Committees

OKLAHOMA CITY – Three measures by Rep. Mark Chapman, R-Broken Arrow, passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives this week and now move to the Senate for further consideration. "I’m grateful to my colleagues in the House for supporting these measures," Chapman said. "Each of these bills addresses a different area of state policy, but they all focus on strengthening our systems and making sure state law is clear, consistent and working the way it should for Oklahomans." One of the measures, House Bill 3787 , clarifies that candidates for municipal office as well as individuals serving on school district and technology center school district boards of education must be qualified electors as defined by the Oklahoma Constitution. The measure helps ensure consistency in state law by making clear that these requirements apply across multiple levels of public office. The bill also reinforces existing language requiring candidates for state and county offices to meet qualified elector standards. Another measure, House Bill 4191 , modifies provisions of the Small Employer Quality Jobs Incentive Act administered by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. The bill updates investment requirements and other program provisions to help ensure the program continues supporting job creation and economic development across the state. Chapman also advanced House Bill 1739 , which addresses provisions related to the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System. The bill adjusts employer and employee contribution rates and clarifies eligibility for certain retirement benefit calculations. All three measures now move to the Oklahoma Senate for further consideration.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Rick West, R-Heavener, on Tuesday passed a bill in the House that would allow legal guardians and grandparents to be exempt from paying vehicle excise tax on the transfer of vehicle ownership to a child or grandchild. House Bill 2967 would expand the list of vehicle transfers that would qualify for the exemption. Currently, husbands and wives and parents to children are allowed to transfer vehicle titles without paying excise tax. "I'm calling this my grandpa bill," West explained. "Grandparents should be allowed to gift or sell their vehicles to their grandchildren without having to pay additional tax to the government." The bill was requested by a constituent of West. Current state law requires excise tax to be levied upon the transfer of legal ownership of any vehicle registered in Oklahoma, upon the use of any vehicle registered in this state and upon the use of any vehicle registered for the first time in the state. There are some exemptions for vehicles used for agriculture and for 100% disabled veterans, among others. HB2967 passed the House on a vote of 69-10. It now moves to the State Senate where it is authored by Sen. Shane Jett, R-Shawnee.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Chad Caldwell, R-Enid, on Tuesday highlighted strong early demand for the Parental Choice Tax Credit (PCTC) program following the opening of the application window for the 2026–27 school year. “The Oklahoma Tax Commission reports nearly 27,000 applications for the upcoming school year were submitted on the first day alone,” Caldwell said. “That represents almost 70 percent of the total applications received for the current school year. This level of demand underscores how strongly Oklahoma families value this program and reinforces the need to expand its funding so more parents can access educational options that best meet their children’s needs.” Caldwell is the author of House Bill 3705 , which would increase the annual cap on tax credits for private school students to $300 million. The measure also includes a growth mechanism: if total credits claimed in a given year reach at least 90 percent of the cap, the cap would automatically increase by $50 million in the following year. House Bill 3705 is eligible for consideration on the House Floor. It already passed both the House Appropriations and Budget Education Subcommittee, which Caldwell chairs, and the full House Appropriations and Budget Committee. The Parental Choice Tax Credit program was established through House Bill 1934 in 2023. The program provides families with greater flexibility to choose educational settings that best suit their children. Under the program’s tiered structure, eligible families may receive refundable tax credits ranging from $5,000 to $7,500 per student for private school tuition, depending on household income. Additionally, families who homeschool may qualify for a $1,000 per-student tax credit for approved educational expenses. Currently, tax credits for private school expenses are capped at $250 million annually, while homeschooling credits are capped at $5 million per year. The program is administered by the Oklahoma Tax Commission, which opened applications for the 2026–27 school year on March 16. The application period closes at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, June 15. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit all required documentation before the deadline to ensure consideration. More information, including application guidance and eligibility details, is available on the Oklahoma Tax Commission’s website: https://oklahoma.gov/tax/individuals/parental-choice-tax-credit.html