In The Know: Oklahoma SNAP enrollment has dropped 20% since last July. What does that mean for local food banks? | Scrutiny grows over Oklahoma AG candidate's ties to medical company | Legislative interim study highlights risks of SQ 847

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, SEPTEMBER 22, 2026 Subscribe // View web version (current and archived) Legislative interim study highlights risks of SQ 847 (Capitol Update)   The House County and Municipal Government Committee held an interim study (IS 26-50) last week requested by Rep. Mike Kelley, R-Yukon, to study the growing challenges for counties in Oklahoma to balance increasing service demands with constrained revenue. However, it morphed into a discussion of the potential detrimental effects of SQ 847 which will be decided by voters this November. [Steve Lewis / Capitol Update] From OK Policy: SQ 847 Fact Sheet What’s on the ballot for the November 3, 2026 elections in Oklahoma?   Oklahoma voters will head to the polls for a statewide general election on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Our election resource page covers SQ 845 and SQ 847, the federal and statewide races, judicial retention, key voting deadlines, and a link to your sample ballot. [OK Policy] Know what’s on your ballot before you vote: SQ 845 & SQ 847 Town Hall   The Nov. 3 general election is your chance to help shape Oklahoma’s future. Before you head to the polls, join the Oklahoma Policy Institute for a free, nonpartisan town hall that will explain the statewide ballot measures and answer your questions. [Learn More] RSVP for the Town Hall Join us for Voices in Action — Turning community conversations into statewide change   This summer, we hosted listening sessions in towns and cities across the state to provide an opportunity for the public to have conversations with our fellow Oklahomans about issues that matter most in their communities. This October, we’re coming back to share what we heard in those communities and statewide, and to discuss ways we can use our collective power to make a difference on those issues.  Register Now 10.5%   Of the 1,443 people who were experiencing homelessness during Tulsa's annual Point in Time Count in January of 2026, 10.5% said an eviction was the factor keeping them unhoused. [Housing Solutions] "We know that an increased cost of eviction lowers eviction filings and increased processes and timelines lower eviction numbers. We have to be attacking that business practice by representing as many of those tenants as we can."   — Eric Hallett, an attorney with Legal Aid Services Oklahoma, on the need for Tulsa's newly approved right-to-counsel program. Once developed and implemented, the new program will provide legal representation to low-income tenants and landlords navigating the eviction process without an attorney. Hallett hopes the program will help reduce evictions in Oklahoma, where tenants face one of the fastest eviction timelines in the country and landlords can file an eviction for as little as $58. [Oklahoma Watch] A Tool for Justice: The Cost Benefit Analysis of Legal Aid   The world faces a global justice gap and the poor and vulnerable are the most affected. The Justice for All Report of the Task Force on Justice reveals that around 5.1 billion people today—two-thirds of the world’s population—lack meaningful access to justice. Lack of access to justice traps people in vicious cycles of poverty, inequality and marginalization. The burden of this justice gap falls disproportionally on the most vulnerable, including women, children, minorities and people with disabilities. Lack of access to justice also increases the risk of conflict and violence within a society. [The International Bar Association & The World Bank Group] Oklahoma News   Oklahoma SNAP enrollment has dropped 20%. Here's what it sounds like in local food banks: For months, changes to federal food aid have been unfolding. In Oklahoma, enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program has dropped 20.8% from June 2025 - June 2026, according data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). About 144,180 Oklahomans have fallen off the program in that time period. [KOSU]   Trump-backed smelter exposes land use revolt shaping Oklahoma politics: For more than a year, the proposed aluminum smelter had divided Inola, a farming community of 1,900 known for its annual Hay Day festival and river port. Then the small-town debate spilled into Oklahoma’s race for governor. [The Oklahoman]   State Government News   Most Oklahoma mental health employees affected by privatization have employment offers: As the state’s mental health department works to privatize four mental health clinics, nearly all of the state employees affected have already been offered alternative employment. [Oklahoma Voice]   New Oklahoma law requires non-resident deer hunters to buy license early: Starting Oct. 1, non-residents must purchase their license two days before they hunt. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation said this is done to discourage unlicensed deer hunting in Oklahoma, especially by non-resident deer hunters. [The Oklahoman]   Federal Government News   What does the first Fed rate increase in three years mean for Oklahoma?: The first rate increase by the Federal Reserve in three years is hitting Oklahomans’ wallets, as a quarter-point interest hike aims to cool stubborn inflation, but will force a reevaluation of household and business budgets. [The Oklahoman]   Drummond warns Rubio of national security risk in pharmaceutical supply chain: The AG joined 19 other state attorneys general in sending a letter to Secretary Rubio identifying what they say are national security risks. The attorneys general said Chinese businesses are exploiting the nation's pharmaceutical supply chain and warned of risks from pharmaceutical ingredients used in GLP-1 drugs, including semaglutide and tirzepatide. [Fox 25]   Federal judge dismisses lawsuit over Title X grant funding for pregnancy prevention efforts: A federal judge in Pennsylvania on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit challenging changes to the way grants are awarded under a program that provides funding for services such as family planning and reproductive health wellness exams. [Oklahoma Voice]   Trump announces all 50 states joining Medicaid