In The Know: Gov. signs final bills for 2026 session, uses pocket veto on 3 measures | Open primary advocates appeal rejection of their initiative petition | Oklahoma takes a closer look at its early childhood services

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, JUNE 2, 2026 Subscribe // View web version (current and archived) Oklahoma takes a closer look at its early childhood services (Capitol Update)   With the passage of House Bill 1979, Rep. Trish Ranson, D-Stillwater, and Sen. Chuck Hall, R-Perry, have taken the right approach to finding long-term solutions to Oklahoma’s childcare crisis and other urgent early childhood needs. The bill creates an Early Childhood Task Force to conduct a two-year study of Oklahoma’s early childhood services delivery system. A preliminary report will be due in November 2027, with the final report and recommendations due in November 2028. [Steve Lewis / Capitol Update] 14%   The percentage of Oklahoma City's unhoused population who are 18 or younger, up from 12% in 2025. [2026 Point in Time Report] Report: Youth Homelessness Overview   Each year, an estimated 4.2 million youth, young adults and teens  experience homelessness in the United States, 700,000 of which are unaccompanied minors—meaning they are not part of a family or accompanied by a parent or guardian. These estimates indicate that approximately one in 10 adults ages 18 to 25, and one in 30 youth ages 13 to 17 will experience homelessness each year. This is likely an undercount due to varying definitions of homelessness and challenges with contacting unhoused people, particularly unhoused youth. [National Conference of State Legislatures] "Behind that number are the young people who show up with plastic bags filled with everything they own; the students trying to finish high school while figuring out where they’ll sleep. These young adults are doing everything they can to pull themselves out of homelessness, but often falling short because of a system that wasn’t built to support them."   —Rachel Bradley, executive director at Sisu Youth Services, writing in an op-ed about about how rising youth homelessness in Oklahoma City reflects systemic barriers that keep young people stuck in shelters. [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma News   Oklahoma's minimum wage debate: 2 Oklahoma restaurants, 2 very different views on SQ 832: The minimum wage debate is making its way through restaurants across Oklahoma. While some say it's about time, others have raised concerns about whether they will be able to keep their doors open. [KOCO] From OK Policy: SQ 832 Information and Resources State Government News   Stitt signs final bills for 2026 session, uses pocket veto on 3 measures: Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt let three measures sent to his desk by lawmakers in the final days of the legislative session die without his signature by a key deadline Friday. [KOSU]   Oklahoma Senate leader reflects on 2026 session, education, budget and unfinished business: Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton says he believes 2026 could be remembered as a turning point for education in Oklahoma, pointing to new laws aimed at increasing classroom instruction time and improving student outcomes. [News 9]   Oklahoma continues to lack substantial guardrails for using generative AI: State lawmakers failed to establish guidelines for artificial intelligence this year, but Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has warned that he could call lawmakers back to the state Capitol to reign in use of the tool for political campaign advertisements. [Oklahoma Voice]   Federal Government News   Trump issues final rule requiring most Medicaid beneficiaries to work: A new final rule from the Trump administration will require most Medicaid beneficiaries between the ages of 19 and 64 to prove they work, complete community service, or participate in a work program to win benefits. [The Hill via KFOR] From OK Policy: “Work requirements” won’t work for Oklahoma Some trans military members banned by Trump allowed to continue service under ruling: Transgender military members won a temporary victory against the Trump administration in federal appeals court Monday when two judges ruled a policy banning them from service violated their constitutional right to equal protection under the law. [Oklahoma Voice]   Trump names Bill Pulte director of national intelligence to replace Tulsi Gabbard: President Donald Trump named Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, as the new acting