Articles
-
Budget & Tax, Health Care
Oklahoma’s Medicaid bill comes due
The Obamacare Medicaid expansion was sold as a program fueled by “free” federal dollars, but Oklahoma is now seeing the real bill. Spending at the Oklahoma Health Care Authority has climbed by nearly $3.5 billion since 2020.Curtis Shelton | February 18, 2026
-
Education
Oklahoma public school revenue surges to nearly $15,000 per student
New figures from the Oklahoma Cost Accounting System show public schools took in $9.59 billion from local, state, and federal sources in the 2024–2025 school year—nearly $15,000 per student when divided by average daily attendance. That’s a 53% jump in per-student revenue since 2018.Ray Carter | February 18, 2026
-
Economy
SQ 832 ties Oklahoma wages to NYC socialist mayor’s agenda
If approved, State Question 832 would peg Oklahoma’s minimum wage to the urban-center cost-of-living index. This would effectively allow leaders in high-cost cities, such as Zohran Mamdani, to indirectly dictate Oklahoma’s wage law.Ray Carter | February 17, 2026
-
Budget & Tax, Law & Principles
Oklahoma’s ‘path to zero’ income tax survives first test in legislature
A proposal to repeal Oklahoma’s “path to zero” income-tax law—an automatic trigger that reduces rates whenever state revenues surge—failed in the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee on a 2–9 party-line vote.Ray Carter | February 16, 2026
-
Education
Third-grade reading reform moves ahead
Oklahoma lawmakers have advanced HB 4420, a sweeping literacy bill that revives mandatory retention and early intervention requirements similar to Mississippi’s nationally acclaimed model.Ray Carter | February 16, 2026
-
Education
Amid record school revenues, Oklahoma teacher hiring lags administrative growth
A new analysis from Georgetown University’s Edunomics Lab shows that despite more than $3 billion in additional funding since the 2018 teacher walkout, Oklahoma schools have added relatively few teachers while rapidly expanding non-teaching staff.Ray Carter | February 16, 2026
-
Law & Principles
OCPA urges opposition to income-tax bill
OCPA President Jonathan Small urged lawmakers to oppose Senate Bill 1302, by state Sen. Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City. The bill would repeal the state law that has placed Oklahoma’s income tax on the path to repeal by requiring that a portion of strong future revenue growth be partially returned to taxpayers through strategic reductions in the income-tax rate.Staff | February 16, 2026
-
Education
Oklahoma’s short school year draws scrutiny as academic scores lag
Oklahoma students receive far less classroom time than their peers nationwide, and lawmakers say that deficit helps explain why state academic outcomes rank among the worst in the country despite billions in new funding.Ray Carter | February 16, 2026
-
Good Government
Stitt’s consequential legacy takes shape
Gov. Kevin Stitt’s first seven years show a sweeping shift in Oklahoma’s direction. His tenure has moved Oklahoma decisively toward a conservative, pro-growth future.Jonathan Small | February 16, 2026
-
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