By Constitution Staff

In April, Dr. Jim Hess was named the 20th president of Oklahoma State University by the Oklahoma A & M Board of Regents. Dr. Hess had been serving as interim president of since February 7, following the abrupt resignation of former president Dr. Kayse Schrum four days earlier. Schrum, the first women president of the university, was in her fourth year at the institution. Hess has served within the OSU system since 1981 including as vice provost of graduate programs in the OSU Center of Health Sciences and as director of the OSU School of Healthcare Administration.

Former OSU President Named to Chickasaw Nation Post

Former Oklahoma State University President Dr. Kayse Shrum has joined the Chickasaw Nation in a health care capacity. Shrum, an osteopath, will facilitate the planning and opening of the tribe’s new hospital in Newcastle. Shrum resigned from OSU last February amid controversy. Her resignation came after the Oklahoma A & M Board of Regents held an executive session to discuss a potential investigation into the mishandling of state-funded allocations for the university’s STEM-related Innovation Foundation. The top executive at the foundation also resigned.

Divided Court Decision in St. Isidore Case

On May 22, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a divided 4-4 decision in the Oklahoma St. Isidore case over whether a Catholic virtual charter school would become the country’s first religious charter school. Since Justice Amy Coney Barrett was recused from the case, the high court was evenly divided, so the case did not set a binding nationwide precedent. Since 1826, it has been the court policy of the high court that an equally divided court will affirm the lower court’s decision without comment. So, the decision let stand the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling last year that prohibited public funds from going to the religious affiliated school.

The case began two years ago, after the Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board approved the application by the Catholic archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the diocese of Tulsa to establish the St. Isidore of Seville virtual Catholic charter school. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond sued the board and the liberal leaning Oklahoma Supreme Court sided with the attorney general and invalidated the board’s contract with St. Isidore. The case was then appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Tulsa Drops Enforcement of Tribal Criminals

On June 23, Governor Kevin Stitt, in conjunction with county and local leaders and law enforcement, released the statements opposing the proposed settlement agreement between the City of Tulsa and the Muscogee Nation which would cede all enforcement authority over tribal citizens to the tribe. “Tulsa is essentially making itself a sanctuary city for tribal members engaged in criminal activity. As elected leaders, it is our job to represent our constituents regardless of race, heritage, or political affiliation,” said Gov. Stitt. “This proposed move by Mayor Nichols sets a concerning precedent and will make it impossible for elected officials and Oklahoma law enforcement to protect their communities. I will take every action to reverse course and ensure the rule of law is the same for everyone.” The proposed settlement comes after a drawn out legal battle between the City of Tulsa and the Muscogee Nation regarding the authority of state and local police to investigate and prosecute crimes committed by and perpetrated against non-member Indians.

Tribal Citizens Have to Pay State Taxes

On July 1, Governor Kevin Stitt praised a major Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling in Stroble v. Oklahoma Tax Commission that rejected race-based tax exemptions, limited the scope of the federal McGirt ruling, and reaffirmed that all Oklahomans must be treated equally under the law. “Tribal governments, liberal groups, and some elected officials have pushed for special tax exemptions that would create a two-tiered system – one set of rules for tribal citizens and another for everyone else. That’s wrong. It would divide our state and weaken the public services every family relies on,” said Governor Stitt. “This ruling makes it clear that attempts to expand McGirt into civil and tax matters have no basis in the law. We are one Oklahoma. And as long as I’m Governor, we aren’t going backwards.”

The Oklahoma Supreme Court issued its opinion on the Stroble v. Oklahoma Tax Commission lawsuit in which a Muscogee Nation tribal member challenged paying taxes to the state of Oklahoma. This case, and others, have been probing how far the U.S. Supreme Court’s McGirt v. Oklahoma ruling which changed the nature of law enforcement in much of eastern Oklahoma, could be applied to other parts of the law. Governor Kevin Stitt has been a vocal critic of the McGirt decision since it was issued in July 2020. He is celebrating the legal victory.

