Budget & Taxes

in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 11, 2026

HB 1572: Tourism; increasing apportionment to Tourism funds; removing apportionment cap; limiting funds for operations; eliminating prohibition to spend certain funds on salaries; effective date; emergency.

HB 1572 modifies Oklahoma's sales tax apportionment to increase funding for tourism. It removes a $5 million annual cap on the Oklahoma Tourism Promotion Revolving Fund, raises the percentage of sales tax revenue allocated to tourism from 0.87% to 1.0% for fiscal years 2026 and beyond, and changes the distribution to 36% for Promotion, 64% for Capital Improvement, and $6.6 million for Route 66. The bill also eliminates restrictions prohibiting tourism funds from covering salaries. These changes directly affect the Oklahoma Tourism Promotion, Capital Improvement, and Route 66 Commission funds, increasing their available resources for operations and projects.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases tourism funding by raising sales tax allocation (0.87%→1.0%), removes $5M cap, and eliminates restrictions on salary spending for tourism funds.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Sales Tax

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passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 1243: Career and technology education; creating the National Guard CareerTech Assistance Act; tuition assistance; repayment amount; hardship waiver; creating fund; effective date; emergency.

HB 1243 creates the Oklahoma National Guard CareerTech Assistance Program, providing tuition assistance to eligible Oklahoma National Guard members enrolled in state technology center programs that lead to certification or licensure. The program covers tuition costs (up to a three-year limit) for members who agree to remain in service for 24 months after completing their training and maintain academic requirements like a 2.0 GPA. Members who fail to meet service or academic obligations must repay assistance calculated as a monthly amount based on the total assistance received, though hardship waivers are available. The program is funded through a new revolving fund in the state treasury, supported by annual state appropriations, and administered by the State Board of Career and Technology Education.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates dedicated state fund for tuition assistance, directly allocating budget resources to fund National Guard education programs without tax changes.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates tuition assistance fund for National Guard members in career tech programs, expanding educational access and funding for vocational training.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProvides tuition assistance for National Guard members in technology certification programs, funding workforce development in technology fields.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransProvides tuition assistance for National Guard members' career training, directly supporting veterans' education and employment benefits through state-funded program.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Higher Education Student Financial Aid National Guard & Reserve Veteran Education

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died · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 19, 2025

SB 228: Covenant marriage; creating the Covenant Marriage Act of Oklahoma; establishing requirements for entering covenant marriage; providing tax credit for covenant marriage. Effective date. Emergency.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax credit for covenant marriage, offering tax relief to qualifying couples. Direct fiscal policy element within the bill.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits

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vetoed · Oklahoma · House May 29, 2025

HB 2374: Revenue and taxation; Filmed in Oklahoma Act of 2021; procedures for withholding tax; income tax treatment; set aside amount for economic impact reviews; effective date; emergency.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates tax rebates for film productions, providing tax relief to incentivize local economic activity and qualifying spending, directly impacting tax policy and budget allocation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 2443: Economic development; Oklahoma Film Industry Incentive Act of 2025; effective date.

HB 2443 increases Oklahoma's annual funding cap for film industry rebates from $30 million to $80 million. It sets specific spending limits: $7.5 million for productions under $7.5 million total cost, $22.5 million for larger productions, $10 million for live studio audience shows, and $8 million for low-budget films under $1 million. The bill requires productions to spend at least $50,000 to qualify for rebates and allows unused funds to carry over to the next fiscal year. This directly affects film production companies in Oklahoma that meet the spending thresholds for these incentives.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases state budget allocation for film industry rebates from $30M to $80M annually, directly expanding government spending on economic development programs.95% confidence

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signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 29, 2025

SB 1178: Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services; making an appropriation; identifying sources of funds. Emergency.

