Embedded Files
AGRICULTURE & WATER
DEQ: Lawton not responsible for fishkill in East Cache Creek
Poor water quality and dead fish found in East Cache Creek prevented fishing and swimming activities for Comanche Nation powwow attendees on July 20. It also caused the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality to issue a notice of violation to the Lawton Wastewater Treatment Plant. According to the notice, DEQ investigators found nearly 30 dead fish in the creek around the same time the plant was discharging water with potentially toxic ammonia levels. Now, the City of Lawton said it is off the hook for the fishkill after it provided evidence that it wasn’t responsible. According to a press release from the city, the DEQ’s findings identified other factors that contributed to the fishkill. Those include heavy rainfall, high temperatures and sewer discharge from a nearby prison.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Oklahoma leaders see economic promise in space
Aerospace may soon eclipse energy as the industry with the largest economic impact in Oklahoma, and investment in space may be a key reason. Members of the Senate Aeronautics and Transportation Committee of the state Legislature, chaired by Sen. John Haste, R-Tulsa, met at the Capitol on Tuesday to explore ways to best position Oklahoma to benefit from investment by space-focused companies around the world, which are expected to have a combined valuation of $10 trillion by 2030. Among other things, the lawmakers discussed transitioning the now-standalone Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority (OSIDA) to be part of the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics. OSIDA operates the Oklahoma Air and Space Port and Aerospace Industrial Complex at Clinton-Sherman Airport at Burns Flat, about 100 miles west of Oklahoma City. The 2,700-acre complex is one of 14 sites across the nation licensed to accommodate launches of rockets into space. It also is a research and development site for things like jet-powered drones used by the military and prototype vehicles for lunar landings.
Read more from the Tulsa World
Lawmaker pushes for hazmat unit at Pryor industrial park
An inability to respond quickly to a chemical spill or fire involving hazardous materials is a vulnerability that can’t be ignored at the MidAmerica Industrial Park in Pryor, state Rep. Mark Tedford believes. Tedford, a Republican from Tulsa, said he plans to push a bill in the coming session of the Legislature that would appropriate $18 million in state funding over the next decade for the purpose of establishing a hazmat unit of the Pryor Fire Department at the state’s largest industrial park. MidAmerica officials who met recently with members of the House Business and Commerce Committee told lawmakers that about half of the companies located in the park use industrial gases, chemicals and other potentially hazardous materials on a day-to-day basis. They estimated that up to 1.76 billion pounds of sensitive materials may be stored on the sprawling campus at any given time. Tedford said the risks of not investing in a hazmat facility are too great. An incident could threaten not only businesses at the park and critical infrastructure in the area but also tens of thousands of people who live and work nearby.
Read more from the Tulsa World
Officials celebrate film industry growth but push for Oklahoma 'to up our game'
Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell said the growing entertainment industry has increased tourism by raising Oklahoma’s visibility around the world. It has influenced education and career aspirations of Oklahomans by shaping programs at career techs, colleges and universities. It also has created thousands of jobs that have encouraged young people to remain in the state and attracted people to move in from other states. But the state can’t afford to coast, he said. Pinnell noted 38 states are in competition for slices of the entertainment industry pie. And it’s a sizable pie. He said it’s expected that $247 billion will be spent globally on TV and film productions in 2024. The lieutenant governor said Oklahomans should express their support for the industry to their elected representatives.
Read more from the Tulsa World
Hill Hosts Workforce Development Interim Study
Rep. Brian Hill, R-Mustang, hosted an interim study to examine Oklahoma's current and future workforce needs and how industry leaders and state agencies are working toward solutions. This is Hill's sixth annual interim study on workforce and economic development since taking office. Oklahoma Center of the Advancement of Science & Technology (OCAST) Director Jennifer McGrail said conversations about the innovation economy center on Oklahoma City and Tulsa and sometimes fail to consider the rest of the state. OKC Innovation District Chief Financial Officer Kathy Cullen explained that they are primarily focused on the bioscience industry. Dr. Jesse McCool, CEO and co-founder of Wheeler Labs, said Oklahoma is situated to be a top biomanufacturing state, but said there are challenges, including marketing. During the afternoon segment of the interim study, which focused on job seekers, Dr. Cassidy Minx with the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education said over the past decade, the total number of engineering degrees increased by 43.1%, while STEM degrees increased by 19.2%. Secretary of Education Nellie Tayloe Sanders said that while an educational system that prioritizes reading as the best method of learning works well for most people, it presents many barricades for thousands of people.
