HB 3984 creates the "Oklahoma Talent Attraction and Relocation Program" under the Oklahoma Department of Commerce to award grants for recruiting households relocating to Oklahoma from outside the state. It directly affects cities, towns, counties, and nonprofits (as grant applicants) and households earning at least $55,000 annually who move into Oklahoma. Key provisions include a $250,000 annual grant limit per municipality, requiring applicants to cover 20% of program costs, tying 50% of funds to meeting half the household relocation goal, and mandating detailed reports on program outcomes. The bill establishes a revolving fund to reuse repayments and unused grant money for ongoing administration.
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 3978 creates tax credits for Oklahoma investors who fund "rural funds" that invest in small businesses located in rural areas. It allows investors to claim up to $15 million in annual state tax credits against their liability, provided the rural fund invests at least 100% of the capital in eligible businesses within three years. Eligible businesses must have fewer than 250 employees and operate primarily (60%+ payroll) in counties under 75,000 population or towns under 7,000 residents. The bill defines specific rules for qualifying investments, including restrictions on refinancing prior investments and limits on total funding per business ($6.5 million or 20% of the fund's capital). The tax credit program applies to capital investments certified after the bill's effective date.
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.
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 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.
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.
HB 1205 repeals Oklahoma's tax credit for small wind turbine installations by removing Section 2357.32B from the state's tax code. This change directly affects small wind turbine owners and installers who previously qualified for the credit. The repeal takes effect on November 1, 2025, eliminating the tax incentive for new installations after that date. The bill is procedural and does not create new policy, only removing an existing tax provision.
SB 301 modifies Oklahoma's tax credit system for donations to biomedical and cancer research institutes. It reduces annual credit limits to $1.5 million for biomedical research donations and $500,000 for cancer research donations starting in 2026, down from $2 million previously. Donors to qualifying institutes (which must receive $20 million annually in NIH funding for biomedical or $4 million for cancer research) will face new caps: $25,000 for business donors to biomedical institutes, and $1,000-$2,000 for individual filers depending on filing status. The bill adjusts how credit percentages are calculated using the second preceding year's claims and ensures credits cannot exceed tax liability.
HB 1372 temporarily lowers the gross production tax rate for oil and gas from existing wells (spudded before the law's effective date) to 5% for 36 months, instead of the standard 7%. It also creates two new tax exemptions: 1) 5 years of tax-free production for secondary/tertiary recovery projects approved after July 2022, and 2) a 24-month tax exemption for wells using recycled water (proportional to recycled water usage). For orphaned wells, producers must post a $25,000 surety bond per well to qualify for a 50% tax reduction for 36 months. The bill sets annual refund limits of $15 million for recovery projects and $10 million for recycled water exemptions, requiring producers to apply for refunds through the Tax Commission.
