Appropriations and Budget

Nonprofits with 501(c)3 status could soon be exempt from sales tax under a bill approved by the Oklahoma House of Representatives this week. House Bill 1568, authored by Rep. Marilyn Stark, R-Bethany, would exempt Oklahoma-based 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations who receive $3 million or less in annual gross revenue from paying sales tax on purchases. "Nonprofit employees and volunteers are passionate about what they do and most of them provide these services far better than the state could," Stark said. "Exempting Oklahoma's smaller nonprofits from sales tax is just one way we can empower them to continue to serve their communities." The measure states that alcohol and tobacco purchases are not considered exempt purchases. HB1568 passed the House 70-17 on Monday. It now moves to the Senate.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Nicole Miller, R-Edmond, passed two bills related to elder care through their committees this week. House Bill 2753 unanimously passed the House Health Services and Long-Term Care Committee on Tuesday. The measure would create the Vulnerable Adult Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation Registry, a searchable database requested by the Oklahoma Silver-Haired Legislature. Miller told the committee the Office of the Attorney General currently produces a report on the same information, but HB2753 would improve ease of access to the information. The registry would include names, identifiable information and case descriptions for people convicted of abuse, neglect or exploitation of a vulnerable adult. Miller said HB2753 was supported by the Oklahoma Alliance on Aging, the Oklahoma State Council on Aging and American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) Oklahoma. On Wednesday, the House Appropriations & Budget Committee unanimously approved House Bill 2747, which would create the Office of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia Resource Coordination within the State Dept. of Health. The office would provide statewide coordination, service system development, and information on education, support, and other available services for people with Alzheimer's or with loved ones who have the disease. Miller worked with the Alzheimer's Association to create the bill, which she said marks the start to implementing the State Plan on Alzheimer's that was implemented in 2008. HB2747 would also establish the Alzheimer's Disease & Related Dementia Research Fund and the Dementia Caregiver Support Group & Education Program Development Fund to distribute grants as approved by awards committees. "Oklahoma has had a state plan on Alzheimer's for 15 years, and while progress has been made to address the programmatic and policy needs, there's more work to be done," Miller said. "Government has an obligation to protect our vulnerable citizens, and sadly that sometimes includes our seniors who are at risk of being taken advantage of or who suffer from memory loss. I'm thankful these bills both passed their committees and urge a speedy approval on the House floor." HB2753 and HB2747 are both eligible to be heard on the House floor

The Oklahoma House of Representatives Appropriations & Budget Committee has approved legislation to exempt 501(c)3 nonprofits from sales tax. Rep. Marilyn Stark, R-Bethany, said making Oklahoma's 501(c)3 charitable nonprofit organizations sales tax exempt has been one of her top priorities for years and House Bill 1568 is the culmination of several sessions spent learning, tweaking and working with agencies and committees. Under the bill, 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations established in the state who receive $3 million or less in annual gross revenue would be exempt from sales tax. "Historically, a dollar in the hands of a nonprofit yields about $5 in assistance to their clients," said Stark, who held an interim study on sales tax exemptions for nonprofits in October 2022. "Nonprofit entities are passionate about what they do and most of them do it very well. The government shouldn't be limiting people who are passionate about caring for others; instead, we should be empowering those who help lessen the reliance on government, and exempting our nonprofits is a fantastic step in the right direction." The measure stipulates that alcohol and tobacco purchases are not considered exempt purchases. HB1568 passed the House A&B Committee 33-0 on Wednesday and now moves to the House floor.