EDUCATION
In Free Press Case Against Walters, Judge Sides with Journalists
Local TV news station KFOR filed a lawsuit this week, alleging Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters and his agency spokesman violated their journalists’ rights of free speech and press by barring them from public meetings and press conferences. KFOR asked U.S. District Judge Bernard Jones to issue a temporary restraining order to force Walters and his communications director, Dan Isett, to allow the station’s reporters access to Thursday’s meeting of the Board of Education. Jones did so Wednesday, prohibiting Walters, Isett or any other department staffer from denying KFOR access to board meetings and any follow-up press conferences for 14 days.
Judge grants temporary injunction requiring Ryan Walters to let KFOR cover meetings
After an hour-long hearing this morning, U.S. District Court Judge Bernard Jones granted local news station KFOR’s request for a temporary injunction against State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters and State Department of Education director of communications Dan Isett. The ruling means Walters and Isett will be forced to allow KFOR reporters to attend Thursday’s State Board of Education meeting and subsequent press availability in person. Jones also noted that he would set a later date for an evidentiary preliminary injunction hearing for the broader issues in the First Amendment litigation, which the TV station and its parent company filed Monday in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma. KFOR and Nexstar Media Group filed the federal lawsuit against Walters and Isett after months of being the only media members routinely relegated to an overflow room during State Board of Education meetings. The KFOR lawsuit was filed against Walters and Isett in both their official and their personal capacities, meaning both men could be found personally liable for damages against the plaintiffs.
Federal court rules in favor of KFOR, grants restraining order and injunction
Courtney Corbello, the attorney with the Institute for Free Speech representing KFOR in their lawsuit against OSDE officials, speaks with a gaggle of reporters outside the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, Sept. 25, 2024. She said her side of the legal fight is happy with how the hearing went, but more remains to be resolved. A federal judge granted Oklahoma City TV station KFOR’s request for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against state Department of Education officials after a hearing in federal court Wednesday. The ruling means the TV station’s reporters should be able to attend future Oklahoma State Department of Education board meetings and pressers, just like everyone else. KFOR’s lawsuit against the state education department alleges the TV station’s reporters have been singled out and denied access to monthly public board meetings and State Superintendent Ryan Walters’ press conferences. The granted temporary restraining order and injunction mean KFOR can, without incident, attend the board meeting this week and be part of any gaggle of reporters that may bunch up around Walters after it concludes. It provides the TV station with the form of immediate relief it requested.
Walters outlines budget requests at state board meeting
Oklahoma’s top education official and school board will ask the state Legislature for an extra $3 million in public funds to purchase a Bible for every public school classroom and $500,000 for firearms training for school staff. The budget request would double the agency’s Bible-buying fund. He said his agency already dedicated $3 million to purchase Bibles for public school classrooms. The proposals were part of a $4.1 billion budget request that state Superintendent Ryan Walters presented on Thursday on behalf of the Oklahoma State Department of Education. The state Board of Education unanimously approved the proposal for the 2026 fiscal year. The request is a mere suggestion that the Oklahoma Legislature could follow or discard while designing the state budget in the 2025 legislative session. Walters’ budget proposal would increase the state Education Department’s funding by $102.7 million, if approved. Rising insurance costs for school employees would drive most of the increase with an expected hike of $85 million. The agency predicts the cost of teacher maternity leave also will rise by $4 million. Other new expenses would include a $2.3 million cost-of-living increase for Education Department employees and another $2.85 million expense for “increased agency costs for facilities, risk and insurance premiums” as well as IT maintenance. A separate $5 million line item would support modernizing the IT infrastructure of the state’s public school system. A $1 million request would replace sunsetting federal funding for programs that support early career teachers. On top of the $500,000 firearms training, the Education Department requested $1 million to recruit former law enforcement officers and military veterans to become teachers, which Walters said also could improve security efforts. Participation in firearms training would be voluntary for districts that wish to have an employee with concealed carry, Walters said.
