Appropriations subcommittee reassigns ARPA interest to hospitals, juvenile services and local projects; several measures advance

The House appropriations subcommittee (JACAB) advanced a package of bills reclassifying and reallocating American Rescue Plan Act interest and other appropriations on a series of near-unanimous votes Wednesday, with lawmakers saying the moves close out projects and fill funding gaps for hospitals, juvenile services and local water and emergency programs.

Representative Newton, presenting the first health measure, told the committee the legislation would let the Healthcare Workforce Training Commission close out ARPA projects, move funds among existing efforts and cover administrative costs. "Through this, we have improved our nursing schools and health care workers through 18 different Russo colleges and 11 different career techs," Representative Newton said, describing the program's reach as he opened the bill for questions. The committee reported that measure out by voice vote.

The panel also approved Senate Bill 1131, which the sponsor said directs ARPA interest to a gap in juvenile services projects in Rogers County, and SB 1132, which reappropriates roughly $27 million (with about $7 million reclassified from excess interest) for a rural hospital rebuild program after the roster of eligible hospitals shifted. SB 1133 was described as a plan to purchase and renovate the former SSM building in Norman to provide additional hospital capacity (the sponsor said an annex already holds 32 beds and the full site will total about 129 beds when complete).

Representative Osborne said his bills reassign interest funds within the Department of Human Services, including $3,000,000 for Boys & Girls Clubs and $600,000 for the YWCA to finish projects that have funding gaps. "These moves give agencies flexibility to close out projects," Osborne said; his bills were reported out as do-pass.

A more contested item, House Bill 4,028, would extend the sunset of the qualified equity investment tax deduction through 2031. Representative Kane, presenting the committee substitute, clarified that the per-investor cap is $25 million, not $50 million. A committee member pressed for program-specific reporting: "I couldn't find any report anywhere on it," the member said, asking for return-on-investment and job-creation data tied specifically to the deduction. Kane acknowledged data gaps and said he would seek better figures from the tax commission and preferred extending the sunset to allow time for evaluation rather than ending the program immediately.

The panel also debated ballot timing in HB 4,063, which Speaker Hilbert described as adding HJR 10 24 to an August ballot. Members questioned whether combining measures into one bill might raise single-subject concerns and whether August or November timing would better serve voter participation; the sponsor said the measures were negotiated with the Senate as related items and defended placing them on an August ballot.

Votes at a glance (selected bills reported out as do-pass): - SB 1131 — ARPA interest for Rogers County juvenile services: reported out (vote as recorded in committee roll call: 26–0 where shown). - SB 1132 — Rural hospital rebuild reappropriation (~$27,000,000; ~$7,000,000 reclassified): reported out (27–0 where shown). - SB 1133 — Renovation of SSM building in Norman (adds capacity to 129 beds): reported out (27–0 where shown). - SB 1142 — DHS ARPA interest reappropriation (Boys & Girls Clubs $3,000,000; YWCA $600,000): reported out (28–0 where shown). - HB 4,028 — Extend qualified equity investment deduction sunset to 2031: reported out (23–6). - HB 4,063 — Add HJR 10 24 to August ballot (elections placement): reported out (23–6 where shown for the batch of measures). - HB 4,029 — Limit OSDH ALS grant appropriations: reported out (29–0). - HB 4,073 — Accounting for pandemic relief funds: reported out (29–0). - HB 4,078 — Administrative costs for ARPA projects: reported out (29–0). - SB 11-30 — Pediatric cardiology/preeminent hospital reappropriation: reported out (29–0). - SB 11-34 — OSUMA human performance and pharmaceutical expansion: reported out (28–0 where recorded). - HB 4,076 — Rural economic impact grant (Commerce) — up to $21,640,091: reported out (27–0 where shown). - HB 4,077 — ODEM emergency response and relief grants — up to $10,582,596: reported out (27–0 where shown).

What lawmakers said and what’s next Lawmakers framed most measures as housekeeping to allow agencies to close projects and pay administrative costs on ARPA-funded efforts. On the tax deduction extension, members pressed for program-specific metrics; Representative Kane said staff will seek more precise figures from the tax commission and he preferred a temporary extension to allow additional review. All measures reported out will move to the next step in the legislative process or to the floor for further consideration. The committee adjourned and the chair said the regular appropriations meeting will resume tomorrow.

Notes on transcript and data gaps Several presenters referenced dollar amounts and counts drawn from agency materials (for example, the sponsor cited 18 colleges and 11 career-tech programs and approximated a $27 million pool for one hospital program). Committee members repeatedly requested more precise ROI and job-creation data tied directly to the qualified equity investment deduction; the sponsor characterized those numbers as limited in current reporting and pledged to seek further data.

The committee concluded its business and stood adjourned.