismier, a high school English teacher in Oklahoma, lost her teaching license after she protested a book ban. Now she is fighting to return to the classroom. [The New York Times]   Oklahoma teachers call for higher wages, more support in statewide survey: Higher teacher pay and lower class sizes topped Oklahoma educators' list of needs in public schools, a state Department of Education survey found. [Oklahoma Voice]   Health News   OU-Tulsa School of Community Medicine Ends Contracts, Shutters Clinic: In the past three months, the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa School of Community Medicine shuttered a clinic and issued contract non-renewals to its surgical teaching staff to bring down a projected $18 million deficit this fiscal year. These are part of ongoing changes. [Oklahoma Watch]   Criminal Justice News   Oklahoma sees rise in backlog for competency hearings: A new report reveals a significant increase in the backlog of alleged criminals in Oklahoma awaiting court-mandated mental health treatment. [KOCO]   Oklahoma City considers future of crime-fighting software amid privacy concerns: Oklahoma City leaders are reconsidering their use of the Accurint software, which aids in crime-fighting, amid concerns that it may be misused by federal immigration officials to target migrants. [KOCO]   OK County settles jail civil rights lawsuit, agrees to pay $350,000: Oklahoma County has agreed to pay $350,000 in a federal civil rights lawsuit brought against the county jail trust by the estate of a man found hanging in his cell on Dec. 26, 2021. [The Oklahoman]   Housing & Economic Opportunity News   Norman City Council to ask voters for homeless shelter funding in April: On Tuesday, the council set April 7 as the date for a special election for Norman voters to decide on multiple issues, including the issuance of a general obligation bond not to exceed $8 million for the construction of a permanent homeless shelter. [KGOU]   Opinion: Oklahoma can be a model on solving homelessness crisis: There's a familiar refrain in the homelessness debate: This problem can't be solved. But we reach that conclusion not because we've tried everything — but because we've refused to try the one thing that has proven to work. [Veronica Spark / The Oklahoman] From OK Policy: Criminalizing homelessness is harmful and ineffective Local Headlines  Sand Springs planning commission votes 6-1 for data center [Tulsa World] Tulsa-area schools closed for a fourth day amid poor road conditions, dangerous cold [Tulsa World] 80 new units coming to downtown Tulsa, with $2.8M in city support [Tulsa Flyer] 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. 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