Oklahoma Superintendent Ryan Walters wants to spend $6 million on classroom Bibles
At Thursday’s State Board of Education meeting, State Superintendent Ryan Walters announced in his annual budget proposal $3 million was already being spent on classroom Bibles, and the board voted to ask the legislature for an additional $3 million. According to Walters, the Bibles would be given at least to social studies and English Language Arts teachers in grades five through 12. The request comes three months after Walters announced schools would be required to have Bibles in classrooms and teachers would be required to teach about them. A survey published earlier this month by StateImpact found among the 54 district superintendent respondents, about 90% say they are not changing their instructional practices to teach the Bible, and about two-thirds say they will not supply physical copies of the Bible.
Where did $3 million for Bibles in education budget come from? Walters isn't saying
When state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters announced he wanted to spend a total of $6 million of taxpayer money to buy Bibles for Oklahoma classroomsThursday, his proposal made national news. He said he would ask lawmakers for $3 million next year to cover the costs, on top of the $3 million that he's already set aside for the purchases. But there was no specific line item for spending on Bibles in this year’s agency budget approved by the Legislature. His remarks left state Rep. Mark McBride, a top watchdog of the agency's spending under Walters, flummoxed. “I’m curious where that money is coming from,” said McBride, R-Moore, the chair of the House Appropriations and Budget education subcommittee. “It was not in any appropriation or even mentioned in any budget request.” Neither Walters nor any other agency official is saying what the source of that money is.
School accreditation, budget request, teacher certification define State Board of Education meeting
In a marathon meeting that lasted more than four hours, members of the Oklahoma State Board of Education accredited school districts for the 2024-2025 school year, revoked two teacher certificates and suspended two others, and approved a budget request to the Legislature that seeks $3 million for Bibles and $500,000 for a teacher open-carry pilot program. Walters’ total Fiscal Year 2026 budget request constitutes around $100 million more than the State Department of Education received in Fiscal Year 2025, which began July 1. During Thursday’s meeting, Walters said the requested increase mostly represents the annual increase of costs for teacher benefits, which the department is statutorily required to provide. For FY 2026, Walters will be asking the Oklahoma Legislature for an additional: $85 million for the flexible benefit allowance; $4 million for paid maternity leave; $10 million for public schools activities including a cost of living salary increase for OSDE staff, “IT infrastructure investments and modernization” and other “programs and initiatives”; and $2.8 million for OSDE “administrative support,” which includes IT maintenance, insurance premiums and facilities costs. Although state agencies send budget requests to the Legislature every fall, legislators are not required to adhere to the requests in any way. Walters stressed school security and Bibles in his Fiscal Year 2026 request presentation. Additionally, Walters’ budget request included $500,000 to create a new pilot program to allow teachers who choose to do so to be trained to carry a gun to deter school shootings. In other accreditation actions, board members accredited 1,981 school districts and sites with no deficiencies and 421 school districts with one or more deficiencies. In addition, nine school districts were accredited with warning. State Board of Education members placed or kept four districts on probation. And for the second month in a row, board members took action on teacher certifications without going into executive session during the meeting. Board members have avoided going into executive session since Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued an opinion last month telling all state boards to allow qualified legislators to observe the closed-door meetings in most cases. board members suspended teacher certificates for two educators and sent applications to revoke their certificates to hearing officers.
U.S. Supreme Court justice grants St. Isidore school, state board more time to file appeal
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch has granted St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School and the Statewide Charter School Board an extra two weeks to prepare their appeal of an Oklahoma Supreme Court decision that said the state board could not enter into a contract with the school. The deadline for filing a petition for the appeal to be heard had been Monday. But in separate briefs filed by St. Isidore and the board, attorneys for both entities said they needed until Oct. 7 to prepare their petition. Gorsuch responded on Sept. 13 by granting the request, according to a letter sent from the U.S. Supreme Court Clerk Scott Harris to the clerk of the Oklahoma Supreme Court. St. Isidore is seeking to become the nation’s first Catholic virtual charter school, and the case is being eyed closely due to its religious overtones and potential for a precedent-setting ruling. A charter school, by law and definition, is considered a public school. Should St. Isidore prevail in its appeal, it would mean public money would flow to a religious school.
