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Senate committee advances MakeMyMove grant program to help communities recruit out‑of‑state residents

Oklahoma Senate Committee on Economic Development, Workforce and Tourism · February 17, 2026

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Summary

Senate Bill 16‑96, presented by Senator Coleman, would create a Department of Commerce competitive grant program using MakeMyMove marketing to help local governments recruit new residents, with organization caps of $250,000 and audit triggers at $100,000; the bill passed committee 5–3 after debate over potential layering of incentives.

Senator Coleman told the committee that Senate Bill 16‑96 would create a competitive grant program within the Department of Commerce to help cities and counties design recruitment incentives to attract out‑of‑state residents, including remote workers. Coleman said the program is intended to stabilize school enrollment, housing markets and local workforces and would leverage a website, makemymove.com, to showcase local incentive packages.

Coleman described possible incentives such as $5,000 paid to a household after a one‑year residency requirement or proof of a mortgage, and said the state would cap funding to organizations at $250,000. He noted that if total grant funds exceed $100,000 a financial audit requirement applies.

Committee members raised concerns about overlap with other incentives and the risk of layering state tax credits and local payments. Senator Kurt said those overlaps could produce excessive state spending on a single position, and Coleman responded that incentives under the bill go to individuals rather than corporations and that corporations receive no benefit under this program: "Corporations do not get any incentives from this bill. None whatsoever goes to a corporation. It all goes to the individual." After debate, the committee recorded 5 ayes and 3 nays and the bill passed out of committee.