In The Know: Stitt orders state agencies to check immigration status for food programs | OK Senate leaves legislation in a lurch with abrupt adjournment | Hard work alone won’t fix broken systems

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, MAY 7, 2026 Subscribe // View web version (current and archived) Policy Matters: Hard work alone won’t fix broken systems   You’ve likely heard the saying: “Work hard enough and you can pull yourself up by your bootstraps.” The phrase sounds tough and hopeful, but it doesn’t reflect the reality for many Oklahomans. The truth is, not everyone starts from the same place. And many of our friends and neighbors never had boots to begin with. [Shiloh Kantz / The Journal Record] 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. +4%   The increase in the share of immigrants who said they avoided applying for government assistance programs over the past year for fear of drawing attention to their or a family member’s immigration status, rising from 8% in 2023 to 12% in 2025. Another 11% said they stopped participating in those programs altogether for immigration-related reasons. [KFF] KFF/New York Times 2025 Survey of Immigrants: Health and Health Care Experiences During the Second Trump Administration   Actions taken by the Trump administration and Congress will likely have major impacts on health and health care for immigrant families. As of June 2025, there were 51.9 million immigrants residing in the U.S. representing diverse backgrounds and experiences. In addition, about one in four children in the U.S. has at least one immigrant parent, and the vast majority of these children are U.S. citizens. President Trump’s increased immigration enforcement activity has contributed to resounding levels of fear and uncertainty among the immigrant community, which can negatively affect the health and well-being of immigrant families and make them more reluctant to access health coverage as well as health care. Moreover, the 2025 tax and spending law and other recent policy changes will further limit access to health coverage and services for many lawfully present immigrants who already face eligibility restrictions for federally funded coverage options, amid broader projected coverage reductions and anticipated increases in health care costs. [KFF] From OK Policy: Federal law already excluded most immigrants from accessing public benefits "The enrollment, regardless of the eligibility rules, is already decreasing because people are terrified."   — Leonardo Cuello, a Medicaid law and policy expert and professor at Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy, explaining that many immigrant families are already hesitant to apply for programs like Medicaid out of fear that doing so could draw attention to their own or a loved one’s immigration status. Governor Kevin Stitt’s recent executive order — which requires all SNAP and SoonerCare applicants to be screened through the federal citizenship verification system known as SAVE — is likely to deepen those fears. [The Frontier] Oklahoma News   Stitt orders state agencies to check immigration status for food programs: Gov. Kevin Stitt has signed an executive order to enact two White House-backed proposals that failed in the state Senate after debate about potential harm to children of undocumented immigrants. [The Oklahoman] Gov. Stitt acts on pending immigration bills as lawmakers squabble over ending legislative session [KOSU] Stitt issues executive order targeting immigration status [KFOR] From OK Policy: Oklahoma lawmakers once again push for more harmful anti-immigrant bills Cross-chamber chaos: Senate leaves legislation in a lurch with abrupt adjournment: When Senate President Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton held Wednesday morning’s roll call open for seven minutes, suddenly banged the gavel and declared he did not see enough senators to constitute a quorum, it caught numerous members off guard. [NonDoc]   State Government News   Drummond Blocks Contract for Governor’s Former Business Partner: Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond refused to approve a contract for an investment advisor in the Invest in Oklahoma program, citing collusion and undisclosed conflicts of interest that tainted the bidding process. [Oklahoma Watch]   Legislative Roundup: Bill to regulate Oklahoma's strip clubs failed. What happened, and what's next [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma bill would open abortion prevention program to out-of-state groups [StateImpact Oklahoma via KGOU] Stitt signs bill to remove earnings cap for retired Oklahoma teachers who return to the classroom [StateImpact Oklahoma via KGOU] Federal Government News   Protesters outside the White House call for ending detention for migrant families, kids: Dozens of people gathered on a sandy lot in front of