director of national intelligence to replace Tulsi Gabbard. [USA Today via The Oklahoman]   Opinion: A $250 bill may not appeal to Americans. Here's a better idea: I'm thinking that if President Trump wants a popular bill with his name and picture on it, he should ask the Treasury to print a $17.76 bill — I couldn't find any rule that our currency has to be in even dollar denominations — and such a bill might be perfect to buy a couple of pounds of hamburger at the grocery store. [William C. Wertz / The Oklahoman]   Tribal Nations News   Interior Department withdraws decision affirming United Keetoowah Band shares Cherokee reservation: The U.S. Department of the Interior withdrew a decision last month that affirmed the Cherokee Nation shares its reservation with the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians. [KOSU]   Muscogee Nation voters pass special justice amendment, term limits; ‘Mvskoke’ amendment falls short: While a majority of Muscogee Nation voters supported all four constitutional amendments on the ballot Saturday, only three reached the two-thirds margin required for passage under the tribe’s constitution. [NonDoc] Muscogee citizens approve council term limits, more in special election [KOSU] This Day in History – June 2, 1924: Indian Citizenship Act Enacted: One hundred and two years ago, the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924, also known as the Snyder Act, granted U.S. citizenship to all Native Americans born within the territorial limits of the United States. [Native News Online]   Voting and Election News   Oklahoma open primary advocates appeal rejection of their initiative petition: A group of advocates for State Question 836 contested the Oklahoma Secretary of State’s decision to invalidate nearly a quarter of signatures to put open primaries on the ballot. [KOSU] From OK Policy: What's That? Open Primaries  Trump ordered limits on voting by mail. The Postal Service is moving to make states comply.: The U.S. Postal Service on Friday took its first major step to carry out President Donald Trump’s executive order restricting voting by mail, proposing a rule that would require states to submit lists of voters before mailing ballots. [Oklahoma Voice]   Election Roundup Trump endorses Mike Mazzei for Oklahoma governor [The Journal Record] Businessman, former Oklahoma trooper, Chip Keating embraces ‘outsider’ status in bid for governor [Oklahoma Voice] Who is Chip Keating? Second-generation candidate for Oklahoma governor [The Oklahoman] Who is running to be Oklahoma's next lieutenant governor? [KOSU] Republican AG candidates agree on substance, but not always on style [The Oklahoman] Cheat sheet: HD 99 Democratic candidates race to replace Ajay Pittman [NonDoc] Cheat Sheet: 3 Republicans running to replace Humphrey in southeast Oklahoma’s HD 19 [NonDoc] Incumbent Stan Sallee faces Idris Shelby in Tulsa County District 1 commissioner election [NonDoc] Education News   Oklahoma’s Schools Are Some of the Worst in the Nation. Can They Recover?: When Oklahoma’s education rankings make headlines, it’s usually not a good thing. The unwelcome attention typically prompts a wave of finger-pointing from politicians and business leaders. [The 74] ‘A Game of Catch-Up’: How This Oklahoma School Gets Kids Reading at Grade Level [The 74] Oklahoma Student Performance Is Declining. Charter Schools Are an Exception [The 74] Oklahoma kids can get free meals for summer: School is out for the summer break, but that doesn’t mean the need for food stops. The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma is doing its part to make sure kids get fed this summer with the Summer Feeding Program. [KFOR] OKC Public Schools launches free summer meals for kids across Oklahoma City [News 9] Tulsa Public School board approves budget amid third party recommendation to close schools: Although it does not identify any specific campuses, a third party report cited by Tulsa Public Schools in its efforts to address a multi-million dollar budget shortfall calls for school closures and consolidations. [Tulsa World]   Health News   Your next urgent care visit may be diagnosed in part by AI: The next time you visit an urgent care clinic, artificial intelligence may help diagnose you — and get you out the door in half the time. That shift is happening as the FDA loosens its regulatory oversight of AI-related clinical applications, leaving safety largely in the hands of developers and users. [The Journal Record]   Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation marks World MS Day with patient art