04.05.12

Watch this week's Legislative Focus video



Click on the graphic above to view a brief video about this week in session.

Monday's Congressional Forum to feature U.S. Representative Lucas

U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas will address the Tulsa regional business community at the Chamber’s next Congressional Forum, presented by Spirit AeroSystems, Inc., on Monday, April 9 at 8 a.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Tulsa, Warren Place, 6110 S. Yale Ave.

Congressman Frank Lucas represents Oklahoma’s Third Congressional District, which includes all or portions of 32 counties in northern and western Oklahoma. Lucas serves as the chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture. In addition, he serves on the House Committee on Financial Services and the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology.

Cost to attend the forum is $40 for Chamber members or $750 to sponsor a table of eight. Click here to register online, or call 918.560.0212 or email events@tulsachamber.com.

Presenting Sponsor
 

Hosted by


Legislative Benefactors

Gold Sponsors
 

Silver Sponsors
ENGlobal
TES Productions
Tulsa World


State Capitol Activity Recap

BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION
Tax Credits and Economic Incentives
Tulsa Metro Chamber Priority; Tulsa/OKC Chambers Joint Agenda
Protect necessary and beneficial tax incentives and eliminate ineffective incentives through a process of annual review.
. HB 2621, Johnson/Mazzei: Modifies provisions for transferability of tax credits including wind turbines, railroad expenditures and energy efficient residences; EMERGENCY. Voted “Do Pass” as amended from Senate Finance Committee; headed to the full Senate.
. HB 2978, Dank/Mazzei: Requires tax credits to identify recipients and create jobs, and limits number of credits allowed to be claimed by one entity. Voted “ Do Pass: as amended from Senate Finance Committee; headed to the full Senate.
. HB 2980, Dank/Mazzei: Establishes the "Preserving Oklahoma's Strategic Industries Incentive Act." Dead pursuant to the rules.
. HB 3061, Steele/Bingman: Creates the Oklahoma Tax Reform Act of 2012. Voted “Do Pass” as amended from Senate Finance Committee; headed to the full Senate.
. HJR 1089, Steele/Mazzei: Sends to a vote of the people a measure that would prohibit the sale of tax credits, allows a person to find the identity of one that claimed a tax credit, and limits tax credits based on the amount one taxpayer could claim. Dead pursuant to the rules.
. SB 1234, Mazzei/Dank: Limits refunds relating to oil and gas exploration paid to all claimants annually to $50 million. Voted "Do Pass" as amended from the House Appropriations & Budget Committee; headed to the full House.
. SB 1235, Mazzei/Dank: Modifies definitions and provides dismissal from Oklahoma Quality Jobs Program Act if second payment claim is not filed within two years of the most recent claim. Passed/Adopted (Y-92, N-0).
. SB 1464, Bingman/McNiel: Adds definitions of certain areas to the Oklahoma Quality Jobs Program. Voted "Do Pass" as amended from the House Appropriations & Budget Committee; headed to the full House.
. SB 1623, Mazzei/Dank: Phases out certain state income tax credits, exemptions, deductions, dividend exclusions and rebates by tax year 2014; modifies computation of state taxable income; removes obsolete language. Voted "Do Pass" as amended from the House Appropriations & Budget Committee; headed to the full House.
. SB 1715, Mazzei/Dank: Limits tax credits to insurers to $10 million per fiscal year; allows for proportional sharing in years where it exceeds $10 million. Failed in the House Appropriations & Budget Committee.


DEVELOPMENT, ECONOMY & TAXES
Tax Reform
Tulsa Metro Chamber Priority; Joint Tulsa/OKC Chambers Agenda
Maintain Oklahoma's friendly tax environment for businesses and economic development.

