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Senate committee advances bill to create Oklahoma Gas Artificial Intelligence and Space Research Hub
Summary
A Senate committee voted 7–1 to advance House Bill 31 76 to establish an Oklahoma Gas Artificial Intelligence and Space Research Hub under the Department of Commerce to coordinate federal applications, workforce partnerships and site preparation for advanced energy, high-performance computing and aerospace research.
Senator Rader asked the Senate Technology and Telecommunications Committee to pass House Bill 31 76, which would establish the Oklahoma Gas Artificial Intelligence and Space Research Hub as a central coordinating entity under the Department of Commerce to pursue federal research designations and build state infrastructure for advanced energy, high-performance computing and aerospace opportunities.
Rader told the committee the bill would "coordinate sites, workforce partnerships, applications, and infrastructure tied to the advanced energy research, high performance computing, aerospace, and space related opportunities" and would create an Oklahoma National Laboratory development program "so that the state has a formal process for preparing federal-ready locations and assembling competitive proposals." He urged the committee to give the measure a due pass and let appropriators determine detailed funding later.
Committee members pressed the sponsor for cost and scope details. Senator Bullard asked "what's the price tag on this?" Rader estimated the program would be "somewhere south of $900,000," and later described recurring costs tied to personnel: Commerce estimated needing about four full-time equivalents with salaries and benefits in the roughly $439,000–$540,000 range and operating costs around $292,000 for equipment, travel and trade-show expenses.
Members also asked why the hub sits in the Department of Commerce rather than a regulatory body. Rader said Commerce would be better positioned to attract federal dollars but offered to follow up with the house author. Vice Chair Yek and others sought clarity on whether the bill simply authorizes Commerce to apply for federal designations such as Department of Energy opportunities; Rader said the state is already pursuing such opportunities and that the bill strengthens the state's framework for coordinated applications.
Debate reflected a mix of curiosity and caution. Senator Bullard said he was "not sold just yet" but interested; Vice Chair Yek said he was "softened up" and inclined to support the idea if a likely location (Tulsa) would benefit the state. Rader closed by invoking historic federal investments and argued Oklahoma should be prepared to accept future national-designation opportunities.
The clerk called the roll; the committee recorded seven ayes and one nay, and the chair declared House Bill 31 76 passed out of committee.
The bill now moves to the next legislative steps where appropriations and the Commerce Department's role in implementing the hub remain to be clarified.