Small: What causes inflation? Government.

What causes inflation? Government.

By Jonathan Small

The financial pinch families feel from rising prices is undeniable. Yet too few understand that government is responsible for soaring prices.

Consider college costs. The massive government subsidies provided to colleges, through free-flowing student loans, billions in state and local tax dollars, government’s cultural overemphasis on a college degree, and the complicit “paper ceiling” at many businesses, make students much less price sensitive. Colleges have responded by hiking tuition.

According to JP Morgan, the cost of clothing has increased 35 percent since 1983 while gas increased 182 percent. But college tuition has soared 914 percent.

New Oklahoma law expands raw milk sales

New Oklahoma Law Expands Raw Milk Sales

OKLAHOMA CITY (May 14th) — A bill giving Oklahoma dairy producers more freedom to sell raw milk has been signed into law.

Senate Bill 2028, introduced by Sen. Jonathan Wingard, R-Ada, and Rep. David Hardin, R-Stilwell, allows dairy producers to advertise the sale of raw milk on their farms. It also raises the monthly sales cap, enabling producers to sell up to 1,500 gallons of raw milk per month. 

Wingard said the bill expands opportunities for direct-to-consumer raw milk sales as demand for the product continues to grow.

Gov. Stitt touts win for accountability, gov't reform in state boards and commissions

Governor Stitt Celebrates Win for Accountability and Government Reform

OKLAHOMA CITY (May 15, 2026) - Governor Kevin Stitt today said the final day of the legislative session sent a clear message that Oklahomans are ready for reform, accountability, and consolidation across the state’s more than 400 boards and commissions.

On Sine Die, the Legislature failed to override the Governor’s veto of House Bill 3320, which would have permanently extended 39 boards and commissions by removing their statutory sunset dates.

“Sunset dates exist for a reason,” said Governor Stitt. “They force government to justify its existence, prove its value to taxpayers, and remain accountable to the people. We should not permanently extend boards and commissions without first seeking reform and consolidation. The answer cannot always be more government.”

AFP-OK celebrates legislative victories following end of the 2026 session

AFP-OK Celebrates Legislative Victories Following End of the 2026 Session 

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (May 18th) - Americans for Prosperity-Oklahoma (AFP-OK) celebrated the end of a successful 2026 legislative session today, highlighting its victories and sharing its goals for next year. The chapter’s wins beneath the dome this year reflect its ongoing commitment to making the Sooner State the most prosperous state in the nation by advocating for the policies to make it happen, whether it’s expanding school options or strengthening free speech protections and agency transparency.  

AFP-OK's biggest legislative wins for 2026 include: 

OCPA column: A successful session

A successful session

By Jonathan Small

The 2025 legislative session has provided many policy wins for Oklahomans, and it is evidence of the intentional efforts by lawmakers to pass meaningful reforms.

The success of this session owes much to the leadership of Gov. Kevin Stitt, House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, and Senate Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton, as well as the hard work of many lawmakers.

House Bill 2764 cuts Oklahoma’s top income-tax rate from 4.75 percent to 4.5 percent and puts the income tax on a gradual path to zero. This will help Oklahoma remain competitive with other states while encouraging more investment and job creation in Oklahoma. State Sen. Micheal Bergstrom and state Rep. Mark Lepak, in particular, deserve credit for their work on this issue.

Governor Stitt celebrates legislative session policy wins, including tax cut

Governor Stitt Celebrates Session Wins

OKLAHOMA CITY (May 30, 2025) - Today, Governor Kevin Stitt celebrated a successful end to the legislative session. He signed multiple policy priorities into law, including a quarter point personal income tax reduction and a plan to eliminate the income tax for all Oklahomans. He signed business-friendly priorities including “Behind-the-Meter” and business courts. He also signed legislation that will ensure Oklahoma students are receiving the education that best prepares them for the future workforce.

Rep. Hays: 'A Call for Fairness in Municipal Public Policy'

A Call for Fairness in Municipal Public Policy

By State Representative Neil Hays (R, HD-13)

As communities across the country work to balance budgets, fund essential services, and attract the businesses that drive innovation and job creation, it’s time for local governments to rethink their approach to public policy. As State Representative for District 13, I encourage our elected leaders to adopt transparent, deliberate, and equitable decision-making processes when considering new taxes, fees, or regulations. We must resist hasty or regressive measures that undermine the very economies they seek to support.