Personal Income Tax:
. HB 3061, Steele/Bingman (Governor Fallin's Proposal): Creates the Oklahoma Tax Reform Act of 2012; EMERGENCY. Voted “Do Pass” from the Senate Finance Committee.
. SB 1623, Mazzei/Dank (Task Force on Comprehensive Tax Reform Proposal): Phases out certain state income tax credits, exemptions, deductions, dividend exclusions and rebates by tax year 2014; modifies computation of state taxable income; removes obsolete language. Voted "Do Pass" as amended from the House Appropriations & Budget Committee; headed to the full House.
. HB 3038, Osborn/Jolley (Laffer Proposal): Updates dates, rates and specifications for the Oklahoma Income Tax Code. Voted “Do Pass” as substituted from the Senate Finance Committee; headed to the full Senate.
. SB 1571, Jolley/Osborn (Laffer Proposal): Modifies income tax rates as of Jan. 1, 2012; limits ability to claim credits, deductions, exemptions or exclusions. Voted "Do Pass" as amended from the House Appropriations & Budget Committee; headed to the full House.
. SB 1437, Mazzei/Dank: Modifies income tax rates and brackets; removes obsolete language. Voted "Do Pass" as amended from the House Appropriations & Budget Committee; headed to the full House.

Franchise Tax:
. SB 1436, Mazzei/Dank: Repeals sections of law related to franchise tax. Enacting clause struck in House Appropriations and Budget Committee.

Intangible Property Tax:
. SJR 52, Mazzei/Dank: Sends to a vote of the people a measure exempting personal property from the ad valorem tax or any other tax in lieu of ad valorem. Voted "Do Pass" from the House Rules Committee; headed to the full House.


EDUCATION
Education Funding Reductions
OneVoice Priority
Oppose any diversion of education revenue sources such as property tax caps and tax exemptions and further reductions in the income tax.

. SB 1036, Stanislawski/Jackson: Increases the amount of the homestead exemption to $22,000 or 50 percent of the amount set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to be the median income for the county or metro area. Voted "Do Pass" as amended from the House Appropriations & Budget Committee; headed to the full House.

Online Education
Tulsa Metro Chamber Priority; Joint Tulsa/OKC Chambers Legislative Agenda
. SB 1409, Ford/Denney: Creates the Virtual Education Authorizing Commission; defines membership and reimbursement; requires a yearly report; defines which agencies are under the authority of the Commission. Heard in House Common Education Committee and laid over.

National Board Certification (NBCT)
Joint Tulsa/OKC Chambers Legislative Agenda
. SB 1879, Ford/Coody: Removes fund availability requirement from the Education Leadership Oklahoma program; directs Commission for Teacher Preparation to pay for fees associated with the National Board certification program; directs deposit of monies. Voted “Do Pass” from House A&B Subcommittee on Education; headed to full House Appropriations & Budget Committee.


ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Increasing Oklahoma's Domestic Energy Usage
Tulsa Metro Chamber Priority
Support legislative initiatives designed to enhance the market access for alternative and traditional fuels produced in Oklahoma.

. SB 1627, Bingman/Peters: Creates the Oklahoma Energy Initiative designed to advance new research and development efforts relating to energy; defines goals. Voted “Do Pass” as amended from House Energy & Utility Regulation Committee; headed to the full House.
. SB 1628, Bingman/Peters: Modifies language relating to "The Interstate Oil Compact Fund of Oklahoma." Voted “Do Pass” as amended from House Energy & Utility Regulation Committee; headed to the full House.


HEALTH CARE
Increasing Oklahoma's Number of Physicians
Tulsa/OKC Chamber Joint Agenda
Support incentives to recruit and retain primary care physicians and allied health professionals in Oklahoma, especially in rural and underserved areas.

. HB 3058, Steele/Bingman: Creates the Oklahoma Hospital Residency Training Act. Voted "Do Pass" as substituted from Senate Appropriations Committee; headed to the full Senate.
. SB 1280, Schulz/Steele: Establishes the "Oklahoma Hospital Residency Training Program Act;" sets definitions and purpose of the act; sets guidelines for boards, contracting, agencies involved and their tasks; creates revolving fund. Not heard in the House Appropriations & Budget Committee on March 28.


LABOR & HUMAN RESOURCES
Workers Compensation
Tulsa Metro Chamber Priority; Tulsa/OKC Chambers Joint Agenda
Maintain Oklahoma's progress in improving its business climate by protecting recent workers compensation and legal systems reforms.

