Rep. Jim Shaw

Maddy summaryHB 1454 increases fees for money transfer businesses (like Western Union) in Oklahoma. It requires a $10 fee per transaction under $500, plus 2% of amounts over $500, with fees paid quarterly to the Oklahoma Tax Commission. The revenue funds the Drug Money Laundering and Wire Transmitter Revolving Fund, and businesses must inform customers they can claim a tax credit for the fee paid. Non-compliance risks license suspension, enforced by the Tax Commission with support from the State Bureau of Narcotics. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1451 establishes new setback requirements for utility-scale solar farms and modifies existing rules for wind energy facilities in Oklahoma. Solar farms must maintain at least 1.5 nautical miles from airports, schools, hospitals, and 3 nautical miles from nonparticipating property lines, while wind facilities face similar distance rules plus military airspace protections. Developers must attest to compliance in reports filed with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, and disputes over setbacks fall under district court jurisdiction. Violations for wind projects affecting military airspace could trigger daily penalties up to $1,500, with enforcement handled through administrative courts. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1453 prohibits specific foreign governments and entities (designated under U.S. regulations or as "Entities of Particular Concern") from owning agricultural land or real property in Oklahoma. It requires these prohibited foreign parties to sell any existing property within one year or face legal action by the Attorney General, which could lead to judicial sale. The law defines "agricultural land" as land used for farming, ranching, or timber production (excluding mineral rights and small plots under $1,000 annual income), and exempts resident aliens and certain other entities. Violations may result in fines and court-ordered property sales, with the Attorney General enforcing these requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1452 imposes a tax on private owners of clean energy facilities (like wind, solar, and geothermal power plants) equal to the federal production tax credit they could have claimed. This tax applies regardless of whether the facility owner actually used the federal credit, and it directly affects private clean energy producers (excluding government entities, which are exempt). Owners must report and pay the tax monthly by the 15th, with revenue directed to the state’s General Revenue Fund. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025, and is designed to generate state revenue by recapturing potential federal subsidy benefits.