Oklahoma Legislature
Oklahoma’s private school tax credits to launch Friday with influx of applicants expected
OKLAHOMA CITY — About 130 private schools across Oklahoma have registered for a new tax credit program launching this week that offers $5,000-$7,500 to students’ families. The Oklahoma Tax Commission will start accepting applications for the tax credits at 8:30 a.m. Friday at parentalchoice.ok.gov. Families can apply for their entire household but must submit a […]
Agency finalizing rules for Oklahoma’s $215 million affordable housing program
New homes and rental properties could hit the Oklahoma market in the next two years if rules for a $215 million state-funded construction loan program are approved by the end of the year, officials said. The Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency, which will oversee the state’s new Housing Stability Program, is crafting rules to administer it. […]
Efforts to criminalize homelessness growing in Oklahoma
OKLAHOMA CITY — A national push to criminalize homelessness is impacting the state as cities and lawmakers introduce policies aimed at regulating encampments and other support for unhoused Oklahomans, legal experts say. Efforts to criminalize homelessness through tickets, fines or arrests aren’t new, but have increased in the last few years partly as a result […]
Oklahoma State Chamber, Farm Bureau challenge effort to raise minimum wage
OKLAHOMA CITY — A proposed state question to raise Oklahoma’s hourly minimum wage to $15 faces its first legal challenge. The State Chamber of Oklahoma and Oklahoma Farm Bureau Legal Foundation asked the state’s high court on Monday to find the proposal unconstitutional for delegating state lawmakers’ power to officials at a federal agency. Proposed […]
Oklahoma Turnpike Authority goes back to drawing board as work resumes on $5B ACCESS plan
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority is rethinking its $5 billion turnpike expansion and improvement plans now that two lawsuits have been settled. The agency recently acquired $500 million in bonds that will allow it to resume engineering design work and property acquisitions, but will reprioritize the order of the projects, said agency spokesperson […]
State retiree files legal challenge over Oklahoma’s bank boycott law
OKLAHOMA CITY — A retired state employee filed a lawsuit Monday to block the enforcement of a new law barring the state from working with banks deemed hostile to fossil fuel energy companies. Former Oklahoma Public Employees Association President Don Keenan alleges the law that targets financial institutions with environmental, social and governance (ESG) policies […]
Report: Oklahoma to pay $3.3 million for Stitt’s tribal legal fees
OKLAHOMA CITY — As Gov. Kevin Stitt’s administration continues to clash with Oklahoma’s tribes in the courtroom, the state is paying his legal costs using gaming compliance fees from the tribes. The state will pay at least $3.3 million in legal fees associated with ongoing tribal disputes, according to a report issued by a legislative […]
Advocates urge lawmakers to ease barriers to affordable housing
Oklahoma could increase the number of affordable homes and rental units if lawmakers ease city building codes and fund new grant programs, advocates said. During the bipartisan interim study on Tuesday, affordable housing advocates called on lawmakers to lift city-imposed bans on manufactured housing, reign in rising insurance costs, and consider appropriating additional taxpayer funds […]
New technology helps Oklahoma officers, clinicians provide mental health care
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Deputy Gene Bradley stared down the reality that an armed man who threatened to end his life might die like so many others experiencing a mental health crisis. But on that fall day in 2021, Bradley had a tool that would make a difference – an iPad that quickly […]
Oklahoma governor says China is buying up the state’s farmland. The data shows otherwise.
Saddling a horse on his family’s east Oklahoma ranch, Gov. Kevin Stitt told a Fox News reporter his state’s land was under threat from the Chinese “Communist Party.” Thousands of acres were being bought by China-based companies and individuals to build marijuana farms, if not for more nefarious purposes, the Republican governor said. “We pulled […]
Oklahoma tribal leaders urge collaboration, respect in crafting state compacts
OKLAHOMA CITY — Although Gov. Kevin Stitt wasn’t in attendance at a Tuesday legislative hearing, his presence loomed large as key tribal leaders spoke about the importance of compacts between the state and Oklahoma’s tribes. Four tribal leaders told lawmakers collaboration, cooperation and mutual respect are key to the state and tribes working together to […]
Oklahoma Treasurer Todd Russ increases state funds invested in Israel
OKLAHOMA CITY — State Treasurer Todd Russ has increased Oklahoma’s investment in Israeli bonds in light of the country’s war with Hamas militants. In response to a request from the Israeli government, the Treasurer’s Office purchased a $10 million bond from the country last week, which will bring the state’s total investment to $62.5 million. […]