SB 244 establishes the Program of American Civic Thought and Leadership at the University of Oklahoma (OU). It creates a new academic program focused on teaching American political principles, leadership, civic engagement, and foundational texts of U.S. history and government through courses for students. The program will hire faculty, develop new majors/minors, and offer courses including an upcoming requirement for all OU students to complete a civic knowledge course. It requires annual strategic plans and reports to state leadership, with initial courses launching in fall 2027. The program will operate independently on OU's Norman campus, funded by state appropriations and donations.
This bill requires owners of commercial solar energy facilities in Oklahoma to pay annual property taxes on their solar installations by December 31 each year. It directly affects commercial solar facility owners, who previously may have been exempt from such taxes. The key provision mandates that taxes and other assessments be paid to the county treasurer annually, aligning commercial solar facilities with standard property tax rules. This changes the tax treatment for commercial solar projects, making them subject to local property tax requirements effective immediately.
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.
SB 50 exempts the purchase of gun safes and gun safety devices from Oklahoma's sales tax. This change directly affects consumers who buy these items for personal use, as they will no longer pay state sales tax on these purchases. The bill amends Oklahoma's sales tax code (Section 1357) to add gun safes and safety devices to the list of tax-exempt items, aligning with existing exemptions for other safety equipment. The law took effect on May 29, 2025, after becoming law without the governor's signature.
HB 2768 increases the maximum investment cap for Oklahoma's Quality Jobs tax incentive program from $250 million to $700 million. It applies to existing manufacturing companies (SIC code 3011) already participating in the program that seek to expand facilities, requiring them to file a new application before certain tax payments are due. Companies must complete $700 million in facility modernization within five years (with a possible one-year extension if 80% is done by year five) to qualify for additional tax incentives. This change allows larger businesses to claim more tax benefits for qualifying investments under the program.
HB 2764 establishes a framework for determining when Oklahoma can reduce income tax rates based on state revenue levels. It requires the State Board of Equalization to annually certify five-year average revenue amounts from oil, natural gas, and corporate income taxes. If projected revenue exceeds these averages, specific portions (100% for oil/gas, 25% to a reserve fund and 75% to a stabilization fund for corporate tax) must be deposited into state funds. This bill directly affects Oklahoma taxpayers paying these specific taxes and sets the revenue thresholds that would trigger future income tax rate reductions. The law was approved by the Governor on May 28, 2025.
HB 2781, the Reindustrialize Oklahoma Act of 2025 (ROA-25), creates a new economic development program offering rebates to qualifying manufacturing businesses. It requires applicants to commit to $2 billion in capital investments and create at least 700 new jobs in the first year (rising to 1,000+ annually), targeting businesses in manufacturing sectors (NAICS 31-33). The Oklahoma Department of Commerce administers the program, disbursing rebates from a dedicated fund (ROA-25 Beneficiary Revolving Fund) after verifying job creation and capital spending. The bill prohibits recipients from also claiming other state incentives like the Quality Jobs Program for the same project. The act was approved by the Governor on May 28, 2025.
SB 684 modifies Oklahoma's Parental Choice Tax Credit Act by increasing the annual credit limit to $7,500 for eligible taxpayers claiming credits for private school tuition and related education expenses. It changes the tax years for which the credit limit applies and requires the Oklahoma Tax Commission to maintain a publicly accessible, searchable online list of all taxpayers claiming the credit, including their names, credit amounts, and the specific law authorizing the credit. This bill directly affects Oklahoma taxpayers claiming the education credit and participating private schools, which must provide information to the Tax Commission. The law also specifies that qualified expenses include tuition at accredited private schools or certain educational services like tutoring and materials. The changes take effect immediately upon the bill's approval.
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.)
