Small: Standing still is a poor strategy in state competition

Standing still is a poor strategy in state competition

By Jonathan Small

In politics, there is an unfortunate tendency among lawmakers to pass significant policy reforms … and then rest on their laurels.

Unfortunately, one year’s progress does not translate into permanent victory, as can be seen in the latest edition of the “Rich States, Poor States” report authored by economists Arthur Laffer, Stephen Moore, and Jonathan Williams.

The report ranks states in a variety of categories, including tax rates, workers’ compensation costs, and the number of public employees, among other policy variables.

In the latest edition, Oklahoma fell out of the top 10 states.

New OKC Ronald McDonald House to support families of critically ill children

State leaders and Ronald McDonald House Charities staff shovel dirt at the ceremonial groundbreaking of the second RMHC location. (Photo by Maddy Remington, OMES Outreach.)

New Ronald McDonald House to support families of critically ill children

OKLAHOMA CITY (May 2, 2025) – A brighter future is on the horizon for families with hospitalized children, thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH), Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) and key state partners. The Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) is proud to recognize this exciting milestone as construction begins on a second Ronald McDonald House in Oklahoma City.

The new facility, located in the heart of the city’s medical district, will offer a home away from home for up to 28 families each night, providing comfort, care and critical support during some of life’s most challenging moments.

On April 3, a crowd of community leaders, RMHC staff, families, supporters and elected officials gathered to celebrate the ceremonial groundbreaking. This expansion will significantly increase RMHC-OKC’s capacity to serve families whose children are battling serious illnesses or injuries, reinforcing a vital support network that spans the state.

The new location is made possible in part by a $4 million appropriation from the American Rescue Plan Act State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (ARPA-SLFRF), granted by the state Legislature to OSDH. Combined with generous contributions from private donors, this funding will ensure more Oklahoma families can stay close to their loved ones while accessing top-tier pediatric care.

“When a child faces a critical health challenge, the entire family carries the weight,” said Sen. Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City, who serves in the state Legislature’s Health and Human Services Working Group for the Joint Committee on Pandemic Relief Funding. “As a veteran, father and grandfather, I know the strength families draw from being together in times of crisis. This expansion will offer that strength to even more Oklahoma families by providing a sense of home when it’s needed most.”

“The new Ronald McDonald House will provide comfort, stability and support to families facing some of the most difficult moments in their lives,” said Rep. Nicole Miller, R-Edmond, who attended the groundbreaking and serves on the state Legislature’s Joint Committee on Pandemic Relief Funding. “I’m proud to see this investment help expand access to compassionate care for families throughout Oklahoma.”

More than just a place to stay

When a child is in the hospital, families shouldn’t have to worry about where they’ll sleep or how they’ll afford a hotel room. Ronald McDonald House offers more than free housing – it provides a place of refuge. Families staying at the facility will have access to a full kitchen, laundry services, technology and play areas, making it easier to focus on what truly matters: their children’s recovery.

Perhaps the most powerful component of the Ronald McDonald House experience is the community. Staff, volunteers and fellow families provide vital emotional support and connection, turning a stressful, isolating experience into one of shared strength.

In 2023 alone, RMHC-OKC served 778 families across 76 Oklahoma counties, delivering 12,161 nights of stay. The upcoming location – nestled on West Memorial Road between North Meridian Avenue and North MacArthur Boulevard – will support families receiving care at Mercy Hospital, the Love Family Women’s Center, INTEGRIS Hospital and Bethany Children’s Health Center, and will serve as overflow for Oklahoma Children’s Hospital OU Health.

Renderings of the proposed location provided by the architect, Bockus Payne.

The three-story facility is expected to open in summer 2026.

OMES applauds the unwavering dedication of OSDH and RMHC in bringing this project to life and for their continued efforts to promote healing and remove barriers to essential health care support for families across Oklahoma.

About Ronald McDonald House Charities

Since its founding in 1974, Ronald McDonald House Charities has helped millions of families around the world stay close to their hospitalized children. The first Oklahoma City House opened in 1984 with just 10 bedrooms. Today, the need continues to grow – and so does RMHC’s impact. To learn more or get involved, visit rmhc-okc.org.

