Capitol Insider

With the start of the 2026 legislative session coming February 2nd, lawmakers are hearing budget requests from state agencies, many asking for more appropriations.

Oklahoma legislators will have more than 5,000 bills and joint resolutions to consider when they return to the Capitol for the 2026 legislative session in February.

With the legislative session less than a month away and the pre-session bill filing deadline looming, state legislators are stepping up the pace of proposing legislation.

Our countdown of the top Oklahoma stories of 2025, as heard on Capitol Insider, leads us from number five to number one.

We close the year by ranking the top Oklahoma stories of 2025 as heard on Capitol Insider, beginning with numbers 11-6.

The State Department of Education under former superintendent Ryan Walters violated state Open Meeting Act, Oklahoma Supreme Court finds.

The State Election Board has determined that independents will not be allowed to vote in party primary elections in 2026 and 2027.

Lawmakers are hearing budget requests from state agencies who are seeking increases to address the rising costs of doing the work of the people.

How is the economy faring heading toward the start of 2026? Oklahoma economist Dr. Robert Dauffenbach analyzes the state of the economy and what's ahead in the new year.

The Oklahoma Supreme Court will decide whether Oklahoma's new law regulating citizen lawmaking by initiative petitions is constitutional.

A new commission has approved raising the annual salaries for statewide elected officials, while legislator pay will stay the same.

In less than a year, Oklahomans will go to the polls to vote in a wide-open and monumental general election.

In Oklahoma and around the U.S., elected officials are seeking ways to provide food assistance to needy residents as the federal government shutdown affects SNAP.

Under the new state superintendent, Oklahoma's State Board of Education is moving quickly to deal with controversial issues.

Former State Superintendent Ryan Walters' mandate to place Bibles in Oklahoma classrooms and incorporate biblical teaching is being eliminated.

The Oklahoma Supreme Court has found a major priority of the Stitt administration to be unconstitutional.

Following the resignation of Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters, Gov. Kevin Stitt appointed Lindel Fields as interim superintendent, announced a "turnaround" team and renewed calls to make the position appointed rather than elected.

Controversial State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters resigns to take job with conservative teacher group.

New social studies standards that went into effect for the current school semester have now been halted by the Oklahoma Supreme Court.

Citing lack of standing for the legislator who brought a lawsuit against it, the Oklahoma Supreme Court allows Gov. Kevin Stitt's "return to work" executive order to stand.