Oklahoma News
More Than 30 Oklahoma Agencies Sign Immigration Enforcement Agreements: Under a 287(g) agreement, small town police officers can be deputized to act as a federal ICE agent, part of a vast and growing federalized network forming on the orders of the White House, Homeland Security, and the Justice Department. In all, more than 30 Oklahoma departments or agencies have signed 287(g) agreements with ICE, including many small town police departments. [Oklahoma Watch]
Communities fight ICE detention centers, but have few tools to stop them: Communities across the country are facing similar prospects as ICE undertakes a massive expansion fueled in large part by the record $45 billion approved for increased immigration detention by Congress last summer. [Oklahoma Voice]
- What documents reveal about Trump's plan for nationwide immigrant detention network [Oklahoma Voice]
For cities like Tulsa, Indianapolis' battle over data centers could provide a blueprint to the resistance: Indiana has served as a hub of hope for areas that oppose data centers — offering a cautionary tale for cities like Tulsa about what lies ahead in the battle over where they can be built. [Tulsa Flyer]
- Proposed Claremore data center may not have as much pushback. Here's why [Tulsa World]
Tyson, George's, Cargill settle Illinois River Watershed pollution lawsuit: Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond announced that settlements totaling more than $25 million have been reached with three of the nation's largest poultry processors in a two-decade-old Illinois River lawsuit. [NonDoc]
State Government News
Oklahoma lawmakers will face 'challenging budget year' as demand for services grows: Lawmakers will have over $500 million less to spend than last year when crafting the upcoming budget. While the actual amount available to allocate is $125.2 million more than estimated in December, budget leaders warned that it is short of what's needed to meet the growing demands for Oklahoma's "core government services." [Oklahoma Voice]
- 'Tighten our belts': Board certifies FY 2027 revenue projections, budget limit [NonDoc]
- State agencies want $1.8 billion more; lawmakers have $500 million less this year [Tulsa World]
- Gov. Stitt optimistic about Oklahoma lawmakers having $12.1 billion budget [KOSU]
- Oklahoma Democrats advance parts of their agenda, worry about stretching state budget [KOSU]
- With new revenue numbers, state budget season in full swing [The Journal Record]
- Opinion: Capitol Insider: Primer on state budget and taxes as legislative session begins (podcast) [KGOU]
Panel passes bill to increase Oklahoma homestead exemption: A Senate committee on Monday passed a bill to reduce property taxes. Senate Bill 1809, by Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, would increase the homestead exemption to $5,000 from $1,000 beginning in tax year 2027. [Oklahoma Voice]
Seeking property tax reform, Senate leader pans 'immature' elimination proposal: With a variety of rising costs frustrating Oklahoma homeowners, legislative leaders are weighing options for property tax reforms to head off a proposed state question that would exempt homestead properties entirely, dramatically reduce local collections and force local and county governments to shrink their services. [NonDoc]
Oklahoma lawmaker's proposal to improve student reading could cost $75M: A plan to improve literacy scores in Oklahoma schools backed by one of the Legislature's most powerful lawmakers would come with a price tag of $75 million. [The Oklahoman]
- Bill's author concerned Oklahoma classroom time lags behind other states [Tulsa World]
Republicans push new anti-trans bills to expand restrictions to adults: Legislation targeting Oklahomans in the LGBTQ+ community, specifically transgender Oklahomans, have become a mainstay in the state Legislature. The bills and new laws have mainly centered around children, but now, some Republican lawmakers are seeking to extend certain restrictions to adults. [The Oklahoman]
- Oklahoma has more anti-LGBTQ bills in its state legislature than any other state [ACLU]
Oklahoma bill would make it easier to prosecute fentanyl overdose deaths: House Bill 2941 would require first responders to alert police, a move critics say could deter 911 calls. The bill would make any detectable amount of fentanyl a cause of death in overdoses, strengthening homicide prosecutions — even against friends who share drugs. [The Frontier]
