In The Know: Oklahoma Supreme Court hears challenge to property tax initiative petition | Millions could face coverage loss under new Medicaid work rules | Fact check: GOP gubernatorial debate

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.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2026 Subscribe // View web version (current and archived) 91%   Property taxes represent 91% of local tax revenue for both Roger Mills and Beaver counties in Oklahoma. The property tax revenue in those counties are used for funding local public schools, county government, emergency medical services, and more. [Institute of Taxation and Economic Policy via OK Policy] Eliminating property taxes would devastate crucial local services   Property values have increased nationally since the pandemic, leading to higher property taxes. This has created a financial strain on some lower- and middle-income households. The need for effective solutions is real, but eliminating property taxes – as some state legislators are pushing – isn’t the answer. In Oklahoma, property taxes account for 56 percent of local tax revenue and fund critical services like fire response, law enforcement, emergency responders, trash collection, libraries, and schools. Without property taxes, counties, municipalities, and school districts would have to depend on the state to fund core services – and that money often shifts with politics. [Aanahita Irani Ervin & Sabine Brown / OK Policy] "The problem is that the ballot title is disingenuous. They’re not telling the voters the truth about what they’re going to lose. They’re only telling them, 'We’re going to cut your taxes.'"   — Mike Fina, executive director of the Oklahoma Municipal League, speaking about concerns regarding the proposed State Question 843, which would ask voters to completely eliminate property taxes in Oklahoma. The state question was the focus of oral arguments in Tuesday's Oklahoma Supreme Court hearing about the constitutionality of the ballot measure. [KOCO] Oklahoma News   Oklahoma high court hears challenge to property tax initiative petition: An initiative petition seeking to eliminate some property taxes violates the Oklahoma Constitution on several fronts, the state’s high court was told. The Oklahoma Supreme Court on Tuesday held oral arguments challenging an initiative petition, State Question 843, that critics say would reduce revenue to schools by more than $1 billion by exempting homesteads from property taxes. [Oklahoma Voice] Oklahoma Supreme Court weighs state question to phase out property taxes for homeowners [KOCO] Oklahoma Supreme Court to rule on state question eliminating property taxes [KFOR] Oklahoma Supreme Court hears oral arguments over proposed property tax state question [News 9] Oklahoma Supreme Court hears oral arguments on property tax SQ 843 [The Journal Record] Toxic Ground: How oil field pollution is threatening Oklahoma: About half of all Oklahomans live within a mile of an oil and gas site. A new documentary from The Frontier and ProPublica exposes the failure of state regulators to protect residents from a massive underground pollution crisis. [The Frontier]   Oklahoma AG sues to stop construction of Trump-endorsed aluminum smelter in Inola: Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond on Tuesday filed a lawsuit seeking to prevent the largest aluminum smelter in the country from being built in Inola. [Oklahoma Voice] Drummond moves to block Trump-backed smelting plant in Oklahoma [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma AG Drummond moves to block proposed Inola smelter construction [KFOR] Oklahoma AG takes legal action to block Inola aluminum project [StateImpact Oklahoma via KGOU]  State Government News   Oklahoma Treasurer Using Unclaimed Property Office As Commuting Hub: Oklahoma Treasurer Todd Russ is using a newly created unclaimed property office in western Oklahoma as a commuting hub to get back and forth to his office in the Capitol during the work week, according to GPS data from a state vehicle. [Oklahoma Watch]   Oklahoma Turnpike Authority seeks $1.5B in bonds for construction costs: The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority will seek approval to issue $1.5 billion in bonds to pay for construction costs on a years-long turnpike expansion and improvement project. [Oklahoma Voice]   Opinion: Retiring rural legislator remains optimistic about future: The last decade has been a tough one for Oklahoma's farm economy and the people in rural communities throughout the state who rely on its success. And reports from economists, including those at the Federal Reserve Bank in Kansas City, express little optimism about future. But state Sen. Darcy Jech of Kingfisher has been in the center of the struggle for the past 12 years, and he sees things a little differently. [William C. Wertz / The Oklahoman]   Federal Government News   States face tight timeline as feds unveil new Medicaid work requirement rules: The federal government released new guidance this week on how states should roll out the Medicaid work requirements that will affect healthcare coverage for millions of Americans. [Oklahoma Voice] 5 takeaways on Trump’s divisive Medicaid work requirements [KFOR] Millions could face coverage loss under new Medicaid work rules [KTUL] Congress weighs cuts to states’ already ‘insufficient’ election security dollars: Ahead of the November midterm elections, President Donald Trump and his Republican allies have demanded Congress pass sweeping voting restrictions, including showing proof of citizenship to register — all in the name of election security. [Oklahoma Voice]   Mullin testifies to Senate amid airport restriction threats, detention protests: U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin was testifying before