This Oklahoma bill changes how lodging tax is calculated by excluding free rooms (comped) and discounted rooms where hotels receive no payment from taxable income. It applies to all counties and cities collecting lodging tax under existing law. Hotels will no longer owe tax on rooms provided at no cost to customers or employees, or discounted rooms without third-party reimbursement. The change takes effect January 1, 2026.
This bill modifies the definition of "basic industry" for Oklahoma's Quality Jobs Program, specifically addressing the relationship between employers and leased or contracted employees. It amends Section 3603 of the Oklahoma Statutes to clarify how certain leased or contracted workers are counted toward program eligibility. The change affects businesses seeking tax incentives under the program by establishing clearer criteria for including leased or contracted employees in job-count calculations. The bill was enacted without the Governor's signature on May 12, 2025. (Note: The provided bill text excerpt focuses on industry classifications but does not explicitly show the modified employee relationship definition; the summary reflects the bill's stated purpose based on its title and context.)
SB 301 modifies Oklahoma's tax credit system for donations to biomedical and cancer research institutes. It reduces annual credit limits to $1.5 million for biomedical research donations and $500,000 for cancer research donations starting in 2026, down from $2 million previously. Donors to qualifying institutes (which must receive $20 million annually in NIH funding for biomedical or $4 million for cancer research) will face new caps: $25,000 for business donors to biomedical institutes, and $1,000-$2,000 for individual filers depending on filing status. The bill adjusts how credit percentages are calculated using the second preceding year's claims and ensures credits cannot exceed tax liability.
HB 2087 modifies Oklahoma's income tax credit for donations to qualified research institutes. It adjusts annual funding caps: for biomedical research institutes, the limit drops from $2 million to $1.5 million per year starting in 2026, while cancer research institute credits are capped at $500,000 annually. The credit percentage for each donation type is recalculated yearly based on prior-year claims, using specific formulas to stay within these new limits. Taxpayers donating to qualifying nonprofit biomedical or cancer research institutes (defined by NIH funding requirements) can claim the credit, with individual limits of $1,000-$25,000 depending on filing status or business type.
HB 1201 creates a 70% tax credit for Oklahoma taxpayers who donate to certified pregnancy resource centers, capping the credit at $50,000 per donor annually. To qualify, centers must provide free, non-abortion services (like prenatal care and counseling) without performing or referring for abortions, and must be certified by the state health director. The total annual tax credits for all donors are capped at $5 million, with annual adjustments to prevent exceeding this limit. The credit applies to donations of $100 or more and takes effect January 1, 2026.
HB 2590 requires Oklahoma's Office of Management and Enterprise Services to create a standardized form for state agencies evaluating vendors managing federal funds. This form must include specific vendor details like legal name, incorporation jurisdiction, principal officers' names, prior federal fund management experience, recent financial audits, and pending lawsuits. It directly affects state agencies contracting with external vendors for federal fund management. The bill mandates this form be used starting July 1, 2025, to standardize vendor vetting processes.
HB 1220 prohibits Oklahoma cities and towns from imposing franchise fees or sales/use taxes on specific revenue streams used by utilities to repay private financing. It directly affects electric cooperatives and other utilities that used private financing under the February 2021 Utility Consumer Protection Acts to avoid immediate cost burdens on customers. The bill defines "securitization revenue streams" as rates and charges solely for repaying such private loans, and bans local taxes on these streams for bonds issued by the Oklahoma Development Finance Authority under those acts. This prevents municipalities from taxing revenue dedicated to repaying utility loans structured to protect consumers from upfront costs.
SB 304 modifies Oklahoma's individual income tax structure for the 2024 tax year. It establishes new tax brackets with lower rates (0.25% to 4.75% for single filers, 0.25% to 4.75% for married couples filing jointly) compared to prior years, replacing older rates. The bill also limits certain personal exemptions to specific tax years and adjusts standard deduction amounts. These changes directly affect all Oklahoma residents filing individual income tax returns for 2024. The bill updates statutory references and language but does not create new taxes.
HB 1203, the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Act, would allow Oklahoma's State Treasurer to invest up to 10% of specific state funds (General Fund, Revenue Stabilization Fund, and Constitutional Reserve Fund) in Bitcoin or digital assets with a $500 billion+ market cap, plus approved stablecoins. The bill requires all digital assets to be held through secure custody solutions meeting strict security standards, including multi-party governance and encrypted storage in geographically diverse facilities. It also mandates that taxes paid in Bitcoin be converted to U.S. currency and transferred to the State General Fund, and permits state retirement funds to hold digital assets under similar secure custody rules. The act applies directly to state treasury operations, retirement funds, and tax collection processes. The bill was introduced in 2025 but failed in committee in April 2025.
HB 1539 lowers Oklahoma's individual income tax rates for the 2024 tax year. It reduces the top tax rate from 5.50% to 4.75% for most filers, with new brackets starting at 0.25% on the first $1,000 of income (e.g., 0.75% on the next $1,500 for single filers). The bill affects all Oklahoma residents and nonresidents who file individual income tax returns, applying to taxable income earned in 2024. The change eliminates the previous tiered top rate structure and requires no deduction for federal income taxes paid.
