Sen. Nathan Dahm files licensure tax credit legislation

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, has filed legislation to give Oklahomans an income tax credit to offset the costs of work-related licenses required by the state.

“We’ve been studying occupational licensing for years, and the one thing we’ve seen is growth in government where people are required to get a license, often unnecessarily, before they are allowed to work and be a productive member of society,” Dahm said. “Only five percent of jobs used to require a license, but now a quarter of all jobs require some sort of government permission just to work.”

If signed into law, Senate Bill 1109 would create a tax credit for any person required by the state to have a job-related license. The measure also includes a tax credit for any costs a worker incurs by taking state mandated testing or continuing education requirements.

Dahm said some licenses cost hundreds of dollars and put a burden on Oklahoma workers. He hopes to move toward a free market system that benefits taxpayers.

“The state taxes five percent of every dollar our workers make, and then five percent of every dollar they spend on purchases on top of that. If we want our economy to continue to thrive, we need to create an environment that is not designed to keep workers out,” Dahm said. “We shouldn’t have these barriers to enter the work force. This tax credit would lift some of this burden while we work to restructure the state for the benefit of our future generations and future workers. More money in the pockets of hard-working Oklahomans is better for families, the economy, and ultimately our state.”