SB 324 creates the Oklahoma Research and Development Rebate Fund to provide businesses with a 5% reimbursement for qualified research expenses incurred within the state. Eligible businesses must submit applications demonstrating research activities occurred in Oklahoma and have filed all required state tax returns. The program, administered by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, reimburses up to $20 million annually, with payments prorated if demand exceeds available funds. This directly affects businesses conducting research in Oklahoma that claim expenses on federal Form 6765.
HB 2260 creates tax credits for Oklahoma civil engineering employers and employees to encourage hiring and retention. Employers can claim credits for 50% of tuition reimbursed to new hires (first 4 years) or 5-10% of compensation paid (first 5 years), capped at $12,500 annually per employee. Employees may claim up to $5,000 yearly in tax credits for 5 years, based on their degree location (in-state vs. out-of-state). The credits apply to qualified employees with ABET-accredited degrees or Professional Engineer licenses, employed by eligible engineering firms starting January 1, 2026, through 2030. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025, with all credits expiring after 2030.
HB 2374 creates a film production rebate program in Oklahoma for productions meeting specific filming requirements. It provides rebates to eligible film and television productions that film at least 75% of a season or pilot within the state, based on qualifying local spending like wages for Oklahoma residents or crew. The program, administered by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and Tax Commission, requires applicants to verify payments to local crew, vendors, and tax compliance. Productions must submit annual reports detailing rebate payments to legislative committees. The bill directly affects film studios, production companies, and local crew members who qualify under its spending and filming criteria.
SB 687 creates a rebate program for businesses purchasing equipment to expand broadband services in underserved or unserved areas of Oklahoma. It directs the Oklahoma Broadband Office and Tax Commission to administer the program, requiring equipment to directly enable broadband expansion (not operational costs) and limiting rebates to $42 million total - $31.5 million reserved for low-population-density counties. The Oklahoma Broadband Rebate Revolving Fund will pay approved claims, with payments calculated based on total eligible claims versus available funds. Providers must file claims by specified deadlines, and annual reports will track broadband project impacts without disclosing individual company names.
HB 2785 requires Oklahoma's Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) to implement stricter budget oversight for the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. It mandates OMES to review agency budgets against actual spending before releasing funds, prohibit contracts without clear cost limits, restrict multi-year contract encumbrances to current-year funds, and block payments for unapproved expenses. The bill also requires OMES to report monthly revenue and spending status to the Governor, legislature leadership, and relevant committees. This directly affects state budget management for mental health services by adding specific financial controls to prevent overspending. The law takes immediate effect due to an emergency declaration.
HB 2766 is the Oklahoma state budget bill for fiscal year 2026, allocating over $1.65 billion from the General Revenue Fund to support public schools. It directs specific funding for teacher salaries, textbooks, health benefits for staff, school administration, and the School Consolidation Assistance Fund, drawing from multiple sources including the Education Lottery Trust Fund and Mineral Leasing Fund. The bill was enacted without the Governor's signature on May 29, 2025, and directly affects all Oklahoma public schools and their students through these state-funded resources.
HB 2790 appropriates $10 million from Oklahoma's Statewide Recovery Fund to the Office of Juvenile Affairs for pandemic-related programs. It creates special accounts for these funds with no annual spending limits, requiring all use to align with recommendations from the Joint Committee on Pandemic Relief Funding and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The bill limits administrative costs to 2% of funds and mandates quarterly reports to the Joint Committee on Pandemic Relief Funding detailing budgeting, spending, and third-party contracts. It directly affects the Office of Juvenile Affairs' management of these pandemic relief funds.
SB 1150 appropriates $100,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation for fiscal year 2026 to cover existing legal duties of the department. The bill directly affects the Department of Transportation by providing funding for its ongoing operations. It declares an emergency to take effect immediately upon enactment, bypassing the normal legislative timeline. The bill became law on May 29, 2025, without the Governor's signature.
SB 1141 allocates $100,000 from unallocated state general revenue funds to Oklahoma's Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services for its existing statutory duties. The bill requires these specific funds to be used for mental health services without creating new programs or altering current service requirements. An emergency clause makes the law effective immediately upon passage, bypassing the typical governor's signature requirement. The bill became law on May 29, 2025, after being passed without gubernatorial action.
SB 1143 appropriates $100,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Office of Management and Enterprise Services for the State Election Board's voting system maintenance. It creates a "State Election Board Voting System Revolving Fund" to cover costs related to election systems, with funds replenished through future appropriations. This bill directly affects Oklahoma's election administration by providing dedicated funding for maintaining voting technology, effective immediately upon becoming law on May 29, 2025.
