Jan. 8, 2024

Democracy Watch

Five Political Storylines to Watch in 2024

By Keaton Ross | Democracy/Criminal Justice Reporter

Happy New Year! 

After some well-deserved time off over the holidays, Oklahoma Watch is back at it attending public meetings, filing open records requests and phoning sources. This week will be busy as lawmakers consider dozens of agency budget requests for Fiscal Year 2025 and the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board weighs public comment on a proposed rule change to restrict commutation access. 

As we look forward to a busy election year, here are five storylines I’ll be watching closely: 

How Many State Legislative Races Will Be Contested? 

Nearly 70% of state House and Senate seats up for re-election in 2022 went uncontested or were decided during single-party primary elections. As I reported in September 2022, a lack of choices at the ballot box can hurt voter engagement. 

Candidate filing for statewide offices is set for April 3-5, so we’ll have a better understanding of which lawmakers will face a challenger in about three months. 

Will Lawmakers Cut Taxes? 

Gov. Kevin Stitt is again pushing lawmakers to chip away at Oklahoma’s state income tax, telling reporters he may call a special session to consider tax cut bills this month. Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, has filed legislation that would eliminate the state portion of the grocery sales tax. 

The Legislature considered similar cuts last session, but a sweeping education funding proposal took priority and the bills did not reach Stitt’s desk.  

How Will Presidential Hopefuls Fare in the March Primary? 

Presidential hopefuls have less than two months to win over Oklahoma voters. 

Registered Democrats, Independents and Republicans are eligible to participate in the March 5 presidential preferential primary. While President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump are heavy favorites, expect other candidates to start making campaign stops in the Sooner State over the next several weeks.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has a head start on that front, securing endorsements from Gov. Kevin Stitt and a handful of state lawmakers during a campaign event in Tulsa last summer. 

Will a Sweeping Felony Reclassification Bill Pass?

A years-long effort to overhaul Oklahoma’s criminal sentencing code will get another shot at becoming law this year. 

House Bill 1792 by Rep. Mike Osburn, R-Edmond and Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa, cleared the both chambers last year but stalled in the final weeks of the session. Supporters of the measure say it would help standardize criminal sentences across counties and help the state control its prison population. 

Will Oklahoma’s Budget Process Be More Transparent?

In a press conference last month, Treat said the Senate will adopt several changes aimed at giving the public more opportunity to analyze and provide input on state budget proposals.

The plan includes live-streaming all budget proceedings and setting a more concrete timeline for budget proposals to be released to the public. 

House Speaker Charles McCall has yet to make a similar pledge, though he told Oklahoma Voice last October he’s open to changes. 

What I’m Reading This Week:

• Oklahoma Corrections Agency Eyes Massive Security Upgrades to Boost Safety: The planned changes will include new perimeter fencing, security cameras and other components that will improve the entire system. The proposal comes as advocates say the state’s prison system has become more dangerous in recent years. [Oklahoma Voice]
• Charge Dismissed Against Former EPD Employee Accused of Sexting Minor Family Member:  Although Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Behenna requested dismissal of the felony charge “in the best interest of justice,” the case was dismissed by a district court judge without prejudice, meaning it could be refiled at a later date. [NonDoc]
• Oklahoma Declines to Join New Summer Food Program for Children, a Disappointment to Some Child Advocates: The Summer EBT program would have doled out $40 per month this summer for children who get free or reduced price meals during the school year. Gov. Kevin Stitt’s office cited uncertainty about how the federal government will administer the program. [The Oklahoman]

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