Muscogee Nation Disappointed by Tax Ruling

The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling ruling in Stroble v. Oklahoma Tax Commission case may not be the end of the challenge concerning tribal citizens having to pay taxes to the state of Oklahoma. Muscogee Nation Principal Chief David Hill issued the following statement following the ruling:

“The Muscogee Nation is disappointed in the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s ruling today in Stroble v. Oklahoma Tax Commission departing from well-settled law originally recognized by the United States Supreme Court over 50 years ago and that is inconsistent with the State’s own administrative tax rules. Ever since the McGirt ruling, we have seen Oklahoma state courts go through legal gymnastics to come up with results that are not in compliance with federal law and that do not even follow pre-McGirt state court precedent on the limits of state authority in Indian country. The Stroble ruling is another sad example of those antics. We know that this ruling could have broad implications for Indian Country, so we are carefully reviewing the decision with our legal team and preparing for the next steps. While it is important to remember that the Muscogee Nation cannot provide legal advice on individual tax cases to citizens, the Nation will remain diligent in coordination and communication of what our response will be.”

State Tax Revenue Rebounds

Oklahoma tax revenues rebounded in June after a seasonal May dip, with the latest reported monthly collections totaling $1.48 billion, a 15.1% increase over May and a 3.3% gain compared to June 2024. The growth closes out Fiscal Year 2025 on a strong note, signaling a resilient economic base as Oklahoma entered the new fiscal year. The state government fiscal year begins July 1 and ends on June 30 the following year. Total collections over the past 12 months reached $16.92 billion, a 0.2% increase over the previous fiscal year, indicating solid year-end momentum despite ongoing national and global uncertainty. “Oklahoma’s revenue rebounded this month, showing total increases across both yearly and monthly comparisons – a strong sign of economic resilience and fiscal momentum as we close out fiscal year 2025 and look ahead to 2026,” said State Treasurer Todd Russ.

Make Oklahoma Healthy Again

On June 26, U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. joined Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt for a full day of events in Oklahoma City. The visit marked the formal launch of Governor Stitt’s Make Oklahoma Healthy Again (MOHA) campaign, a state-level extension of the national Make America Healthy Again movement championed by President Donald Trump and Secretary Kennedy. “For far too long, we have settled for food that has made us sicker as a nation,” said Governor Stitt. “In Oklahoma, we’re choosing common sense, medical freedom, and personal responsibility. President Trump and Secretary Kennedy have led the charge nationally, I’m grateful for their support as we Make Oklahoma Healthy Again.”

At a rally in the Oklahoma State Capitol, Governor Stitt signed Executive Order 2025-13 directing a sweeping statewide review of public health policies ranging from water fluoridation to artificial food dyes. The executive order also establishes the MOHA Advisory Council and calls on state agencies to promote clean living, expand access to community wellness programs, and educate Oklahomans on how to reduce exposure to harmful chemicals in food, water, and daily life. In addition to the order, the governor announced he had directed the state Department of Human Services (DHS) to request a waiver from the federal government to exclude candy and soft drinks from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits

“Thank you, Governor Stitt, for your visionary leadership to Make Oklahoma Healthy Again,” said HHS Secretary Kennedy. “You’ve led with action-bringing healthy food to public schools and prisons, eliminating fluoride from drinking water, and submitting a waiver to remove soda, candy, and other junk food from SNAP. These bold steps are helping protect and restore the health of all Oklahomans.”

Walters Orders Public Schools to Pay for School Lunches

In July, Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters issued a mandate that public schools pay for school meals for all students. That includes no-cost breakfast and lunch. Walters warned that non-compliance could lead to an audit, state funds being withheld, or a hit to a district’s accreditation. Walters asserted that school districts could cover the cost of the lunches by reducing “bloated” administrative costs. Walters also ordered the removal of “ultra-processed” snacks, sugary drinks, processed meats, and other food additives from the school meals. Walters received both praise and push back against the mandate. Some questioned if Walters has the authority to make such demands of the school districts, and said they needed additional appropriations to cover the cost of the lunches. Some school districts already provide the lunches to all students, not just those from low income families, at no charge.

Oklahoma Republican Party Convention

The 2025 Oklahoma Republican Biennial Convention was held on May 3rd at Crossroads Church in Oklahoma City. Former state Senator Nathan Dahm, who was elected party chairman in 2023, did not run for reelection to the post. Earlier this year the State Freedom Caucus Network named Dahm as its state director for Oklahoma. Charity Lynch was elected to chair the party for the next two years. Lynch had been the National Committeewoman representing Oklahoma on the Republican National Committee (RNC). Wayne Hill was reelected to a second term as the State Vice Chairman. Karen Hardin was elected as the new National Committeewoman, and Larry Murray was elected National Committeeman.