New statewide vote on medical marijuana not likely to happen, legislative leaders indicate: Republican leaders in the Senate and House said this week that lawmakers may be more inclined to continue addressing weaknesses in regulation of the industry by passing new laws and strengthening laws already on the books. [Tulsa World]
Oklahoma state employee pay significantly behind market: The average salary of a state employee is significantly lower than comparable jobs in other sectors, according to a study by the Office of Management and Enterprise Services. State employee pay is 48.05% below market, according to the report. [Oklahoma Voice]
Legislative roundup
- Bills would offer property tax break, allow for local excise tax on medical marijuana [Tulsa World]
- Oklahoma lawmakers look to make it easier for counties to issue burn bans [KOSU]
- Bills propose additional Oklahoma state symbols [Oklahoma Voice]
- Bill would require Oklahoma schools to teach firearm safety lessons beginning this fall [KFOR]
Opinion: Oklahoma state leaders want to replace the OSSAA but have no real plan to do so: When Kevin Stitt called for the disbanding of the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association during his final State of the State address as Oklahoma governor, a thought sprang to mind. You remember in middle school when some kid running for class president stood up in front of everyone and promised soda and candy for lunch every day? [Jenni Carlson / The Oklahoman]
- After 100 years, the OSSAA on the brink of an overhaul. What's going on? [The Oklahoman]
Opinion, Sen. Michael Brooks: Oklahoma Legislature must act to protect and support people: When Senate Democrats announced our agenda for the 2026 legislative session, we prioritized policies that put people over politics. It's what Oklahomans deserve — we need to make sure government protects and supports people, instead of protecting or enriching big businesses and politicians. Unfortunately, right now, too many Oklahomans feel like government is not working for them. [Sen. Michael Brooks / The Oklahoman]
Opinion: When it comes to education, Oklahoma lawmakers should focus on financial investments, not fluff: It's time for Oklahoma lawmakers to stop micromanaging what goes on in our schools and focus on what really matters. Because it's become clear that at least some of our Republican legislators don't actually have a good grasp of what's happening in our schools each day, how little time educators already have to teach or the importance of integrating technology. [Janelle Stecklein / Oklahoma Voice]
Federal Government News
What is the SAVE Act? Oklahoma legislators react as voter ID bill heads to Senate: A new bill is heading to the Senate floor requiring individuals to provide proof of citizenship upon registering to vote. The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility, or SAVE America Act, passed the House of Representatives on Feb. 11. Voting rights advocates have raised concerns that the bill could make voting more difficult for people who have changed their legal name. [The Oklahoman]
Department of Homeland Security enters shutdown, amid dispute over funding: The second partial government shutdown in 2026 began at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, after lawmakers left the nation's capital without reaching a deal on changes to immigration enforcement tactics at the Department of Homeland Security. [Oklahoma Voice]
- D.C. Digest: Homeland Security holdup riles Cole [Tulsa World]
Trump administration completes rollback of Obama-era greenhouse gas regulations: President Donald Trump and his top environmental policy officer finalized a move Thursday to undo an Environmental Protection Agency regulation that laid the foundation for federal rules governing emissions of the greenhouse gases that cause climate change. [Oklahoma Voice]
Sen. Lankford backs bill that would cut oil tax for Superfund cleanup: Sen. James Lankford is cosponsoring a bill that would eliminate a tax contributing to the remediation of the country's most contaminated lands. More than a dozen such sites are listed in Oklahoma. [StateImpact Oklahoma via KGOU]
Members of Congress again challenge Noem policy limiting visits to immigration facilities: Members of Congress on Thursday sought a ruling from a federal judge to block yet another Department of Homeland Security policy that required a notice for lawmakers to conduct oversight visits to immigration detention facilities. [Oklahoma Voice]
