This Oklahoma bill changes how lodging tax is calculated by excluding free rooms (comped) and discounted rooms where hotels receive no payment from taxable income. It applies to all counties and cities collecting lodging tax under existing law. Hotels will no longer owe tax on rooms provided at no cost to customers or employees, or discounted rooms without third-party reimbursement. The change takes effect January 1, 2026.
SB 253 requires Oklahoma's Medicaid agency (the Oklahoma Health Care Authority) to include specific funding details in its annual budget request. It mandates that the budget reflect new state and federal funding needed to cover the most recent audited costs for reimbursing nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities serving individuals with intellectual disabilities. The audited cost must be calculated using the latest cost report submitted to the agency. This change takes effect November 1, 2025.
SB 577 requires manufacturing facilities seeking a five-year property tax exemption to submit annual information to the Oklahoma Tax Commission, including proof of out-of-state sales revenue and wage compliance. It mandates the Tax Commission to share specific data with the Incentive Evaluation Commission to verify exemption eligibility. The bill updates requirements for facilities to qualify, including an annual investment cost threshold adjusted for inflation (based on CPI) and wage standards tied to Oklahoma's Quality Jobs Program. This affects manufacturers building, expanding, or acquiring facilities with qualifying investments, ensuring transparency in tax exemption programs.
SB 911 lowers unemployment tax rates for Oklahoma employers under specific conditions by decreasing the percentage rates applied to taxable wages. For example, the rate for employers in condition "a" drops from 42.5% to 41.25%, and similar reductions apply across other conditions. The bill updates the experience rate table that determines employer tax rates based on their claims history and removes outdated formulas for benefit wage ratio increases. It also raises the minimum balance required for the unemployment fund to ensure financial stability. These changes directly affect businesses paying unemployment taxes in Oklahoma.
HB 1663 updates Oklahoma's procedures for selling property to recover unpaid property taxes. It allows counties to conduct tax sales online during the second week of June (instead of only in-person), requiring clear notice of sale details, including property descriptions, tax amounts due, and online auction links. The bill mandates that online sales follow the same rules as in-person sales, including requiring bids to meet at least two-thirds of the property's assessed value or the total unpaid taxes, whichever is lower. This directly affects property owners with delinquent taxes, county treasurers managing sales, and mortgagees who must receive notice of the sale.
SB 681 amends Oklahoma's property tax notice requirements to ensure homeowners with homestead properties receive clear information about value limits. Specifically, it requires county assessors to include details on applying for a "limit on fair cash value" (a homestead property tax cap) in written notices when property valuations increase. This applies directly to Oklahoma homeowners whose primary residence qualifies as a homestead under state law. The bill does not change tax rates but improves transparency in the notification process for affected property owners.
HB 1200 establishes a revenue stabilization mechanism for Oklahoma's state budget. It requires the State Board of Equalization to certify five-year average revenue from oil, natural gas, and corporate income taxes. If annual revenue exceeds these averages, specific percentages (25% to the Constitutional Reserve Fund, 75% to the Revenue Stabilization Fund) must be deposited - unless revenue growth exceeds $400 million (adjusted for inflation), which could trigger future tax rate reductions. The bill does not change tax rates directly but links fund deposits to revenue performance, affecting how state funds are managed rather than individual taxpayers. This procedural bill focuses on budget stability rules, not new tax policies.
HB 1438 sets a monetary cap of $150,000 to $350,000 per entity per year for grants under Oklahoma's Rural Economic Action Plan program, which funds water quality projects like sewer line repairs, water treatment, and infrastructure improvements. The bill prioritizes small cities (under 1,750 population) and those with weaker fiscal capacity, while restricting eligibility to cities/towns under 7,000 population (based on census data) and unincorporated areas under 7,000. It requires the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to distribute all funds without administrative retention, establish separate accounts for specific economic development districts, and eliminate matching fund requirements for recipients.
HB 1392 increases the fee county treasurers charge for certifying mortgages from $5 to $10 per mortgage. This fee, paid by mortgage borrowers, lenders, or other interested parties, will be deposited into a dedicated "County Treasurer's Mortgage Certification Fee Account" and used solely for operating the treasurer's office. The bill modifies existing mortgage tax rates based on loan term length but focuses the main change on the certification fee increase. It becomes effective November 1, 2025.
SB 469 modifies eligibility requirements for Oklahoma's Emission Reduction Technology Rebate Program, which provides up to 25% rebates for businesses implementing qualifying emission-reduction projects within the state. The bill clarifies submission deadlines (requiring documentation within six months after fiscal year-end completion) and adds a preliminary review process for applications before project funding is spent. It also specifies that applicants must have filed all required Oklahoma tax returns and maintain $1 million general liability insurance with workers' compensation coverage. The changes apply to businesses seeking rebates administered by the Department of Environmental Quality and Oklahoma Tax Commission, using funds from dedicated revolving funds. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.