Workers Compensation
. HB 2155, Steele/Bingman: Creates "Oklahoma Employee Injury Benefit Act;" defines terms; outlines requirements for employer exemption from the Workers Compensation Act. Voted “Do Pass” as substituted from Senate Judiciary Committee; headed to the full Senate.
. SB 1378, Bingman/Steele: Creates Oklahoma Employee Injury Benefit Act; allows employers who meet criteria to opt-out of the workers compensation code; establishes criteria for other workers compensation insurance. Referred to the House Judiciary Committee.


SMALL BUSINESS
Intangible Property Tax
Tulsa Metro Chamber Priority; Joint Tulsa/OKC Chambers Agenda
Maintain Oklahoma's friendly tax environment for businesses and economic development through the prevention of an increased assessment of intangible ad valorem taxes.

. SJR 52, Mazzei/Dank: Sends to a vote of the people a measure exempting personal property from the ad valorem tax or any other tax in lieu of ad valorem. Voted "Do Pass" from the House Rules Committee; headed to the full House.


TRANSPORTATION
Transportation Funding
OneVoice Priority, Tulsa/OKC Chambers Joint Agenda
Defend all existing road funding, prevent any diversion of monies; and support increased funding for transportation by developing an adequate, comprehensive funding strategy to broaden the sources of funds and increase the total amount going to transportation statewide.

. HB 2248, Shannon/Marlatt: Apportions certain monies to the Rebuilding Oklahoma Access and Driver Safety Fund; modifies appropriations to transportation funds. Voted "Do Pass" as amended from Senate Appropriations Committee; headed to the full Senate.
. HB 2249, Shannon/Marlatt: Modifies annual appropriation percentage requirements for contributions to the General Revenue Fund of the State Treasury; directs certain funds to be deposited in the County Improvements for Roads and Bridges Fund. Voted "Do Pass" as amended from the Senate Appropriations Committee; headed to the full Senate.
. SB 1643, Marlatt/Shannon: Changes apportionment of Rebuilding OK Access and Driver Safety Fund to $550 million. Returned to the House Appropriations & Budget Committee.

Bridge Improvements
. SB 1256, Stanislawski/Cockroft: Sets the percentages of monies collected pursuant to the Oklahoma Vehicle License and Registration Act that will go to the General Revenue Fund and to the High Priority State Bridge Revolving Fund. Returned to the House Appropriations & Budget Committee.
. SB 1642, Marlatt/Shannon: Provides percentages and dates for monies to be remitted to state treasurers to be credited to the County Improvement for Roads and Bridges Fund. Returned to the House Appropriations & Budget Committee.

Weigh Stations
Tulsa Metro Chamber Priorities; Tulsa/OKC Chamber Joint Agenda
Support methods to expedite the critical need for weigh station completion and weigh-in-motion infrastructure.

. HB 2391, Liebmann/Bingman: Alters apportionment of motor fuel assessment revenues; provides an apportionment to the Weigh Station Improvement Revolving Fund; removes apportionments to the Higher Education Facilities and State Transportation Funds. Voted “Do Pass” as amended from the Senate Appropriations Committee; headed to the full Senate.
. SB 1144, Bingman/Liebmann: Removes the Higher Education Facilities Revolving fund as a recipient of the motor fuel tax and replaces it with the Weigh Station Improvement Revolving Fund. Voted “Do Pass” as amended from House Appropriations & Budget Committee; headed to the full House.




For more information on the Tulsa Metro Chamber’s legislative agenda and priorities, contact the Government Affairs office at 918-560-0211 or email Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Chris Benge at chrisbenge@tulsachamber.com.

To view the 2012 Legislative Agenda: click here. 

Legislative Benefactors

We would like to acknowledge the Chamber's Partners in Legislative Success who have shown a continued commitment to the communities within the Tulsa region:

 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
  


Tulsa Metro Chamber
2 West 2nd St. Suite 150
Tulsa, OK 74103
918-585-1201




Copyright 2008, Tulsa Metro Chamber, All Rights Reserved. Designed and Developed by Cubic