More SNAP changes are here. Here's what you can and can't buy with Oklahoma food stamps: Food stamps can now get you chocolate chips — but not a chocolate bar. As of Feb. 15, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) users in Oklahoma can't buy candy and soft drinks with their benefits. The Department of Human Services says the move will raise nutrition in low-income households. Thousands of grocery items are now ineligible. [Tulsa Flyer]
- SNAP restrictions take effect, no soft drinks and candy [KFOR]
- No soda or candy: Oklahoma grocery stores adapt to new SNAP restrictions [KFOR]
Tribal Nations News
U.S. Rep. Cole leads bipartisan push to uncover history of Indian boarding schools: Oklahoma has been home to at least 76 Indian boarding schools, more than any other state in the nation. Now, those schools are at the center of a new bipartisan push in Washington to uncover decades of hidden tribal history — history that has been long withheld by religious institutions and the federal government. [NonDoc]
Former Cherokee Supreme Court Justice Troy Poteete killed, wife charged with murder: On Feb. 12, tribal prosecutors charged Elizabeth Poteete with first-degree murder in Cherokee Nation District Court for allegedly killing her husband, former Cherokee Nation Supreme Court Justice and Tribal Councilor Troy Poteete. [NonDoc]
Cheat Sheet: 2026 Osage Nation principal chief primary election: With Osage Nation Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear eschewing a potential fourth term in favor of a campaign for the tribe's mineral council, three candidates — Amanda GoodEagle, Scott BigHorse and Joe Tillman — are running to succeed him in the Feb. 23 election. [NonDoc]
- Cheat Sheet: 2026 Osage Nation assistant principal chief primary election [NonDoc]
Tributes pour in for former Osage Nation Principal Chief Jim Gray: Former Osage Nation Principal Chief Jim Gray died this past weekend. His reforms paved the way for land return, self-governance and a stronger Osage Nation. [KOSU]
- Osage Nation Mourns the Passing of Former Principal Chief Jim Gray [Native News Online]
- Former Osage Nation Principal Chief Jim Gray dies; remembered for strengthening sovereignty [News on 6]
- Osage Nation mourns former Principal Chief Jim Gray, who died at 64 [The Oklahoman]
- Former Osage Nation Principal Chief Jim Gray dead at 64 [Tulsa World]
Voting and Election News
Election Board decision to keep voter data private garners support from Oklahomans: A group of Oklahomans on Monday said they're prepared to sue the federal government if they continue trying to push state leaders to release protected voter information. [Oklahoma Voice]
Lawmaker Asks Ethics Commission to Crack Down on Dark Money: A state lawmaker is asking the Oklahoma Ethics Commission to adopt more stringent reporting and disclosure requirements for groups that spend big money on elections. [Oklahoma Watch]
Opinion: Why Sooner State Party belongs on 2026 ballot: Oklahoma's democracy works best when voters have real choices — and right now, too many do not. Nearly one in four registered voters in our state is an independent, yet election after election, those voters are excluded from primary and runoff elections, where many races are effectively decided. That exclusion weakens trust in the system and leaves hundreds of thousands of Oklahomans without a meaningful voice. [C.J. Webber Neal / The Oklahoman]
Education News
OKC middle-schoolers join nationwide walkouts in protest of ICE: As public disapproval of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement grows, student demonstrations have spread across the country — including in Oklahoma. Hundreds of Oklahoma students have participated in walkouts protesting the actions of ICE over the past week. [KOSU]
- Oklahoma superintendent, secretary respond to call for investigation into student ICE protests [StateImpact Oklahoma via KGOU]
- OSDE shares new statement following continued student walk outs [Fox 23]
Unvaccinated OKCPS students may be asked to stay home after measles exposure: Amid rising measles cases nationwide, Oklahoma City Public Schools is letting parents of unvaccinated students know their children may need to be kept home if they're exposed to the virus. [KFOR]
Health News