Tulsa Public Schools’ accreditation affirmed again as district reaches calmer waters
Tulsa Public Schools officials walked out of the Oklahoma State Department of Education to rounds of applause on Thursday, as a yearlong effort to prevent a district takeover appeared to have reached a conclusion. Superintendent Ebony Johnson waved goodbye to agency employees and members of the public who filled the department’s hallways for an Oklahoma State Board of Education meeting. Johnson and other TPS leaders had become regular fixtures in the building, returning every month for the past year to present to the board about their district’s progress. Their presentation Thursday will be their last monthly report at a state board meeting, marking the end of a turbulent chapter that began more than a year ago. Last year the state Board of Education approved Tulsa’s accreditation status, which defines its ability to operate as an independent district, on the condition that the district’s reading scores improve by at least 5%, that its failing schools show improvement in state evaluations, that all teaching staff be trained in the science of reading and that it improve its internal financial controls. The board also required a presentation every month from district leaders for an update on their progress. Superintendent Ryan Walters said he is confident Tulsa is in a better place and recommended that Thursday’s meeting be her final monthly presentation.
State Board of Education axes Tulsa Public Schools' monthly presentation requirements
Tulsa Public Schools is now off the hook for giving in-person monthly reports to the state. On Thursday, TPS Superintendent Dr. Ebony Johnson gave what could be her final report to the State Board of Education. State Superintendent Ryan Walters said future check-ups can be more casual. The requirement for monthly reports from TPS stemmed from a fight over the district’s 2023 accreditation. Former Superintendent Dr. Deborah Gist resigned amid the turmoil, elevating Johnson to the role. Since Johnson took over, Walters has changed his tune on TPS, praising the district’s progress.
Oklahoma Board of Education meeting raises questions about access, transparency
The ongoing showdown over transparency between state legislators and the State Board of Education entered a fourth month on Thursday, with the board again declining to conduct an executive session during its monthly meeting. Legislators are allowed under the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act to be present during the executive session of any state board, a point reinforced by a recent formal opinion issued by Attorney General Gentner Drummond. But the board’s contracted attorney, Cara Nicklas, has fought against lawmakers using that authority.
Ryan Walters requests $500,000 to train select Oklahoma teachers to carry firearms
State schools Superintendent Ryan Walters requested that $500,000 in the Oklahoma State Department of Education's upcoming budget be directed toward a pilot program to train public school district personnel to carry concealed firearms. Walters said during the Oklahoma State Board of Education meeting Thursday some school districts already have policies allowing trained staff members to carry concealed firearms. Few people in the district know which school personnel carry a gun on campus, he added, like administrators and board members. Oklahoma law allows any school's board of education to designate trained school personnel to obtain and use an armed security guard license along with their employment as school personnel. The law also provides trained personnel immunity from civil and criminal liability for any injury resulting from carrying a handgun on a public school campus. The State Board of Education's request for $500,000 wouldn't change a district's ability to enact its own policy regarding trained personnel carrying on campus, Walters said. It would provide funding to districts that want additional trained staff members.
Education Notebook: Lindsey Nicole Henry school added
Without discussion or debate at its Thursday meeting, the Oklahoma State Board of Education approved an application from Augustine Christian Academy, 6310 E. 30th St., to participate in the Lindsey Nicole Henry scholarship program.
Read more from the Tulsa World
ELECTIONS
Who are Oklahoma’s deleted voters? State provides data breaking it down by party.
Hundreds of thousands of Oklahomans whose voter registration was deleted in recent years roughly reflect the overall layout of party affiliation in the state, though Democrats and independents were overrepresented among voters deleted for inactivity. Of the voters removed in the past 24 months, 46.6% were Republicans, 31.2% were Democrats, 21.4% were independents and 0.79% were Libertarians, according to an analysis by Oklahoma Voice of records available from the state Election Data Warehouse. This generally tracks with party affiliation trends of Oklahoma voters who are still registered. The most common reason that registrations were deleted is because the voter moved to a different county or state, according to Data Warehouse records. The second-most common deletions were for inactive voters, a group that differs more noticeably from party affiliation lines. Others were removed because they have died, been convicted of a felony or were deemed in court to be mentally incapacitated, among other less-common reasons.
SD 47 debate set for open Edmond, OKC-area seat
The two candidates for the open State Senate District 47 seat have agreed to participate in an Oct. 16 debate ahead of Oklahoma’s Nov. 5 general election. Retired U.S. Army Col. Kelly Hines and business owner Erin Brewer are looking to succeed term-limited Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat (R-OKC). Brewer, a Democrat, faced no party challenger in the SD 47 primary. Hines defeated OKC nurse anesthetist Jenny Schmitt in an August Republican primary runoff. The SD 47 debate is set to take place at 5:45 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16, at Francis Tuttle Technology Center’s Rockwell campus, located at 12777 N. Rockwell Ave. in Oklahoma City. The debate, co-hosted by NonDoc and News 9, is free and open to the public. Questions will be written and asked by professional journalists. NonDoc editor in chief Tres Savage and News 9 State Capitol reporter Haley Weger will moderate the debate, which is set to be live-streamed on the News 9 website and Facebook page. The boundaries of SD 47 reach from West Edmond Road on the north to Northwest 122nd Street to the south, and from North County Line Road on the west to about South Kelly Avenue on the east.
