HB 3595 creates a permanent "Safer Counties Revolving Fund" within Oklahoma's State Treasury, managed by the Department of Public Safety. This fund, financed by existing legislative appropriations to the Department, provides grants to all Oklahoma counties to purchase public safety and traffic barrier equipment. Counties must use these funds solely for public safety purposes and cannot divert them to other uses. The fund operates without annual budget restrictions, allowing ongoing disbursements for safety equipment purchases.
HB 3311 increases the maximum funding limit for Oklahoma's Infrastructure Pool from $100 million to $125 million and establishes specific allocation rules for its use. It requires 65% of Infrastructure Pool funds to support local governments with populations under 300,000 (based on the latest census), while 35% can be used for any eligible local government regardless of size. The bill also modifies the Economic Development Pool similarly, allowing pooled financing for infrastructure and economic development projects across the state. Funds must finance authorized projects involving two or more local governments or public-private partnerships, with tax-exempt bond options subject to federal rules. The changes take effect November 1, 2026.
Oklahoma's SB 2058 recognizes physical gold and silver bullion (meeting 99.5% purity for gold and 99.9% for silver) as legal tender for private debts and state tax/fee payments, with the state requiring the Treasurer to establish secure depositories for storage. It exempts sales and exchanges of qualifying gold/silver from capital gains tax and mandates that transactions use physical metal held in approved depositories, not digital systems or government-controlled tools. The bill allows Oklahomans and businesses to voluntarily use gold/silver for payments - either in person or via electronic systems linked to depositories - while ensuring depositories meet international security standards. It does not require businesses or the state to accept gold/silver, and explicitly prohibits its use for surveillance or social scoring.
SB 1379 establishes a two-year pilot program through Oklahoma's Attorney General's Office to provide grants to private nonprofit organizations supporting victims of sexual and labor trafficking. The program funds specific services like emergency shelter, mental health counseling, legal assistance, job training, and medical care - directly benefiting trafficking victims through partner organizations. Eligible organizations must demonstrate experience serving trafficking victims, maintain confidentiality, and use grants primarily for direct services (not exceeding 15% for administrative costs). Recipients must submit quarterly reports on services provided and outcomes, with the Attorney General compiling annual program evaluations for state leaders. The bill expands allowable uses of the Victims of Human Trafficking Fund to support this initiative.
HB 4411 amends Oklahoma's Parental Choice Tax Credit program to allow taxpayers to claim credits for private school tuition and related expenses (like textbooks and tutoring) at accredited schools, with credit amounts based on family income (up to $7,500 annually for lower-income families). It requires accredited private schools to publicly display their tuition costs and updates the Oklahoma Tax Commission's website to include program details. The bill directly affects Oklahoma parents/guardians with eligible students who choose accredited private schools and the Tax Commission in administering the program. The credit applies to qualified expenses for students attending accredited private schools or participating in approved nonpublic learning programs.
SB 1471 authorizes Oklahoma cities and towns to levy targeted fees on retail delivery, single-use products, and plastic containers to fund solid waste management. These fees must be narrowly tailored to actual waste generation costs and can be charged per transaction or delivery. Revenue from these fees is restricted to specific waste management uses, including collection, recycling, litter cleanup, public education, and reducing environmental harm from waste. The bill also modifies plastic container labeling rules to clarify that local governments cannot broadly restrict plastic use, but may implement narrowly focused waste-reduction fees.
HB 4280 increases annual funding for Oklahoma's Rebuilding Oklahoma Access and Driver Safety Fund (ROADS Fund) to support road and bridge construction and maintenance. It sets specific annual funding levels: $575 million for fiscal year 2021, $590 million for 2022, $610 million for 2025, and $670 million starting in 2026. The bill requires the Department of Transportation to use these funds first for debt payments on highway obligations, then for road/bridge construction, maintenance, and matching federal funds. The legislation directly affects Oklahoma's highway infrastructure and the DOT's budget allocation process, with funding adjustments triggered by revenue shortfalls.
HB 4278 requires Oklahoma counties to use a new form for disabled veterans and surviving spouses who purchase new homes, ensuring they receive property tax exemptions they previously qualified for. The form must confirm prior exemption status on their old home, and county assessors must update property records to reflect the new exemption after a sale. Counties must also send missing tax bills to owners who didn’t receive them due to delays in updating eligibility. The bill takes effect November 1, 2026, streamlining the process for qualifying veterans and spouses to maintain their tax relief.
HB 3044 amends Oklahoma tax return forms to allow taxpayers to donate a portion of their state income or corporate tax refund to the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA). These donations directly fund ODVA's equipment purchases and capital improvement projects, such as facility upgrades and new construction. The bill creates a dedicated "Capital Improvement Program Revolving Fund" to manage these donations, which can be invested and used for veterans' facility needs without annual budget restrictions. It reauthorizes this existing donation mechanism, effective November 1, 2026, and includes a three-year refund process for taxpayers who donate in error.
SB 1776 creates a $10,000 annual income tax credit for Oklahoma teachers who have completed eight consecutive years teaching in the same school district. To qualify, teachers must continue teaching in that district for the remainder of their eighth year plus three additional years (with exceptions for layoffs, death, or medical hardship). The credit is refundable, meaning any amount exceeding a teacher's tax liability will be paid directly to them. The Oklahoma Tax Commission may audit claims and require repayment if eligibility is later found to be invalid. This bill would apply to tax years starting in 2027.
