Recent Articles

Five things we know about Oklahoma’s 2018 legislative elections – pre-runoff update

Several months ago, we wrote about this year’s Oklahoma elections following the candidate filing period. Based on the unusually high numbers of open seats, candidates filing for office,  and challenges to incumbents, it already looked as if 2018 could be… Read more [More...]

What we know – and don’t know – about the revenue bill veto challenge

In late March, on the eve of an anticipated teacher walk-out, Oklahoma lawmakers approved a series of bills intended to provide pay raises for teachers, school support staff, and state employees. To pay for the raises, lawmakers approved a number… Read more [More...]

Capital gains deduction

A capital gain is a rise in the value of a capital asset (investment or real estate) that gives it a higher worth than the purchase price. The gain is not realized until the asset is sold. Capital gains income… Read more [More...]

Standard Deduction

Under federal and Oklahoma tax law, the standard deduction is a dollar amount that taxpayers who do not claim itemized deductions may subtract from their income before income tax is applied. Taxpayers may choose either itemized deductions or the standard… Read more [More...]

Health Care Enhancement Fund

The Health Care Enhancement Fund was created by HB 1016xx in the 2017-18 second special session. Beginning July 1, 2019, all revenues from the $1 per-pack increase in the cigarette tax passed under HB 1010xx are deposited in the Health… Read more [More...]

What we know about Oklahoma’s 2018 legislative elections

The filing period for the 2018 elections concluded on April 13th, one day after the Oklahoma Education Association announced the end to the two-week teacher walkout that brought tens of thousands of educators and their supporters to the Capitol on… Read more [More...]

Line-Item Veto

The line-item veto is a power enjoyed by Oklahoma’s Governor that allows him or her to veto one or more sections of an appropriations bill.  Line-item vetoes, like regular vetoes, can be overridden by a two-thirds vote of both chambers… Read more [More...]

The FY 2019 Budget: Been down so long this looks like up

In the 1960s, the New York City poet and folksinger Richard Fariña published a novel titled “Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up To Me.” This title certainly applies to Oklahoma’s FY 2019 state budget, approved by the House… Read more [More...]

Enrolled Bill

A bill that passes both chambers in its final form is enrolled. It is then sent to the Governor. Bills that pass one chamber are engrossed. To find the enrolled version of a bill, go to the Legislature’s website, click… Read more [More...]

Revenue Stabilization Fund

In 2016, the Legislature created a new budget reserve fund, the Revenue Stabilization Fund (RSF), which is designed to grow in years when collections from the state’s most volatile revenue sources are coming in above recent averages. Every February the… Read more [More...]