Articles
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Law & Principles
U.S. Supreme Court declines tribal income-tax case, leaving Oklahoma ruling intact
The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear a challenge to the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s 2025 ruling that all Oklahomans—including tribal citizens living on lands considered “reservation” after the McGirt decision—must pay state income tax.Ray Carter | April 7, 2026
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Budget & Tax
TSET’s expanding budget spurs debate on accountability, mission creep
Oklahoma’s Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust has quietly grown into a $2.09 billion public fund. As TSET’s budget and ambitions expand, lawmakers warn the trust has drifted far beyond its original mission.Curtis Shelton | April 7, 2026
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Budget & Tax, Health Care
Reform bills advance as Medicaid expansion threatens Oklahoma budget
With Medicaid expansion costs ballooning and warnings that a future shift in the federal match could saddle Oklahoma with an extra $1 billion a year, a state Senate committee has overwhelmingly approved two measures that would let voters reconsider the 2020 expansion.Ray Carter | April 7, 2026
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Budget & Tax, Health Care
Oklahoma budget leaders say Medicaid expansion threatens school funding
Oklahoma lawmakers say the soaring price tag of Medicaid expansion for able-bodied adults has become a budgetary time bomb. Two proposed ballot measures would give lawmakers room to reform the program.Ray Carter | April 6, 2026
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Budget & Tax
Oklahoma’s TSET under scrutiny as reports question effectiveness, administrative costs
With Oklahoma lawmakers advancing measures to repurpose TSET earnings, the state is now openly debating whether the trust’s mission still makes sense a quarter-century after its creation.Ray Carter | April 6, 2026
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Education
New Oklahoma social studies standards restore patriotism, civic foundations
Oklahoma officials have finalized a substantially strengthened set of social studies standards that restore significant content removed in earlier drafts.David Randall, Ph.D. | April 6, 2026
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Education
Oklahoma students spend a year less in class—and it shows
Oklahoma’s academic struggles track closely with one of the shortest school years in the nation. Despite per-student revenue of $14,842, student outcomes remain dismal.Jonathan Small | April 6, 2026
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Budget & Tax, Education
Budget agreement supports education, seeks welfare reform
Gov. Kevin Stitt and legislative leaders announced a $12.7 billion state budget agreement that increases spending by 1.27 percent and pours more than $230 million in new funding into public education.Ray Carter | April 1, 2026
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Education
Oklahoma lawmakers advance bill targeting teacher predators
Oklahoma lawmakers are advancing new legislation aimed at stopping the “pass the trash” practice that allows educators accused of sexual misconduct to quietly move between school districts.Ray Carter | April 1, 2026
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Budget & Tax, Economy
Report says Oklahoma is top 10 for low taxes, yet rivals without income tax post bigger gains
A new report ranks Oklahoma among the 10 states with the lowest overall tax burden, but several no-income-tax states still outperform Oklahoma on measures such as migration, job growth, and rising income levels.Ray Carter | April 1, 2026