The final hours: a news brief for the end of the 2025 legislative session

I have been swamped with work, family, and church activities for the last few weeks, and it's taken a big toll on my blogging time availability, so I'm going to attempt a brief summary here of just 16 of the 100+ news and press releases I've received in the past two weeks, including the state budget agreement, income tax cuts, economic development projects, audits, and more.

In order of what I feel is most newsworthy:

• May 26th: When “Shall” Becomes “May”: Why the People of Oklahoma Face a Dangerous Four Days Ahead. This is a must-read from what it swiftly becoming the best grassroots conservative coverage of legislative shenanigans, authored by former State Rep. Jason Murphey. You need to subscribe to his newsletter.

Small: Oklahoma needs regulatory reform

Oklahoma needs regulatory reform

By Jonathan Small

A major focus of this year’s legislative session centers on reducing excessive government regulation.

House Bill 2728, by state Rep. Gerrid Kendrix and state Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, would create the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act of 2025.

Under the bill, any state agency rule with an economic impact of $1 million or more over a five-year period would face extra scrutiny and oversight from the Legislature.

Yet some question why Oklahoma needs this reform. The answer is simple: Because Oklahoma state agencies are as prone to overreach as government agencies in other parts of the country.

AFP-OK lauds passage of REINS bill as transformative regulatory reform

AFP-OK Applauds Senate Passage of REINS Bill

Transformative regulatory reform now heads to Gov. Stitt for signature

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (May 1st) - Americans for Prosperity-Oklahoma (AFP-OK) celebrated the Senate passage of REINS (Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny) legislation today that will create a crucial check on the administrative state once signed into law. 

AFP-OK has been a steadfast advocate for HB2728, which will ensure that burdensome regulations from state agencies will have legislative approval before taking effect to protect taxpayers from the unchecked growth of government. 

AFP-OK applauds Food Truck Freedom Bill's committee passage

Photo credit: Claremore Main Street

AFP-OK Applauds Food Freedom Bill's Committee Passage

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (April 14th) - Americans for Prosperity-Oklahoma (AFP-OK) thanked members of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee today for approving the Food Truck Freedom Act (HB1076) to cut back the burdensome permitting requirements that harm Oklahoma's food vendors and small restaurants. 

As a steadfast advocate for Oklahoma's small businesses, AFP-OK is supporting the Food Truck Freedom Act so that food vendors need only one permit to operate anywhere in the state. Under the current system, vendors face a bevy of different licensure requirements and fees at every level of government, forcing them to spend time and money to jump through hoops instead of serving customers.

Fetgatter pushes pause on storm chasing license bill

Good. This bill moved far too quickly without input from - as the new popular phrase is - "stakeholders" in the field.

Fetgatter to Further Study Storm Chasing Licensing Bill

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Scott Fetgatter, R-Okmulgee, today announced he has decided to take a deeper dive into the issue of storm chasing in Oklahoma before advancing House Bill 2426.

He said Sen. Mark Mann, D-Oklahoma City, will be holding an interim study on the legislation that would allow professional storm chasers to obtain state licensing giving them special accommodations while tracking severe weather. The bill earlier passed the House and was engrossed to the Senate.

Small: An agenda for all statewide candidates

An agenda for all statewide candidates

By Jonathan Small

Candidates for statewide offices such as governor, attorney general and lieutenant governor are kicking off statewide campaigns. While candidates are very important, equally if not more important is what those statewide office candidates would accomplish, and how, if elected.

Oklahoma faces great opportunities and significant challenges; to address both, it will require newly elected officials to be willing to discuss those opportunities and challenges on the campaign trail and repeatedly commit to “do hard things” and help lead the state to meet the opportunities and challenges.

Hildebrant's 'Food Truck Freedom Act' advances to Senate

Food Truck Freedom Act Advances to Senate

OKLAHOMA CITY (March 13th) – The Oklahoma House of Representatives advanced House Bill 1076, also known as the Food Truck Freedom Act, authored by Rep. Derrick Hildebrant, R-Catoosa. With an 85-3 vote, the bill aims to streamline the licensing process, allowing vendors with a valid state food establishment license to operate anywhere in the state, provided they follow all applicable state and local laws.