Left: An attendee holds the shovel from the opening of the very first Ronald McDonald House in the United States. Right: Attendees gather for photos with the golden shovels previously used to break ground.

Small: Reading failures must be addressed

Reading failures must be addressed

By Jonathan Small

It’s said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing expecting different results.” This describes the failures in reading proficiency by Oklahoma students, despite billions of dollars of increased spending on public education in Oklahoma.

Edunomics Lab revealed that from 2013 to 2024 Oklahoma’s per-pupil spending increased 47 percent during that decade, but National Assessment of Educational Progress test scores in both reading and math are far lower today than in 2013. One cannot ignore that reality. Oklahoma’s spending increase far outpaced inflation during that time. Regarding Oklahoma, Edunomics noted, “Reading 4th-grade scores fell through the decade and continue to decline even as spending increased.”

NAEP scores show that only 23 percent of Oklahoma fourth grade students scored at or above proficient in reading, compared to 33 percent in 2015.

Oklahoma Legislature sets record for new bills filed in advance of legislative session

As I cover at the bottom of this post, the Legislature has set another record for the amount of legislation filed at the beginning of a legislative session:

House Completes Bill Filing for 2025 Session

OKLAHOMA CITY (Jan. 17th) – The Oklahoma House of Representatives completed bill filing Thursday, Jan. 16, for the first regular session of the 60th Legislature. A total of 1,928 House Bills, 29 House Joint Resolutions, three House Resolutions, and two House Concurrent Resolutions were filed before the deadline. 

Oklahoma Legislature formally elects new 2025-2026 leadership

Earlier this week, the Oklahoma Legislature met for the constitutionally-required Organizational Day, where both legislative chambers formally elected their leadership and passed the rules package by which their respective bodies will operate for the next term.

State House page program opens applications

House Page Program Opens Applications

OKLAHOMA CITY (Dec. 9th) – The Oklahoma House of Representatives High School Page Program has opened applications for the First Regular Session of the 60th Legislature, announced Program Director Rep. Brian Hill, R-Mustang.

Every year, hundreds of juniors and seniors from across the state participate in the House High School Page Program at the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City. Participating students have the opportunity to view the legislative process up close and gain a deeper understanding of state government.

BREAKING: State Sen. Paxton defeats Bullard by 1 vote in Pro Tem-designate race

As I just broke on the Muskogee Politico Twitter feed,  establishment pick State Sen. Lonnie Paxton (R-Tuttle) defeated conservative challenger David Bullard (R-Durant) by one vote in the Oklahoma State Senate GOP caucus vote for President Pro Tempore-designate. 

In the vote to lead the legislature's upper chamber, Paxton received 20 votes to Bullard's 19.

Legislators highlight Administrative Rules, Open Meetings Act online portals

Kendrix, Bergstrom Highlight Rules, Open Meetings Act Online Portals

OKLAHOMA CITY (Oct. 28th) – Rep. Gerrid Kendrix, R-Altus, and Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, recently held an interim study examining Oklahoma's current administrative rules process and considering how it could be made more efficient and transparent.

"One of the things we’ve been working on is trying to make this process more transparent, get more people involved in it, make it more accountable not only to us as legislators but also to the public, where more people are aware of the rules process—how it works, the notification process, the public comment process," Kendrix said during the study. "We've been working with the secretary of state on the portal that they have, to try to make that better for everybody involved."

Here's what you need to know about the State Questions on Oklahoma's 2024 ballot

Two weeks ago, I published Here's what you need to know about the judges on the 2024 ballot. In this post, I'll focus in on the two state questions that are on the ballot. 

I got some of my information from these helpful articles (SQ 833, SQ 834) at Ballotpedia, in addition to information from various blogs and news stations.

Small: Over-regulated in Oklahoma

Over-regulated in Oklahoma

By Jonathan Small

Oklahoma is known as a conservative state, but you wouldn’t know it from the number of regulations imposed.

In its “Snapshots of State Regulations” report, the Mercatus Center at George Mason University ranked Oklahoma 17th nationally in the number of regulatory restrictions imposed.

