OKLAHOMA CITY - A delegation from Taiwan was welcomed to the State Capitol last week on a mission to reaffirm the support of a free and open Indo-Pacific trading relationship with Oklahoma.
In 2024, Gov. Kevin Stitt traveled to Taiwan on an energy and aerospace focused trade mission. Oklahoma and Taiwan have maintained a sister-state relationship for 45 years and, last year, Oklahoma exported over $46 million in goods to Taiwan, according to a legislative press release.
“Taiwan has long been a trusted friend and partner to Oklahoma,” said Rep. Daniel Pae (R-Lawton) in the release. “Over the last 45 years, we have built a lasting partnership based on mutual growth and prosperity. However, our relationship goes beyond economic benefits. It is essential that we continue to support our democratic allies in Taiwan.”
Pae is a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 209, which is pending in the House Appropriations and Budget Committee. It seeks to create the Taiwan Regional Trade Office under the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. Economic relationships between Oklahoma-based businesses and businesses in Taiwan would promote and facilitate trade.
The new trade office, if approved, would have broad responsibilities, including promoting Oklahoma businesses, facilitating business-to-business trading activities, coordinating state-level business outreach, providing trading opportunity information, conducting training programs for Oklahoma business owners and supporting international travel missions.
In addition, the House also adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 3, which was filed with the Secretary of State last week. The measure expresses the Legislature’s support for Oklahoma’s continued partnership with Taiwan and also celebrates the anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979.
In 2024, Forbes ranked Taiwan 14th in the world for Gross Domestic Product per capita, surpassing regional neighbors such as Japan, China, Hong Kong and South Korea.
Pae also authored or co-sponsored 13 other bills that saw legislative action last week. Included are:
• SB 494, which seeks to remove references to CompSource Oklahoma from various state statutes. It would specifically eliminate special provisions that previously exempted the organization from certain state government regulations. Multiple state statutes would be amended to remove language that provided CompSource Oklahoma with unique exceptions to standard state agency requirements related to budgeting, property management, vehicle acquisition, communications systems and other administrative processes.
• SB 573, which seeks to amend the state’s existing law regarding income tax exemptions for small business incubator tenants. New reporting requirements would be introduced for businesses seeking to maintain their tax-exempt status.
Rep. Stacy Jo Adams (R-Duncan) is co-sponsor of three firearms-related bills, which have received recent legislative action. They are:
• SB 500, which seeks to establish new regulations for state government contracts. The focus would be on protecting firearm entities and firearm trade associations from discrimination. The measure would require companies seeking government contracts to provide written verification that they do not promote policies that refuse to do business with or terminate relationships with firearm entities.
The requirements would only apply to contracts with companies having at least 10 full-time employees and valued at $100,000 or more. The intent of the bill is to prevent businesses from being penalized due to their involvement in the firearms industry.
• House Bill 1139, which seeks to amend state law to modify regulations about firearms and weapons on school property by expanding the circumstances under which firearms can be transported and stored.
If passed, firearms and weapons would be allowed for specific scenarios, which includes during approved hunting or firearms training courses by licensed individuals on private school property. However, the school’s governing entity would need to adopt a policy permitting it.
Other exemptions listed in the bill include members of veterans groups, National Guard, military or ROTC during approved ceremonies or programs and by school personnel with specific security certifications. The bill also notes that firearms can be carried in privately owned motor vehicles on school property provided they are stored out-ofview and the vehicle is locked when unattended.
• HB 2818, which seeks to clarify and expand protections for individuals using firearms in self-defense or for defensive purposes, has an emergency clause attached to it. The measure would modify several existing state statutes to remove mandatory minimum sentencing, eliminate handgun license revocation requirements and broaden the circumstances allowing individuals to legally point or display a firearm.
If passed, firearm pointing would be permitted in self-defense when defending property or during a defensive display, which is defined to include verbal warnings. It would also expand the definition of situations where defensive force is justified, such as protecting oneself or property in homes, places of worship, businesses and other occupied premises.
The emergency tag attached to the bill would allow the law to take effect immediately upon approval of the governor.
