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| 04.20.12 |
Watch this week's Legislative Focus video Click on the graphic above to view a brief video about this week in session. Register today for Regional Day at the Capitol Wednesday The Tulsa Metro Chamber invites anyone interested in the future of the Tulsa region to join us for the 2012 Tulsa Regional Day at the Capitol. Attend to hear from state officials and Chamber leaders on issues affecting the Tulsa region; enjoy lunch; and participate in group lobbying activities with legislators. The event is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday, April 25 at the State Capitol’s second floor rotunda in Oklahoma City. Cost to attend is $49 for members and includes lunch. Group rates are available. A charter bus will be provided at no cost to attendees on a first-come, first-served basis; seating is limited. For more information about the event or to register, call 918.560.0212 or email events@tulsachamber.com. To register online visit TulsaChamber.com. Presented by
Legislative Benefactors
Tulsa County, regional chambers and cities gear up for enVision Summit Regional leaders and the community-at-large will convene to collaborate, inspire and construct future plans for the region at the enVision Summit, scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to noon, next Friday, April 27 at Central Park Hall at Expo Square, 4145 E. 21st St. Hosted by Tulsa County, and co-chaired by the regional cities and area mayors in partnership with regional chambers, this event will engage citizens in self-motivated and vigorous deliberations about how to strengthen the region for the future. Regional chambers, elected officials and business leaders are leading the effort to develop WHAT’S NEXT? for the region. The Tulsa region is on the cusp of regaining its foothold as Oklahoma’s center for culture and quality of life. New ideas will be gathered at the Summit, and those interested in the future of the region are encouraged to attend. There is no cost to attend. Register online at www.envisionsummit.org. State Capitol Activity RecapBUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSIONTax 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. Set on the Senate floor agenda April 19. . 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. Set on the Senate floor agenda April 19. . HB 3061, Steele/Bingman: Creates the Oklahoma Tax Reform Act of 2012. Set on the Senate floor agenda April 19. . SB 747, Brinkley/McNiel: Raises the amount the Oklahoma Development Finance can issue to $200 million for the Economic Development Pool. Voted down on the House floor (Y39, N49). . 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 the full House (Y-92, N-0); headed to Conference Committee. . SB 1464, Bingman/McNiel: Adds definitions of certain areas to the Oklahoma Quality Jobs Program. Set on the House floor agenda April 19. . SB 1465, Bingman/McNiel: Modifies requirements in the sales tax in regards to direct payment permits for tangible property stored in state temporarily for fabrication, repair, testing, alteration, maintenance or other services; EMERGENCY. Voted "Do Pass" as substituted 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. 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. Set on the Senate floor agenda April 19. . 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. Passed the Senate (Y31, N15); headed to Conference Committee. . 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. Voted "Do Pass" from the House A&B Committee; headed to the full House. 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. 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 Appropriations & Budget Committee; headed to the full House. 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. Voted "Do Pass" from the House Appropriations & Budget Committee; headed to the full House. 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. Passed the full Senate (Y28, N17); headed to Conference Committee. REGIONAL TOURISM . SB 1231, Mazzei/Dank: Requires report for delivery of cigarettes and monthly report from wholesalers by 20th of each month to OTC; removes out-of-date language; must correct failure to file tax return within 15 days after tax becomes delinquent. 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. Voted "Do Pass" from the House Appropriations & Budget Committee; headed to the full House. 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. Voted "Do Pass" from the House Appropriations & Budget Committee; headed to the full House. . 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. Voted "Do Pass" from the House Appropriations & Budget Committee; headed to the full House. 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. 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:
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