Budget & Taxes

HB 1046 creates the Oklahoma Spay and Neuter Grant Program, overseen by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, to reduce animal shelter overpopulation and euthanasia by funding spay/neuter services. It authorizes grants for local governments and animal welfare organizations targeting low-income communities and feral cat populations (where permitted), requiring competitive proposals that detail efficient service delivery and public outreach. The program includes an advisory board to review proposals, but the bill appropriates $0 for implementation, meaning no funds are allocated yet. The program will take effect July 1, 2026, pending future funding decisions.

HB 2218 creates a state tax rebate program to support local music performances in Oklahoma. It provides rebates on sales tax or drink sales tax collected by venues during eligible events, capped at $10 million annually. To qualify, events must feature Oklahoma-based performers (individuals or businesses owned by Oklahomans) for at least 30 minutes, with venues paying performers at least $100 per event. The rebate limits are $2,000 per event and $50,000 per venue yearly, applying to both ticketed and unticketed venues that sell taxable goods or drinks.

HB 2917 creates the "Ag in the Classroom Program" under Oklahoma's State Department of Agriculture to educate students (pre-K through 12th grade) about agriculture in both urban and rural schools. It increases the fee for Agricultural Awareness license plates from $24 to $27, directing the extra $3 per plate into an Ag in the Classroom Education Revolving Fund. The fund will support program expansion, particularly into urban areas, with the Department of Agriculture having exclusive control over the program and fund spending. This bill takes effect November 1, 2025.

HB 2918, the "Expanding Access to Local Foods Act of 2025," creates a program for the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry to purchase locally grown fruits and vegetables from small and underserved Oklahoma farmers at market value. The department will donate this produce to Oklahoma non-profits that distribute food free of charge to address food insecurity. A dedicated revolving fund, financed by state appropriations, federal grants, and private contributions, will support the program's operations. The bill requires the department to establish rules for the program and takes effect on November 1, 2025.