SB 1178 appropriates $100,000 from Oklahoma's General Revenue Fund to the Department of Human Services for fiscal year 2026 to support its existing mental health and substance abuse services duties. The bill directly affects state-funded mental health programs by providing dedicated funding for current operations. It includes an emergency clause, allowing it to take immediate effect without the governor's signature, which occurred on May 29, 2025. This is a procedural funding measure with no new policy requirements, solely allocating existing resources. The appropriation is limited to the specified amount and purpose as defined in the bill text.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $100k from General Revenue Fund to fund existing mental health services, directly supporting state budget allocation for public programs.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAppropriates $100,000 for existing mental health/substance abuse services, directly funding public health programs per healthcare topic description.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Revenue Mental Health Substance Abuse

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 810: State finance; creating the Zero-Based Budgeting Implementation Act; requiring development of certain plan; requiring certain budget review. Effective date.

SB 810 creates Oklahoma's "Zero-Based Budgeting Implementation Act," requiring the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency (LOFT) to categorize all state agencies into tiers based on budget size, employee count, and regulatory scope (e.g., statutes, rules, licenses). It mandates a staggered 6-year review cycle where higher-budget agencies are reviewed every 4-6 years and lower-budget agencies every 2-4 years, ensuring balanced annual review loads. Starting July 2026, LOFT must collaborate with agencies and the Governor’s office to analyze each agency’s programs, costs, statutory authority, and performance measures, then provide annual budget recommendations by December 1st. This directly affects all Oklahoma state agencies receiving funding, including boards, commissions, and trusts.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates zero-based budgeting reviews to enhance fiscal responsibility and budget efficiency, aligning with supportive indicators of fiscal management.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 5, 2026

SB 137: Department of Corrections; modifying elements of the Electronic Monitoring Program. Effective date.

SB 137 creates the "Oklahoma State Penitentiary Prison Rodeo Revolving Fund" to finance improvements to the prison rodeo arena at Oklahoma State Penitentiary. It appropriates $8.3 million from the General Revenue Fund for facility construction, repair, and upgrades to support prison rehabilitation programs and local economic development. The fund, managed by the Department of Corrections, will cover costs for the arena's maintenance and programming. This bill directly affects the Oklahoma Department of Corrections and the operations of the prison rodeo program at Oklahoma State Penitentiary.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $8.3M from General Revenue Fund for prison facility upgrades supporting rehabilitation programs and economic development.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill allocates $8.3M for prison rodeo arena upgrades to support rehabilitation programs and economic development, directly advancing correctional rehabilitation efforts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Corrections

in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 1430: Higher education; Tinnitus Research Grant Program Revolving Fund; Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education; grant program; effective date.

HB 1430 creates a revolving fund in the Oklahoma State Treasury called the "Tinnitus Research Grant Program Revolving Fund" to support research on tinnitus. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education will administer the fund, using state appropriations and private donations to award annual competitive grants to Oklahoma public and private universities. These grants will specifically fund research aimed at finding treatments or cures for tinnitus. The program becomes effective November 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates state appropriations to fund a research program via a revolving fund, aligning with supporting public funding initiatives under Budget & Taxes.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates dedicated funding for university research through higher education regents, advancing higher education research capacity and infrastructure.85% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransTinnitus research directly addresses a common veteran health condition (noise-induced hearing loss), advancing healthcare solutions for veterans through research funding.75% confidence

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died · Oklahoma · House Feb 24, 2025

HB 2841: Public finance; Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust Fund; venture capital; effective date.

HB 2841 amends Oklahoma's management rules for the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust Fund, directly affecting the fund and its Board of Investors. It requires the Board to invest fund assets using "prudent person" standards, diversify investments to minimize risk, and hire investment managers through competitive bidding. The bill mandates that at least 2% of the fund's principal balance or $40 million (whichever is greater) must be spent annually on grant and incentive programs. The changes take effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates annual spending on grant programs from Tobacco Settlement Trust Fund, directing funds toward public initiatives as part of fiscal management.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement

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