drug pricing model: President Donald Trump announced Friday that all 50 states will join in on a program set to provide Most Favored Nation pricing to some drugs within the Medicaid program, bringing the net price of selected drugs down to prices paid in certain other countries. [AP]   Diesel prices shoot upward as top farm-state GOP senator begs Trump for export embargo: Diesel prices hit a record average of $6.51 a gallon Monday, and some in President Donald Trump’s own party are breaking their support for the ongoing war in Iran that has driven fuel prices to staggering levels in the United States and across the globe. [Oklahoma Voice]   Tribal Nations News   10th Circuit sends lawsuit over Bobby Barrick’s death back to district court: The decision puts the case back in front of Judge John Heil III with instructions to apply the 10th Circuit’s recent decision in Walden v. City of Duncan, which held that state police officers have initial detention authority to stop tribal citizens who commit crimes within Indian Country. [NonDoc]   Quapaw Nation confirms 32 bison dead, including rare white buffalo: Quapaw Nation confirmed 32 bison died last month in a monthly report released over the weekend. It states the herd now numbers 143 bison. The cause of death is unconfirmed. [KOSU]   Opinion: Removing Race From the 2030 Census Would Make Native People Harder to See: Six years ago, as officials worked to get more Native people to complete the 2020 census, I wrote in Native News Online that we needed to overcome generations of distrust and participate fully to help produce an accurate count. I argued that filling out the census form was a way to demonstrate pride in our tribal communities. Now, the Trump administration is proposing to remove questions about race and ethnicity from the decennial 2030 census questionnaire. [Levi Rickert / Native News Online]   Voting and Election News   In Depth: Oklahoma voters face 2 state questions on property taxes and judicial selection: In November, there will be two more that voters are being asked to consider. One is about property taxes and the other will impact how judges in our state are selected. [Fox 23] From OK Policy: SQ 845 Fact Sheet | SQ 847 Fact Sheet | What’s on the ballot for the November 3, 2026 elections in Oklahoma? Register for OK Policy’s SQ 845 & SQ 847 Town Hall on Oct. 20 Education News   School discipline gets a hard look from legislators: Classroom behavior is increasingly problematic, agreed everyone participating in House Common Education interim studies on the subject last week. So, apparently, is figuring out what to do about it. [Tulsa World]   A ‘very difficult’ proposal: Tulsa Public Schools spells out its plan to close or consolidate 17 school sites to save $12M: Tulsa Public Schools is recommending closing 14 elementary schools, two middle schools and one alternative program as the district works to cut $12 million in the face of a major budget deficit. [Tulsa Flyer]   Health News   Why are Oklahoma lawmakers pushing to ban Kratom?: Concerns around kratom, a supplement sold in Oklahoma gas stations, are growing across the state. Oklahoma lawmakers are looking to classify this supplement as a Schedule I narcotic, which would ban it. [News 9]   Justice System News   As TK Health co-founder seeks attorney general job, Hanchett family presses for criminal investigation: Daniel Hanchett said his family is still pushing for criminal charges in connection with the 2022 death of his wife, Shannon, at the Cleveland County Detention Center, including against former and current employees of the private health care contractor TK Health. [The Frontier] Scrutiny grows over Oklahoma AG candidate's ties to medical company [The Oklahoman] New judge set to sentence convicted Oklahoma restaurant owner Brent Swadley: Brent Swadley was convicted of defrauding the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department through his Foggy Bottom Kitchen restaurants at state parks. Swadley was convicted on May 28, with his original sentencing set for July. However, Swadley’s sentencing was delayed after his defense team asked the judge to step down from the case. [News 9]   Housing & Economic Opportunity News   Tulsa City Council Unanimously Backs New Eviction Prevention Program That Could Be a State Model: On September 16, the Tulsa City Council unanimously passed a resolution to develop a program that would provide legal representation to low-income tenants and landlords who are navigating the eviction process without legal assistance. [Oklahoma Watch] From OK Policy: Lengthening the eviction timeline will increase access to justice for Oklahoma renters Economy & Business News   Polaris Films, Buffalo Roam aim to build Oklahoma film production hub: Oklahoma’s film sector has seen both long-term growth and blockbuster features such as 2023’s “Killers of the Flower Moon,” but in a post-Prairie Surf Studios economy, filmmakers from Polaris Films said there is a two- to three-year window of opportunity. [The Journal Record]   Community News   New book explores Hobby Lobby's Green family influence on politics: When Michael Blanding read a story that chronicled the Hobby Lobby Corporation's return of the Gilgamesh Dream Tablet artifact to Iraq, he said he became intrigued and began researching the Green family. The journalist compiled his research into his new book "The Gospel According to Hobby Lobby: A Billionaire Family's Quest to Craft a Christian Nation," which came out in July. [The Oklahoman]   ‘More important than ever’: TU students pay tribute to Hispanic roots at Festival de Las Flores: There were lots of tacos eaten, music performed and games of loteria played as University of Tulsa students celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month Sept. 18 at the annual Festival de Las Flores. [Tulsa Flyer]   Local Headlines City of Owasso buys OwassoReporter.com and news archive [Tulsa World] Downtown Tulsa No Longer a Food Desert [Public Radio Tulsa] Volunteers are managing city gardens and grounds while Tulsa Parks faces a major staffing shortage [Tulsa Flyer] Bone-dry riverbeds complicate Canton Lake water release to Lake Hefner [The Oklahoman] OK Humane Society to build new campus along the Oklahoma River [The Oklahoman] 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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