ENERGY
Legal battle between Hiett, Anthony continues as OCC considers electricity rate cases
As the Oklahoma Corporation Commission holds a public hearing today on a $218 million rate hike proposed by Public Service Company of Oklahoma, two of its three elected members remain engaged in a legal battle before the state Supreme Court that has drawn three state lawmakers into the fray. Meanwhile, as the regulatory body also considers a final element of a $126.6 million rate hike for OG&E, an Oklahoma law firm continues its contracted investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct by Commissioner Todd Hiett. Since the allegations against him surfaced, Hiett has claimed Anthony has been trying to influence the investigation into his actions by “exerting powers” not granted to commissioners by the Oklahoma Constitution. As a result, Hiett asked the Oklahoma Supreme Court to grant a writ of prohibition against Anthony to stop him from acting outside his constitutional authority as a commissioner and from engaging “in efforts to trample” Hiett’s rights. Anthony, through attorney George Makohin, responded that Hiett failed to meet requirements for a writ, such as showing that Anthony has abused his judicial power by making critical comments of Hiett. He also denied Hiett’s claim that Anthony had made demands on the Riggs Abney firm “designed to bully and intimidate their attorneys, and to push the investigation toward his predetermined outcome.” In a separate court action, Oklahoma House Reps. Kevin West (R-Moore), Tom Gann (R-Inola) and Rick West (R-Heavener) have sought a writ of prohibition from the Oklahoma Supreme Court to ban Hiett from voting on cases involving companies with direct knowledge of his “alleged criminal conduct.” A decision by the Supreme Court is pending.
Embattled corporation commissioner responds to petition calling for disqualification
Attorneys for embattled Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett have responded to a petition filed in court by three state lawmakers who believe Hiett should be disqualified from taking part in Corporation Commission business. The lawmakers, Republican Reps. Tom Gann of Inola, Kevin West of Moore and Rick West of Heavener, petitioned the Oklahoma Supreme Court earlier this month to issue an order prohibiting Hiett from casting Corporation Commission votes. They asserted that Hiett’s judgment has been called into question by allegations that he sexually groped a man while drunk at a hotel bar while attending a professional conference in Minnesota. People who said they witnessed the incident identified the man allegedly molested as a lawyer who represents a public utility regulated by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. Another state lawmaker, Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, has previously called on Hiett to resign. House Democrats have asked Gov. Kevin Stitt to call a special session to impeach Hiett, 57. In their response to the court filing by the lawmakers, attorneys for Hiett said: The lawmakers’ petition wasn’t supported by law; They relied solely on “unproven and salacious allegations, rumors and innuendos” to argue that Hiett should be required to disqualify himself from Commission business; and They offered no proof that Hiett has shown any bias or unfairness in his judgment. The Corporation Commission has hired an Oklahoma City law firm to conduct an independent investigation of any misconduct that might impact commission employees or others who do business with the commission.
Read more from the Tulsa World
HEALTH CARE
Oklahoma Insurance Department, CMS partner on provider directory pilot program
The Oklahoma Insurance Department is partnering with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to launch a pilot program, creating a provider directory for people participating in Health Insurance Marketplace plans. The directory will allow qualified health plans and providers to submit and access provider data in a central portal. Oklahoma Insurance Deputy Commissioner of External Affairs Ashley Scott said providers are experiencing administrative burdens as they have to report their information to multiple databases. Patients also say it’s hard to find updated information on in-network providers. Oklahoma Insurance Department Chief of Staff Brian Downs said the state has seven marketplace plans, and it won’t be responsible for costs or oversight related to the plans’ new portal. He said the program will streamline provider's data submissions, create more accurate directories for health plans and help hospitals improve accuracy in their directories. The department’s role is to bridge the gaps between stakeholders, and it will begin meetings with them at the end of the month. Downs said there’s a lot of work to be done before the portal opens, which he estimates might occur in the spring. The program will help inform potential efforts to create a national directory. CMS asked for input on establishing one in October 2022.
