Ray Carter

Center for Independent Journalism

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

Senate gives strong support to moving school-board elections

March 20, 2025 Ray Carter

By an overwhelming margin, members of the Oklahoma Senate have voted to move school-board elections to a November general election ballot, seeking to dramatically increase participation in those races. “I’m running this bill for the taxpayers,” said state Sen. Ally Seifried, R-Claremore. “I want increased voter participation because they are the ones that pay. So…

Oklahoma income-tax repeal advances

March 13, 2025 Ray Carter

Legislation that would put Oklahoma’s personal income tax on a gradual path to full repeal is now headed to the floor of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. House Bill 1539, by state Rep. Mark Lepak, R-Claremore, would cut the state’s personal income-tax rate by a quarter point each time that net state revenue increases by…

OK bill requiring 50% of school budgets for classroom learning moves forward amid opposition from school lobby group

March 13, 2025 Ray Carter

Legislation that would require schools to devote at least half their budget to classroom learning is headed to a vote of the full Oklahoma House of Representatives, but the bill continues to receive opposition from education entities that argue even less money should be spent on direct student learning. As originally filed, House Bill 1280,…

OK income-tax repeal moves ahead in House

February 27, 2025 Ray Carter

Oklahomans could see the personal income tax fully eliminated through a gradual phaseout process under legislation that has cleared its first legislative hurdle. House Bill 1539, by state Rep. Mark Lepak, R-Claremore, would cut the state’s personal income-tax rate by a quarter point each time that net state revenue increases by at least $300 million….

Jenks Schools says: ‘Gender’ lesson an enrollment mistake

February 27, 2025 Ray Carter

During a recent weather-related “virtual” day in the Jenks school district, some parents got a glimpse of course content—and didn’t like what they saw. One lesson informed students that sex and gender are two different things. Images from that online course quickly spread on social media. A Jenks spokesman says that course content is the…

Stitt shows how to cut taxes during ‘down’ year

February 20, 2025 Ray Carter

When Gov. Kevin Stitt announced that he wants to cut the state’s personal income tax from 4.75 percent to 4.25 percent this year, some officials scoffed. House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson of Oklahoma City dismissed the tax-cut proposal, saying the state is projected to have $300 million less revenue this year than last year. Senate…

OK House, Senate advance school-board election reform

February 20, 2025 Ray Carter

Committees in both the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the state Senate have advanced bills that would move school-board elections to the November ballot to dramatically increase voter participation. House Bill 1151, by state Rep. Chris Banning, R-Bixby, would shift school board elections to June and November from the current February and April election dates….

Oklahoma House, Senate advance School-Board Election Reforms

February 13, 2025 Ray Carter

Stitt calls for tax cuts, spending restraint

February 6, 2025 Ray Carter

Gov. Kevin Stitt called on lawmakers to cut Oklahoma’s personal income tax by a half-point, restrain spending, and preserve state savings in his annual State of the State address. “We have a mandate to support and pass conservative, limited-government legislation that makes the American Dream possible for all four million Oklahomans,” Stitt said. The governor’s…

Bills to repeal Oklahoma Income Tax Increase In Number

January 30, 2025 Ray Carter

Another state lawmaker is urging his colleagues to repeal Oklahoma’s personal income tax, which is often referred to as the state’s penalty on work and investment. State Sen. Dusty Deevers, R-Elgin, has filed two bills that would get rid of the personal income tax, either in one fell swoop or gradually over time. Senate Bill…