SB 38 modifies Oklahoma's sales tax revenue allocation to provide a fixed annual amount for the Oklahoma Historical Society. It specifies that starting in fiscal year 2026, 0.06% of sales tax revenue will be directed to the Historical Society's Capital Improvement and Operations Revolving Fund, capped at $1,880,553.25 annually. This change directly affects the Historical Society's funding, replacing the previous cap based on 2015 apportionment amounts. The bill does not alter other tax revenue allocations for education, tourism, or general funds.
SB 228 proposes creating "covenant marriage" in Oklahoma as a distinct legal option, requiring couples to sign a detailed Declaration of Intent affirming lifelong commitment, complete premarital counseling, and file this document with their marriage license application. It establishes stricter divorce rules, allowing dissolution only for abandonment, abuse, or adultery after mandatory counseling (except in abuse cases), and permits conversion of existing marriages to covenant marriages through similar steps. The bill also creates an annual tax credit of $2,500 for joint filers or $1,250 each for separate filers for couples entering covenant marriage, non-refundable but carry-forwardable for five years. The bill, introduced in 2025 but failed in committee, has not become law.
SB 736 creates the "Health Care Sharing Ministry Tax Parity Act," allowing Oklahoma residents who are active members of qualifying health care sharing ministries (HCSMs) to deduct their contributions from their state income tax starting in 2026. It directly affects Oklahoma residents who have been active HCSM members for at least one month during the tax year, treating their contributions like health insurance premiums for tax purposes. The bill requires the Oklahoma Tax Commission to develop forms for claiming the deduction, prohibits taxing reimbursements from HCSMs, and mandates annual reporting on the program's impact.
SB 47 modifies Oklahoma's annual license fee for coin-operated music and amusement devices, reducing the fee from $75 to $37.50 per machine. It directly affects businesses operating these devices, such as arcades or music machines, by lowering their annual licensing cost. The bill also updates fee structures for other coin-operated devices (like vending machines), clarifies billing for bulk vending devices, and makes statutory language gender-neutral. It specifies that these fees replace applicable sales taxes, and includes provisions for seasonal events like fairs. The changes take effect January 1, 2026.
SB 689 modifies Oklahoma's property tax exemption for qualifying manufacturing facilities by adjusting the minimum investment threshold for eligibility to $500,000 (adjusted annually for inflation via the Consumer Price Index) and adding a new wage requirement. Facilities seeking exemption must now pay new employees an average annual wage meeting Oklahoma Quality Jobs Program standards for the year the property was placed in service. This bill directly affects manufacturing facilities, including those in aircraft repair, computer services, distribution centers, and custom order manufacturing, by changing how they qualify for a five-year property tax exemption. It updates definitions, clarifies payroll requirements, and requires annual publication of the adjusted investment threshold by the Oklahoma Tax Commission.
