SB 1128 appropriates $100,000 from unallocated state funds to the Oklahoma State Board of Education for fiscal year 2026. It directly affects the State Board of Education by providing funding for duties required by law. The bill declares an emergency to make it effective immediately upon approval, though it specifies funds come from "monies not otherwise appropriated." The bill failed to pass on May 22, 2025, with 42 votes in favor and 48 against.
HB 1086 updates Oklahoma's school funding rules by redefining how school districts manage their general funds. It requires districts to place capital project funds (like those for building repairs) into a separate building fund instead of the general fund, and eliminates the practice of carrying over general fund money to future years. The bill restricts general fund use for capital projects to only cases where a building is destroyed by disaster (fire, flood, etc.) and other funding sources (insurance, state aid) are insufficient. This directly affects all Oklahoma public school districts in how they track and spend state and local education funds.
HB 1183 changes how Oklahoma calculates the motor vehicle excise tax by requiring the actual sales price (before trade-in discounts) to be used, provided it stays within 20% of the average retail value from Service Oklahoma's reference guides. This affects vehicle buyers and dealers, who must now document the sales price and tire details on the bill of sale. The bill mandates that the recorded price must align with published retail values to determine tax liability. It becomes effective November 1, 2025.
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 573 allows small businesses operating within Oklahoma incubators to qualify for up to 10 years of state income tax exemption on business income earned while occupying the incubator space. To maintain this exemption after 2025, businesses must annually submit specific financial and operational details - including employment levels, subcontractor payments, revenue estimates, and other financial information - to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce using a form created by the agency. The bill requires the Commerce Department to establish this reporting framework and mandates that businesses disclose prior tax exemptions and additional state incentives received. This law, effective November 1, 2025, applies directly to small businesses using incubator facilities to access the tax benefit.
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 947 updates Oklahoma's nursing facility fee structure and fund allocation rules to improve long-term care services for seniors. It revises how the Nursing Facilities Quality of Care Fee is calculated (based on 6% of total patient gross receipts divided by patient days) and designates specific uses for the resulting fund, including funding 15 ombudsmen positions and increasing monthly personal needs allowances for nursing home residents from $30 to $50. The bill ensures these programs - such as Medicaid services, nursing facility inspections, and senior support services - remain exempt from budget cuts. It directly affects nursing facilities (which pay the fee), seniors receiving Medicaid long-term care, and state agencies managing these programs. The bill was enacted without the Governor's signature on May 13, 2025.