Oklahoma Community Health Centers to receive $3.5 million in federal funding
More than $3.5 million has been awarded to six community health centers in Oklahoma to expand mental health and substance use disorder services. The funding, announced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, aims to integrate primary and behavioral health care. The money is designed to reach the underserved populations that often make up the majority of patients at community health centers. Community health centers located in Konawa, Fairfax, Tishomingo, Cherokee, Tulsa, and Stigler will each receive a portion of the funds. The money is the latest push from the federal government to tackle the mental health and opioid crises affecting Oklahomans. Oklahoma health centers receiving funding include centers in Konowa, Fairfax, Tishomingo, Cherokee, Tulsa and Stigler.
Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust calls for 'meaningful increase' in state tobacco tax
Oklahomans who smoke may have to pay more for cigarettes in the future if lawmakers take a cue from the board of the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust. At their Sept. 18 meeting, members of the board adopted a resolution calling for the state Legislature to pass a “meaningful increase” in the excise tax collected on cigarettes sales and sales of other tobacco products. They also called for the state’s tax on tobacco to be applied to “new and emerging” nicotine products, including vapes and e-cigarettes. The last time the state increased its excise tax on cigarette sales was in 2018. The $1 per pack increase sparked a 23% decline in sales over the next four years, TSET said in a release. Prior to that, a per-pack tax increase of 80 cents adopted in 2004 led to a 26% decline in sales.
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Free COVID-19 test kits are now available. How to order yours in Oklahoma
Families can order four at-home free COVID-19 tests for free through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services while supplies last. The tests can be ordered at COVIDTests.gov or at special.usps.com/testkits. To order tests that are more accessible for people with disabilities, visit ACL.gov/AccessibleTests. Each household is limited to four tests.
HIGHER EDUCATION & CAREER TECH
Higher ed leaders prioritize partnerships with industry to get graduates workforce-ready
To help turn out graduates who are more workforce ready, area higher education leaders say they will continue to look for ways to promote partnerships with business and industry. The Tulsa Regional Chamber held its 2024 Education Leadership Summit on Wednesday, with a panel of the area’s newest college presidents speaking on the subject of college and workforce. Asked how their schools are helping close the skills gap that often exists when new graduates enter the workforce, the panelists agreed industry input is critical, with the use of advisory boards made up of industry leaders becoming commonplace in shaping degrees and curricula. The annual event focuses on regional education leadership and highlights schools, organizations and programs dedicated to education, training and developing a highly qualified workforce.
Read more from the Tulsa World
HUMAN SERVICES
Oklahoma Human Services withdraws child care subsidy rule changes, citing need for public input and budgetary concerns
A state agency has halted controversial rule changes that would change eligibility standards and reimbursement rates for child care subsidies. Oklahoma Human Services officials announced Wednesday that they had withdrawn the proposed rules to address budget concerns and to allow more time for public input, according to a news release. The agency has voiced concerns that with the end COVID relief funding, its current spending is unsustainable. The rule proposing changes to the child care subsidies would have changed the threshold to become eligible from 85% of the state median income to 70%, meaning a smaller portion of the population would be eligible. According to the proposed changes to the quality rating system, the change would have also aligned the system more with licensing requirements. The rule changes would implement more requirements and inspections in order to earn a higher rating, while repeated violations would be more likely to drop a child care center’s rating. A spokesperson from Oklahoma Human Services said the department intends to propose some kind of changes again after receiving more public input.
STATE GOVERNMENT
Trebor Worthen departure means new chief of staff for AG Gentner Drummond
Attorney General Gentner Drummond has a new chief of staff after his longtime political adviser, Trebor Worthen, departed the AG’s Office near the end of August. Worthen has been replaced by one of his closest political friends, former Kingfisher Sen. Rob Johnson, who had been Drummond’s general counsel since he was sworn into office in January 2023. Worthen and Johnson served together in the Oklahoma House of Representatives 20 years ago. Drummond has long been rumored as a likely 2026 candidate for Oklahoma governor, and Worthen’s astute political acumen has widely been seen as a valuable resource for Drummond, a banker, attorney and rancher with Tulsa ties and Osage County roots. Worthen joined the Attorney General’s Office as chief of staff after functionally serving as Drummond’s closest political adviser in his failed 2018 attorney general bid and his successful 2022 run for office. While Trebor Worthen may have left his formal campaign consulting firms behind in 2022, his wife, Jenna Worthen, was employed then and remains employed now as the chief fundraising consultant for Drummond. In his Aug. 23 email, Drummond told his senior leadership team that Worthen gave him “several weeks’ of advance notice of his plans.” Drummond appointed Johnson to fill Worthen’s role, according to Bacharach, the agency’s communications director. Drummond had hired Johnson in January 2023 — shortly after taking office — to be the office’s general counsel. Replacing Johnson as general counsel is Brad Clark, who had been general counsel of the State Department of Education during Joy Hofmeister’s tenure as state superintendent. Clark moved to the AG’s office when State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters took over.
