In The Know: Oklahoma voters to decide property tax question in November | Oklahoma Supreme Court hears oral arguments in State Farm case | Private school subsidies get a $25 million expansion

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.

TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2026 Subscribe // View web version (current and archived) NOTE: In The Know will be on hiatus tomorrow — Wednesday, April 29 — while our staff attend OK Policy's annual Legislative Briefing Breakfast.  Apply Now for the 2026 Oklahoma Summer Policy Institute   OK Policy’s Oklahoma Summer Policy Institute (SPI) brings together highly-qualified college students, recent graduates, and new policy professionals for a three-day learning experience that informs participants about Oklahoma’s policy landscape and provides tools and resources to create change in our state. Apply by 11:59 p.m., Sunday, May 10, 2026. Learn More & Apply Know someone who would be a good fit for SPI? Please send them the link above. 68.14%   Public school districts are the largest recipients of property taxes collected by counties in Oklahoma. Statewide, 68.14% of property taxes are distributed to local public school districts for general operations, construction, and funding long-term projects. [Oklahoma State University Extension] Circuit Breakers Are a Better Option for Property Tax Relief   Property taxes are the backbone of state and local government budgets because they support public programs that keep communities educated, safe, and healthy. But as housing prices continue to rise across the country, a growing number of families are struggling with their property tax bills. States like North Dakota, Iowa, Indiana, and Kansas, among a dozen other states, are looking at ways to alter property taxes. But too often, their proposals threaten to lose a lot of revenue without really reaching the people who most need help. These proposals focus on addressing the amount of property taxes levied, rather than ensuring families can afford their property tax bills. There is a better way. [Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy] "It's going to hurt public safety. It's going to hurt our schools, and it'll hurt public health and libraries. The biggest winners from this measure are going to be our wealthiest, largest property owners."   — Sen. Julia Kirt (Oklahoma City) expressing concern over Senate Joint Resolution 39, which puts a question on the ballot asking voters whether to lower the state’s current property tax caps. If passed, Kirt and other lawmakers worry the tax reduction could disrupt current bonds, impacting cities and school districts. [KOCO] Oklahoma News   Oklahoma voters to decide property tax question in November: A measure to curb the growth of some property taxes is headed to the November general election ballot. The resolution would lower the maximum a property value can increase from 5% to 4% for commercial properties and from 3% to 1.75% for primary residences and agricultural land. [Oklahoma Voice] Voters may set new limits on property tax increases [Tulsa World] Oklahoma voters to decide whether to cap property taxes after lawmakers advance it to ballot [KOCO] From OK Policy: The need for effective solutions is real, but eliminating property taxes isn’t the answer. | Property taxes in Oklahoma make up at least half of the budget in 62 of Oklahoma’s 77 counties (interactive map) A Former Chief Justice Battles State Farm as Sitting Justices Weigh Insurance Giant’s Fate: On Monday, the Oklahoma Supreme Court met en banc — that is, nine justices gathered live — to hear 40 minutes of oral argument over Attorney General Gentner Drummond’s effort to intervene in Hursh v. State Farm, a bad faith insurance case that has come to represent upwards of 1,000 similar cases involving hail damage to Oklahoma roofs. [Oklahoma Watch] Oklahoma Supreme Court hears oral arguments in State Farm case [The Journal Record] AG Drummond intervention in State Farm lawsuit now up to OK Supreme Court [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma Supreme Court hears arguments in State Farm case involving Tulsa family, Attorney General [KFOR] $25 million to be added to Parental Choice Tax Credit cap, pending governor approval: The state’s program to subsidize families’ private school tuition is headed toward another expansion. House Bill 3705 from House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, would raise the Parental Choice Tax Credit’s cap from $250 million to $275 million. [StateImpact Oklahoma via KGOU] From OK Policy: Policy Matters: Don’t make a bad idea worse State Government News   Governor OKs new development law despite rejection of similar measure by Oklahoma voters: A new law heralded by Oklahoma Republicans as a method to grow the state’s housing supply appears remarkably similar to a ballot measure that voters soundly rejected less than two years ago, critics say. [Oklahoma Voice]   Oklahoma Senate kills Trump-backed bills targeting undocumented immigrants: Oklahoma's Republican Senate leader has refused to consider Trump-backed bills that he says could deter undocumented mothers from applying for government assistance on behalf of their U.S.-born children. [The Oklahoman]   Federal Government News   US Supreme Court weighs how far police investigations can go in using cellphone location data: The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday appeared likely to allow law enforcement to continue seeking warrants for the location history of cellphones near crime scenes, even as the justices wrestled with how far the government must go to protect Americans’ privacy. [Oklahoma Voice]   Appeals court says Trump administration must open borders to asylum-seekers: An appeals court on Friday struck down the Trump administration’s closing of United States borders to asylum-seekers. [Oklahoma Voice]   US Supreme Court to hear case on legal status of more than 350,000 Haitians and Syrians: The case has the potential to have an impact on multiple lawsuits challenging the Trump administration’s efforts to end protections for more than 1.3 million immigrants from all over the globe with Temporary Protected Status, granted because they hail from countries deemed too dangerous for return. [Oklahoma Voice]   Six things to know about marijuana reclassification's impact on Oklahoma: The federal government has moved to ease some marijuana restrictions for states with medical marijuana