The latest Oklahoma legislative news from NASL member firm A&A advocates:
The Oklahoma Tax Commission has approved emergency rules to implement the state’s new school choice tax credits. The approval was unanimous and is awaiting final approval by Gov. Kevin Stitt. The passage of legislation to provide financial support to the families of private school children was a major accomplishment of the 2023 legislative session earlier in the year, and Oklahoma leaders have worked to create details on the new program. However, even with the governor’s approval of the new rules, legislative leaders have said they might tweak them during next year’s session.
Last week, Oklahoma’s attorney general Gentner Drummond sued to stop the nation’s first publicly-funded religious charter school. Oklahoma’s attorney general Gentner Drummond filed the petition in the Oklahoma State Supreme Court, seeking to rescind the state’s sponsorship of the school, as the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board this week signed a contract with the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City to sponsor the school. Gov. Kevin Stitt released a statement that described the lawsuit as “a political stunt and runs counter to our Oklahoma values and the law.”
On Wednesday, Oklahoma lawmakers unanimously rejected a pair of compacts that would have allowed two tribes to offer gaming outside of their traditional boundaries. Members of the committee claimed significant fatal flaws—expressing concerns that allowing the tribes to build outside their boundaries could set an unwanted precedent moving forward.
A proposal being considered at the Oklahoma Legislature could reduce competitive bidding for new transmission lines, which critics warn could drive up electricity rates. In a recent legislative study, lawmakers considered whether giving state utilities the “right of first refusal” (ROFR) on transmission projects would benefit Oklahomans. David Osburn, general manager for the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority (OMPA), which provides wholesale electricity to 42 Oklahoma municipalities, said the answer is no, through a presentation that noted surging transmission cost “has had a direct impact on the cost of electricity paid by the citizens of our members.”
What We’re Watching
Last week, Gov. Kevin Stitt announced that he will appoint Zach Archer and Alex Gray to the Oklahoma State Board of Education.
On Thursday, the Community Health Foundation of Kay County provided a $30,000 grant to help fund the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma’s Food for Kids Programs at several Kay County schools.