Press Releases

Oklahoma State Senators Josh Brecheen and Nathan Dahm filed legislation Monday that would end check-in-the-mail tax credit payouts paid to wind energy companies who are exempt from paying income taxes. Oklahoma will pay $500-$750 million in tax credits to wind energy companies over the next 10 years. Approximately 93 percent of the payments will go to foreign and out-of-state shareholders.
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Senate Democratic Leader John Sparks released the following statement on behalf of the Senate Democratic Caucus:

“This week we saw democracy in action at the Oklahoma State Capitol. Thousands of Oklahoma educators, students, parents, and concerned citizens came to the Capitol every day to advocate for education funding. The Senate Democratic Caucus is proud to stand with you. We know that you and your families have made tremendous personal sacrifices to be here. Your voices are being heard, but there is more work to be done.

The Oklahoma Senate on Friday approved measures that will send millions of new dollars into Oklahoma classrooms.

The Senate gave approval to HB 1019xx, a bill that requires online marketplaces like Amazon to collect and remit sales tax to Oklahoma or comply with the state’s notification requirements. The Oklahoma Tax Commission estimates the bill will generate $20.5 million annually.
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The Oklahoma Senate will meet Friday to consider special session and regular session measures.

The Senate will meet in special session at 8:30 a.m. Friday to consider HB 1019xx, the marketplace fairness act or so-called “Amazon bill,” as well as HB 1012xx, a bill that repeals the “hotel/motel” tax that was originally included the $530 million revenue package (HB 1010xx) passed by the Legislature last week that completely funds the largest teacher pay raise in state history.
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“I was pleased to meet with at least five groups with 10 to 20 in each group today.  I was encouraged by the positive approach about additional school funding.  I explained that teacher pay had been priority number one in our recent sessions, with the average teacher raise given last week equaling $6,100, or a 15% increase. 

Senate Democratic Leader John Sparks released the following statement on behalf of the Senate Democratic Caucus:

“Today the Senate Democratic Caucus welcomed thousands of educators, parents, students, and concerned citizens to the Capitol. We stand with them in their fight to properly fund public education in Oklahoma.

Paying our teachers a fair and competitive salary is a priority, but this movement is about more than just teacher pay, it’s about the chronic underfunding of public education in Oklahoma.