Storm chasing license bill advances through Senate committee

Both legislative bills seeking to create a professional storm chasing license and extend certain 'first responder' privileges have now passed their first committee votes (the House version, HB 2426, passed in committee on Feb. 4th, and advanced to another committee). It's extremely unpopular among the storm chasing community, as they feel - among other things - that it's one step toward regulating all storm chasing activities (and puts the government thumb on the scale for some members in an unfair advantage and unsafe manner).

Sen. Mark Mann (D-OKC) and Rep. Scott Fetgatter (R-Okmulgee)

Emergency Weather Response Bill wins unanimous committee approval

OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 20th) – Sen. Mark Mann, D-Oklahoma City, won unanimous, bipartisan support from the Senate Retirement and Government Resources Committee for legislation to help storm trackers travel Oklahoma roads and highways more safely during severe weather. Senate Bill 158 would allow storm trackers employed by FCC licensed radio or TV stations or employees from universities with meteorology programs to be able to travel as first-responders.

House passes administrative rules reform measure; OCPA, AFP-OK praise

House Passes REINS Act

Second House priority bill passes House title-on in first three weeks of session

OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 20th) – The Oklahoma House of Representatives today passed House Bill 2728, a measure designed to enhance transparency and legislative oversight in the state’s administrative rulemaking process.

House Bill 2728, authored by Rep. Gerrid Kendrix, R-Altus, creates the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act of 2025, modeled after similar federal legislation. The bill ensures that state agency regulations receive greater legislative review before taking effect.

Op-ed: The dangers 'school choice' brings to the homeschool community

The homeschool community in Oklahoma has entered a new era, one in which the specter of government regulation is closer than ever before due to the 2023 passage of the Parental Choice Tax Credit, which includes a $1,000 credit for homeschool families.

I've written before about the wariness homeschoolers have for government strings (here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here). As the saying goes, with the shekels come shackles. As a result, many homeschoolers in Oklahoma (me included) are declining to take the "free* money!" offered by the latest government Pied Piper. Don't be a party in laying the groundwork for infringement on educational freedom. The camel's nose is now under the tent.

 

Image by wirestock on Freepik

THE DANGERS SCHOOL CHOICE BRINGS TO THE HOMESCHOOL COMMUNITY

by Robert Scott

Our freedoms are rarely eroded in one fell swoop. Like the frog in boiling water liberty is lost in baby steps. Participating in the school choice tax credit will impact us all. Simply not taking the tax credit is not enough. All forms of government money (subsidies, credits, grants, incentives, welfare) are a means to control the people.

Oklahoma Freedom Caucus releases 2025 policy agenda

Good stuff from the best group in the Legislature:

Oklahoma Freedom Caucus releases policy agenda

OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 17th) – Today, the Oklahoma Freedom Caucus led by Chairman Shane Jett, House Vice Chair Jim Olsen, and Senate Vice Chair Dusty Deevers released the following policy agenda for 2025.

For the 60th Legislature the focus of the Oklahoma Freedom Caucus is to advance the Freedoms of Oklahomans in four key areas:

Small: REINing in the government Goliath

REINing in the government Goliath

By Jonathan Small

Oklahoma state government’s reach may seem insignificant compared to the gargantuan size of the federal government, but Oklahoma government still has tendrils reaching all segments of our economy.

That’s why it is important for Oklahoma lawmakers to restrain government regulation at the state level even as President Trump does the same thing at the federal level.

Reactions to Oklahoma storm chasing license bill passing first State House committee vote

Read also: Storm chaser licensing and regulation? These legislators want to see it happen. (January 31st, 2025)

I'm going to put State Rep. Fetgatter's press release first, then follow up underneath with some comments of my own and from storm chasers on the legislation.

Fetgatter Passes Storm Chasing Licensing Bill

OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 6th) – Rep. Scott Fetgatter, R-Okmulgee, on Tuesday passed a bill in committee that would allow professional storm chasers to obtain licensing through the state that will allow them special accommodations while they are tracking severe weather.