the White House construction zone Tuesday evening, carrying posters peppered with monarch butterflies and unfurling massive banners reading “Set kids free.” [Medill News Service via Oklahoma Voice]   Voting and Election News   Healthcare costs top of mind for voters as midterms approach, survey finds: Voters, including those within the Make America Healthy Again movement, say the rising cost of healthcare is a significant concern that will have an impact on whom they support in November’s midterm elections, according to a poll released Wednesday by KFF. [Oklahoma Voice]   Education News   Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit cap expanded from $250 million to $275 million: The state is setting aside more money to subsidize Oklahoma families’ private school tuition. Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a bill to increase the cap on the Parental Choice Tax Credit. [StateImpact Oklahoma via KGOU] From OK Policy: Don't make a bad idea worse Another battle is brewing over public funds for religious schools. Oklahoma Jewish leaders are uneasy: Oklahoma is again ground zero for a battle over publicly funded religious education as a proposed Jewish charter school looks to the courts for vindication. That’s despite members of the state’s Jewish community saying they weren’t consulted and are “deeply concerned” about the threat to the separation of church and state. [StateImpact Oklahoma via KGOU]   Education Watch: What’s the latest in the criminal case against Epic’s founders?: Epic co-founders Chaney and Harris faced 14 felonies each, including embezzlement, conspiracy and fraud under the state’s racketeering statute. The judge dismissed one count of embezzlement against Chaney and Harris as well as one count of computer fraud against Chaney. [Oklahoma Watch]   Health News   Oklahoma boots just 10 people from SoonerCare as part of Trump Administration immigration review: The state’s Medicaid agency has checked the immigration status of thousands of enrollees flagged by the Trump Administration, finding few eligibility issues. [The Frontier]   Justice System News   Lawsuit alleges corrections agency violated the Oklahoma Open Records Act: Two media outlets on Wednesday sued the Oklahoma Department of Corrections for violating the state’s open records act by failing to provide information about a Watonga immigration detention center. [Oklahoma Voice]   More arrests possible in fatal Arcadia Lake shooting case, police say: Police have shared new details after a suspect was arrested in connection with a mass shooting at Arcadia Lake that left one person dead and 22 people injured. [The Oklahoman] Suspect arrested in Arcadia Lake mass shooting that killed 1, injured 22 [KOSU] Housing & Economic Opportunity News   Old Tulsa housing covenants can derail home construction. The city can’t stop it: Covenants in older Tulsa homes can lead to legal disputes between neighbors over issues such as construction that the city has no power to prevent. [Tulsa Flyer]   Stamp Out Hunger drive is 'huge' for Oklahoma's food pantries. How to help: Twice a week, volunteers begin combing the shelves of the OKC Dream Center food pantry to fill crates of food for families in need. [The Oklahoman]   Economy & Business News   Oklahoma diesel prices hit four-year high due to Iran war: Nearly 10 weeks after President Donald Trump launched his war against Iran, the price of diesel fuel in Oklahoma has now risen to its highest level since the opening weeks of Russia's war against Ukraine four years ago. [The Oklahoman] US crude and fuel inventories fall as Iran war roils energy markets, EIA says [Reuters] ONG proposes rate increase for customers: The price you pay for gas may soon be going up, something nobody wants to hear. One of the largest energy companies in our state is now asking for a rate increase. Oklahoma Natural Gas says this increase is needed to maintain what it calls a “high reliability rate” for customers. [KFOR]   Community News   OK Muslims have religious rights despite efforts to erase them: “As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly.” Proverbs 26:11 aptly describes the recent resurrection of efforts to erase a disfavored religious minority from Oklahoma. Agree or disagree with Muslims, the protection of free exercise of religion is a duty the Constitution imposes on federal, state and local government. [Corey Saylor and Veronica Laizure-Henry / The Oklahoman]   Local Headlines Criminal probe announced in wake of Coweta data center cancellation [Tulsa World] Jenks schools to keep planetarium open [Tulsa World] Pauls Valley community to pray after principal's shooting [The Oklahoman] Piedmont leaders discuss city water updates and proposal for an additional data center [KFOR] 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. 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