OML Advocate Legislative Bulletin 11-26

OML Priority Advances As First Bill Reaches Governor's Desk

It was a successful week for OML priorities as our first bill officially reached Governor Stitt’s desk on Thursday. The Governor now has five (5) days to act.

OML Priority/Publication of Ordinance: HB 4303 by Rep. Jason Blair (R-Moore) and Sen. Christi Gillespie (R-Broken Arrow) increases the timeline for when an ordinance is published from fifteen (15) days to thirty (30) days.

The bill passed the Senate on Wednesday by a vote of 45 to 0. The bill heads to the Governor’s desk.

We are also pleased that our remaining priorities continue to move forward during this accelerated legislative session. OML remains encouraged by the progress being made as these important measures advance through the legislative process.

OML Priority/Oklahoma Common Cents Act: HB 3075 by Rep. Derrick Hildebrandt (R-Catoosa) and Sen. Chuck Hall (R-Perry) establishes rounding rules, unless actions by the U.S. Congress direct otherwise, from the effective date of the act until July 1, 2027, any political subdivision may round final amounts owed to the entity as follows if the payment is made in the form of cash so that an amount ending in: 1) one cent ($0.01) or two cents ($0.02) is rounded down to zero (0); 2) three cents ($0.03) or four cents ($0.04) is rounded up to five cents ($0.05); 3) six cents ($0.06) or seven cents ($0.07) is rounded down to five cents ($0.05); and 4) eight cents ($0.08) or nine cents ($0.09) is rounded up to ten cents ($0.10).

This does not apply to any payment made by check, debit card, credit card, electronic or digital payment or other similar form of payment. For payment of ad valorem taxes, the overage or underage of cash payments shall be accounted for by the county's portion of unappropriated revenue for the general fund. Any political subdivision of the state may account for any over or under cash payments from a fund under its control as determined by the governing body.