Federal Health Care Windfall Meets Fiscal Warnings in Oklahoma: What the federal government giveth, it also taketh away. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt alluded to that new reality in his Feb. 2 state of the state speech, imploring legislators to rein in spending amid federal funding uncertainty. [Oklahoma Watch]
Oklahoma Insurance Department to start state-based health insurance exchange: The Oklahoma Insurance Department announced its plans to transition to a state-based Marketplace for Affordable Care Act coverage for 2028 open enrollment. Currently, Oklahoma relies on the federal government for its marketplace, using HealthCare.gov as its enrollment platform. The state will join DC and 20 states, which have fully state-run Marketplaces. This means Oklahoma will operate its own website and contact center. [StateImpact Oklahoma via KGOU]
More states, including Oklahoma, are requiring insurers to cover non-opioid pain meds: More states are requiring their Medicaid programs and health insurance companies to cover non-opioid pain medications as an alternative to opioids, which can be cheaper for insurers but also more addictive for patients. [Oklahoma Voice]
Oklahoma mental health agency finalizes purchase of new behavioral health campus: The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health finalized the purchase of a vacant hospital in Oklahoma City to serve as the state's largest psychiatric facility for people with severe mental illness last week. [KOSU]
Opinion: In Oklahoma, we're good at honoring the fallen. Then what?: Oklahoma understands service. We understand sacrifice. We understand showing up for our neighbors when things get hard. What we don't always do well is talk honestly about what happens after loss, especially when that loss comes quietly, without ceremony, and leaves families navigating grief alone. [Aaron Hudgins / The Oklahoman]
Criminal Justice News
Criminal justice is a top issue in state legislatures this year: Oklahoma lawmakers have proposed a measure that would eliminate the requirement that a prison inmate serve a set amount of time before becoming eligible for good-time credits. [Oklahoma Voice]
Oklahoma's domestic violence deaths decreased in 2024. But issues remain: Oklahoma has consistently ranked in the top 10 states for women murdered by men since 1996, recently reaching the rank of second in the nation by 2020. [The Oklahoman]
Economy & Business News
Opinion: Oklahoma economy needs robust renewable energy sector, too: Western Oklahoma has always been shaped by agriculture, military installations and energy production. As such, we know how quickly drought can change a community's outlook. We see how oil and gas have long been a cornerstone of our economy, but how it's also cyclical. When it's good, it's good, but the market turns, job loss and revenue loss aren't far behind. I've watched those swings show up not just on spreadsheets, but in the day-to-day stability of families and local budgets. [Wade Patterson / The Oklahoman]
Opinion: After energy era, OKC's next chapter starts now: Oklahoma City is at a turning point. In recent days, our city absorbed double bad news: the departure of Devon Energy and Expand Energy's headquarters to Houston. But this is not the end of Oklahoma City's story. It may be the end of one era and the beginning of another. [Susan Moring / The Oklahoman]
Community News
Islamic Society of Tulsa open house draws community support: Twice a year, every year, the Islamic Society of Tulsa hosts an open house. Typical attendance is between 90 to 120 people. The turnout for Sunday's open house? Far from typical. "This open house wasn't held because of it, however, the Broken Arrow issue brought out a tremendous amount of support," keynote speaker Dr. Imad Enchassi told the Tulsa World. "Nearly 500 members of the Tulsa community were there and there was an amazing sense of unity." [Tulsa World]
Tulsa group launches new citizenship prep course. It needs more students to begin: A local organization wants to offer a low-cost citizenship preparation course at Tulsa Technology Center, but is waiting for more students before kicking off classes. [Tulsa Flyer]
New app takes you on a tour of important civil rights sites in Oklahoma: The town of Boley, an all-Black town that is home of one of the nation's oldest Black rodeos, the Greenwood Rising Black Wall Street History Center in Tulsa and the city of Fairfax are among the sites featured on a new mobile app that will showcase the Oklahoma Civil Rights Trail. [The Oklahoman]
