Articles
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Budget & Tax
Oklahoma hailed as leader on state pension reform
For years, Oklahoma was ranked near the bottom of the 50 states based on the unfunded liabilities of its state pension systems. But reforms that took effect a decade ago have totally changed those statistics, and experts participating in a recent legislative study told lawmakers Oklahoma is now considered a national model.Ray Carter | August 20, 2025
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Budget & Tax
OSSAA generates millions annually
The Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association (OSSAA), the governing body for high school sports and competitions, collected $9.7 million in revenue in 2024, with net income of $1.3 million, while paying its executive director nearly a quarter-million dollars annually.Curtis Shelton | August 19, 2025
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Budget & Tax
The real cost of ‘top two’: Taxifornia shows us what happens
Since adopting the “top-two” election model in 2010, California has seen a dramatic spike in taxes and an exodus of residents and income.Curtis Shelton | August 5, 2025
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Budget & Tax
SQ 832: National costs, local consequences
State Question 832, appearing on Oklahoma’s June 2026 ballot, proposes a steep minimum-wage hike that would tie future increases to the cost of living in high-priced urban areas like San Francisco and New York.Curtis Shelton | July 28, 2025
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Budget & Tax
Casinos win big while Oklahomans pick up the tab?
Despite earning $7.4 billion in gaming revenue in FY 2023, Oklahoma’s tribal casinos paid the state only $208 million—an effective tax rate of just 2.8%. That’s far lower than the taxes paid by everyday Oklahomans on income and basic goods.Ray Carter | July 28, 2025
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Budget & Tax, Health Care
Big Beautiful relief for Oklahoma’s state budget
The “One Big Beautiful Bill” introduces a work requirement for Medicaid-expansion enrollees aged 19 to 64. This will help alleviate the unsustainable welfare growth in Oklahoma’s state budget.Curtis Shelton | July 10, 2025
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Budget & Tax, Law & Principles
Oklahoma Supreme Court rejects tribal income tax exemption in wake of McGirt
So long as the State of Oklahoma imposes a tax on income, all Oklahomans must pay it, according to a new ruling from the Oklahoma Supreme Court.Ray Carter | July 7, 2025
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Budget & Tax
OCPA praises income-tax cut, plan for tax repeal
OCPA President Jonathan Small praised the governor and state lawmakers for cutting Oklahoma’s penalty on work, the personal income tax, and putting the tax on a gradual path to full repeal without raising other taxes.Staff | May 29, 2025
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Budget & Tax
Income-tax cut, path to zero sent to Stitt
Members of the Oklahoma Senate have provided final passage to legislation that cuts Oklahoma’s income tax from 4.75 percent to 4.5 percent and puts the tax on a path to zero.Ray Carter | May 23, 2025
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Budget & Tax
House votes to cut Oklahoma income tax to 4.5 percent, sets course to eliminate it altogether
On a vote of 74-19, the Oklahoma House of Representatives passed a plan to lower the income tax to 4.5% and eventually eliminate it altogether.Ray Carter | May 20, 2025