The Latest in Oklahoma: January 31, 2025
A&A Advocates
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case involving Oklahoma’s attempt to establish the nation’s first publicly funded religious charter school. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond opposes the school’s funding, arguing that taxpayer dollars should not support religious institutions. The ruling could have significant national implications for school choice and religious education in public funding.
The Oklahoma State Board of Education has approved a proposed rule requiring parents to provide proof of their children’s U.S. citizenship or legal immigration status when enrolling them in public schools. While the rule would not prevent undocumented students from attending school, it mandates that districts report the number of students without legal status to the state. State Superintendent Ryan Walters supports the measure, citing the need for accurate data to allocate resources effectively.
The 2025 Oklahoma legislative session is set to address a wide array of issues, including proposed changes to voting procedures, health policies, energy regulations, education reforms, and tax measures. This includes key topics in energy, agriculture, and public safety. Lawmakers will debate wind energy restrictions, the future of the Oklahoma Energy Resources Board, and carbon storage regulations. Criminal justice reforms, including new jail security standards and better medical care, are also on the agenda. In agriculture, dozens of bills will be considered, including measures to address foreign land ownership, limit environmental regulations, and update water usage policies.
2025 State of the State
Governor Kevin Stitt will deliver his 2025 State of the State address on Monday, February 3rd, at 12:30 PM. This address marks the beginning of the 2025 legislative session.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“I’ve been saying it for six years now. We need more taxpayers, not more taxes,” Governor Stitt said, renewing his push for tax cuts during the 2025 legislative session. “Every time we’ve cut taxes, we’ve seen our revenue actually increase. And so what people don’t realize is when we give money back to the taxpayer, the money doesn’t disappear. It just stays in the citizens’ pockets. And I believe that they can spend their money better than the government can.”