In The Know: Oklahoma's SNAP restrictions to take effect Feb.15 | Lawmakers try again on death penalty moratorium bill | Tax cuts and building a better future in Oklahoma

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 8, 2026 Subscribe // View web version (current and archived) Policy matters: Tax cuts and building a better future in Oklahoma   Every year, Oklahoma lawmakers must choose: invest public revenue in lasting solutions to our state's real problems or chase short-term headlines. Too often, most lawmakers have prioritized immediate political gain, leaving our most pressing needs unaddressed. The easy wins — tax cuts, flashy press releases, and promises that prosperity will trickle down — haven't worked. For decades, these choices have left our state with shrinking resources, deferred maintenance, and growing needs. [Shiloh Kantz / The Journal Record] Now hiring for three positions on our Research/Data and Outreach teams   OK Policy is now hiring for three positions that support our data-driven research and policy analysis work, as well as help create grassroots engagement efforts. Software & Data Engineer Central Regional Organizer Northeast Regional Organizer If you're looking to start the year doing meaningful work with a strong, collaborative team, we encourage you to apply or share with your network if you know of someone who would be a good fit. Full job descriptions and online application are available at OKPolicy.org/jobs. Deadline to apply is 11:59 p.m., Sunday, January 11, 2026.  35%   The share of U.S. families with children under age 6 who pay for child care and are pushed into poverty by these expenses — about 134,000 families each year. High child care costs can consume a substantial portion of household income, leaving many families struggling to meet basic needs. [Center for American Progress] Universal Child Care Can't Be Done? Keep an Eye on What NYC Is Doing   New York City's modest $10 million pilot launching free child care for children two and under marks a pioneering step toward universal early childhood support in a major U.S. city — signaling that child care is now a core priority for both families and policymakers. This initiative reflects growing political momentum from organized working parents and may inspire other jurisdictions to treat affordable child care not as a privilege, but as an essential public good. [Governing] "I think in the current economy, if we're going to truly maximize our potential as a state, to meet our workforce needs, we have to address child care."   — Rep. Daniel Pae (R-Lawton), vice chair of the House Committee on Children, Youth and Family Services, speaking about the state's workforce shortages and the growing strain child care costs place on working families. [Oklahoma Voice] 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   Oklahoma's SNAP restrictions to take effect Feb.15: Oklahoma's new restrictions on soft drinks and candy in SNAP were slated to start Jan.1 but will now be effective Feb. 15. Officials from the Oklahoma Department of Human Services said the date change allows more time for retailers to update their systems and for families to prepare. [KOSU]   State Government News   Long Story Short: Judge Allows Attorney General to Intervene in State Farm Hail Lawsuit (podcast): Keaton Ross reported on a settled dispute over Oklahoma's medical parole statute. Paul Monies looked into the Oklahoma State Department of Health and its policy in not sharing measles cases by county. On Dec. 30, Oklahoma County District Court Judge Amy Palumbo issued an important ruling in Attorney General Gentner Drummond's motion to intervene in cases involving State Farm. [Oklahoma Watch]   Lawmakers try again on death penalty moratorium bill: The 2026 legislative session begins in less than a month, and one state senator is looking to "get some traction" on a two-year death penalty moratorium bill, which has carried over from 2025. Sen. Nikki Nice, D-Oklahoma City, spoke in support of Senate Bill 601 during a press conference, urging the Pardon and Parole Board to "extend mercy" when it considers recommending or denying Kendrick Simpson clemency on Jan. 14. [The Journal Record] From OK Policy: Oklahoma Death Penalty Tracker Oklahoma DHS updates child care subsidies after securing partial federal funding: The Oklahoma Department of Human Services received partial federal funding, allowing the department to take steps to stabilize the child care subsidy program. [Fox 25]   Oklahoma agency seeks providers to open child care facility: An Oklahoma state agency is accepting proposals to open a five-story child care facility at a building near the Capitol that would "offer priority for admission, at all times, to children of State of Oklahoma employees." [Oklahoma Voice]   Oklahoma lawmaker files legislation to ban 'obscene materials' from public school libraries: Oklahoma State Representative Chris Banning of Bixby filed legislation this week banning "obscene materials" from public school libraries in Oklahoma. [KSWO] Oklahoma bill aims to ban obscene materials in public school libraries [KTUL] 'Simply not enough': Oklahoma lawmaker aims to give teachers more maternity leave: Schools are back in session for the spring, and an Oklahoma lawmaker says there's a need for teachers to get more maternity leave. [KOCO]   Education Watch: Walters' Spending Audit on Hold at AG's Request: After Walters resigned in October, Attorney General Gentner Drummond ordered the state auditor to probe the department's spending practices under Walters' tenure. But Drummond recently asked the audit be put on hold after "additional issues came to light," according to Leslie Burger, a spokeswoman for the attorney general. [Oklahoma Watch]   Opinion: Rather than protecting Illinois River Watershed, Oklahoma lawmakers have allowed it to be exploited: Rather than taking steps to reign in the clout of the growing poultry industry and protect the public, Oklahoma lawmakers have chosen to further deregulate and shield it