Articles
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Law & Principles
Democratic Socialist wave reaches Oklahoma
A growing number of Democrats openly identify with the Democratic Socialists of America, a trend highlighted by the leading vote-getter in Oklahoma’s Democratic U.S. Senate primary.Ray Carter | July 28, 2026
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Law & Principles
What Oklahoma voters should know about SQ 844 and SQ 846
Oklahoma voters will decide two constitutional amendments on Aug. 25. State Question 844 would give lawmakers greater flexibility in how they reimburse local governments for property-tax exemptions granted to qualifying manufacturers, while State Question 846 would place Oklahoma's existing voter ID requirement into the state Constitution.Staff | July 28, 2026
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Law & Principles
Armstrong seeks to cut red tape, reduce energy costs
U.S. Sen. Alan Armstrong has introduced legislation to overhaul the federal permitting process for energy and mineral projects. The American Energy and Mineral Infrastructure Act would streamline environmental reviews, limit duplicative permitting requirements, curb litigation delays, and strengthen federal oversight of interstate energy projects.Ray Carter | July 27, 2026
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Economy, Culture & the Family
‘Worst’ states? Actions speak louder than rankings
Two national media outlets recently ranked Oklahoma among America's worst places to live, but the people actually moving across state lines tell a very different story.Jonathan Small | July 27, 2026
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Health Care, Law & Principles
OCPA legal center files appeal against Oklahoma Board of Nursing
The OCPA Center for Law and Liberty has appealed an Oklahoma Board of Nursing action against a nurse practitioner accused of violating her scope of practice despite no patient harm and based on a complaint from an agency that does not license nurses.Ryan Haynie | July 22, 2026
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Education, Culture & the Family
Oklahoma officials join Supreme Court fight over religious liberty and school choice
Oklahoma officials have joined members of Congress and attorneys general from across the country in urging the U.S. Supreme Court to protect the rights of religious schools in a case challenging Colorado's exclusion of Catholic preschools from a state-funded universal preschool program.Ray Carter | July 21, 2026
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Economy
Oklahoma ranks 15th-best state for homeownership—but one weakness stands out
A new report from the Hern Policy Institute ranks Oklahoma as the 15th-least burdensome state for homeownership, citing relatively low long-term ownership costs and limited zoning burdens, but finds the state lags many others in the pace of housing permitting and new construction.Ray Carter | July 20, 2026
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Law & Principles
How Oklahoma changed under Republican leadership
Claims that Oklahoma has declined under Republican leadership overlook the state's dramatic progress over the past 15 years.Jonathan Small | July 20, 2026
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Economy, Culture & the Family
New report: Oklahoma’s growth driven by tax policy, housing supply
A new policy brief from the Mercatus Center at George Mason University finds Oklahoma ranked 11th nationally in net domestic migration from 2018 to 2023. The report concludes that lower tax burdens and policies that allow more home construction are the strongest predictors of population growth.Ray Carter | July 16, 2026
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Budget & Tax
Oklahoma state revenue climbs nearly $1 billion in fiscal year 2026
Oklahoma finished fiscal year 2026 with strong revenue growth as total state tax collections reached $17.91 billion—nearly $1 billion more than the previous year—even after the state's top personal income-tax rate was reduced midway through the fiscal year.Curtis Shelton | July 15, 2026