OML Advocate Legislative Bulletin 14-26
Session Has Come To An End...Sort Of
Session has come to an end…sort of. On Monday the House introduced and passed HCR 1027 by Rep. Josh West (R-Grove) and Sen. Julie Daniels (R-Bartlesville) which provides for a provisional Sine Die Adjournment of the Legislative Session with an official Sine Die on Thursday, May 14th. The Senate followed suit on Tuesday. This marks the earliest Sine Die in several years. The timeline gives Governor Stitt five days to act on any remaining legislation that reaches his desk; while also preserving a window for lawmakers to reconvene and attempt overrides of any vetoes.
On Wednesday, the Senate adjourned to the call of the chair while the House worked until almost Midnight. The House and Senate have for the most part completed their work for this Session. It appears that next week will mark the conclusion of the session. We anticipate that the House will return next Thursday to finalize session, while the Senate is expected to come back Wednesday and Thursday to finish their work.
During the final week, we saw more movement on our priority legislation. On Monday, the House voted for HB 3075 and sent it to the Governor. HB 3075by Rep. Derrick Hildebrant (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 from 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.