Oklahoma had 142,313 regulations. Idaho, the nation’s least-regulated state, had just 31,497.

Sadly, Oklahoma had more state regulatory restrictions than liberal states such as Minnesota, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Vermont.

Small: Conservatives gain in legislative races

Though I have some minor quibbles with Small regarding school choice (primarily as it relates to protecting homeschool freedoms from future government intrusion), but I agree with him that the recent Republican primary results were great news for conservatives. In fact, it may well have been the best election for Oklahoma conservatives in the past decade.

Conservatives gain in legislative races

By Jonathan Small

Last month’s primary elections resulted in the Oklahoma Legislature likely being more conservative next year. That’s good news for voters who care about issues such as judicial reform, taxes and education.

This year’s legislative session ended without reform to Oklahoma’s secretive and liberal process for nominating judges in Oklahoma and without personal income tax reductions.

But many candidates who prevailed or advanced to runoffs in Republican primaries advocated for conservative reforms to change the secretive process for how Oklahoma nominates judges and for cutting or eliminating the personal income tax. Also, voter support for school choice has become undeniable.

Legislative leaders hammer out state budget agreement

Over the past week or so, legislative leaders - as well as Governor Stitt - have met in unprecedented public negotiations for this year's state budget (Tres Savage at NonDoc has a great write-up on the saga). Read the official press releases below:

Pro Tem Treat and Speaker McCall Comment on Budget Agreement

Agreement first in budget transparency process by both chambers

OKLAHOMA CITY (May 22nd) – Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, and House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, today released the following statements after Senate and House negotiators reached an agreement on the state’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget.

The budget agreement is the first time all meetings were hosted in public and gave Oklahomans a behind the scenes look on how the state budget is negotiated. 

Gov. Stitt on budget funds certification: "No more excuses" - let's cut taxes

Gov. Stitt wants both an income tax cut and the elimination of the grocery sales tax. It seems that State House leadership agrees with him, but State Senate leaders want only the grocery sales tax cut. Who will prevail?

GOVERNOR STITT URGES LEGISLATURE TO ADVANCE TAX CUTS AFTER BOE CERTIFIES AVAILABLE STATE FUNDS

OKLAHOMA CITY (February 15, 2024) - Today, Governor Kevin Stitt released the following statement urging the Oklahoma Legislature to advance tax cut legislation after the Oklahoma State Board of Equalization (BOE) certified the Legislature will have $11.1 billon in authorized funds for FY 25:

Small: Time for income tax cuts for working families, small businesses

Time for income tax cuts for working families, small businesses

OKLAHOMA CITY (January 25, 2024)— Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs President Jonathan Small today urged lawmakers to cut Oklahoma’s personal income tax to help struggling families and encourage job growth.

Legislature completes bill filing for 2024 session

The Oklahoma Legislature bill filing deadline* has passed, and for once, after a new record last year, the pile of paper has lessened somewhat. The last time fewer new bills were filed was in 2018. Even-numbered years, being the second half of each two-year legislative term, tend to have fewer measures filed than the first [odd-numbered] year of the term. 

2024: 2,077

2023: 3,079

2022: 2,299

2021: 3,049

2020: 2,240

2019: 2,815

2018: 1,954

2017: 2,242

Read on for the press releases from the House and Senate.

Gov. Stitt considering new special session on tax cuts

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt mulling new special session on tax cuts

by Carmen Forman, Oklahoma Voice

December 22, 2023

OKLAHOMA CITY — Gov. Kevin Stitt said Friday he is considering calling lawmakers into another special session on tax cuts early next year.

Stitt said he’d like to see lawmakers approve a 0.25% personal income tax cut before the regular, four-month legislative session begins Feb. 5.

“I’d love to get a tax cut done before we go back into session so it’s not all jumbled up with all the other policy things,” Stitt told reporters.

He said he planned to talk to House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, and Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, about the idea.

The governor made the comments after the state Board of Equalization, which he leads, certified budget projections for the upcoming fiscal year.

According to the projections, lawmakers could spend up to $13.9 billion next year, or about $1 billion more than the $12.9 billion budget they approved this year.

