HB 2087 modifies Oklahoma's income tax credit for donations to qualified research institutes. It adjusts annual funding caps: for biomedical research institutes, the limit drops from $2 million to $1.5 million per year starting in 2026, while cancer research institute credits are capped at $500,000 annually. The credit percentage for each donation type is recalculated yearly based on prior-year claims, using specific formulas to stay within these new limits. Taxpayers donating to qualifying nonprofit biomedical or cancer research institutes (defined by NIH funding requirements) can claim the credit, with individual limits of $1,000-$25,000 depending on filing status or business type.
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 228 proposes creating "covenant marriage" in Oklahoma as a distinct legal option, requiring couples to sign a detailed Declaration of Intent affirming lifelong commitment, complete premarital counseling, and file this document with their marriage license application. It establishes stricter divorce rules, allowing dissolution only for abandonment, abuse, or adultery after mandatory counseling (except in abuse cases), and permits conversion of existing marriages to covenant marriages through similar steps. The bill also creates an annual tax credit of $2,500 for joint filers or $1,250 each for separate filers for couples entering covenant marriage, non-refundable but carry-forwardable for five years. The bill, introduced in 2025 but failed in committee, has not become law.