Democrats Elect New State Party Leaders

The Oklahoma Democratic Party elected new leaders for the next two years and unanimously adopted a new state platform at their biennial state convention June 28-29 in Broken Arrow. In a three-way race, State Representative John Waldron succeeds Alicia Andrews who was defeated for reelection. Waldron won the election outright with 321 votes (56.2%). Andrews, who served from 2019 to 2025 and was the first Black woman to lead the party, garnered 139 votes (24.4%). Kevin Dawson, a union advocate, received 100 votes (17.5%).

Rep. Waldron scored zero percent on the 2025 Oklahoma Conservative Index rating state legislators. Waldron is joined in the new leadership team by small business owner and former candidate for State Senate Erin Brewer of Oklahoma City as vice chair; engineer and community organizer Alberto Alonso-Sandoval of Oklahoma City as treasurer; and Chickasaw citizen and genealogist Kati Cain of Lone Grove as secretary.

House Democrats Name 61st Legislature Leaders

The Oklahoma House of Representatives’ Democratic Caucus named its leadership team for the 61st Oklahoma Legislature that will convene in 2027. State Representative Melissa Provenzano (HD 79) of Tulsa is the Leader-Elect and will succeed current Minority (Democrat) Leader Cyndi Munson (HD 85) of Oklahoma City on November 4, 2026. Rep. Jared Deck (HD 44) of Norman will be Caucus Chair, and Rep. Ellyn Hefner (HD 87) of Oklahoma City will be Vice Caucus Chair. Munson and the current leadership team will remain in their roles through November 3, 2026. Munson announced earlier this year that she will be running for governor rather than reelection as Minority Leader. All of the new leaders scored 10% or lower on the 2025 Oklahoma Conservative Index.

The incoming Leadership team issued the following statement: “We look forward to telling the story of what it means to be an Oklahoma Democrat. Here in Oklahoma, Democrats believe: living should cost less between paychecks, every child deserves a free, quality public education, and that we all have the best chance of success when we’re healthy and have access to the care we need. Finally, we believe Oklahomans should retire comfortably at the time that is right for us.”

Relocation of USS Batfish

In the last session, the Oklahoma Legislature approved House Bill 2794, allocating $4 million for the relocation of the USS Batfish – one of America’s most decorated World War II submarines and an Oklahoma landmark. The USS Batfish gained legendary status after sinking three enemy submarines during a single patrol in 1945 – an unmatched feat in U.S. naval history. The vessel was brought to Muskogee in the 1970s and became a local landmark and educational attraction before floodwaters in 2019 forced it to close.

After 52 years at its original location, Muskogee’s War Memorial Park and Museum was relocated to a temporary location at Port Muskogee’s Three Forks Harbor on July 1, 2025. The move marked the first phase of the relocation of the USS Batfish to its permanent home. In the meantime, the museum exhibits will be temporarily housed inside the Robinson Gallery and Event Center, located directly adjacent to the Batfish’s future site. The state funding to relocate the Batfish enabled the groundwork for the proposed Oklahoma War Memorial and Museum, and efforts are underway to make it a reality through private donors and grants.

New Spaceplane to be Based at Burns Flat

It was announced in June that Dawn Aerospace will bring a new spaceplane, capable of flying loads to the edge of space, to western Oklahoma. The Aurora Mark 2 suborbital spaceplane, which will fly from the Oklahoma Air & Space Port at Burns Flat, is a reusable spaceplane capable of carrying small payloads to 100 kilometers, or just over 62 miles. It can carry payloads to the edge of space and return on a runway. With a nearly 3-mile-long runway and a designated space flight corridor, Space Port Oklahoma is one of 14 FAA-licensed space ports in the United States.

The $17 million partnership between Dawn Aerospace and the Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority (OSIDA) encompasses both the vehicle and an operations team, with up to 100 flight days and 200 flights planned in total after initial testing is completed. Dawn Aerospace will train an Oklahoma-based team in New Zealand before flights begin at the Oklahoma Air & Space Port. Flights may begin operation as soon as 2027.

