Representative Marilyn Stark

News & Announcements


Mar 14, 2023
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House Approves Bill Eliminating Sales Tax for Nonprofits

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.



Mar 2, 2023
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House A&B Approves Legislation Exempting Nonprofits from Sales Tax

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.



Feb 16, 2023
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Stark Pushes to Ease Access to Driver Licenses for Inmates Leaving Incarceration

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Marilyn Stark, R-Bethany, is pushing for driver licenses to be restored for certain inmates preparing to leave incarceration. Stark is the author of House Bill 1566, which directs the Oklahoma Dept. of Corrections (DOC) to provide inmates with state-issued IDs, REAL ID compliant IDs, or REAL ID compliant driver licenses upon their release. "We've made tremendous progress in lowering our recidivism rate, but to keep that momentum going, we must equip people who've paid their debt to society with every possible tool to succeed upon reentry," Stark said. "Whether through a legislative solution or another avenue, providing qualifying inmates with a REAL ID compliant license is a necessary step to help people who have served their time move on with their lives." Stark said the bill is part of the Restorative Workforce Initiative, a collection of bills passed in recent years that work together to address both recidivism and the employment gap by empowering individuals to find employment both before and immediately after leaving incarceration. Stark is one of three Republican legislators supporting the Restorative Workforce Initiative. She is joined in the effort by Rep. Brian Hill, R-Mustang, and Rep. Nicole Miller, R-Edmond. Hill, who worked with Stark to develop the 2021 Sarah Stitt Act, said the Restorative Workforce Initiative builds off legislation passed in recent years to lower incarceration and recidivism rates and grow the economy, restore families, rebuild lives. "We know that work works," Hill said. "Having a stable income is the largest indicator of success for someone leaving prison, but the unemployment rate for justice-involved Oklahomans is nearly five times the state average. The Restorative Workforce Initiative is comprised of common-sense solutions to help people who've turned their lives around and to spur economic growth simultaneously." HB1566 is assigned to the House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee. The deadline to pass bills through committee is March 2.