SB 2084 caps settlement amounts for wrongful termination claims by employees of Oklahoma public institutions of higher education (like state universities) at two years of their base salary at termination. It limits total settlements to include back pay and damages but excludes accrued unpaid wages, leave, and retirement contributions already earned. The bill specifically applies to state law claims, not federal ones, and takes effect November 1, 2026. This directly affects public university employees filing termination disputes under Oklahoma law.
HB 4408 requires the Oklahoma Department of Corrections and the Administrator of the Courts to submit annual data by July 31st on offenders convicted only of crimes reclassified under State Question 780 (which reduced penalties for certain low-level offenses). This data includes unique offenders, days served, and sentence lengths for offenses now classified as misdemeanors or with adjusted dollar thresholds. The Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency must then calculate the state's annual savings from reduced incarceration costs within 30 days, using actual data or best estimates if needed. The final calculation is binding and cannot be revised later, with the bill taking effect November 1, 2026.
HB 2115 transfers administration of Oklahoma's Energy Conservation Assistance Fund from the Department of Commerce to the Department of Human Services. It provides grants of up to $3,000 for weatherization work (like insulation, storm windows, and structural repairs) to low-income elderly and handicapped homeowners who meet income guidelines (125% of federal poverty level). The bill requires an energy audit before grants are issued, prioritizes applicants with greatest need, and establishes a revolving fund for ongoing program funding. This directly affects qualifying homeowners seeking energy efficiency improvements to their primary residences.
HB 3590, the Oklahoma Opportunity Scholarship Act of 2026, expands tax credits for Oklahoma taxpayers who contribute to scholarship-granting organizations. It increases the maximum annual tax credit: to $5,000 for single filers (up from $1,000), $10,000 for married couples filing jointly (up from $2,000), and $250,000 for businesses (up from $100,000). Taxpayers who commit to contribute the same amount for two consecutive years qualify for a 100% credit (up from 75%) on those contributions. The bill affects Oklahoma taxpayers making eligible contributions and requires scholarship organizations to submit annual financial reports to the Oklahoma Tax Commission. It takes effect January 1, 2027.
SB 1826 removes the expiration date for Oklahoma's Enterprise Zone incentive program, making the tax credits and matching payments permanent. It directly affects businesses locating or expanding within designated enterprise zones and local governments approving projects in those areas. Key provisions include setting a $200,000 annual cap on state payments per business, establishing county-specific investment limits ($20-40 million), and requiring local governments to prove projects will generate at least $1 million in payroll or $5 million in investment. The bill also clarifies eligibility for tourism projects and restricts retail development (except for healthy food stores in low-access areas). This update maintains existing incentive structures while eliminating the program’s automatic termination.
SB 1403 modifies Oklahoma's Quality Jobs Incentive Program by extending eligibility periods and adjusting wage requirements. It extends incentive contracts from 15 to 30 years for businesses in the entertainment industry (NAICS 711211) without additional funds, while lowering the required annual payroll for manufacturing businesses (NAICS 3111-3119) from $2.5 million to $1.5 million. The bill also adds special provisions for businesses operating on contaminated Superfund sites, allowing them to qualify for incentives if they meet environmental remediation requirements and generate 50% of Oklahoma taxable income at the site. These changes directly affect new businesses seeking state tax incentives for job creation and payroll growth.
SB 1142 allocates $100,000 from unallocated state funds to Oklahoma's Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The funding is intended to support the department's existing duties, including providing mental health and substance abuse services to Oklahomans. The bill declares an emergency to allow immediate implementation upon approval, bypassing standard legislative timelines. This is a procedural funding measure, not a policy change, and remains pending before the Appropriations Committee.
Oklahoma's SJR 39 proposes a constitutional amendment to reduce limits on annual increases in property tax assessments. It would lower the maximum annual growth rate for most real property from 5% to 3% (for tax years 2027 onward) and further reduce limits for homestead properties (primary residences) and agricultural land from 3% to 1%. The amendment applies to locally assessed real property, excluding personal property and properties with recent transfers or improvements. If approved by voters, these changes would take effect for tax years beginning in 2027.
This Oklahoma House Concurrent Resolution expresses support for eliminating the United States Department of Education and urges the U.S. Congress to cooperate with that goal. The document argues that education is a state responsibility under the Tenth Amendment and claims that federal involvement has led to excessive regulations and poor student outcomes in Oklahoma. It highlights concerns about declining national reading scores and asserts that local control would better address educational needs. The resolution does not change any laws or policies within Oklahoma but serves as a formal statement of legislative sentiment regarding federal education policy.
Oklahoma Senate Bill 227 modifies tax exemptions for oil and gas producers by limiting eligibility for gross production tax refunds to specific years (2005-2013 and 2022-2024). It caps annual refunds at $12.5 million for 2015-2016 and $10 million for 2022-2024, requiring producers to qualify as "economically at-risk" leases based on production volume and profitability thresholds. Producers must submit documentation to the Oklahoma Tax Commission to claim refunds for prior-year production, with claims due by the bill’s effective date for 2024. The bill directly affects oil/gas operators seeking refunds on past production under these revised rules.