Prosecution for Damaging TV Weather Radar

On July 19, the office of Attorney General Gentner Drummond announced it will prosecute an Oklahoma City man accused of damaging the weather radar of Oklahoma City TV station KWTV Channel 9. In early July, Anthony Tyler Mitchell, 39, allegedly vandalized the power supply of News 9's NextGen live radar. He is charged with malicious injury or destruction of property, and damage to equipment in a critical infrastructure facility. Both are felonies. In addition, Mitchell faces a misdemeanor of entering with the intent to commit a felony. It is believed that Mitchell may have been influenced by a group that says the weather radars are controlling the weather as a weapon. “This crime is about much more than vandalism of property,” Drummond said. “Weather radar is not a ‘weather weapon.’ Radar technology is vitally important and saves the lives of countless Oklahomans every year. This individual’s alleged action is not simply wrong; it imperiled public safety. My office is committed to protecting critical infrastructure and holding accountable anyone who willfully damages it.”

State Troopers to Be Pulled off Metro Highways

The state Department of Public Safety (DPS) announced that the Oklahoma Highway Patrol will pull state troopers off interstate highways in the Tulsa and the Oklahoma City metropolitan areas beginning November 1. The decision was announced just before the July 4th holiday. The change would shift enforcement duties to local police in both cities and surrounding communities like Edmond, Moore, Norman, Midwest City and Del City. DPS Commissioner Tim Tipton said the change will allow state troopers to focus on rural areas and forming a dedicated interstate troop to cover I-35, I-40, and I-44, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) is not anticipating any changes to patrols on the state’s turnpikes within those urban areas. The OTA has a contractual agreement with the DPS for patrol.

Death of Former Corporation Commissioner Hamp Baker

Former Corporation Commissioner Hamp Baker died on April 23, 2025 at the age of 91 following a battle with cancer. Commissioner Baker of Ratliff City served on the Oklahoma Corporation Commission from 1974 to 1985. Prior to being elected, he became a household name for his memorable public safety campaign slogan: “Hamp Baker says Drive with Care.” The slogan was placed on old car hoods and simple signs located along roadways around the state. It was one of the most recognized marketing efforts of the time. His post-commission work included collaborating with the National Association of Energy Users, endeavoring to expand the use of Oklahoma natural gas nationwide.

Death of former Rep. Larry Ferguson

Former Oklahoma House Minority Leader Rep. Larry Ferguson (R-Cleveland) died on May 23, 2025, at the age of 87. Ferguson represented House District 35 for 20 years and served as the House Minority (Republican) Leader. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1960 with a degree in journalism. In 1962 he returned to Cleveland, Oklahoma, and took over the family newspaper, The Cleveland American. In 1985 he made headlines when he won election as a Republican to the House District 35 seat – a district with 70% Democrat registration. He became a leader of the Republican minority in the Oklahoma House, serving as the House Minority Leader from 1991-1998. He continued to serve in the Oklahoma Legislature through 2004. During his two decade legislative career he was one of the more moderate Republicans, earning a cumulative average of 55% on the Oklahoma Conservative Index. He was honored by the Oklahoma Press Association in 2014 with induction into Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame.

Death of Bob Funk, Sr.

Longtime Oklahoma business, agricultural, cattleman/equine professional and civic leader Bob Funk, Sr. passed away July 15, 2025, at his home in Yukon. He was 85. Funk co-founded Express Employment Professionals with the late Bill Stoller and built the company into one of the largest staffing agencies in the world – employing more than 492,000 people at its 860 franchise locations. Funk was active politically and supported many conservative Republicans. He rebuilt the Oklahoma Youth Expo into the world’s largest junior livestock show held annually in Oklahoma City. At one time he owned two minor league sports teams – the Oklahoma Redhawks and the Oklahoma City Blazers franchises – and was involved in many other ventures throughout his life. He was a major contributor to the state Capitol dome project in 2001-2002. “Bob Funk was a great conservative leader, a champion of capitalism, and a friend of mine. He believed in faith, freedom, and the power of hard work. And he lived it every day,” Said Gov. Kevin Stitt in a social media post.