from legal attacks. This has given Big Agriculture and its corporate lobbyists license to despoil our natural resources, wreak havoc on our region's waterways and exploit our state farmers. [Mike Altshuler / Oklahoma Voice]   Federal Government News   Oklahoma Congressional delegates support capture of Venezuela's president Nicolás Maduro: Congress wasn't informed before President Trump's ordered military capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. But in the days since, some members of Oklahoma's Congressional delegation have voiced support of the move. [KOSU]   Tribal Nations News   Citizen Potawatomi Nation program supports Native American inmates' reintegration: The Citizen Potawatomi Nation has been running a program since 2012 that has connected over 400 Native American inmates with services to help them reintegrate into society and reconnect with their culture. [KOCO]   Muscogee Nation wages its own legal battle against state officials over hunting, fishing rights: The Muscogee Nation filed a federal lawsuit arguing its authority to regulate hunting and fishing activity of its tribal citizens in its reservation, free from state interference. The tribe is suing Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation Director Wade Free and special prosecutor Russell Cochran. [KOSU]   Voting and Election News   City of OKC announces voting deadlines ahead of Feb. 10 OKC mayoral election: Oklahoma City's next mayoral election is happening Tuesday, Feb. 10. Here are the deadlines that Oklahoma City voters need to know. [Fox 25]   Education News   Oklahoma bill, Trump order would reinstate Presidential Fitness Test in schools: The Presidential Fitness Test could return to Oklahoma schools to evaluate students' physical performance, under a state Senate bill and a nationwide executive order. Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, announced Wednesday he filed legislation that would bring the physical fitness test back to public schools statewide, aligning with an executive order from President Donald Trump. Pugh leads two Senate committees on education and is a Republican candidate for state superintendent of public schools. [Oklahoma Voice] Oklahoma senator proposes bringing back Presidential Fitness Test in schools [KOCO] Did the No Child Left Behind Act and similar legislation prohibit schools from holding students back?: No Child Left Behind, signed into law in 2002, and its successor, the Every Student Succeeds Act, contain no statutory language prohibiting schools from holding students back. Promotion and retention, though variably influenced by legislative incentives, are under state and local purview. [Oklahoma Watch]   From Surplus to Crisis: Epic Charter's Budget Collapse Prompts Forensic Investigation: The state's largest charter school nearly ended last school year in a budget shortfall. Emails reveal some answers, but raise more questions. [Oklahoma Watch]   Health News   Mental health hotline set to lose federal funding, OK lawmakers work to fund it: It's been a little over three years since the state launched 988, the easy-to-remember mental health lifeline. Each month, 988 answers about 7,000-8,000 calls in Oklahoma. The service is in jeopardy, though, as federal funding is set to expire in September. For 988 to continue in Oklahoma, the state would have to fund it. [KFOR]   RFK Jr. shares new vaccine schedule. What Oklahoma parents need to know: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is updating the childhood vaccine schedule after a request from the Trump administration. [The Oklahoman]   OMMA says no physical card needed to purchase medical marijuana: Medical marijuana patients no longer have to wait for their physical card to arrive in the mail before visiting a dispensary. The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority has, at least temporarily, begun allowing patients to use their official OMMA approval email, or their record in the OMMA MedPortal, as a valid form of identification to make a purchase. [The Oklahoman]   Criminal Justice News   Oklahoma prison population continues to grow despite reform efforts: In 2016, Oklahoma voters passed State Question 780, making felony charges for small amounts of drugs into misdemeanors. The measure was intended to reduce the state's prison population. But in the past three years, the number of people in Oklahoma prisons has grown. [KXII] From OK Policy: What's That? SQ 780 and SQ 781 OKC Municipal Court launches program to reduce outstanding warrant fees: The City of Oklahoma City announced this week that people with an outstanding warrant with the Oklahoma City Municipal Court can start 2026 by paying for it at a reduced cost. [The Oklahoman]   Housing & Economic Opportunity News   USDA report that Oklahoma nonprofits use to track food insecurity to end: The U.S. Department of Agriculture warned that nearly 17% of Oklahoma households are facing food insecurity, according to a survey released last week. The statistics come from the department's latest hunger survey, and they are numbers that food banks rely on to allocate resources effectively. However, that agency said the report will end after this year. [KOCO] From OK Policy: Policy Matters: Data shouldn't be political Local Headlines Oklahoma City unveils design concepts for Clara Luper Civil Rights Center [KOCO] OKC service planned to remember homeless neighbors who died in 2025 [The Oklahoman] SNAP freeze showed fragility of food access. Tulsans want to help you grow your own. [Tulsa Flyer] City seeking developers to build housing on Tulsa Development Authority properties [Tulsa World] Citizen group sues city of Sand Springs over proposed data center [Tulsa World] Coweta council delays decision on allowing members to carry guns [Public Radio Tulsa] 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. Detroit Ave #1005 Tulsa, OK 74120 United States  918-794-3944 | info@okpolicy.org okpolicy.org    Connect with us:   If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe.