Budget & Taxes

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 1602: Law libraries; modifying transfers; modifying assessed amount for certain counties. Effective date.

SB 1602 modifies how law library funds are transferred from county courts and adjusts civil court fees to support law libraries and related programs. It requires counties with populations under 300,000 to transfer specific annual amounts ($5,000 to $9,000) to the Law Library Fund based on population size, while counties over 500,000 are exempt from these transfers. The bill also adds new assessments to civil court filings: $6 or $12 per case (depending on county population) to fund law libraries, plus $25 for the Court Information System, $10 for OCASA, and $2 for interpreter services. These changes directly affect county courts, law libraries, and civil case filers across Oklahoma.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAdds $6-$12 civil court filing fees to fund law libraries, creating new tax revenue for public services per bill's fee adjustments and transfer requirements.95% confidence

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 17, 2025

SB 817: Bonds; requiring transparency for obligations issued by trusts for benefit of local government; prohibiting issuance for violation of transparency requirements. Effective date.

SB 817 requires local governments and trusts issuing bonds for their benefit to publicly disclose specific details about bond projects, previous bond usage, and unfinished bonds at least 30 days before a bond vote. This applies to counties, cities, school districts, and other local entities covered under Oklahoma's bond laws. The bill mandates that this information be posted on the government's website or made accessible online, including physical addresses for property purchases. Non-compliant entities are prohibited from issuing new bonds until they meet these transparency requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRequires transparency for bond issuance, promoting fiscal accountability in local government spending and preventing misuse of public funds through mandatory disclosure.85% confidence

Tags Government Transparency

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 848: Education funding; creating the Oklahoma Independent Education Act; requiring development of plan to phase out acceptance and use of certain federal funds. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 848, the "Oklahoma Independent Education Act," prohibits Oklahoma public school districts and charter schools from using federal or state funds to support activities promoting sexual orientation or gender identity. It requires the state to develop a plan to phase out federal education funding (for pre-K through 12th grade) and replace it with state funds, including a timeline and funding needs analysis. The bill establishes a working group to monitor implementation, exempting it from open meeting and records laws, and mandates that schools stop using funds for the prohibited activities. This directly affects all Oklahoma public schools receiving federal education funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRequires state to replace federal education funding with state funds, increasing state budget allocation for education programs.95% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationProhibits funding for SOGI-related activities and mandates phasing out federal education funds, restricting curriculum and defunding federal programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood

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died · Oklahoma · House Feb 11, 2026

HB 4276: Public buildings and public works; Public Competitive Bidding Act of 1974; public improvement; public construction; funds; certification; counties; effective date.

HB 4276 requires Oklahoma counties, school districts, and other public entities subject to the Public Competitive Bidding Act of 1974 to obtain written certification confirming sufficient, unencumbered funds are available before issuing any bids for public construction or improvement projects. This certification must specify the funding source, amount, and confirm funds cover the project cost, and must be retained with bidding documents. Projects without this certification are void, and bidding must pause if costs increase after documents are issued. The bill directly affects all public agencies managing construction projects funded by public money.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRequires certification of sufficient funds before public projects, promoting fiscal responsibility and preventing budget shortfalls by ensuring funds are unencumbered and confirmed.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement

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died · Oklahoma · House Feb 5, 2025

HB 2098: Court fees; forcible entry and detainer; effective date.

HB 2098 amends Oklahoma's court fee structure for district court filings, setting specific flat fees for various case types. It directly affects individuals and entities filing court cases, including those involving forcible entry and detainer (set at $100), and establishes new funding streams: $6 for the Law Library Fund, $25 for the Court Information System, $5 for court-appointed advocates (OCASA), and $2 split between judicial complaints and interpreter services. The bill also allows counties to add up to $10 per case for courthouse security and includes a fee waiver process for indigent litigants who prove poverty through an affidavit. It takes effect November 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates court fees to fund Law Library, Court Information System, and OCASA programs, directly advancing state fiscal management through dedicated funding streams.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Fees & Licensing

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failed · Oklahoma · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 3984: Workforce recruitment; Oklahoma Talent Attraction and Relocation Act; Oklahoma Department of Commerce; grants; Oklahoma Talent Attraction and Relocation Revolving Fund; codification; effective date.

