SB 237 requires the Commissioners of the Land Office to make payments to certain counties instead of collecting ad valorem taxes from them. This change directly affects counties that currently receive tax revenue from state-owned lands and the state agency responsible for managing those lands. The bill establishes a new payment mechanism to replace the existing tax collection process, ensuring counties receive their share of land-related revenue. The legislation is currently in the early stages of review by the Appropriations and Budget committee.
HB 4432 amends Oklahoma's tax code to eliminate a limitation on itemizing wagering income for tax purposes and updates statutory references throughout the Oklahoma Revenue and Taxation Act. It specifically adjusts how businesses calculate Oklahoma taxable income, particularly regarding federal net operating loss deductions and the allocation of income from property or business activities. The bill clarifies that Oklahoma net operating losses must be separately determined using federal rules but without requiring a federal loss, and it updates rules for allocating income from intangible property and certain business activities. This is a procedural update to the tax code, not a new tax or policy change, and it affects businesses and individuals filing Oklahoma income taxes. The bill was introduced in 2026 but has not advanced beyond committee referral.
SB 1546 renames Oklahoma's teacher scholarship program to the NEXT-ED Program and increases scholarship amounts for students pursuing teaching degrees. The bill provides up to $2,000 per year for the first three years (for students with fewer than 90 credits) and up to $5,000 for the final year (for students with 90+ credits), with a total maximum of $11,000 per student. To qualify, students must commit to teaching in Oklahoma public schools for five years after graduation and maintain a 2.5 GPA. Participants who fulfill this teaching commitment may also receive up to $20,000 in total through annual employment incentive payments of up to $4,000 per year.
HB 1590 establishes the "Oklahoma Education Infrastructure Linked Deposit Program" to provide reduced-rate loans for school infrastructure projects. It directly affects charter schools and nonprofit education service entities by enabling them to access funding for constructing, expanding, or repairing buildings and integrated systems like HVAC. The program works by having the State Treasurer place state funds (as certificates of deposit) with eligible banks, which then offer these low-cost loans to qualifying schools, requiring borrowers to certify funds will be used solely for infrastructure. The State Treasurer and Board review applications, with banks applying standard credit checks and prioritizing schools based on local educational needs.
SB 137 creates the "Oklahoma State Penitentiary Prison Rodeo Revolving Fund" to finance improvements to the prison rodeo arena at Oklahoma State Penitentiary. It appropriates $8.3 million from the General Revenue Fund for facility construction, repair, and upgrades to support prison rehabilitation programs and local economic development. The fund, managed by the Department of Corrections, will cover costs for the arena's maintenance and programming. This bill directly affects the Oklahoma Department of Corrections and the operations of the prison rodeo program at Oklahoma State Penitentiary.
HB 3705 increases Oklahoma's Parental Choice Tax Credit Program, allowing taxpayers to claim credits for education expenses of eligible students. The bill raises the maximum annual credit for private school tuition to $7,500 (or actual tuition, whichever is lower) for families earning under $75,000, with tiered reductions up to $5,000 for households earning over $250,000. It also creates special credit tiers for students experiencing homelessness ($7,500) and those at financially disadvantaged private schools (maximum credit based on average school costs). Qualified expenses include tuition, tutoring, textbooks, and standardized test fees, but exclude scholarship-funded amounts. This directly affects Oklahoma families choosing private education or approved alternative learning programs.
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.
HB 3704 directs Oklahoma to participate in a federal income tax credit program allowing individuals to claim a credit for donations to scholarship granting organizations (SGOs). The bill requires the Governor to certify Oklahoma's participation to the U.S. Treasury and designates the Oklahoma Tax Commission to register SGOs, maintain their lists, and handle federal reporting. This enables Oklahoma taxpayers to claim the federal credit for qualifying donations, while coordinating with Oklahoma's existing state tax credit for SGO contributions. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and remains in place until changed by law or federal policy.
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to create a five-year property tax exemption for new or expanded manufacturing facilities in Oklahoma, aiming to encourage businesses to locate or grow within the state. The exemption applies to qualifying manufacturing concerns that are new to the state or relocating, and it specifically covers expansions of existing facilities. To prevent financial harm to other local governments, the bill requires the Legislature to establish reimbursement systems for schools, counties, cities, and other entities that lose revenue due to the tax exemption, and it ensures these reimbursement amounts count toward debt limits for local governments. After the five-year exemption period ends, counties may retain up to 25% of the new property taxes generated from previously exempted facilities to fund additional economic development and job creation.
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.
