HB 3463 requires Oklahoma cities and towns with $50,000+ annual revenue (excluding federal grants and certain utility trust income) to conduct annual financial audits or a simplified biennial review. Smaller municipalities (under 2,500 residents) may opt for the biennial review instead of full audits. If they miss filing deadlines, the state withholds their monthly gasoline tax payments until compliance, with unfiled funds transferred to a special audit fund after two years. The bill applies directly to local governments managing significant public funds.
HB 3024 establishes a 10% annual cap on salary increases and bonuses for most state employees in executive branch agencies, requiring cabinet secretary approval for any increase exceeding this limit. It mandates that agencies set performance metrics for bonus eligibility and document salary adjustments above 10% due to role changes or performance reviews. The bill excludes executive directors, positions requiring advanced degrees or state licenses (like doctors and engineers), and employees of higher education systems or school districts from these limits. These provisions take effect July 1, 2026, with the Office of Management and Enterprise Services overseeing implementation.
This proposed constitutional amendment (HJR 1046) would add a 100% property tax exemption for primary residences in Oklahoma damaged or destroyed by qualifying weather events (like tornadoes, hail, or high winds). It directly affects homeowners whose primary residence becomes uninhabitable due to such events, exempting the full assessed value of the property from ad valorem taxes during the tax year of damage (or the following year if damage occurs after June). The exemption applies only to properties deemed "uninhabitable" and unable to be safely occupied for residential use. This amendment requires voter approval through a legislative referendum before taking effect.
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment (HJR 1081) that would eliminate the income requirement for Oklahoma seniors to qualify for a property tax limit on their homesteads. Currently, seniors aged 65+ must meet an income threshold based on HUD median income for their area; this amendment removes that requirement while keeping the age, 7-year occupancy, and $700,000 property value cap. It would apply only to homesteads valued at $700,000 or less, with the tax limit frozen at the value when the owner turned 65 (or January 1, 1997, for those already eligible before 1997). The change requires voter approval via a ballot measure.
HB 2967 amends Oklahoma's motor vehicle excise tax rules, affecting vehicle owners during transfers of ownership or first registration. It sets a 4.5% tax on off-road all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles, and utility vehicles (with a $5 minimum), and establishes tiered rates for used vehicles based on value and registration year. The bill also creates a $10 tax for heavy trucks, trailers, and frac tanks used for highway cargo, while exempting pickup trucks and commercial vehicles from this tax in lieu of sales/use taxes. Additionally, it allows a credit for excise tax paid on new vehicles replaced due to theft or defects within specific timeframes.
HB 4280 increases annual funding for Oklahoma's Rebuilding Oklahoma Access and Driver Safety Fund (ROADS Fund) to support road and bridge construction and maintenance. It sets specific annual funding levels: $575 million for fiscal year 2021, $590 million for 2022, $610 million for 2025, and $670 million starting in 2026. The bill requires the Department of Transportation to use these funds first for debt payments on highway obligations, then for road/bridge construction, maintenance, and matching federal funds. The legislation directly affects Oklahoma's highway infrastructure and the DOT's budget allocation process, with funding adjustments triggered by revenue shortfalls.
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.
HB 2952 changes how Oklahoma calculates the tax on new vehicle purchases by requiring the motor vehicle excise tax to be based on the sales price minus any trade-in value. This directly affects vehicle buyers who use trade-ins, as the adjusted price (after subtracting trade-in credits) must now appear on the bill of sale. The bill mandates that sellers document this reduced value on the bill of sale or a prescribed form, rather than using the full sales price. It takes effect on July 1, 2026.
HB 3314 allows Oklahoma counties to impose a local tax of up to 15% on retail marijuana sales (not personal cultivation) after voter approval. Counties must hold a special election or use an initiative petition (requiring 5% of registered voters' signatures) to approve the tax, with results requiring a majority vote. Funds collected must be used exclusively for public safety (sheriffs, police, fire departments) and property improvements, and counties must specify the tax's purpose and duration to voters. The Oklahoma Tax Commission will handle tax collection for a 0.5% fee, and counties must provide 60 days' notice before rate changes. The bill takes effect November 1, 2026.
HB 2973 requires all Oklahoma public school districts to report how they spend state-appropriated funds using a specific data code in the Oklahoma Cost Accounting System, starting with the 2026-2027 school year. This applies only to state funds, not other funding sources, and the State Board of Education must establish the required data code. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and was declared an emergency to allow immediate implementation. It directly affects school districts by mandating a new reporting structure for state education funding.
