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 469 modifies eligibility requirements for Oklahoma's Emission Reduction Technology Rebate Program, which provides up to 25% rebates for businesses implementing qualifying emission-reduction projects within the state. The bill clarifies submission deadlines (requiring documentation within six months after fiscal year-end completion) and adds a preliminary review process for applications before project funding is spent. It also specifies that applicants must have filed all required Oklahoma tax returns and maintain $1 million general liability insurance with workers' compensation coverage. The changes apply to businesses seeking rebates administered by the Department of Environmental Quality and Oklahoma Tax Commission, using funds from dedicated revolving funds. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.
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 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.
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.
SB 291 creates a refundable income tax credit for Oklahoma residents based on revenue growth from oil, natural gas, and corporate income taxes. If the State Board of Equalization certifies that revenue growth exceeds 10% in a year, the Oklahoma Tax Commission calculates a credit amount using a formula based on the number of individual and married-filing-jointly tax returns from the prior year. The credit is doubled for married couples filing jointly, and the Commission must publish the calculated amount within 45 days of certification. The credit applies to tax years starting in 2026, with a November 1, 2025 effective date.
HB 1420 requires Oklahoma state agencies to reduce owned and leased property by prioritizing the sale of underutilized state-owned assets, eliminating unnecessary leases, and using existing property instead of new construction. It mandates that all state agencies obtain approval from the Office of Management and Enterprise Services before leasing, purchasing, or constructing new property, with proceeds from sales deposited into a dedicated building maintenance fund. The bill also requires annual public reporting on property sales, lease reductions, and fund usage, while exempting agencies like the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and Turnpike Authority from these requirements. This policy directly affects all state agencies (except the exempted entities) by changing how they manage real estate assets and funding for building maintenance.
