Representative Mark Tedford

R

District 69

Hi, I’m Mark Tedford and I represent the people of Oklahoma’s 69th District.

representative

News & Announcements

Sep 30, 2024
Recent Posts

Tedford Explores HAZMAT Units at MidAmerica Industrial Park

Rep. Mark Tedford, R-Tulsa, recently held an interim study to explore the exposure of hazardous materials at the MidAmerica Industrial Park and the current HAZMAT response capabilities in the eastern part of the state. IS24-105 was held before the House Business and Commerce Committee. The MidAmerica Industrial Park is located on 9,000 acres in northeast Oklahoma. It is the largest industrial park in the state and the fifth largest in the United States, providing services to over 80 companies and about 4,000 employees. During the study, Jason Stutzman, the executive director of MidAmerica Industrial Park, said that the park stores about 1.76 billion pounds of extremely hazardous materials as well as tens of thousands of gallons of diesel fuel. Over half of the employers in the park utilize and store hazardous materials for their daily manufacturing processes. Tedford said industries within the park use dangerous chemicals such as ammonia nitrate and anhydrous ammonia, as well as materials related to the assembly of battery modules.  "Quick response in containing hazardous materials is crucial to save lives within the park and prevent the spread of chemicals to surrounding communities, home to over 11,000 businesses and 27,000 residents," Tedford said. "A HAZMAT incident not only threatens lives but can also lead to property damage, business disruptions, costly evacuations, and damage the park's reputation as a safe workplace." Currently, the Pryor Fire Department does not have HAZMAT capabilities, and the closest HAZMAT units are in Claremore and Tahlequah. The response time to the MidAmerica Industrial Park is around 90 minutes. Adding a HAZMAT unit in Pryor would cost about $5.4 million upfront, plus $1.5 million annually for the next nine years, covering equipment, staffing, and training. MidAmerica can provide land and facilities, and both MidAmerica and the city of Pryor can help with some operational costs. The total 10-year funding request from the state is $18 million. Tedford said this unit would benefit not just the park but also the 27,000 residents in the area by enhancing the fire department's capabilities, which could improve their ISO fire ratings, potentially lowering insurance rates. "I intend to file legislation next session to request funding for a HAZMAT unit in Pryor," Tedford said. "MidAmerica contains the state's critical infrastructure and has significant vulnerabilities that must be addressed. Municipal fire departments are funded by sales tax; however, MidAmerica does not generate sales tax, creating a reasonable funding gap for the state to fill."  

Sep 24, 2024
Recent Posts

Tedford Hosts Interim Study on Oklahoma’s Unemployment Tax

Rep. Mark Tedford, R-Tulsa, recently held an interim study examining the impact of state unemployment tax on economic development. Unemployment benefits, funded through unemployment insurance taxes (SUTA) levied on state employers, provide financial support for employees transitioning between jobs. Despite the essential function of these benefits, Tedford said misconceptions exist regarding how the system operates and who is responsible for funding it. IS24-103 was held before the House Business and Commerce Committee and studied how Oklahoma collects tax and pays benefits compared to other states and whether this process impacts the state's business environment. Trae Rahill, Oklahoma Employment Security Commission's (OESC) executive director, compared Oklahoma's unemployment insurance system to neighboring states—Colorado, Arkansas, Missouri, Texas, and Kansas—highlighting key factors like taxable wage base and tax rate. He pointed out that TaxFoundation.org rates Oklahoma's system the best and that it is the only state that has never borrowed from the federal program. The taxable wage base is the maximum wage employers pay, with Oklahoma being one of 34 states that determine this cap based on economic factors. However, other states may base their caps on different economic indicators. Sixteen states, including four neighboring states, set the caps legislatively. "The advantage of an economically derived cap is that it will adjust to changing economic conditions," Tedford said. "Oklahoma uses 50% of the average annual wage to determine its cap at $27,000. This means Oklahoma employers pay unemployment tax on the first $27,000 of wages per employee. Unfortunately, most of our surrounding states legislatively set their wage base much lower than Oklahoma. The only other neighboring state that economically derives the wage base, Colorado, is the only state higher than ours." Tedford said the tax rate employers pay for SUTA is based on the number of unemployment claims made against them over time. A new employer will start with a default tax rate of 1.5% on wages, adjusted based on the employer's experience after four quarters. While Oklahoma's default rate is the lowest in the region, its maximum rate of 9.2% is the highest. Executive Director of the State Chamber Research Foundation, Ben Lepak, commented that employers seeking to move into or increase their footprint in Oklahoma will look at the total dollar cost of the unemployment insurance burden, certainty of the rate, and ease of compliance. Lepak said several states offer a "buy down" feature that allows them to reduce and stabilize their rates while reimbursing the state for the benefits provided.   Christy Rawlings, commissioner for the OESC and owner of Prime Recruiting, highlighted that Oklahoma's high taxable wage base created a competitive disadvantage for employers wanting to increase their presence. She also reiterated Lepak's comments that a "buy down" option would greatly help companies looking to expand in Oklahoma to stabilize their unemployment insurance cost.  "Overall, Oklahoma's unemployment insurance system is well-funded and well-managed," Tedford said. "I intend to work with the OSEC and other stakeholders in the state to implement these recommendations to create a better business environment for employers in Oklahoma without changing benefits for workers in transition."

Jul 9, 2024
Recent Posts

Governor to Ceremonially Sign Tedford's Strengthen Oklahoma Homes Act

Rep. Mark Tedford, R-Tulsa, and Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready will participate in a ceremonial signing of House Bill 3089 – The Strengthen Oklahoma Homes Act. Time: 11 a.m. Date: Tuesday, July 9 Location: Governor's Blue Room, second floor of the State Capitol, 2300 N Lincoln Blvd. "This measure assists homeowners in proactively protecting their homes from the destructive forces of nature in an effort to lower their insurance costs," Tedford said. "I'm pleased to bring together the various stakeholders who helped work on this legislation and those who will benefit from it to celebrate its signing." HB3089 establishes a grant program to assist residential property owners to construct or retrofit homes against the destructive forces of tornadoes, windstorms or hail. Grants will be administered by the Oklahoma Insurance Department for individuals with insurable property who reside in an approved county, meet certain home conditions, and own an owner-occupied, single-family residence. The legislation is co-authored by Reps. Ellyn Hefner, D-Oklahoma City, and Jacob Rosecrants, D-Norman. Sen. Dewayne Pemberton, R-Muskogee, is the principal Senate author. HB 3089 was signed into law by the governor May 13. Ceremonial bill signings are held as a way to allow lawmakers and others involved in the drafting of legislation to engage in this part of the process. Under the measure, grant funds may be used by qualifying homeowners to reinforce their roofs with impact-resistant materials that meet the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) fortified standards. This will enable consumers to construct or retrofit their homes with impact-resistant shingles and other enhancements. Applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority given to lower-income applicants and applicants who live in areas more prone to catastrophic weather. The property owner must hire an approved evaluator to prequalify the property, obtain bids from at least three approved contractors, and follow specific retrofitting standards. The measure becomes effective Nov. 1., with the first grants going out in 2025.