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The Tulsa Beacon

 

Ray Carter

Center for Independent Journalism

Ray Carter is the director of OCPA’s Center for Independent Journalism.

Oklahoma leaders hail session successes

Tulsa Beacon

Despite some last-day drama, Gov. Kevin Stitt and legislative leaders declared the 2025 legislative session one of the most successful in their tenures. “I think we’ve had one of the best, most conservative sessions ever,” Stitt said at a May 28 press conference. “We have the quarter-point tax cut that I just signed. We have…

Income-Tax cut, path to zero sent to Stitt

Tulsa Beacon

Members of the Oklahoma Senate have provided final passage to legislation that cuts Oklahoma’s income tax and puts the tax on the path to a rate of zero, sending the bill to Gov. Kevin Stitt. House Bill 2764 cuts Oklahoma’s top income-tax rate from 4.75 percent to 4.5 percent starting in 2026 and restructures the…

Stitt voices support for Initiative-Petition Reform

Tulsa Beacon

While not specifically saying he will sign reform legislation, Gov. Kevin Stitt voiced support for addressing flaws in Oklahoma’s initiative-petition process during a press conference this week.   “There’s got to be a voice for the people,” Stitt said, “but we can’t let anybody with a million dollars be able to get their crazy initiative…

Oklahoma lawmakers continue to focus on regulatory reform

Tulsa Beacon

Only a day after passing a major bill to reduce future state regulations, lawmakers have approved two more measures that could also generate significant culling of government regulation in Oklahoma. Senate Bill 995, by state Sen. Micheal Bergstrom and state Rep. Gerrid Kendrix, prohibits any new state agency regulations from taking effect unless they are…

Ban on DEI in OK colleges passes House

Tulsa Beacon

By a margin of nearly four to one, members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives have voted to make permanent a ban on mandatory “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) programs at Oklahoma colleges. “Individually, we don’t have a problem with each word: ‘diversity,’ ‘equity,’ ‘inclusion,’” said state Rep. Denise Crosswhite Hader, R-Piedmont (pictured above). “But…

Lawmakers vote to allow Christians to serve as foster parents

Tulsa Beacon

Christian couples could not be barred from serving as foster or adoptive parents based on their religious beliefs under legislation approved by the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Senate Bill 658, by state Sen. Julie Daniels and state Rep. Denise Crosswhite Hader, says that the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) cannot require any current or…

Transparency reforms to Initiative Petitions prompt accusation of ‘fascism’

Tulsa Beacon

By an overwhelming majority, members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives have approved a range of reforms that will increase transparency and public participation in the state’s initiative-petition process. House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, said the overriding goal of the bill is simple: “This is a voter-empowerment bill.” Senate Bill 1027, by state Sen. David…

Student groups at OU, OSU, and UCO ‘vow to resist the presence of ICE on Campus’

Tulsa Beacon

A student group linked to antisemitism nationwide is urging Oklahoma officials to prevent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from enforcing immigration law on Oklahoma campuses. After 12 foreign students in Oklahoma reportedly had their visas revoked by the Trump administration, Students for Justice In Palestine (SJP) released a statement claiming the 12 students “were…

Oklahoma Senate Committee advances new tax-reform plan

Tulsa Beacon

This year’s legislative session has included much focus on addressing the problems created by Oklahoma’s tax on work and investment, the personal income tax. Gov. Kevin Stitt has called for lowering the top tax rate from 4.75 percent to 4.25 percent and putting the tax on a path to complete repeal over time. Both chambers…

Oklahoma school-board election shift moves ahead

Tulsa Beacon

Legislation that would shift Oklahoma’s school-board elections to better-known election dates that draw higher turnout has cleared two House committees and is now eligible to be heard by the entire membership of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Senate Bill 6, by state Sen. Ally Seifried and state Rep. Chris Banning, would move school-board elections to…