Articles
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Law & Principles
‘Top two’ turnout claim falls flat in OKC election
Supporters of State Question 836, which would replace Oklahoma’s party-primary system with a California-style “top two” model, have argued the change will increase voter turnout and say Oklahoma City’s nonpartisan mayoral elections offer a proof of concept. But Tuesday’s results tell a different story.Ray Carter | February 12, 2026
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Health Care
Hilbert bill blocking Medicaid for illegals clears first hurdle
Lawmakers have advanced legislation that would bar illegal immigrants from accessing Medicaid benefits by requiring the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to verify every applicant’s legal status through the federal SAVE system before approving coverage.Ray Carter | February 11, 2026
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Law & Principles, Culture & the Family
Bill allowing students to sue over forced coed sleeping quarters advances
Oklahoma lawmakers have advanced a bill that would allow students to sue schools or colleges that force them to share sleeping quarters or other intimate spaces with members of the opposite sex, including individuals who identify as transgender.Ray Carter | February 10, 2026
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Higher Education
Oklahoma House panel advances study of three-year bachelor’s degrees
Oklahoma lawmakers have taken a first step toward shortening the path to a college degree, advancing a bill that orders a study of a three-year, 90-credit-hour bachelor’s track.Ray Carter | February 10, 2026
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Law & Principles
Group accused of funneling foreign money involved in Oklahoma minimum-wage campaign
A nonprofit tied to a lawsuit over allegedly funneling foreign money into U.S. political campaigns is now among the funders of an Oklahoma initiative that would hike the state’s minimum wage far beyond local market levels.Ray Carter | February 10, 2026
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Education, Good Government
Bill to stop abusers from hopping districts clears committee
An Oklahoma House committee has unanimously advanced legislation to help prevent school employees accused of abusing children from quietly resigning and taking jobs in new districts.Ray Carter | February 10, 2026
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Law & Principles
OCPA files amicus brief to defend free speech
A man in Oklahoma is serving prison time for “stalking” even though his only “crime” was posting a YouTube rant about his ex-wife. OCPA’s Center for Law & Liberty filed a brief urging the Court of Criminal Appeals to correct this abuse and make clear that offensive or unpleasant speech is still protected speech.Ryan Haynie | February 9, 2026
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Education
Boost to school-choice program clears House committee
The demand for Oklahoma’s Parental Choice Tax Credit program is now so high that the program’s $250 million cap threatens to shut out families next year. House Bill 3705 would raise the cap to keep up with demand.Ray Carter | February 9, 2026
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Education, Law & Principles
One reform would dramatically boost Oklahoma voter participation. Lawmakers should finish the job
Oklahoma’s school-board elections are intentionally held on obscure winter and spring dates, producing abysmally low turnout and giving disproportionate influence to special interests.Jonathan Small | February 9, 2026
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Education
Incremental improvement isn’t enough: Oklahoma’s draft standards fall short
Oklahoma’s new 2026 Draft Academic Standards for Social Studies represent a modest improvement over the weak 2019 standards. Unfortunately, they still reflect the education establishment’s studied lack of interest in patriotism, the historic roots of the American republic, or any notable achievements by conservatives or Republicans.David Randall, Ph.D. | February 6, 2026