HB 1278 creates the Barbara Weber ALS Grant Program within Oklahoma's State Department of Health to provide funding for ALS research and support services for Oklahomans diagnosed with ALS or their caregivers. It establishes a renewable revolving fund in the state treasury, initially funded with $1 million from the General Revenue Fund, to sustain program operations without annual budget constraints. The program requires the State Department of Health to submit annual reports detailing grant recipients, amounts awarded, and fund usage to state legislative leaders. The law became effective July 1, 2025, after passing without the Governor's signature on May 12, 2025.
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 1372 temporarily lowers the gross production tax rate for oil and gas from existing wells (spudded before the law's effective date) to 5% for 36 months, instead of the standard 7%. It also creates two new tax exemptions: 1) 5 years of tax-free production for secondary/tertiary recovery projects approved after July 2022, and 2) a 24-month tax exemption for wells using recycled water (proportional to recycled water usage). For orphaned wells, producers must post a $25,000 surety bond per well to qualify for a 50% tax reduction for 36 months. The bill sets annual refund limits of $15 million for recovery projects and $10 million for recycled water exemptions, requiring producers to apply for refunds through the Tax Commission.
SB 582 requires Oklahoma state agencies collecting revenue into the General or Special Revenue Funds to provide the Office of Management and Enterprise Services with detailed, itemized forecasts of expected collections for the current year and the next two fiscal years. It also mandates the Oklahoma Tax Commission to submit comprehensive economic reports - analyzing recent performance and forecasting national/state trends - to the Director of Management and Enterprise Services at least two weeks before State Board of Equalization meetings, including assessments of past forecast accuracy. These reports and revenue estimates must be shared simultaneously with key legislative committees. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025, and became law without the Governor's signature on May 7, 2025.
HB 2754 establishes the Oklahoma Rural Hospitals Funding Assistance Grant Program to provide financial support to qualifying rural hospitals. It directly affects publicly owned hospitals in towns with fewer than 5,000 residents that meet federal critical access hospital standards. The program creates a revolving fund in the state treasury, administered by the State Department of Health, to award grants prioritizing areas with significant healthcare access barriers due to distance. Grants are limited to the total funds available in the revolving fund, and the program becomes effective July 1, 2025.
HB 2745 creates new tax deductions for Oklahoma banks and credit unions that earn interest on qualifying agricultural and housing loans. It allows institutions to deduct up to $500,000 annually (for those with over $750 million in Oklahoma deposits) or $250,000 (for smaller institutions) from their privilege tax bill. The deductions apply to interest earned on agricultural real estate loans, agricultural operating loans, and single-family residence loans made between 2025 and 2028. Total deductions across all institutions are capped at $5 million per year, with annual adjustments to maintain this limit.
SB 1114 creates a property tax credit for Oklahoma homeowners with qualifying homesteads who meet the existing "limitation on growth of fair cash value" under state law. The credit equals the difference between a homeowner's current year property tax and the prior year's tax, but only if the current tax is lower. County assessors must deduct this credit from the tax bill by October 1 annually, though the credit cannot reduce taxes below zero. The credit applies starting tax year 2026 and is codified in Oklahoma Statutes. It directly affects qualifying homestead property owners by potentially lowering their annual property tax burden.
SB 820 expands Oklahoma's sports league rebate program to include the WNBA, WPF, and NWSL, in addition to the existing NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB. It allows qualifying professional sports teams (with specific payroll and employment thresholds) to receive quarterly rebates based on verified in-state payroll, capped at $10 million annually per team. The rebate requires teams to maintain operations in Oklahoma for eligibility and repay funds if they leave within three years. The bill is currently under review by the Appropriations and Budget Finance Subcommittee.
SB 572 ends Oklahoma's technology business financing program, which previously provided funding to help local businesses commercialize innovations. The bill requires all remaining program funds and annual royalty payments (from businesses that received funding) to be transferred to the state's General Revenue Fund by November 1, 2025. This affects OCAST (the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology), businesses that had received program funding, and state finances. The program officially ceases upon the bill's effective date, redirecting all unused funds to general state revenue.