programs, including Oklahoma. For growers, processors and dispensaries, the rule could bring major changes. [The Oklahoman] Change in marijuana classification may benefit state businesses [Tulsa World] Tribal Nations News   More Than 10,000 Oklahoma Native Landowners May Be Owed Oil and Gas Revenue, Lawsuit Says: A new federal class action lawsuit filed in the United States Court of Federal Claims alleges that more than 10,000 Native American landowners in Oklahoma were denied oil and gas income or interest payments due to failures by the federal government to uphold its trust responsibilities. [Native News Online]   Muscogee National Council issues no-confidence vote in Supreme Court justices: The Muscogee National Council issued a vote of no confidence against five of the tribe’s supreme court justices on Sunday. The council argues the members violated their oaths of office when removing the tribe’s “by blood” citizenship requirement. [KOSU]   Oklahoma Governor Stitt Calls Native Education Council ‘Redundant,’ Moves to End It: Republican Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, a tribal citizen of the Cherokee Nation, has moved to eliminate the state’s Native American Education Council, arguing the body is unnecessary and ineffective—a decision that is drawing concern from Tribal leaders and education advocates. [Native News Online]   Opinion: A $3 Billion Partner, Barred from Oklahoma’s House Floor: Oklahoma House leadership has barred Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. from speaking on the chamber floor — a move that sidelines the elected leader of one of the state’s largest economic drivers. [Levi Rickert / Native News Online]   Voting and Election News   When could Oklahomans take another vote on Medicaid Expansion?: Six years after Medicaid expansion was passed by voters, state lawmakers are looking at ways to give future legislatures better control over the program through two different state questions. [News 9] From OK Policy: SoonerCare is a lifeline Oklahoma can’t afford to lose Oklahoma Supreme Court declines to remove Adam Pugh from state superintendent ballot: Sen. Adam Pugh will remain on the state superintendent election ballot despite a second effort to remove him. One of his Republican primary election opponents, Rep. Toni Hasenbeck, asked the Election Board and the state Supreme Court to disqualify him. [Oklahoma Voice] Pugh stays on ballot as OK Supreme Court declines Hasenbeck request [NonDoc] Education News   Poll finds Oklahomans have low opinion of schools, want more funding for teacher salaries, classrooms: The annual Oklahoma Education Poll from the Oklahoma Center for Education Policy found the state’s residents have a largely negative perception of schools and want more investment in public education. [StateImpact Oklahoma via KGOU]   Opinion, Guthrie Supt.: “Why Oklahoma ranks 50th in education”: HELP, WE ARE 50th IN EDUCATION AND MY THIRD GRADER CAN’T READ! It appears our state legislature is drawing closer to the end of this session and much of the focus of this year has been on education reform. I was going to open with the second sentence but I know many would never read the article if that was how I started this column! [Guthrie Public Schools Superintendent Michael Simpson / Guthrie News Page]   Health News   Youth suicide rates declined after launch of 988 suicide hotline, study says: Suicides among teens and young adults declined after the launch of the 988 National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in July 2022, according to a new study published Wednesday. [KOSU]   Parent pushes to restore SoonerCare for her disabled children: Ryan McLaughlin’s 14-year-old daughter, Lucy, and her 17-year-old son, Henry, rely on multiple daily medications. McLaughlin says her family is able to afford the medicine and the everyday care through the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act, also known as TEFRA. [KFOR]   Opinion: Autism can be divisive. Understanding is important: All along the spectrum, there is a need for understanding. There may be miles between high and low support needs, but it is important that all are considered to have a disability in the eyes of the law so they can be protected and get the assistance they deserve to have and need to thrive. [Kelly Dyer Fry / The Oklahoman]   Justice System News   Cleveland County Sheriff Chris Amason pleads no contest to embezzlement, resigns: After years of financial mismanagement allegations, Cleveland County Sheriff Chris Amason resigned from office after pleading no contest to one count of felony embezzlement today in exchange for Attorney General Gentner Drummond’s office dismissing three other counts the same day they were revealed publicly. [NonDoc] Cleveland County Sheriff pleads no contest to embezzlement, resigns [KGOU] Oklahoma sheriff resigns after pleading no contest to embezzlement [The Oklahoman] OK County could face 'legal ramifications' over jail transport plan, DA says: Oklahoma County could face "legal ramifications" if the jail starts taking detainees to court and back, or anywhere else after the sheriff stops transporting them, unless the jail and the public trust that governs it know what they're doing, District Attorney Vicki Behenna said. [The Oklahoman]   State barriers limit access to compensation for gun violence survivors, report says: While federal efforts to strengthen victim compensation are underway, states play a critical role in determining whether survivors of gun violence can actually access that support, according to a new report from Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit gun research and advocacy organization. [Oklahoma Voice]   Community News   Black Mesa turned off the lights to protect the night sky. Visitors and wildlife are feeling the difference: At the western edge of the Panhandle, Black Mesa is Oklahoma’s highest point and one of its darkest. Late last year, the state park here became the state’s first certified International Dark Sky Place. [KOSU]   Local Headlines OKC $2.1B budget plan could include some cuts amid slowing sales tax [The Oklahoman] Tulsa city councilors field questions about conflicts of interest [Tulsa Flyer] Tulsa utility bills could go up another $6. Here’s what you need to know. [Tulsa Flyer] Union Public Schools seeking feedback for potential '27 bond package [Tulsa World] 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 emails from us, please unsubscribe.