HB 2973 requires all Oklahoma public school districts to report how they spend state-appropriated funds using a specific data code in the Oklahoma Cost Accounting System, starting with the 2026-2027 school year. This applies only to state funds, not other funding sources, and the State Board of Education must establish the required data code. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and was declared an emergency to allow immediate implementation. It directly affects school districts by mandating a new reporting structure for state education funding.
HB 3727 prohibits Oklahoma political subdivisions (like cities, counties, and school districts) from using public funds to hire registered lobbyists or pay nonprofits that hire such lobbyists. It allows local governments to reimburse employees for travel related to legislative advocacy, provide information to lawmakers, or support nonprofit associations offering non-lobbying services like bill tracking. The bill also creates a six-year cooling-off period, banning former state legislators from working as lobbyists after their term ends, effective January 2027. The law takes effect November 1, 2026, and includes provisions for citizens to seek court injunctions and recover attorney fees if public funds are misused.
This bill, titled "Mathematics instruction..." but actually amending the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program, adjusts financial eligibility rules for students seeking higher education support. It raises income thresholds for program qualification (e.g., $80,000 annually for families with five+ children starting in 2025-2026) and adjusts age limits for participation (extending to age 18 for some applicants). Students must meet updated income requirements and comply with program terms like regular school attendance and avoiding substance abuse to maintain eligibility. The bill directly affects Oklahoma students in grades 5-11 seeking financial aid for post-secondary education through this state program.
This bill requires owners of commercial solar energy facilities in Oklahoma to pay annual property taxes on their solar installations by December 31 each year. It directly affects commercial solar facility owners, who previously may have been exempt from such taxes. The key provision mandates that taxes and other assessments be paid to the county treasurer annually, aligning commercial solar facilities with standard property tax rules. This changes the tax treatment for commercial solar projects, making them subject to local property tax requirements effective immediately.
HB 2766 is the Oklahoma state budget bill for fiscal year 2026, allocating over $1.65 billion from the General Revenue Fund to support public schools. It directs specific funding for teacher salaries, textbooks, health benefits for staff, school administration, and the School Consolidation Assistance Fund, drawing from multiple sources including the Education Lottery Trust Fund and Mineral Leasing Fund. The bill was enacted without the Governor's signature on May 29, 2025, and directly affects all Oklahoma public schools and their students through these state-funded resources.
SB 50 exempts the purchase of gun safes and gun safety devices from Oklahoma's sales tax. This change directly affects consumers who buy these items for personal use, as they will no longer pay state sales tax on these purchases. The bill amends Oklahoma's sales tax code (Section 1357) to add gun safes and safety devices to the list of tax-exempt items, aligning with existing exemptions for other safety equipment. The law took effect on May 29, 2025, after becoming law without the governor's signature.
SB 287 extends Oklahoma's aerospace tax credit program, allowing employers in the aerospace sector to claim credits for tuition reimbursement and compensation paid to qualified employees through 2031. The credit for tuition is 50% of the cost (capped at the average public tuition in Oklahoma) for the first four years of employment, while the credit for compensation is 10% for employees with Oklahoma degrees or 5% for out-of-state graduates, applicable for the first five years of employment. This bill affects aerospace businesses and certain educational institutions, specifically targeting employees with ABET-accredited aerospace engineering degrees or licensed engineers.
HB 2764 establishes a framework for determining when Oklahoma can reduce income tax rates based on state revenue levels. It requires the State Board of Equalization to annually certify five-year average revenue amounts from oil, natural gas, and corporate income taxes. If projected revenue exceeds these averages, specific portions (100% for oil/gas, 25% to a reserve fund and 75% to a stabilization fund for corporate tax) must be deposited into state funds. This bill directly affects Oklahoma taxpayers paying these specific taxes and sets the revenue thresholds that would trigger future income tax rate reductions. The law was approved by the Governor on May 28, 2025.
HB 2781, the Reindustrialize Oklahoma Act of 2025 (ROA-25), creates a new economic development program offering rebates to qualifying manufacturing businesses. It requires applicants to commit to $2 billion in capital investments and create at least 700 new jobs in the first year (rising to 1,000+ annually), targeting businesses in manufacturing sectors (NAICS 31-33). The Oklahoma Department of Commerce administers the program, disbursing rebates from a dedicated fund (ROA-25 Beneficiary Revolving Fund) after verifying job creation and capital spending. The bill prohibits recipients from also claiming other state incentives like the Quality Jobs Program for the same project. The act was approved by the Governor on May 28, 2025.
SB 684 modifies Oklahoma's Parental Choice Tax Credit Act by increasing the annual credit limit to $7,500 for eligible taxpayers claiming credits for private school tuition and related education expenses. It changes the tax years for which the credit limit applies and requires the Oklahoma Tax Commission to maintain a publicly accessible, searchable online list of all taxpayers claiming the credit, including their names, credit amounts, and the specific law authorizing the credit. This bill directly affects Oklahoma taxpayers claiming the education credit and participating private schools, which must provide information to the Tax Commission. The law also specifies that qualified expenses include tuition at accredited private schools or certain educational services like tutoring and materials. The changes take effect immediately upon the bill's approval.