Oklahoma tourism head to retire after critical audit
Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation Executive Director Shelley Zumwalt on Thursday announced her retirement months after she was called on to resign in the wake of a scathing audit. Zumwalt has led the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation since October 2022. She said she is retiring to pursue a career in the private sector but will remain in her job until Oct. 11 to help with the transition. In April, State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd released a scathing audit questioning how the state used the pandemic relief funds. Zumwalt’s husband worked for a company that had a contract with the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission. At the time, Attorney General Gentner Drummond said it was “wholly inappropriate and potentially unlawful” and called on Zumwalt to resign immediately and cooperate fully with his agency’s investigation seeking to determine whether any laws were broken. Zumwalt denied wrongdoing and refused to resign. “Ms. Zumwalt’s resignation was the proper thing to do, even if it took six months after my initial call for her to step down from her position,” Drummond said Friday.
Tedford Hosts Interim Study on Oklahoma’s Unemployment Tax
Rep. Mark Tedford, R-Tulsa, recently held an interim study examining the impact of state unemployment tax on economic development. Unemployment benefits, funded through unemployment insurance taxes (SUTA) levied on state employers, provide financial support for employees transitioning between jobs. Despite the essential function of these benefits, Tedford said misconceptions exist regarding how the system operates and who is responsible for funding it. IS24-103 was held before the House Business and Commerce Committee and studied how Oklahoma collects tax and pays benefits compared to other states and whether this process impacts the state's business environment. Trae Rahill, Oklahoma Employment Security Commission's (OESC) executive director, compared Oklahoma's unemployment insurance system to neighboring states—Colorado, Arkansas, Missouri, Texas, and Kansas—highlighting key factors like taxable wage base and tax rate. He pointed out that TaxFoundation.org rates Oklahoma's system the best and that it is the only state that has never borrowed from the federal program. "Oklahoma uses 50% of the average annual wage to determine its cap at $27,000. This means Oklahoma employers pay unemployment tax on the first $27,000 of wages per employee. Unfortunately, most of our surrounding states legislatively set their wage base much lower than Oklahoma. The only other neighboring state that economically derives the wage base, Colorado, is the only state higher than ours,” said Tedford. Executive Director of the State Chamber Research Foundation, Ben Lepak, commented that employers seeking to move into or increase their footprint in Oklahoma will look at the total dollar cost of the unemployment insurance burden, certainty of the rate, and ease of compliance. Lepak said several states offer a "buy down" feature that allows them to reduce and stabilize their rates while reimbursing the state for the benefits provided.
Read the House’s press release
Oklahoma board approves over $158 million in grants for broadband projects
Over $158 million in broadband expansion projects were approved Thursday by the Oklahoma Broadband Governing Board. The 50 awarded projects are funded by the American Rescue Plan Act Capital Project Funds. The Oklahoma Broadband Office had $159 million available to award for the projects. The projects will bring internet service to over 28,000 homes and businesses spanning 28 counties in Oklahoma, mostly in rural areas. Over 70 projects were denied due to high costs, and three others were approved in the event that more funding becomes available. The board unanimously approved projects with proposed costs per location of $10,000 or less in order to stretch the funding. The projects that were denied had costs per location over that threshold. All but one of the 50 approved projects were fiber projects, which Director Mike Sanders called the “gold standard” of broadband because it lasts decades and maintenance is easier. The 50 approved grants are for 12 different internet service provider, including Cox Communications, Dobson Fiber and AT&T. The Oklahoma Broadband Office will next work to approve grants for the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment, or BEAD, program. The BEAD program will provide over $750 million in grants to expand internet access in Oklahoma.