event: The OMRF brought together patients, care providers and researchers Saturday to mark World Multiple Sclerosis Day with a creative, patient-centered event focused on art and community support. [The Journal Record]   Justice System News   ‘He’s a predator’: Former Choctaw Nation Councilman Ron Perry sentenced for sexual battery: After more than a year of continuances and stays in the case, a former member of the Choctaw Nation Tribal Council has accepted a plea agreement and was sentenced to spend one year in jail for several sexual batteries committed during his time on the council. [NonDoc]   Oklahoma Highway Patrol addresses concerns as self-driving semi trucks hit Oklahoma roads: Oklahoma will soon have fully autonomous trucks on its major highways, and that announcement has led to a lot of questions and safety concerns. OHP is the governing body of the driverless trucks, and troopers have gone through trainings to learn how the trucks will operate. [News 9]   Housing & Economic Opportunity News   Opinion: Many OKC unhoused youths are stuck in shelters. You can help: Each January, Oklahoma City conducts a Point-in-Time (PIT) Count, a one-day snapshot of the sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness in our city. This year’s findings confirmed what those of us working to end homelessness already knew: Unhoused youths are finding shelter. What they’re not finding is a way out. [Rachel Bradley / The Oklahoman]   Economy & Business News   Growers Say Oklahoma’s Cannabis Bonanza is Going to Pot: Unlike many states, Oklahoma initially imposed few limits on licenses, production or qualifying conditions for medical marijuana patients. The result was an economic ecosystem that stretched far beyond growers and dispensaries into real estate, construction, banking, security and local government budgets. [Oklahoma Watch]   Data center scandal - Who sent fake emails of support for Project Atlas?: After months of controversy, plans for Project Atlas in Coweta were finally scrapped by Beale Infrastructure at the end of March. Three months later, even though the data center is no more, the controversy continues. [Fox 25]   Opinion: Like OKC, businesses can find success in steady investment: What stands out most to me is not simply how much Oklahoma City has grown — but how it has done it. What has been built here wasn’t the result of taking wild, risky swings to see what heights might be reached. It came from leaders coming together around a long-term vision and, crucially, a strategic plan to get there. [Kyle Powell / The Oklahoman]   Community News   Justice for Greenwood Hosts Powerful Gala 105 Years After the Massacre: The event commemorated 120 years since the founding of Greenwood and honored the survivors, descendants, and leaders carrying its legacy forward 105 years after the Tulsa Race Massacre. [The Black Wall Street Times] ‘We will carry your light’: Massacre victims, survivors remembered at soil collection ceremony [The Oklahoma Eagle] Weekend of remembrance commemorates Tulsa Race Massacre’s 105th anniversary [Oklahoma Eagle] Tornado count uncharacteristically low for May in Oklahoma this year: Only two confirmed tornadoes — with a third possible pending investigation — occurred in Oklahoma in May, normally the state's most active month. [Tulsa World]   Oklahoma just relaxed fireworks laws on displays, bottle rockets. What's new in 2026.: From bottle rockets to private displays, Oklahoma lawmakers just relaxed several laws that regulate fireworks. Here's what's new in 2026. [The Oklahoman]   After Route 66 parade headaches, YouTuber warns of car event cancellations in Tulsa: Thousands of people participated in Tulsa’s world record-setting Route 66 Capital Cruise Saturday, but hundreds of credentialed motorists in their classic cars were stuck in gridlock traffic around Expo Square — and ultimately unable to reach the staging area or participate in the parade. [Tulsa Flyer] Capital Cruise to refund all drivers after some stopped from participating [Tulsa World] Local Headlines Embracing Cry Baby Hill hooliganism, Tulsa Tough turns 20 [Tulsa Flyer] Lake Thunderbird State Park's newly redone trails unveiled [The Oklahoman] Rezoning approval moves Norman mosque closer to $1.5 million expansion [The Oklahoman] Cost of Oklahoma County building rehab rises, but is firmer than ruined columns [The Oklahoman] Piedmont residents push back against proposed data center development [News 9] Is there an 'out' in the Yukon data center project contract? [Fox 25] 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.