Appropriations committee advances package of bills on invasive species, tax credits, rules review and reappropriations

The Oklahoma House Appropriations Committee advanced a slate of bills at its first appropriation meeting, voting to report several measures as do pass to the full House.

The panel approved House Bill 1728, carried by Pro Tem Anthony Moore, to create a salt‑cedar eradication program covering parts of western Oklahoma. "This bill would create a salt cedar eradication act," Moore said, noting that salt cedars can consume "anywhere between 142 gallons per tree per day." Moore said early cost estimates for a program would be "between 300 and 5 hundred thousand." The committee voted 28‑0 to report HB 1728 as do pass.

The committee approved House Bill 1201, presented by Representative Maynard, to create a state tax credit for donors to pregnancy resource centers, maternity homes and related qualified centers. Maynard described the credit as providing a 70 percent tax credit to donors ("if I donate a thousand dollars, I need to get $700 credit on my taxes"), and said the measure excludes very small donations to reduce paperwork (donations under $100 are not eligible). Committee members pressed about existing state funding for such centers; Representative Bennell and others referenced the Choosing Childbirth Act and prior appropriations. The bill passed on a roll call, 23‑5.

House Bill 2728, by Representative Kendricks, would require that administrative rules with an estimated fiscal cost of $1 million or more over five years be treated as "major rules" and go through the legislative process rather than the standard administrative rule process. Kendricks said the bill also creates a small legislative economic analysis unit under LOFT to review agencies' valuations and consult counties, municipalities and school boards as needed. Committee members asked whether the change alters the existing automatic-approval/disapproval timelines under the Administrative Procedures Act; Kendricks said the process remains disapproval-based but major rules will require affirmative legislative action. The committee voted 29‑0 to report HB 2728 as do pass.

Vice Chairman Kane presented House Bill 2087, which rebalances two research tax credit caps so the total remains $2 million: the biomedical research cap would rise while the cancer research cap would be lowered. Kane said the arrangement was agreed to by OU Health and the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. Members asked about potential impacts from federal NIH funding changes; the presenter said that was not addressed in the bill. The committee reported HB 2087 as do pass, 29‑0.

House Bill 2744, brought by Vice Chairman Kane, authorizes the reappropriation of unspent funds from an earlier PREP appropriation toward state fair facility upgrades so the Department of Commerce can finish projects after a two‑and‑a‑half year lapse. Several members questioned whether the PREP fund’s original intent (water, sewer, broadband, electric, gas, and industrial infrastructure) matched spending on state fairgrounds; supporters said the state fairgrounds act as an economic driver and the bill only extends the time to spend previously appropriated funds. The committee reported HB 2744 do pass, 28‑0.

A negotiated consent decree, House Concurrent Resolution 1004, was presented by Chairman Caldwell as a settlement between the governor, the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, and the attorney general regarding competency restoration and related court‑ordered matters. Caldwell said the resolution "gives us clarity" and lays out the costs and rules of engagement for competency restoration. The committee reported HCR 1004 as passed, 27‑0.

House Bill 2741, presented as a property‑rights measure, would allow certain landowners who own contiguous acreage in Oklahoma to harvest grain at marketable rates on family land that crosses the Oklahoma‑Texas border. The sponsor said the bill was narrowly tailored (contiguous ownership, minimum acreage requirements and ownership documentation) and that wildlife agency concerns had been addressed through amendments; the committee reported the PCS for HB 2741 as do pass, 26‑2.

A measure to require disclosure and filing with the Secretary of State by persons advocating for certain international or foreign‑associated corporations (committee amendment added an exception for companies already reviewed under the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States) was presented by Representative Trey Caldwell. The PCS requires a filing and a modest fee and the Secretary of State staff said violations would carry the same penalties as other mandatory filings under the Secretary of State Act. The committee adopted the amendment by unanimous consent and reported the PCS as do pass, 26‑0.

Votes at a glance

- HB 1728 (Salt‑cedar eradication act) — do pass, 28 ayes, 0 nays. - HB 1201 (Tax credit for donors to pregnancy resource centers, maternity homes and qualified centers) — do pass, 23 ayes, 5 nays. - HB 1378 (Add Forestry to agriculture list) — do pass, 28 ayes, 0 nays. - HB 2728 (Major‑rule threshold; legislative economic analysis under LOFT) — do pass, 29 ayes, 0 nays. - HB 2087 (Biomedical/cancer research tax credit cap adjustments) — do pass, 29 ayes, 0 nays. - HB 2744 (Reappropriation of PREP funds for State Fair facility upgrades) — do pass, 28 ayes, 0 nays. - HCR 1004 (Negotiated consent decree on competency restoration) — passed, 27 ayes, 0 nays. - HB 2741 (Property rights/harvest on family land) — PCS do pass, 26 ayes, 2 nays. - HB 2762 (Disclosure/filing for advocates of certain international corporations; committee amendment adds CFIUS exception) — PCS do pass, 26 ayes, 0 nays.

Many measures were advanced with committee discussion about funding sources, administrative processes and scope. Several presenters emphasized they expect some items to return for budget or technical work by staff. The committee chair recessed at the end of the meeting after housekeeping notes about the committee’s scheduling.