HB 3984 creates the "Oklahoma Talent Attraction and Relocation Program" under the Oklahoma Department of Commerce to award grants for recruiting households relocating to Oklahoma from outside the state. It directly affects cities, towns, counties, and nonprofits (as grant applicants) and households earning at least $55,000 annually who move into Oklahoma. Key provisions include a $250,000 annual grant limit per municipality, requiring applicants to cover 20% of program costs, tying 50% of funds to meeting half the household relocation goal, and mandating detailed reports on program outcomes. The bill establishes a revolving fund to reuse repayments and unused grant money for ongoing administration.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates a revolving fund and allocates state grants ($250k/municipality) for talent recruitment, directly funding a new program under government spending.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Incentives

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signed · Oklahoma · Senate Apr 21, 2026

SB 1530: State government; Oklahoma Research and Development Rebate Fund; authorizing increase in certain rebate amount under specified condition; imposing certain duties on the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. Effective date.

SB 1530 requires the Oklahoma Department of Commerce to verify that businesses claiming research and development rebates actually conducted eligible research within Oklahoma. It affects companies seeking rebates equal to 5% of their qualified research expenses, with a $20 million annual cap on total payments. The bill mandates that businesses submit applications and documentation for verification before receiving rebates, and if funds are insufficient, payments are prorated or carried over to future years. This amendment updates existing rules for the Oklahoma Research and Development Rebate Fund, effective July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesVerifies R&D rebate eligibility to prevent misuse of $20M cap, promoting fiscal responsibility in state spending.85% confidence

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 25, 2025

SB 734: Fees; increasing sheriff's fee for certain service. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 734 increases court fees for defendants convicted in Oklahoma criminal cases, directly affecting individuals sentenced for offenses like traffic violations, misdemeanors, and felonies. The bill adds new mandatory fees: $3 for the Child Abuse Multidisciplinary Account, $10 for courthouse security, $15 for impaired driving cases, and additional amounts for the Law Library Fund, Court Information System, Victim Services, and other state accounts. It maintains the existing sheriff’s service fee range ($50-$150 for within-county service) but clarifies how these fees are allocated. These changes apply to all criminal cases, with fees collected at sentencing and deposited into specified state funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAdds mandatory fees to fund state accounts (Child Abuse, courthouse security, etc.), increasing state revenue for public services per bill summary.90% confidence ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory fees on defendants for criminal cases, adding financial burden without reform measures, aligning with 'oppose' indicators of reduced defendant rights.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement Sentencing

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 17, 2025

HB 2917: Agricultural education; Ag in the Classroom Education Revolving Fund; Agricultural Awareness license plates; funding; program expansion; effective date.

HB 2917 creates the "Ag in the Classroom Program" under Oklahoma's State Department of Agriculture to educate students (pre-K through 12th grade) about agriculture in both urban and rural schools. It increases the fee for Agricultural Awareness license plates from $24 to $27, directing the extra $3 per plate into an Ag in the Classroom Education Revolving Fund. The fund will support program expansion, particularly into urban areas, with the Department of Agriculture having exclusive control over the program and fund spending. This bill takes effect November 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases license plate fee by $3 to fund agricultural education program expansion, directly allocating tax revenue to support a specific initiative.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates Ag in the Classroom Program with new funding via license plate fee increase to expand agricultural curriculum access in K-12 schools, including urban areas.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood

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passed · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 31, 2026

SB 1339: Schools; directing funds to be allocated to certain school districts to implement the minimum salary schedule. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1339 establishes a tiered minimum salary schedule for certified school personnel (like teachers) in Oklahoma public schools, based on years of experience and education level. It requires the State Board of Education to allocate state funds annually to school districts to implement these salary increases starting with the 2025-2026 school year. The bill directly affects all Oklahoma public school districts and their certified staff by mandating specific pay thresholds. The schedule includes detailed pay rates for different experience levels and degrees, with provisions for fringe benefits and out-of-state certification recognition.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates state funds allocation for teacher salary increases, directly increasing public education spending as required by the bill.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates state funding for teacher salary increases based on experience/education, directly supporting educator compensation and retention in public schools.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates state-funded minimum salary increases for school staff based on experience/education, directly raising wages for certified personnel in public schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers Professional Licensing

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