Read the Broadband Office’s press release
Oklahoma AG continues effort to reinstate state's immigration law
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond is appealing to a federal court to reinstate HB 4156, a law criminalizing unauthorized immigrants in the state. In his motion to the United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit, Drummond says the plaintiffs in the case — Department of Justice officials and individuals in a group called Padres Unidos de Tulsa — shouldn’t have been able to sue for an injunction in federal court at all. Drummond maintains the arguments he’s already made in favor of House Bill 4156: Giving local law enforcement in Oklahoma the ability to arrest anyone without legal immigration status is necessary to fight what he calls an “unprecedented onslaught” of criminal activity caused by illegal immigration through the southern border. He adds the plaintiffs lack “cause of action” and standing to sue in federal court. The plaintiffs, who originally filed the lawsuit in the Western District Court of Oklahoma, have argued the state’s new law undermines federal authority over immigration policy. The judge in that court agreed with federal authorities on the matter. Drummond vowed at the time to appeal the ruling and has made good on the promise, writing in a press release that he’ll take matters to the nation’s highest court if the appellate court rules against him.
Oklahoma Insurance Department Announces Oklahoma Insurance Day 2024
The Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID) is excited to host the second annual Oklahoma Insurance Day on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, at the Embassy Suites Oklahoma City Downtown Medical Center. This event aims to bring together key players in the insurance sector to discuss important topics and issues affecting Oklahoma. Oklahoma Insurance Day is an opportunity for regulators, business leaders, industry professionals and beyond to connect, learn, and collaborate. The event will feature informative sessions, panel discussions and networking opportunities. Registration for Oklahoma Insurance Day 2024 is now open. Those who register before Nov. 4 will receive a special early bird rate. To secure a spot, please visit www.oid.ok.gov/insuranceday. Follow OID and #OKInsuranceDay on social media to stay informed about the event.
TRIBAL RELATIONS
Cherokee Chief Hoskin issues statement as car tag compact nears deadline
The battle between the Cherokee Nation and Gov. Kevin Stitt over the tribe’s tag compact renewal is approaching the deadline. In a video posted on Tuesday, Cherokee Nation Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. warned tribal citizens on the changes that could happen if an agreement is not reached. The current compact allows Cherokee Nation citizens to live off-reservation with Cherokee tags. Additionally, the revenue the tribe collects from car tags is distributed between state and local governments, with more than a third going toward education. Earlier this year, the tribe donated nearly $8 million to more than100 public school districts. Stitt claims local law enforcement agencies don’t have access to tribal driver data. He also says Cherokee tags are not accounted for in the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority’s PlatePay system and have accumulated millions in debt on toll roads. Last year, state legislators overrode Stitt’s veto and extended several compacts between Oklahoma and multiple tribal nations. In response, Stitt unsuccessfully sued House Speaker Charles McCall and Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat in the Oklahoma Supreme Court, claiming their compact extensions were “unlawful.” In early June, Stitt sent a compact to multiple tribes and claimed it was the only agreement he would sign on. In a statement cited by Fox23, Cherokee Nation Attorney General Chad Harsha said Stitt’s proposed agreement was offensive to tribal sovereignty and undermined the benefits the current compact had been providing the state. If an agreement is not reached, the state’s current compact with the Cherokee Nation will expire Jan. 1.
Oklahoma Supreme Court takes up Indian eviction case
The Oklahoma Supreme Court will hear the appeal of a Cherokee Nation citizen who argues state courts lacked the civil jurisdiction to rule on her eviction in a case that could affect eviction proceedings throughout the eastern half of Oklahoma. The case — Paul-Lucas v. Paul-Craven — could become one of the first to address the unclear civil-law effects of the McGirt v. Oklahoma decision, which functionally upheld much of eastern Oklahoma as a series of Indian Country reservations. While the McGirt decision held the state of Oklahoma lacks criminal jurisdiction over tribal citizens who commit crimes within reservation boundaries, it did not directly address civil jurisdiction. Many state officials have argued that McGirt only applied to matters of criminal jurisdiction, while some tribal governments have argued in court filings that their reservation status can affect various civil issues as well. Jakob Lancaster, an attorney with Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma who represents the evicted tribal citizen, has asked the Oklahoma Supreme Court to find that the general rules for Indian Country jurisdiction are settled on the federal level and that state courts should simply apply those rules to the reservations in Oklahoma.
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