Budget & Taxes

HB 2169 increases fees for money transmission businesses (like Western Union or MoneyGram) operating in Oklahoma. It requires a $5-$10 fee per transaction under $500, plus 1-2% on amounts over $500, with quarterly payments to the Oklahoma Tax Commission. The fees fund a Drug Money Laundering Revolving Fund, and businesses must notify customers they can claim a tax credit for the fee when filing income taxes. The law takes effect November 1, 2025, and includes enforcement measures like license suspensions for non-compliance.

HB 1280 (2025) requires Oklahoma school districts to spend at least 50% of their annual budget on classroom instruction starting in 2025-2026. If a district falls below this threshold, it must increase instructional spending by 2% annually until reaching 50%, or face a written warning and, after four years of non-compliance, a permanent 2% annual teacher pay raise for each year missed. The bill defines "annual budget" to exclude bond sales, fundraisers, and non-educational grants, and "instructional expenditures" per federal standards. The bill failed to pass (36-57) on March 27, 2025, so it is not law.