a Senate panel on Tuesday after tensions flared over conditions in a New Jersey immigration detention center and Mullin threatened to shut down international travel into a major airport with the soccer World Cup less than two weeks away. [Reuters via The Oklahoman]   Tribal Nations News   Shawnee Tribe acquires land in homelands, eyeing World Heritage Site protections: The Shawnee Tribe acquired two properties from its original homelands in the Midwest this year, according to Chief Ben Barnes. The lands are located in southern Indiana and Peebles, Ohio, respectively. The latter borders Serpent Mound, an effigy mound created by Indigenous Americans dating back thousands of years. [KOSU]   Federal opinion withdrawn on United Keetoowah Band authority over Cherokee land: The Department of Interior has withdrawn an 18-month-old opinion that granted the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians a presumption of jurisdiction over 7,000 square miles of northeastern Oklahoma. [Tulsa World]   Tillman, Shaw elected Osage Nation Chief and Assistant Chief; 7 Osages elected to 10th ON Congress: Osage voters elected Joe Tillman to serve as the next Principal Chief and John Shaw as Assistant Principal Chief, along with four Congressional incumbents reelected, two former legislators reelected and one new Congressman in the June 1, 2026, General Election. [Osage News] Osage Nation elects new chief, reshapes minerals council board [KOSU] Tillman, Shaw elected to Osage Nation executive branch [Tulsa World] Despite National Decline, Native People Continue to Lead Deaths in Overdoses, Suicide, and Alcohol: Deaths from alcohol, drug overdoses, and suicide declined significantly across the United States for the first time since 1999, but Native Americans continue to have the highest rate of death in all three categories. That’s according to a new report by the Trust for America’s Health, a Washington, D.C.-based public health nonprofit. [Native News Online]   Voting and Election News   Fact check: GOP governor candidates get into weeds on taxes, records in office: In partnership with NonDoc, The Frontier fact-checked some claims Republican gubernatorial candidates made during the May 28 debate at Cameron University in Lawton. Candidates Gentner Drummond, Chip Keating, Charles McCall and Mike Mazzei qualified for the debate based on their performance in a recent poll. [The Frontier] | [NonDoc] Gubernatorial candidates express vision for public education, health care, industry at forum [Tulsa World] Election Roundup Get to know the Democrats running for Oklahoma governor [KOCO] Who is Mike Mazzei? Oklahoma governor candidate endorsed by Trump [The Oklahoman] Mazzei wants to bring financial skills to Oklahoma Governor’s Office [Oklahoma Voice] In crowded field, GOP superintendent debate highlights candidates, contrasts [NonDoc] RECAP: Republican State Superintendent Candidates Debate Education Issues in Primary Debate [News on 6] Oklahoma's crowded congressional races take shape for June primaries [The Oklahoman] Cheat sheet: Familiar faces, newcomers seek open HD 69 in Republican primary [NonDoc] Education News   New law changes one-year sit out rule for high school student-athletes transferring:A new state law removes a statute, which required student-athletes sit out a year when transferring schools, unless the association overseeing high school sports in Oklahoma deems otherwise. [KFOR]   Enrollment is up at University of Oklahoma’s College of Education: For the first time in a long time, more people are going to college to become teachers. The University of Oklahoma’s College of Education saw a 22 percent enrollment increase in 2024 and has been able to maintain that number since. [News on 6]   Health News   What members should know about the Oklahoma Sooner Select deadline: Open enrollment for Sooner Select ends next week, with officials urging 600,000 Oklahomans to review plans, compare benefits, and make changes before the deadline. [News on 6]   Justice System News   Oklahoma murderer Carlos Cuesta-Rodriguez scheduled to be executed Aug. 13: Oklahoma's next execution is set for Aug. 13. Carlos Cuesta-Rodriguez, 71, has a death sentence for the fatal shooting of his common-law wife in 2003 at their Oklahoma City home. The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals scheduled the execution in a May 28 order. [The Oklahoman] From OK Policy: Oklahoma Death Penalty Tracker Housing & Economic Opportunity News   Oklahoma gives foster youth extra years of support after age 18 under new program: This summer, Oklahoma will extend foster care services to age 21. The change gives those over the age of 18 more time and support before the safety net they have relied on disappears. [KOCO]   Economy & Business News   After years of drought, Oklahoma raises cotton gin rates for first time since 1981: For the first time in about 45 years, state officials are raising the cost farmers pay cotton gins to process their cotton. In the past decade, drought has hit Oklahoma’s cotton industry hard. [KOSU]   After 5 years, Build in Tulsa says nearly $20M investment in entrepreneurs is paying off: Nearly $20 million invested in underrepresented businesses. More than 700 entrepreneurs assisted. About 270 jobs created. Those were some of the achievements Build in Tulsa highlighted Tuesday during its five-year anniversary event. [The Oklahoma Eagle]   Local Headlines Piedmont planning commission encourages city council to deny data center proposal [KFOR] OKC Council approves record $2.1B budget as residents call for greater participation [The Journal Record] Upcoming budget for Tulsa Public Schools expects shortfall, forgets preschoolers [Tulsa Flyer] 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. 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