| Eviction records should not create a lifelong barrier to housing State policymakers have an opportunity this session to ensure an eviction doesn't scar a tenant for life. Because Oklahoma has stagnant wages and lack of adequate support systems like rental assistance, one disaster can quickly push renters towards missed rent and eviction. In today's tight housing market, a single eviction record can close doors long after it happened; sealing eviction records helps prevent small mistakes from becoming permanent obstacles. [Sabine Brown / OK Policy] |
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| Policy Matters: Putting people before party When our elected officials treat policy debates as battles to be won rather than problems to be solved, complex issues get flattened into slogans. Neighbors become opponents. We can do better. Our state's biggest challenges demand cooperation, not conflict. This moment offers elected officials a chance to lower the temperature and work together for a better Oklahoma. [Shiloh Kantz / The Journal Record] |
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| Last chance to register for the Day of Action this Tuesday! 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. |
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Error Rates Error rates in programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid (SoonerCare in Oklahoma) refer to how often benefits are issued incorrectly under federal rules. Such issues typically arise because of administrative or documentation errors, not fraud. In SNAP, the error rate measures whether benefit amounts were calculated correctly, including both overpayments and underpayments. The most recent national SNAP payment error rate was 10.93 percent in fiscal year 2024, with Oklahoma reporting a very similar, but slightly lower, rate of 10.87 percent. When overpayments occur, households usually must repay the extra benefits, even if the mistake was made by the state agency. In Medicaid, the error rate — officially called the Payment Error Rate Measure (PERM) rate — reflects whether payments met all eligibility, verification, and documentation requirements, even if the person receiving coverage was otherwise eligible. Nationally, the latest Medicaid improper payment rate was 6.12 percent, and about 77 percent of those improper payments were due to insufficient documentation rather than fraud or abuse. Oklahoma's SoonerCare improper payment rate has been much lower than the national average — about 1.95 percent in the most recent state cycle — showing that the vast majority of payments in the state meet documentation and eligibility requirements. Error rates matter because they are used to judge how well states administer these programs and increasingly shape policy decisions. Efforts to reduce error rates often involve adding paperwork, verification steps, and more frequent eligibility checks. While these changes can reduce some administrative mistakes, they also raise the risk that eligible people lose benefits for procedural reasons — such as missing a notice, failing to submit a document on time, or being unable to navigate complex reporting systems. Under the federal "One Big Beautiful Bill" passed in 2025 (H.R. 1), error rates take on new significance. The law ties states' SNAP payment error rates to direct financial requirements for states, meaning states with error rates above 6 percent will have to cover 5 to 15 percent of SNAP benefit costs. At the same time, H.R. 1 and related policy changes move Medicaid toward more frequent renewals and additional reporting requirements. Together, these shifts increase pressure on states to tighten enrollment systems — making error rates not just a technical measure, but a driver of how accessible safety-net programs remain for eligible families. Look up more key terms to understand Oklahoma politics and government here. |
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"I cannot support a bill that will push families — that will push kids who are American-born citizens — from receiving benefits they are entitled to." —Rep. Arturo Alonso Sandoval (Oklahoma City) opposing House Bills 4422 and 4423, which would require immigration status checks and potential ICE notification for applicants seeking SNAP, TANF, or Medicaid. While undocumented immigrants have never been eligible for public assistance, the bills could deter parents from seeking benefits on behalf of their U.S.-citizen children out of concern that their own information would be reviewed and potentially shared with immigration authorities. [News 9] |
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Editorial: A SoonerCare and SNAP train wreck seems to be looming Three more months remain in this year's legislative session. That's plenty of time for legislators concerned about the direction we're heading to call for a full and open public hearing to demand explanations and answers from those in charge of SoonerCare and SNAP, find out what really needs to be done and take action before the crash occurs and our neediest residents become collateral damage. [The Oklahoman Editorial Board] |
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16th - Oklahoma has the 16th most regressive state and local tax system in the country, which create economic inequality. Income disparities are larger in Oklahoma after state and local taxes are collected than before. [Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy] 1 in 4 - Of the nearly 40,000 Oklahoma private school tax credits that have been awarded this calendar year, 24.5% of them – nearly 1 in 4 – have gone to families who reported income above $250,000. [Oklahoma Tax Commission] 80% - Percent of Oklahoma property tax revenue collections that fund education (public schools and career techs) in Oklahoma. [State Auditor FY 2019 Report] 210,405 - The number of members served by Oklahoma's Teachers' Retirement System as of June 30, 2025. The system covers a wide range of public education professionals — including teachers, administrators, counselors, nurses, librarians, and college faculty — making it a cornerstone of Oklahoma's public education workforce. [Teachers' Retirement System of Oklahoma] 49% - The share of Oklahoma Medicaid enrollees who are children. Nearly half of everyone covered by SoonerCare is under age 18, showing how central the program is to children's health and access to care across the state. [KFF] |
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Want 'affordability?' Start by retooling your state's regressive tax system: The White House's top economic advisors recently advised states to consider repealing taxes on corporate and personal income and to make up for it by drastically raising their sales taxes. This is the last thing states should do if they want to make life more affordable for most people. [The Hill] The Myth of Cost Savings from Private School Vouchers: When states establish or expand private school voucher programs, they set up two education systems based on public funding. Voucher programs are expensive, impractical, and educationally unsound, and they don't save money for anyone but the wealthy, who have likely already chosen private schools. [Education Law Center] Eliminating School Property Taxes for Texas Homeowners Could Backfire Sooner Rather Than Later: States across the country have seen recent budget surpluses, often due to temporary factors like American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds or stock market gains and higher consumer spending pushing up tax collections. Most states, including Texas, expect weaker revenue growth in the upcoming budget cycle. If the state exhausts its surplus, it will face a choice between increasing taxes or cutting spending to maintain the property tax break. Because Texas is a sales tax reliant state, both options would disproportionately affect lower-income residents. [Tax Policy Center] What Role Does State Government Play in Funding Teacher Pensions?: State governments play a major role in funding teacher pensions, though the level of involvement varies widely across states. As of 2024, about two-thirds of states directly contribute to teacher pension costs, and in some cases the state pays the full employer share on behalf of school districts; in the remaining states, districts cover most pension costs but still receive indirect support through general education funding. Rising pension contributions have increased financial pressure on school systems, sometimes forcing tradeoffs with salaries, hiring, or other education spending. Because schools depend heavily on state aid, state policy decisions strongly shape how teacher pensions are funded and how the costs affect local education budgets. [Center for Retirement Research] Medicaid Plays an Important Role in Providing Health Coverage to Key Populations: Medicaid provides health coverage for many of the country's most vulnerable groups, including children, pregnant people, seniors, and people with disabilities, and plays a central role in financing long-term care and essential health services. The program helps people who are less likely to have access to employer-sponsored insurance and often have greater health needs, improving access to care and financial stability. Because eligibility and benefits vary by state, coverage levels and access can differ widely across the country. Changes to Medicaid policy therefore have broad effects on health coverage and care for low-income families and other key populations. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities] |
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What's up this week at Oklahoma Policy Institute? The Weekly Wonk shares our most recent publications and other resources to help you stay informed about Oklahoma. Numbers of the Day and Policy Notes are from our daily news briefing, In The Know. Click here to subscribe to In The Know. |
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