The figures presented Friday serve as a starting point for Stitt to build a budget proposal he will present to lawmakers Feb. 5. Lawmakers will begin crafting the spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year once the Board of Equalization meets again in February to certify updated budget projections.

Touting projections showing the state could have about $458 million more in recurring revenue to spend next year, Stitt said he’s feeling “great” about the possibility of a tax cut.

A 0.25% personal income tax cut would cost about $250 million annually once fully implemented, he said.

Senate Appropriations Chairman Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, said he expects lawmakers will only have about $300 million or less in new recurring revenue to spend next year.

It’s too soon to talk about cutting taxes, he added. Lawmakers need to dig into the budget figures presented Friday to get a better idea of how much extra cash the state will have, Thompson said.

“We need to solidify what the numbers are before we talk about going into a special session,” he said.

Stitt also urged lawmakers to pass a 0.25% personal income tax cut in an October special session.

Although the House was prepared to act on the governor’s request, the Senate abruptly adjourned the special session after Stitt refused to appear before a legislative panel to answer questions about his proposed tax cuts.

Oklahoma Voice is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oklahoma Voice maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Janelle Stecklein for questions: info@oklahomavoice.com. Follow Oklahoma Voice on Facebook and Twitter.

Speaker McCall touts CPAC rating of OK Legislature as 2nd most conservative in nation

McCall Touts Latest CPAC Rating for OK Legislature

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, today issued a statement praising the conservative rating for the Oklahoma Legislature after the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) Foundation's Center for Legislative Accountability (CLA) released its 2023 ratings of the voting records of state legislators in all fifty states. Oklahoma was ranked as the second most conservative legislature in the country, trailing only West Virginia.

OKGOP infighting over Vice Chair's legislative scorecard

As a former county GOP officer and state executive committee member, I used to be pretty plugged in to the goings-on in OKGOP activist circles (I've taken a step back in recent years for family and committment reasons). The last several election cycles have seen a lot of turmoil inside the OKGOP, with a revolving door of chairmen leaving the party is rather fragile state, financial-wise and in effectiveness.

Ultra-conservative (I mean that in the most positive of ways) State Sen. Nathan Dahm won a hotly contested state chair race earlier this year, and there was some thought that his surprise election could see something of a reuniting of various divisions among the grassroots activists. Apparently not. New Vice Chairman Wayne Hill seems to be the point man for one of the factions, and sent out a legislative scorecard last week that some got the impression was officially from the Oklahoma Republican Party.

Dahm and the chairs of the Tulsa and Oklahoma county parties have each issued statements slamming the scorecard as "fraudulent" and "unauthorized". Read on:

Democratic legislative leaders gripe about GOP policies, special session goals

Able to do little else of substance, the leaders of the Democratic superminority in the Legislature are lambasting Gov. Stitt's call of a special session, and GOP priorities in general:

Democratic leaders comment on special session call

OKLAHOMA CITY (Sept. 14th) – Democratic legislative leaders Kay Floyd and Cyndi Munson released the following statement regarding the governor’s call for a special session on October 3, 2023.

Gov. Stitt calls Legislature back for special session on tax policy, budget transparency

Continued fallout from the disastrous McGirt Supreme Court decision now has a case before the Oklahoma Supreme Court that could result in tens of thousands of tribal citizens being exempt from the state income tax. Read this from NonDoc: Stroble case asks OK Supreme Court to decide income tax rules on reservations (here's a follow-up article as well). Gov. Stitt is callng a special session to address this potential, as well as exploring tax cuts and increased state budget transparency.

GOVERNOR STITT CALLS FOR SPECIAL SESSION ON TAX FAIRNESS, TAX CUTS FOR ALL OKLAHOMANS AND TRANSPARENCY IN BUDGET PROCESS

OKLAHOMA CITY (September 11, 2023) - Today, Governor Kevin Stitt announced he is calling a special session of the Oklahoma Legislature beginning October 3, 2023, to demand tax fairness for all Oklahomans, deliver a tax cut to Oklahoma taxpayers, and increase transparency in the state budget process.