Budget & Taxes

HB 1540 creates the Oklahoma Workforce Education Partnership Revolving Fund within the State Treasury to support career and technology education programs. The fund, managed by the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education (ODCTE), will use state appropriations, gifts, and donations to expand career tech education based on critical occupation data. It operates as a reusable fund (replenished by incoming revenue) until July 1, 2030, with expenditures requiring state treasurer warrants. The bill directly affects ODCTE's ability to fund workforce training programs, aiming to align education with local job market needs.

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.

SB 48 limits when Oklahoma taxpayers can deduct certain capital gains from their state income tax. It specifically restricts the deduction for "qualifying gains receiving capital treatment" to only certain tax years, affecting individuals and businesses with capital gains transactions. The bill amends Oklahoma's tax code (68 O.S. 2021, Section 2358) to update the rules governing these deductions, ensuring they align with specific tax year parameters. This change modifies how capital gains are treated for state tax purposes without altering federal tax rules.

SB 367 modifies Oklahoma's earned income tax credit (EITC) calculation for tax years 2022 through 2025. It sets the state credit at 5% of the federal EITC amount and requires that the maximum credit be prorated based on how much a taxpayer's Oklahoma-adjusted gross income compares to their federal adjusted gross income. This change directly affects low-to-moderate income Oklahoma residents who claim the state EITC on their tax returns. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025.

SB 164 authorizes the Oklahoma Lottery Commission to implement and regulate sports betting pools, directly affecting licensed retailers and the commission itself. It creates new licensing criteria for businesses offering sports pools (wagering on sports outcomes via in-person or mobile platforms), requires licensing fees, and mandates annual reports and audits. The bill establishes a dedicated "Sports Pools Fund" to channel revenue from these bets into the state's education funding system, replacing previous prohibitions on such betting. This policy change expands the lottery's offerings beyond traditional games, adding a new revenue stream for educational programs while setting specific operational rules.