Senate reconsiders, then passes Coleman-backed bill to help rural towns attract new residents

Senator Coleman moved to reconsider a previously failed vote on Senate Bill 1696 and, after brief remarks, the Oklahoma Senate passed the bill on third reading as an emergency measure by a 41-2 margin.

The bill creates a grant program intended to help local economic-development organizations in struggling rural communities offer incentives to attract new residents. "This bill does help rural communities who cannot afford to incentivize Americans to move from out of state into their fading towns," Senator Coleman said, urging colleagues to support the measure. He told the chamber the bill currently carries "no fiscal impact," that it "does not mandate how organizations use the money" and that it preserves local control for grantees.

Coleman also said the bill will include a sunset and a "stacking provision" and that the title was struck for technical reasons and will return in a future draft. The sponsor framed the measure as part of broader efforts "to stabilize and grow your population" and to add residents to state tax rolls.

The Senate first approved the motion to reconsider by roll call (29 ayes, 11 nays), reopening the bill for final consideration. Later the chamber recorded 41 ayes and 2 nays on the final vote and declared the bill passed "as an emergency measure," allowing it to take effect immediately under the emergency designation. Several senators changed recorded positions during the vote; the clerk announced the changes before the tally.

Supporters emphasized local control and flexibility for economic-development organizations. No fiscal-impact estimate was cited on the floor during final debate; the sponsor said staff would continue reviewing details as session demand requires. The bill's sponsor asked that the vote on final passage also be considered a vote on the emergency clause, and the Senate agreed without objection.

The measure now moves on per Senate procedures as an enacted emergency law; the text will be returned with a restored title and the stated sunset language in a subsequent filing or engrossed version.