SB 1696 creates the Oklahoma Talent Attraction and Relocation Revolving Fund in the state treasury to support a new program administered by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. It provides grants to cities, counties, or qualifying nonprofits to recruit high-income households (earning at least $55,000 annually) relocating to Oklahoma from outside the state, with a maximum grant of $250,000 per municipality per year. Grants are disbursed in two installments: 50% upfront and 50% after verifying at least half of the targeted household relocations. Recipients must submit semiannual reports on relocation numbers, economic impact, and grant usage, and repay funds if goals aren't met or if funds are misused. The program takes effect November 1, 2026.
SB 680 modifies Oklahoma's definition of "cigarette" to explicitly include heated tobacco products, expanding the scope of existing tax regulations. The bill provides a tax exemption for these products and requires the Oklahoma Tax Commission to establish rules for compliance. This directly affects manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of heated tobacco products by changing how they are classified under cigarette tax laws. The bill updates statutory definitions and references to align with this new exemption, ensuring heated tobacco products are treated consistently under the tax code.
SB 1395 modifies Oklahoma's new jobs tax credit program for manufacturers. The bill restricts the credit to specific tax years and changes how unused credits can be carried forward to future years. Manufacturers must now submit an application and receive approval before claiming the credit. These changes update the program's eligibility and administrative requirements.
HB 2645 creates a tax credit for qualifying doctors practicing medicine in rural Oklahoma, directly affecting licensed physicians who meet specific residency and education criteria. The credit, capped at $20,000 per year per doctor, applies to taxable income from medical practice in designated rural areas (population under 25,000 and at least 25 miles from larger cities). The bill includes an annual $1 million total credit limit, with adjustments to prevent exceeding this cap. The bill was pocket-vetoed by the governor on June 15, 2025, and never became law.
HB 1378 would have expanded Oklahoma's sales tax exemptions for agriculture by adding timber to the definition of "agricultural products." This change would have exempted sales of timber (including timber products used in farming) from sales tax, directly affecting Oklahoma agricultural businesses, farmers, and timber producers. The bill amended existing tax code provisions that already exempted farm products, livestock, feed, fertilizer, machinery, and other agricultural supplies. However, the bill was vetoed by the Governor on June 10, 2025, and did not become law.
HB 2753 expands Oklahoma's Rural Jobs Act by adding a new $200 million annual pool of state tax credits for rural investments, effective July 1, 2025, beyond the existing $15 million annual cap. The bill requires that at least 10% of each investment must come from local sources like employees or affiliates, and sets a 90-day deadline for rural funds to secure capital after certification. It also establishes a 15-business-day timeline for the Department to determine if a business qualifies for investment, with automatic eligibility if no decision is made by day 20. This expansion aims to increase funding for rural economic development projects by making more tax credits available to eligible businesses and rural investment funds.
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.
