SB 1696 creates the Oklahoma Talent Attraction and Relocation Revolving Fund in the state treasury to support a new program administered by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. It provides grants to cities, counties, or qualifying nonprofits to recruit high-income households (earning at least $55,000 annually) relocating to Oklahoma from outside the state, with a maximum grant of $250,000 per municipality per year. Grants are disbursed in two installments: 50% upfront and 50% after verifying at least half of the targeted household relocations. Recipients must submit semiannual reports on relocation numbers, economic impact, and grant usage, and repay funds if goals aren't met or if funds are misused. The program takes effect November 1, 2026.
This bill helps Oklahoma homeowners displaced by turnpike construction by matching their new property tax burden to what they paid on their previous home. For the first three tax years after moving, eligible homeowners get an extra tax exemption equal to the difference between their old home's tax bill and their new home's tax bill. It applies specifically to those who owned a home purchased by the state's Department of Transportation for a turnpike project and now claim a new homestead exemption. The exemption begins for tax year 2027 and lasts three years.
SB 680 modifies Oklahoma's definition of "cigarette" to explicitly include heated tobacco products, expanding the scope of existing tax regulations. The bill provides a tax exemption for these products and requires the Oklahoma Tax Commission to establish rules for compliance. This directly affects manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of heated tobacco products by changing how they are classified under cigarette tax laws. The bill updates statutory definitions and references to align with this new exemption, ensuring heated tobacco products are treated consistently under the tax code.
SB 1193 removes restrictions on how much money Oklahoma school districts can carry over from one year's general fund to the next and eliminates penalties for exceeding previous carryover limits. It also removes a rule that previously blocked districts with per-pupil revenue over 300% of the average from receiving state aid. The bill updates the state's school funding formula to reflect these changes, allowing districts more flexibility with their budgets. This directly affects all Oklahoma public school districts by changing how their state aid is calculated and distributed.
SB 1339 establishes a tiered minimum salary schedule for certified school personnel (like teachers) in Oklahoma public schools, based on years of experience and education level. It requires the State Board of Education to allocate state funds annually to school districts to implement these salary increases starting with the 2025-2026 school year. The bill directly affects all Oklahoma public school districts and their certified staff by mandating specific pay thresholds. The schedule includes detailed pay rates for different experience levels and degrees, with provisions for fringe benefits and out-of-state certification recognition.
SB 1395 modifies Oklahoma's new jobs tax credit program for manufacturers. The bill restricts the credit to specific tax years and changes how unused credits can be carried forward to future years. Manufacturers must now submit an application and receive approval before claiming the credit. These changes update the program's eligibility and administrative requirements.
HB 1427 creates tax credits for Oklahoma taxpayers who invest in qualifying clean-burning motor vehicle fuel equipment. It directly affects vehicle owners and businesses that install or purchase equipment allowing vehicles to run on compressed natural gas, hydrogen, liquefied natural gas, or liquefied petroleum gas. The bill provides tiered credits: up to $5,500 for light vehicles (under 6,000 lbs), up to $100,000 for heavy trucks (over 26,500 lbs), and 45% of costs for commercial refueling stations. Credits are limited to new, certified equipment meeting safety standards and must be claimed against state income tax. Unused credits can be carried forward for up to five years.
SB 1471 authorizes Oklahoma cities and towns to levy targeted fees on retail delivery, single-use products, and plastic containers to fund solid waste management. These fees must be narrowly tailored to actual waste generation costs and can be charged per transaction or delivery. Revenue from these fees is restricted to specific waste management uses, including collection, recycling, litter cleanup, public education, and reducing environmental harm from waste. The bill also modifies plastic container labeling rules to clarify that local governments cannot broadly restrict plastic use, but may implement narrowly focused waste-reduction fees.
SB 1125 authorizes Oklahoma counties and municipalities to levy an excise tax on medical marijuana sales, but only after voter approval via special election or initiative petition (requiring 5% of registered voters' signatures). The tax must be approved by a majority vote, cannot be re-proposed within six months if rejected, and applies only to sales within the local jurisdiction. Funds must be dedicated to specific purposes like public safety (not redirectable without new voter approval), and counties must create revolving funds for these designated uses. The bill also states that if recreational marijuana is legalized, the same tax rules would automatically apply to it.
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to Oklahoma that limits how much money the state must return to local governments when they lose tax revenue due to property tax exemptions for new manufacturing facilities. The amendment would cap reimbursement to counties, cities, schools, and other taxing jurisdictions at the amount of tax revenue they collected before the new or expanded manufacturing facility was built. It also allows counties to keep up to 25% of increased tax revenue after the five-year exemption period ends, provided they use it for economic development. The bill requires a special election on August 25, 2026, where Oklahoma voters will decide whether to approve or reject this change to the state constitution.
