Gov. Kevin Stitt has appointed James Green as the new district attorney for Oklahoma’s District 18, serving Pittsburg and Haskell counties, effective immediately after Green’s time as acting district attorney. Green brings extensive experience as a prosecutor, a retired U.S. Marine Corps officer, and a former Marine judge advocate, which the governor cited as key qualifications for the role. After retiring from the military, Green practiced law in Virginia before opening a private practice in Stigler in 2020.
Oklahoma’s Medicaid managed care organizations helped identify an international fraud ring that allegedly enrolled thousands of ineligible individuals in the state’s Medicaid program, allowing the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) to quickly begin removing fraudulent enrollees and work with federal officials to strengthen enrollment safeguards. State officials said the fraud was caught early enough to prevent taxpayer losses and credited the rapid response for minimizing the impact. While Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has launched an investigation into OHCA’s handling of the incident, criticizing the agency for not notifying his office sooner, state officials defended their response, emphasizing that reporting to federal authorities was appropriate and highlighting the successful detection and containment of the fraud.
More than 200 U.S. mayors, including Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, are urging Congress to reverse federal SNAP cuts, warning they will increase food insecurity and shift billions of dollars in costs to states. The mayors argue that new eligibility rules and state funding requirements will make it harder for struggling families to access food assistance while placing additional strain on local governments and food banks. They are also asking lawmakers to delay implementation of the changes, saying states need more time to improve payment error rates and prepare for the added financial burden.
New Oklahoma medical marijuana packaging rules aimed at preventing products from appealing to children are drawing criticism from patients, dispensary owners, and industry advocates who say the requirements are confusing and difficult to interpret. Producers are concerned that unclear guidance and inconsistent enforcement could force them to discard large quantities of packaging and face costly compliance issues before the November 1 deadline. Advocates are urging the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority to establish a pre-approval process for packaging designs, while agency officials say any such system would require legislative action.
Weekly Wrap Up
Interim studies have been posted. View the House and Senate interim studies.
Upcoming Deadlines
July 24, 2026: Deadline for the Speaker to approve or disapprove House interim studies
October 30, 2026: Interim studies must be heard in committee
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Oklahoma isn’t starting from scratch. We’re building our legacy and creating the next Aerospace frontier right here in the heartland,” said Oklahoma Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell regarding capturing a share of the space economy. “Aerospace and defense is already the state’s second-largest and fastest-growing industry, supporting more than 120,000 jobs and $44 billion in annual economic activity. This strategy will ensure Oklahoma continues to be at the leading edge of aerospace innovation and technology for decades to come.”