Rep. Brad Boles (R-Marlow) authored two bills that were referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee last week. They are:
• HB 1372, which seeks to modify the state’s gross production tax law and stipulates a 50% tax reduction for oil and gas recovery projects be provided, if wells are used from the Corporation Commission’s orphaned well list. The intent is to encourage the recovery and productive use of orphaned wells.
• HB 1427, which proposes to modify existing state tax law in regards to clean burning motor vehicle fuel property tax credits. It would extend and adjust tax credits for investments in alternative fuel vehicle technologies.
Rep. Trey Caldwell (R-Faxon) is co-sponsor of SB 687 that seeks to modify the state’s sales tax rebate program for broadband infrastructure expansion. The House restored the title on the measure last week, after it was stricken in February.
Striking the title allows a bill to move forward in the legislative process while acknowledging that the measure needs further changes before final approval.
The plan includes establishing new administrative procedures and creating a dedicated funding mechanism. Specifically, the Oklahoma Broadband Office and Oklahoma Tax Commission would be tasked to jointly administer a rebate program for equipment purchases that expand broadband services in underserved or unserved areas. Equipment purchased between Jan. 1, 2022, and Dec. 31, 2023, would be eligible for rebates.
The measure, if approved, will create the Oklahoma Broadband Rebate Revolving Fund, which will support a total rebate cap of $42 million. It sets aside $31.5 million for projects in counties with populations of fewer than 100 people per square mile and $10.5 million for projects in more populous counties.
Rebate claims will be processed annually. Claimants will be required to demonstrate net growth in service of underserved areas. An emergency tag is attached to the bill and becomes effective upon approval.
Caldwell authored HB 2745, which is pending in the Senate Appropriations Committee.
The measure pertains to revenue and taxation and would specifically modify the state’s banking privilege tax laws.
Financial institutions with main offices in the state would be eligible for a new deduction. The measure proposes, in part, that in the 2025 tax year, banks and lending institutions can deduct net interest income from three specific types of loans. They are qualified agricultural real estate loans, agricultural operating loans and single-family residence loans in rural areas.
A bill co-sponsored by Rep. Gerrid Kendrix (R-Altus), SB 995, seeks to require all administrative rules to receive proactive approval from the state Legislature before taking effect, saw action in the House Administrative Rules Committee last week.
Currently, under Oklahoma’s administrative rules process, all submitted rules must be reviewed by the Legislature. However, if lawmakers take no action, the rules are then sent to the governor. Should the governor also decline to act, the rules automatically go into effect without any formal approval, according to a legislative press release.
SB 995 seeks to change the process by requiring all rules to be approved through a joint resolution of the Legislature before taking effect. In addition, any rules not explicitly approved would be considered disapproved.
“Too often, administrative rules written by unelected agency bureaucrats go into effect without any input from the people’s elected representatives,” Kendrix, who chairs the House Administrative Rules Committee, said in a press release.
“This undermines the role of the Legislature and, by extension, the voices of our constituents. Senate Bill 995 ensures that lawmakers have the final say on new rules before they take effect. This bill provides the transparency and accountability Oklahomans deserve, and I believe the time is right to get it done.”
The bill passed committee 11-0 last week and now moves to the House floor for consideration. However, SB 995 was amended in committee and would need to be approved by the Senate again before moving to the governor’s desk. An emergency clause attached to the measure would make it effective immediately upon being signed into law, the release said.
In addition, Kendrix authored HB 2728, known as the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act of 2025. This bill, co-sponsored by Reps. Boles and Caldwell, passed the Senate Appropriations Committee.
This act is a measure designed to enhance transparency and legislative oversight in the state’s administrative rulemaking process and is modeled after similar federal legislation. The intent is to ensure that state agency regulations receive greater legislative review before taking effect.
If signed into law, HB 2728 would require all proposed agency rules to be submitted with an economic impact statement. Additionally, any rule projected to cost at least $1 million over five years would require separate legislative approval before it could take effect.
The bill will also establish the Legislative Economic Analysis Unit within the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency to provide independent reviews of agencies’ economic impact statements.